Altrincham were held to a frustrating goalless draw by United of Manchester in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday. Despite overwhelming statistical dominance, the Robins could not convert their superiority into a winning goal and must now face a replay to progress in the competition.
The result extends Altrincham's unbeaten run in all competitions to four matches, a sequence that includes three wins. It also means their focus now shifts immediately back to the National League, where they sit sixth with 24 points from 13 games, having recorded eight wins and five defeats. They are 11 points behind leaders Boreham Wood but remain firmly in the promotion conversation. Their recent league form shows three wins, one draw, and one loss from their last five outings.
He credited United of Manchester for their defensive resilience and organisation, which ultimately earned them a replay at their home ground.
Match statistics
Altrincham controlled the game from start to finish, enjoying 66 percent of possession. They outshot their visitors from the Northern Premier League by a margin of 21 to five, with nine of those efforts on target. The pressure was reflected in the corner count, where Altrincham won 11 set-pieces to United of Manchester's four. Yet, a combination of resilient defending and wayward finishing kept the scoresheet blank.
Phil Parkinson's side picked up two yellow cards during the contest, while the visitors received three. The stalemate means Altrincham's next fixture is a key league encounter away to Yeovil Town on Saturday 24 October. Yeovil currently occupy fourth place, just two points ahead of Altrincham, making it a key match in the early-season standings. Fans can view the full fixtures list for the rest of the campaign.
Before that cup replay, Altrincham will aim to continue their strong league form, which has seen them score 20 goals this season while conceding 19. Their most recent league outing was a 3-1 victory over Aldershot Town on Saturday 10 October, with goals from Lewis Banks, Alex Barlow and Liam Farrell. That result was part of a recent run that also included a 2-1 win at AFC Fylde, a 3-0 victory over AFC Hornchurch, a 1-0 win at Gateshead, and a 3-1 loss to Boreham Wood. The team travels to Huish Park next Saturday knowing a positive result could see them climb into the playoff positions.
The date for the FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay against United of Manchester is yet to be confirmed, but it must be played before the deadline of the following Tuesday. The winners of the replay will progress to the first round proper of the competition, where Football League clubs enter the draw.
Altrincham will be ball number 58 in Monday's Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper draw, the club confirmed. The draw will be broadcast live from 6:30pm. Altrincham, sixth in the National League, must first win Tuesday's replay at Broadhurst Park to progress. The club said, "Be sure to tune in to see who we might be facing."
Altrincham's FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay against United of Manchester will be played on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, the club's official data confirms. Kick-off at Broadhurst Park is set for 19:45. The Robins, who are sixth in the National League with 24 points, must win to progress to the first round proper.
