Aaron Brown’s first goal for the club and a stunning strike from Daniel Nti were enough for the visitors to earn a vital three points, as fellow strugglers Oxford City lost.

City had to defend stubbornly for the opening twenty minutes as Joe Mwasile threatened from the right, cutting inside and lashing his shot wide of the near post, before prolific striker Damien Reeves’s neat chip over Veiga was ruled out for offside.

But City, buoyed by back to back victories, began to take control of the game and nearly took the lead themselves after Daniel Nti’s shot from inside the area was denied by a reaction save from Altrincham goalkeeper Stuart Coburn.

City’s best chance of the half came as Ellis Deeney’s thundering shot from an acute angle on the left hand side cannoned off the crossbar via the fingertips of a full-stretch Coburn on the half hour mark.

The visitors continued to turn up the heat after the restart and it was the turn of the play-off contenders to produce some dogged defending.

Ebby Nelson-Addy fired high and wide with his half volley from the edge of the area with the first chance of the half, before George Williams’s perfectly weighted cross was glanced wide by the in-form Daniel Nti three minutes later.

The tenacious Ethan Moore saw his swivelling half-volley flash agonisingly wide of the post moments later, and City’s pressure was beginning to take its toll on the home side, who continued to drop deeper.

City finally broke the deadlock with fifty-six minutes on the clock. Daniel Nti’s sumptuous cross from the right hand side found Adam Brown who steered his header into the far corner of Coburn’s net.

It was no more than City deserved and they nearly doubled their lead after George Williams’s through ball found Ethan Moore, whose attempt to lob from inside the goalkeeper looped onto the roof of the net.

But the Blue and Whites did double their lead with just over ten minutes remaining through a goal of the season contender from Daniel Nti. The striker picked up the ball outside the area and unleashed a stunning strike that looped over the goalkeeper and into the top corner for his fourth goal in four games.

The hosts set up a nervy final ten minutes as they hit back instantly. Substitute James Lawrie’s low free kick took a kind bobble in the six yard box that sent the ball spinning past Veiga, bobbling off the post before nestling in the back of the net.

But City held on to record a vital victory, and manager Carl Heeley was impressed with his side’s performance in what were “very difficult conditions”.

“The pitch has cut up, it was very blustery, driving rain, and we adapted to it brilliantly. We scrapped and we did all the ugly things, but we looked a real threat as well”, said Heeley, who was also impressed with Nti’s strike.

“What can you say about the second goal? That’s good enough in any league. Whatever level of football you watch, that’s an unbelievable strike. We’ve got what we deserved this evening. The belief and the confidence is flowing throughout the camp at the moment and we’re on a lovely little run. There’s a renewed optimism.”

City will look to carry their momentum into Saturday’s game away at Vauxhall Motors in the hope to make it four wins in four games.

Attendence 527

Match Report by Alexander Harris