Altrincham welcome Hornchurch to the J. Davidson Stadium on Saturday afternoon for an intriguing National League encounter between two sides level on 15 points after nine matches. The Robins enter the weekend 10th in the table, one place behind Hornchurch, with both teams having recorded five wins and four defeats so far this season.
Altrincham arrive in excellent recent form, having won four of their last five National League matches. Victories over Forest Green Rovers and Eastleigh were followed by a heavy 5-1 defeat at Woking, but Neil Gibson’s side responded strongly with successive 2-1 wins against Hartlepool United and AFC Fylde.
Last weekend’s victory at Mill Farm was particularly notable. Kane Hemmings opened the scoring before Tom Whelan quickly equalised for Fylde, but Matty Kosylo restored Altrincham’s advantage just three minutes later. The Robins held on to end Fylde’s 17-match unbeaten home league run and record their fifth victory in six league matches.
Hornchurch travel to Greater Manchester having returned to winning ways against Scunthorpe United last weekend. Ryan Inniss scored the only goal of the game in the 70th minute as Daryl McMahon’s side secured a 1-0 victory and ended a run of three successive league defeats.
Those three losses had come without Hornchurch scoring, with Forest Green Rovers winning 1-0 at Hornchurch Stadium before away defeats against FC Halifax Town and Worthing. Prior to that sequence, however, the Urchins had made an impressive start to life in the National League, winning four of their opening five fixtures, including a 3-2 victory away at Boston United.
Saturday’s fixture represents unfamiliar territory for the two clubs, with no recent competitive meetings between Altrincham and Hornchurch. The visitors are competing at this level following promotion from National League South last season, having defeated Torquay United 3-2 in the play-off final.
There is little to separate the sides in the current standings. Altrincham have taken 15 points from nine matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding 15, while Hornchurch also have 15 points after nine games, with 11 goals scored and 12 conceded. The Urchins’ superior goal difference places them narrowly above the Robins heading into the weekend.
Recent momentum favours Altrincham, who have taken 12 points from their last five league fixtures and scored in each of their last six. Hornchurch have collected six points over the same five-game period, but last weekend’s victory over Scunthorpe provided a timely response after three consecutive defeats. With the sides beginning the weekend level on points, Saturday’s meeting offers both an opportunity to strengthen their position in the top half of the National League table.
