The J. Davidson Stadium was the scene of a thrilling English National League contest as Altrincham secured a dramatic 4-2 victory over Scunthorpe United. The match, characterised by its back-and-forth intensity, ultimately saw the home side clinch the points with a late surge, spearheaded by a brace from substitute Oliver Crankshaw.
Scunthorpe United took the lead in the thirteenth minute when Carlton Ubaezuonu found the net. Altrincham responded positively, and their persistence was rewarded in the thirty-fourth minute. Tom Crawford levelled the score, assisted by Charlie Kirk, ensuring the teams went into the interval on level terms.
The second half commenced with both sides seeking an advantage. Scunthorpe United regained the lead in the fifty-ninth minute through Alfie Beestin, who was set up by Tyler Denton. This strike appeared to place the visitors in a commanding position. However, Altrincham demonstrated remarkable resilience. As the clock ticked down, Matthew Kosylo netted an equaliser in the eighty-eighth minute, with Kahrel Reddin providing the assist.
The drama continued into the closing stages. In the ninety-first minute, Altrincham completed their comeback. Substitute Oliver Crankshaw, who had been introduced in the seventy-first minute, fired his team into the lead, with Keaton Ward credited with the assist. The momentum had firmly shifted. In the dying moments of added time, Crankshaw struck again in the ninety-fifth minute, securing his brace and sealing a memorable 4-2 win for Altrincham. Jack Hinchy, another substitute who had entered the fray in the eighty-third minute, provided the assist for Crankshaw’s second goal.
Tactical adjustments were evident throughout the match. Scunthorpe United’s substitution of Branden Horton for Declan Howe in the sixty-first minute suggested a desire to bolster their attack. Altrincham’s series of substitutions in the latter stages, including the introduction of Crankshaw and Hinchy, proved to be inspired.
The match saw disciplinary action. Rory Mahady and Alfie Beestin of Scunthorpe United received yellow cards, as did Jake Cooper for Altrincham. Oliver Crankshaw also received a caution following his late heroics.
This victory sees Altrincham move up to fourteenth place in the league standings with 26 points from 21 games. Prior to this fixture, they occupied fifteenth place with 23 points. For Scunthorpe United, despite the setback, they remain in sixth position with 37 points from 20 games, a standing they held before the match. The result ends Scunthorpe United’s three-game winless streak, though it extends their run of failing to win to three matches. Altrincham, conversely, are now on a one-game winning streak.