Halesowen 0 Altrincham 2 - Report and pictures

First-half goals from Jordan Hulme and Simon Richman were enough to send the Yeltz to defeat in manager John Hill's 250th league game in charge.

Former Albion striker Lee Hughes, on his home debut, went closest to netting for the hosts, who were second-best for long periods against the impressive visitors.

Defeat leaves the Yeltz still just three points above Sutton Coldfield, who occupy the division's sole relegation place.

Hill must now rally his team for next week's No.9 derby against Stourbridge.

In truth, this was a long way from a poor performance from the Yeltz, yet they were unable to match Altrincham's consistent quality.

Hill's men went into the game in confident mood having won as many games in the past five weeks as they had in the previous four months.

With members of the club's successful FA Vase-winning teams of the 1980s also in attendance, not even a broken PA system could quell the buzz around the Grove before kick-off.

But within minutes of the start the atmosphere had changed as the gulf in class between the teams became rapidly apparent.

Altrincham will feel they should have been out of sight inside the opening 15 minutes such was their dominance.

The visitors slick-passing in the final third meant the Yeltz were constantly clinging on and Hulme and already gone close twice before breaking the deadlock on 11 minutes.

His first effort came within 90 seconds of the start but the shot was too close to goalkeeper Dan Platt.

Enock Ekongo was then in the right place to hack clear off the line after Hulme had threatened to bundle the ball home as the home defence continued to be pushed further and further back.

Eventually the breakthrough arrived, though it owed much to the wizardry of winger John Johnston, who danced past two defenders before finding his path blocked eight yards out. The loose ball popped up to Hulme, who fired a first-time left-footed finish past Platt to give his team a thoroughly deserved lead.

Skipper Jake Moult then almost doubled it when he drilled a 25-yard effort inches past the post.

It was more than half-an-hour before the Yeltz carved out their first chance and it fell to Hughes.

Dan Bragoli's delicate chip found the former Albion man in space on the right of the box but with the angle tight, keeper Tim Deasy was able to come out and make the save.

Altrincham, unsurprisngly, were unable to maintain the intensity of the opening quarter.

But they remained a threat and six minutes before the break doubled their lead thanks to a superbly-worked goal.

Hancock cut in from the left and found James Poole, who laid the ball off for Richmam to roll a right-footed finish beyond Platt.

By half-time it was almost three but substitute James Jones was unable to convert Hancock's corner at the far post.

The visitors began the second half with the same energy as the first and twice Yeltz centre-back Asa Charlton was required to make perfectly-timed challenges to dispossess Hulme and Hancock in the box.

It was tough going for the hosts, yet from nothing they almost grabbed a lifeline on the hour mark.

Ekongo's deep cross was met by Hughes at the far post and it required a last-gasp intervention from visiting skipper Jake Moult to turn his goalbound header behind.

Hill introduced both Jack Kelly and Roland Agbor off the bench with the latter adding some drive to the home side's attacking play.

Yet chances were now at a premium for both teams. Hancock headed over Poole's fiercely-struck cross from inside the six-yard box, while an untimely bobble saw Johnston send a shot flying out of the ground.

It wasn't until the final 15 minutes that Halesowen carved out another chance but Hughes, on the turn, was unable to hit the target.

Tiring legs led to chances for both teams in the final ten minutes.

Platt denied Johnston with his legs after the winger had broken away from the defence, while Goddard forced Deasy into his most serious exertion of the afternoon with a free-kick which the keeper pushed round the post.

To Halesowen's credit, it was they who finished the game on the front foot. But far bigger battles now lie ahead.

Teams

Yeltz: Platt, Ekongo, Morrison, Ahmed, Posscha, Charlton, Lawton, Bragoli (c), Hughes, Knight (Agbor 61, Lewis (Kelly 61) Subs not used: Goddard, Monteiro, Arnold.

Altrincham: Deasy, Densmore, White, Hannigan (Jones 31), Harrison, Moult (c), Johnston, Richman, Hulme, Poole, Hancock (Harrop 80) Subs not used: Peers, Merrie, Heathcote.