Altrincham boss Lee Sinnott might not have seen his side’s winning goal but he hailed a great day for the club as they ran out 1-0 winners over League One side Barnsley in the FA Cup first round.
Damien Reeves netted immediately after the restart for the hosts against a team 45 places above them in the football pyramid.
Altrincham 1-0 Barnsley
Emirates FA Cup
First round proper
Saturday 7 November 2015
Winning sides receive £18,000 from The FA prize fund
The Greater Manchester club have a proud history in the competition having claimed 16 Football League scalps down the years and Sinnot was delighted to add another name to that list.
“I’m pleased it’s been rekindled, it’s been a while since Altrincham, a brilliantly traditional name in the FA Cup, have shown everyone it’s still there,” said Sinnott.
“We have some elderly supporters who remember those games in the 80s. It’s nice to see it’s come back for people like that.
“The greatest thing we’ve shown today is grit, that’s what we needed to go through.
"That’s what Salford City showed last night – all non-league teams will beat higher oppositions if they have that grit, that mentality that we’re not going to be broken down, we’re going to give everything.
Watch highlights of Alty's win over Barnsley in The Emirates FA Cup
“I missed the goal but I had a go at them a little bit at the break. I thought we’d done OK, we were drawing 0-0 against Barnsley who are a League One team.
“But I thought we could have done a little bit more with the ball. I had a few calm words, I didn’t go ballistic as they had done well but to see us through to see if we could get that result that we have now.”
The hosts showed their intent early as Jake Moult’s dipping drive forced Adam Davies into a save on 22 minutes.
Moult went close again shortly after Barnsley skipper Alfie Mawson had fired just wide at the other end.
The National League side found the all-important strike just after the break as Ryan Crowther drove forward and his effort was palmed into the path of Reeves who slotted home.
“I just feel there’s a soft underbelly all the way through the club”
Lee Johnson Barnsley manager
Barnsley pushed for an equaliser and the hosts dropped deep with Lloyd Isgrove putting a good opening wide while Conor Wilkinson saw his shot deflected into the hands of Tim Deasy.
That was as close as the visitors came and Altrincham held on for a famous win leaving Barnsley boss Lee Johnson less-than impressed.
“I’m angry and frustrated,” Johnson said. “They deserved their win today, which is not on from our point of view.
“I’ve been a giantkiller in my days at Yeovil, I know how hard people work. But I just feel there’s a soft underbelly all the way through the club.
"The 18s can’t get a win, the 21s can’t and the first team can’t.
“We need to shake it up and if I’m still here, like people keep questioning, then I will be the one to shake it up.
“Football’s football. It’s a horrendous run, you never know what’s around the corner. But, by the same token, I still believe I’m the man.”
