Both sides had made indifferent starts to the season. Lancaster had already suffered several heavy home defeats and Alty had won just once away. Last season saw two pulsating games between the sides at the Giant Axe; a controversial 1-1 draw in which Carl Furlong was sent off and the 4-1 FA Cup replay win by Altrincham. By coincidence the referee tonight, David Commins, was the man who had sent off Furlong in the above game- and his red card was in use again tonight. Alty wore their "unlucky" orange kit, first worn in a UniBond defeat at Frickley last November, then twice worn in Reserve defeats in January and March of this year.

Altrincham went down to their fourth consecutive league defeat in a game whose result was shaped by the harsh sending off of Gary Scott (right) for a late tackle on half-way after 63 minutes. The referee who dismissed him was Mr Commins, the same man who sent off Carl Furlong at the Giant Axe last season. City took the lead after 27 minutes whilst Altrincham were down to ten men as Rose received treatment off the pitch. For the third consecutive league game it was a 25 yard shot from in front of goal which undid the Robins. After Scott's dismissal Lancaster naturally enjoyed much more of the game and scored again through Haddow (76") and Butler (84") though Alty did have several chances cleared off the line during the game. Altrincham have now dropped to 20th and have won just 7 of their last 32 competitive matches, (8 out of 40 if the pre-season games are counted). Apart from Scott's red card, Alty also had to substitute Rose and Maddox through injury.

Compared with last Saturday's FA Cup starting line-up, Alty were without the suspended Neil Murphy, the injured Danny Murphy and Jamie Phoenix (sent off in that game). As a consequence, Andy McDonald, Chris Young and Ian Craney all regained their starting places. On the Robins' bench was right-back Andrew Duffy, a new recruit from the Rochdale FC Academy, but Alty coach Andy May was not present as he was reportedly on an FA course. Mark Maddox played again at right-back, with Gary Scott at left-back. Lancaster were without regular keeper Mark Thornley and were also missing striker Brian Welch.