THE champagne's on ice, as Robins prepare to throw a party to mark their first league title win for nearly 20 years, writes Mark Harris

Bernard Taylor's men need 3 points from their remaining 2 matches to make absolutely certain of being crowned Unibond champions, although a single point would leave Worksop needing victory by more than 25 goals from their final game at Winsford.

The scene is now set for the visit of Emley on Thursday night (kick-off 7.30) and Altrincham were propelled to the brink of glory with a solid 3-0 win at Frickley on Tuesday night.

The gritty collliery club has rarely been a happy hunting ground for the Robins but 2 goals in the opening half-hour put them in firm control of this match.

It was not classic stuff, but Robins did what they had to do and a small band of Worksop fans left well-before the end of a game Frickley needed to win to give the Nottinghamshire side a realistic chance of beating Alty to the title.

With Ricky Harris unfit, Tony Rigby was intoduced to the starting line-up and the on-loan Bury star showed why his recruitment on a full-time basis will be a priority for the Moss Lane management.

Rigby's intelligent probings coupled with the non-stop running by man-of-the match Jason Gallagher saw Robins attain an invincible position inside 30 minutes.

On 15 minutes, Rigby and Robertson stood over a free-kick on the edge of the Frickley box. Robertson took the kick and curled an exquisite left-foot into the top corner leaving the home keeper flat-footed.

Robins' second came 20 minutes later. Keith Russell and Phil Power robbed the Frickley defence and Power worked a neat position before firing past the keeper from 15 yards.

Robins did not have it their own way with Frickley's ex-Altrincham man Russell Green showing some deft touches .

Stuart Coburn was rarely tested thanks to some wayward finishing but he and his defensive collegaues had to be on their guard to preserve their team's advantage.

The game was completely safe on 59 mintes. Tony Rigby was picked out with a super right-wing centre by Simeon Hodson.

He took the ball down, took a short step and fired the low drive into the corner of the net.

With the game dead, Robins still pressed for more goals and introduced Andy Lovelock as well as Niell Hardy as other legs tired.

The only concerns for manager Taylor at the end of the encounter were a hamstring injury which forced Robertson's retirement and a knock which saw Keith Russell limp out of the action with 10 minutes to go.

Fortunately the squad offers enough options to be able to cope with most eventuallities and the second-half arrival of Leroy Chanmbers was a further fillip for the noisy band of travelling fans who yelled their team home at the final whistle.

Robins: Coburn, Hodson, Adams, Timons, Ellender, Robertson, (Chambers) Gallagher, Power, Talbot, Rigby (Hardy) Russell ( Lovelock).

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.