A bumper crowd is expected at Edgeley Park this Boxing Day, as we go head to head with local rivals Altrincham in the first of our festive double-header against the Robins.
Over 7,000 tickets have already been sold for this enthralling Cheshire derby in SK3, as County look for a big three points to climb back up the National League table.
A thumping 4-0 win over Grimsby Town in the FA Trophy last weekend saw County bounce back impressively from a 2-1 defeat at Torquay in our last league game, a loss that saw us lose ground in the promotion race.
Following that result, and wins for eight of the nine sides above us, we slipped below Yeovil Town and now sit in 10th place in the league table, five points from the play-off places with a game in hand and now nine points behind league leaders Chesterfield.
Three points this Boxing Day however would see County climb above Grimsby Town, and also close the gap on Chesterfield to just six points – with both sides not in action due to Covid.
For Alty, their FA Trophy campaign came to an early end last time out with a 2-1 defeat at Notts County, continuing a difficult run that has seen them win just once in their last ten National League fixtures to leave them 12th, two places and five points behind County.
County will be wearing their white away kit for this fixture, in order to help raise awareness of the rise in homelessness this Christmas, to support the Shelter campaign. Click here for more information.
Our Opponents:
National League North play-off success in 2020, secured with a 1-0 final victory over Boston United, meant a second promotion in three years for Altrincham, and a return to the National League for the first time since 2016.
The Robins enjoyed a successful start to life back in non-league’s top-flight too, sitting in the play-off places by the time they came to Edgeley Park and got a 2-2 draw in January and dreaming of a first ever promotion to the Football League.
Like so many sides in the division, however, their form tailed off in the second half of the season as they slumped down to a final position of 17th, 16 points clear of the bottom three but 22 points short of the play-off places.
It’s been an exhilarating few years for Altrincham, who in April gave manager Phil Parkinson, the mastermind of their revival, a new three-year-deal that saw him become the first full-time manager in the Club’s history.
A host of new signings over the Summer saw expectations lifted at Moss Lane ahead of the new season, and the opening weeks of the campaign saw Altrincham live up to those expectations after picking up 15 points from their opening seven games to sit them in the play-off places.
In the 14 games since then though, Alty have won just twice in the league and exited both cup competitions, losing 3-2 to National League North Gateshead United in the FA Cup, as the gap between themselves and the top seven has grown to ten points.
They have however picked up points against Chesterfield and Boreham Wood during that month, as well as beating Notts County 1-0 earlier in the season – and picked up a point in both games against County last season.
Star Player:
County will have to keep an eye out for former Scunthorpe and Wigan man Ryan Colclough on Boxing Day – the winger has impressed for the Robins so far this season, with five goals already in the National League.
Match Stats:
- This will be the 11th meeting between County and Altrincham, with County winning six and losing just once – the first meeting between the two sides back in 2013.
- County have never lost at Edgeley Park against the Robins, keeping four clean sheets in five home games against them.
- The Hatters are unbeaten at Edgeley Park since Dave Challinor has taken charge, winning three and drawing one – scoring 15 goals in the process.
