Altrincham’s caretaker manager, Neil Tolson, is set to name an unchanged team for the club’s crucial final game of the season at Braintree Town today.
If the Robins are going to produce their biggest last day of the season Houdini act, then three things must happen:-
- Altrincham must win at Braintree Town
- FC Halifax Town must lose at home to Macclesfield Town
- Torquay United must not lose at Guiseley
BT Sport 2 are broadcasting the game live. Kick off is at 5.30pm and the programme starts at 4.45pm.
Braintree will be exceptionally difficult opponents, having walloped Alty 4-0 at the J Davidson Stadium in September and needing just a single point to qualify for the Play-Offs, which would be a monumental achievement for the unfashionable Essex club who have had a superb campaign.
Tolson’s players gave themselves a chance today by destroying already relegated Welling United by a 5-0 scoreline in their final home game of the campaign last Saturday.
Watch highlights of Alty’s win last weekend:
“Ryan Crowther will be missing again with a hamstring injury and Jimmy Phillips’ knee is still a problem, so I have the same squad available and I am planning to select the same starting eleven that did so well last week against Welling,” said Tolson, who has been interviewed, along with a number of other candidates for the manager’s job for next season. It is expected that there will be an announcement this week.
Chairman Grahame Rowley has funded a 49-seater coach to take Alty fans down to Essex today and whilst the odds are against the Robins, there is still that slim chance that the club’s Vanarama National League status can be maintained.
Fans who can’t make the trip to Braintree can watch the game at the ground, where it is being screened in the Community Sports Hall, which opens at 4.30pm. Food will be available and the bar will be open.
Pics: Michael Ripley
