TEN-MAN WOOD ARE DONE BY A CONN JOB

CHRIS Conn-Clarke fired home his 19th goal of the season as Altrincham boosted their play-off hopes with victory over a Boreham Wood side who are now just a point above the drop zone

The Irishman lashed home the winner 18 minutes from time after Wood had had Chris Bush sent off for a heavy challenge on Justin Donawa on the hour.

“It was a very good win, said delighted Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson after his side moved back up into sixth.

“We were under pressure early on and came back well. The boys dug in and got the result we wanted.”

Wood started the match like an express train with Mo Sagaf forcing an excellent save from Robins keeper Ethan Ross inside a minute with a shot which looked like heading into the top corner.

Bush too kept Ross on his toes, before an excellent one-two between Kabongo Tshimanga and Lee Ndlovu resulted in the former striking just over.

Altrincham had to wait 24 minutes for their first serious effort on target– Justin Amaluzor playing in Conn-Clarke, whose shot appeared to be heading into the far corner, only for Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore to produce a spectacular save.

The Robins used this as a springboard to come back into the match and on 29 minutes, the dangerous Amaluzor was denied by an excellent block from Jamal Fyfield.

A minute later, they went close again when Alex Newby

dispossessed Sousa and, after a neat exchange with Conn-Clarke, fired wide from a good position.

On 35 minutes, Amaluzor rattled the Wood post before George Wilson’s follow up was tipped over by Ashmore in the Wood goal.

And the Wood keeper was it it again just being halftime with an excellent save to deny Elliot Osborne.

Much like the first, Wood came out strongly for the start of the second half. Tshimanga’s neat overhead kick was easily gathered by keeper Ross before the striker was denied by excellent degfending by Lewis Baines, just as he was about to pull the trigger.

But on 58 minutes, the hosts were reduced to ten men when Bush was given a straight red card for a foul on Donawa, much to the frustration of Wood boss Luke Garrard.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Wood attempted to keep the Robins on the back foot, but the Robins found a second wind – Matty Kosylo’s effort crucially blocked by Fyfield.

Eventually, on 72 minutes, Altrincham broke the deadlock the lead when Conn-Clarke fired past Ashmore with a well-struck shot from just outside the area.

Wood searched in vain for an equaliser in the last few minutes – Tyrone Marsh failing to keep his shot down – and the Robins’ back line defended heroically to prevent anymore chances.