ALTRINCHAM chalked up their fifth successive win on Saturday with a 2-0 victory at Ashton United's Hurst Cross.

Gary Scott opened up the scoring on 29 minutes and the second came from Rod Thornley 13 minutes from time, his first since recovering from surgery to correct patellar tendonitis.

It was a welcome return to the scoresheet for one of Moss Lane's most prolific target men, and it really put a shine on another committed display by Graham Heathcote's men.

Alty are now carrying the hallmark of all successful sides - making themselves difficult to beat. The added bonus is that they are now punching their weight up front as well.

Four months ago, a draw would have been a good result at Ashton, who had lost only one game in their last seven.

However, in addition to re-signing goalkeeper Stuart 'Clean Sheet' Coburn, Heathcote has recruited some impressive talent up front.

The skilful Niell Hardy has always been a known quantity to Alty fans, but one real revelation has been Marcus Hallows.

The former Stockport County and Leigh RMI striker is not only tall and mobile, but also strong enough to win the kind of balls that spur the likes of Thornley, Hardy and Ian Craney into action.

With Stephen Rose and Chris Adams looking to pass their way out of defence at every opportunity and Peter Band doing a sterling job in every position he is asked to fill, Alty's football these days is a lot more entertaining than people give it credit for.

Having said that, there was little room for the pretty stuff at Ashton, where the weather could not decide between bright, early spring sunshine, Arctic hail and Equatorial rain so decided to bless us with all three.

The mercurial Ian Craney was a constant mischief maker in the middle of the park and proved again that he is as adept a creator as he is a finisher with his 29th minute cross to Scott on the right after receiving the ball from Hardy

With the Ashton defence caught flat-footed, Scott rifled home a strong right footed shot across keeper Danny Trueman.

Craney then saw a hat-trick of chances go begging in the space of 12 minutes either side of half time with his three efforts saved by Trueman, flying over the bar and rattling the post respectively.

Some questionable refereeing decisions had the travelling Alty supporters scratching their heads in the second half, but you just can't keep a good side down.

The same goes for a good striker, and the icing on the cake came when Thornley popped up at the back post to head in a cross-cum-shot from Hardy.

It's good to know their FA Trophy tomfoolery hasn't distracted Alty's minds from the day job - that top 13 finish and the place in the re-organised pyramid of non-league football it brings.

Robins: Coburn, Aspinall, Adams, Band (Holt 83), Talbot, Rose, Scott, Craney, Hallows (Thornley 72), Hardy, Wright (Shuttleworth).