HANCOCK HIT SAVES ROBINS
HIGH-FLYING Boreham Wood battled to a one-all draw against a rejuvenated Altrincham side as they continue their unexpected promotion push.
Jamal Fyfield’s individual effort was cancelled out late on by a screamer from Josh Hancock for the hosts.
Luke Garrard’s leaders looked out-of-sorts against an Alty side who’d lost three in a row in the league, and were fortunate to come away with point in the end.
“I’ve been in this game long enough to know when you’ve taken a good point, and I’m over the moon to take a point away from home,” said Garrard. “They’re a very good outfit, and I’m a big fan of Phil Parkinson. He gets them set up to stretch you and they’ve beaten some big teams here.
“They should’ve been out of sight at half-time, we were 20 yards off the pace in the first half. For 15 minutes in the second half we looked good, and yes we could’ve won it late on, but I feel it would be very unfair.”
In a rather tame first half, it was Altrincham that should’ve gone in ahead, were it not for some wayward shooting. Captain Jake Moult fired wide from close range following Ryan Colclough’s pull back, and Hancock also missed the target when he should’ve done better.
Later a powerful effort from Colclough fizzed just wide and Moult headed straight at Ashby-Hammond when he had time and space.
After the break, the Wood began to get a foothold, with Gus Mustafa firing wide and Scott Boden’s flick header going just past the post.
And they should’ve gone ahead when a mistake by Moult allowed Marsh a free hit, but he blazed over.
The visitors did manage to take the lead when Fyfield sprinted from the edge of the centre circle, and with no Alty player prepared to make a tackle he continued into the box. The ball then ricocheted up and the defender side-foot volleyed into the corner.
The Robins bounced back, and Joel Senior played in Hancock on 67 minutes but Ashby-Hammond pulled out an acrobatic stop.
But Hancock was not to be outdone, and with 14 minutes left the Altrincham front man cut back on to his left and fired a sublime effort into the far corner.
The hosts pushed on and should’ve won it late on sub Tom Peers’s effort was again saved by a superb flying Ashby-Hammond in goal.
This was the Robins’ first point in four, and assistant manager Neil Sorvel was pleased with his side’s efforts: “It’s been a difficult few weeks.
“You’d like to bounce back with three points, but a draw against the league leaders, and a good performance, definitely feels like we’ve bounced back.”
STAR MAN: Ryan Colclough (Altrincham)
ATT: 2,283 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Gareth Rhodes