ALTRINCHAM 4, ALDERSHOT TN 0

FOR the second time in less than two weeks, Aldershot Town limped out of Cheshire with their pride badly bruised and reputation in tatters.

Just 11 days after the ignominy of an 8-2 thrashing at Chester, the Shots were left to ponder a 90 minutes in which erstwhile struggling opponents were again made to look like promotion challengers rather than relegation candidates.

Another four goals were conceded in largely inglorious manner as a defence which had kept five clean sheets in its previous eight games once more revelled in its chaotic alter ego.

“We never threw a glove at them,” fumed manager Barry Smith. “I don’t think we put a challenge in today. Against Torquay, we saw fighting spirit and hard work, today we never got that. We made a decent start and created a few chances, but as much as last week’s clean sheet was good, today their front four gave us a terrible time. The guys have to hold their hands up and say they never defended well enough.”

At first, there was little sign of Altrincham, who started the day third from bottom, inflicting any such damage. Aldershot were first to threaten when Giorgio Rasulo’s deft footwork created space for an angled shot which skimmed the outside of the post.

The Robins’ own imported talisman, Burnley winger Josh Ginnelly, soon became the star of the show, however, with a superb range of passing and lightning pace and trickery which unravelled the Aldershot defence time and again.

Jake Gallagher, once more an isolated beacon of resistance, had to usher James Lawrie off balance as he ran on to Ginnelly’s teasing through-ball.

Lawrie, though, played a major role in Altrincham’s first goal on 33 minutes. Allowed too much space from a throw-in, he hit a shot across goal that Damian Reeves turned into a great assist by reacting quicker than Omar Beckles to stab the ball into the roof of the net.

Three decent efforts before the break, including a powerful Alfie Pavey header which Tim Deasy tipped over the bar and a shot from Rasulo hacked clear in the goalmouth, suggested that Aldershot were far from out of the game.

But Ginnelly scored a brilliant solo goal just two minutes after the restart to put Altrincham firmly in command. Running 70 yards virtually unchallenged down the left, he slotted a shot under Phil Smith.

From there, it was all too easy for the Robins. Beckles needlessly pushed Lawrie in an aerial duel, allowing Jake Moult to drive in a convincing penalty, and Jordan Sinnott added a fourth on 69 minutes.

Ginnelly again burst down the wing and his low cross was perfect for Sinnott to break from midfield and guide his shot into the top corner from just outside the area.

Altrincham might have been excellent – and certainly attacked with panache – but after just one win in their last 14 matches, could never have expected to meet such submissive opponents.

Stumbling in their bid to confirm genuine progress on last season, the Shots have somehow left themselves with work to do merely to confirm their own National League status.

They will need to show much more steel in their two Easter fixtures, both against play-off contenders. Aldershot travel to Forest Green today (Good Friday) before returning to the EBB Stadium on Easter Monday for the home game with Braintree.

Altrincham: Deasy; Leather, Havern, Holness, Griffin; Sinnott (Phillips 80), Moult, Richman, Ginnelly (Crowther 85); Lawrie, Reeves (Rankine 88). Subs (not used): Heathcote, O’Keefe, Crowther, Rankine, Phillips. Booked: Griffin.

Aldershot: Smith; Alexander, Beckles, Saville, Richards; Rasulo (Browne 82), Gallagher, Hatton (C Walker 51), Ralph; Pavey (Stevenson 72), Lafayette. Subs (not used): McGinty, Stevenson, C Walker, Thomas, Browne. Booked: Ralph, Lafayette.

Referee: Robert Jones.

Attendance: 1,292 (102 away).