Rockin' Robins Over The Mooney!

Keeper’s mistake proves killer blow

- Chris Dunlavy

Boston United’s 87-year stay at York Street ended in heartbreak after a shocking blunder from keeper Peter Crook saw Altrincham seize promotion to the National League.

A tight contest was decided just after the hour when Crook – unchallenged – spilled a routine take straight into the path of Dan Mooney. Six yards out, the Alty man couldn’t miss.

It was no more than the visitors deserved for a performance of resolution and discipline that Boston never had the tools to dismantle.

“I’m extremely proud,” said Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson, who was appointed in 2017 following a dismal relegation to the Northern Premier League.

“To have done what we’ve done in a period of time. To have made good on the promises we made. People might have called that arrogance. It certainly wasn’t. It was confidence in the lads we recruited and what they could do.

“We said we wanted to come up from the NPL at the first attempt. We said we wanted to establish ourselves at Conference North and then go up again in the third. So many people said that was unrealistic, but it feels great to stand here and say we did it.”

For the home side, however, a fourth play-off defeat in nine years means their new home will be christened by an 11th straight season at Step 2.