Altrincham snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory away at Forest Green Rovers with a stoppage-time winner from substitute Kahrel Reddin. The Robins secured three crucial National League points in the fifth minute of added time, as reported by the Stroud Times this week.
Jimmy Knowles had given the visitors the lead in the 54th minute, but Kyle McAllister quickly equalised for the hosts. The match appeared headed for a draw until Sam Taylor set up Reddin for the decisive goal. The result provides a significant boost for Altrincham, who began the day 19th in the National League with just three points from four games.
How did the match unfold?
The first half ended goalless, with referee Richard Aspinall overseeing a tight contest in front of 1,783 spectators. Forest Green manager Robbie Savage made a double change at the break, introducing Ricardo Rees and Omari Patrick. Altrincham were forced into an early substitution when Justin Kosylo replaced the injured George Lopata-White after 40 minutes.
Knowles broke the deadlock early in the second half, but McAllister's reply came swiftly to level the score. Both managers utilised their benches extensively in the latter stages. Altrincham made a triple change on 72 minutes, bringing on Kian Breckin, Elliot Hinchy and Marcus Hemmings. The decisive moment arrived when Phil Parkinson introduced Reddin for Aidan Barlow with one minute of normal time remaining.
What did Robbie Savage say after the defeat?
The Forest Green boss acknowledged his team's disappointment while praising their effort. "The boys are devastated at the end and disappointed," Savage told reporters. He took responsibility for lifting his squad after their third consecutive defeat.
"It's up to me to lift the players," Savage stated. He highlighted the fine margins of the game, noting that Altrincham scored twice from two second-half shots. Savage confirmed his team would report for training on Tuesday before travelling to face Hornchurch. He also revealed a trialist from overseas is due to arrive, though no further additions are expected before Saturday.
What is Altrincham's current league position?
This victory moves Altrincham off the foot of the table, though they remain in a challenging position. Before this match, the Robins sat 19th with three points from one win and three losses. They had scored just three goals while conceding six across their opening four fixtures, leaving them nine points behind early leaders Sutton United.
You can track their progress in the standings throughout the season. The club's next opportunity to build momentum comes at home against Aldershot Town on October 10th. Aldershot currently occupy ninth place, making it another tough test for Parkinson's side.
What were the key match details?
The game was briefly halted due to a medical emergency in the South Stand, with Savage later praising his medical team's response. Among the 78 travelling Altrincham supporters, there was clear relief at the final whistle. Forest Green's Jayden Clarke was named Star Man for his performance in a losing cause.
Both teams lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Altrincham's unused substitutes were goalkeeper Matt Firth and defender Harry Barnes, while Forest Green left Charlie McNicholas and Tope Ajayi on the bench. The Robins now turn their attention to preparing for the visit of Aldershot, with full details available on our fixtures page. Parkinson will hope this dramatic win sparks an improved run of form as they look to climb the table.
