ALTRINCHAM 0, HARTLEPOOL UNITED 2
Altrincham’s lack of a cutting edge was glaringly obvious as they lost at home to Hartlepool United who remain unbeaten and are up to second place in Enterprise National League.
The Robins had plenty of the ball but visiting goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright was hardly overworked as Pools’ great start to the season under new manager Simon Grayson continues.
They have collected seven points from a possible nine to lie behind surprise leaders Wealdstone while lined up behind them are all the big hitters – Southend, Scunthorpe, Rochdale, Carlisle, Forest Green Rovers and York City.
Altrincham have managed a modest one win from their three league games as a challenging season lies ahead.
It is hardly surprising Phil Parkinson’s side is lightweight up front as they lost three of their front players in the summer – Regan Linney went to Carlisle, Alex Newby to York City and Justin Amaluzor to Grimsby Town.
Pools, by contrast, have just signed striker Alex Reid after his release by Oldham Athletic.
Reid, who also had a decent spell at Stockport County, opened the scoring inside five minutes as he raced on to a through ball and lashed a shot through keeper Luke Hutchinson, 22, who is on loan from Bolton Wanderers.
It is two goals in three appearances for Reid who was lively throughout and a handful for the home defence.
Hutchinson also didn’t cover himself in glory for Pools’ second on the stroke of half time as he flapped at a corner and Reiss McNally headed home at the far post from almost on the goalline.
And Pools might have had a third in stoppage time when substitute Matty Daly had an effort turned around the post by Hutchinson.
Altrincham were more of a threat in the second period as they had considerable possession. They got into good positions but invariably balls whizzed across the face of goal with nobody able to get on the end of them.
Their best chance came on the hour when an overhead kick from James Gale flew narrowly wide.
They only began to test Cartwright from the 76th minute onwards when substitute Kahrel Reddin and Tom Crawford both had fierce shots beaten away while the keeper pulled off a decent stop at the death to deny substitute Jimmy Knowles.
Altrincham huffed and puffed but, as one frustrated fan observed pointedly, they would not have scored had the game gone on until midnight.