ALTRINCHAM'S play-off aspirations took a heavy blow after a disastrous second-half at Chorley saw them lose 4-1.

Having got their National League North form back on track last week with an impressive win at Boston, things were again looking good for Alty at half time as they led 1-0 against the leaders.

But four second-half goals from the Lancastrians ultimately left Altrincham well beaten and with their biggest defeat of the season.

The Robins took a 23rd-minute lead when Max Harrop drove the ball home after home keeper Matt Urwin had only managed to parry John Johnston's goalbound shot.

Although the hosts grew into the game after that setback, they remained a goal adrift at the interval.

Five Chorley corners in the first five minutes of the second half served notice of the Magpies' recovery.

And they equalised in the 55th minute when the Alty defence failed to contain a move up the left and Alex Newby scored.

Chorley's second arrived 10 minutes later when Josh Wilson drove his shot into the roof of the net following Marcus Carver's ball across the box.

The third Chorley goal was a disaster for Altrincham as two defenders went for a miss-hit aerial ball from Chorley and neither managed to make any contact with it as it dropped near the front edge of the box.

Instead, the ball fell for Elliot Newby and the ex-Alty loanee put a well-placed low shot past Tony Thompson from the edge of the box.

The final goal came deep into added time when Courtney Meppen-Walter was allowed a free header from a corner.

Altrincham remain seventh in the league with their next game at home to in-form Southport on Saturday.

ALTRINCHAM: Thompson, White, Hampson, Jones, Hannigan, Moult, Johnston, Richman, Hulme, Hancock, Harrop. Subs: Densmore, Harrison, Williams, Mantack, Sang.