Altrincham suffered a disappointing 0-2 defeat at the J. Davidson Stadium against a resolute Hartlepool United. The visitors started strongly, taking advantage of a slow start from Altrincham to establish a lead they maintained throughout the match.
Hartlepool took an early lead when Alex Reid scored in the 5th minute, assisted by Jamie Miley. Altrincham struggled to gain a foothold in the game, as Hartlepool controlled the tempo. In the 20th minute, Hartlepool made a tactical substitution, bringing on Matty Daly to replace Jay Benn, a change that would prove influential.
Just before the break, Hartlepool doubled their lead. Reiss McNally scored in the 45th minute, assisted by substitute Matty Daly. This goal extended Hartlepool’s advantage, leaving Altrincham with a significant challenge in the second half.
Altrincham started the second half with renewed energy, but found their efforts consistently blocked by a determined Hartlepool defence. Frustration began to creep into Altrincham’s play, with Dan Sassi receiving a yellow card in the 54th minute for a foul, shortly after Maxim Kouogun of Hartlepool was booked for a similar offence.
Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson made multiple substitutions in the second half, introducing Jimmy Knowles, Keaton Ward, Kahrel Reddin, Samuel Reed and Matthew Kosylo, in an attempt to revitalise his team’s attack. Hartlepool responded with substitutions of their own, bringing on Jack Hunter, Luke Charman and Brad Walker, aiming to maintain their control and secure the win.
Ultimately, Altrincham were unable to break down the Hartlepool defence, and the match finished 0-2. The result sees Hartlepool United climb to second in the league standings with 7 points, while Altrincham sit in 15th position with 3 points.