Latics beaten at local rivals Altrincham

Latics lost 1-0 at Altrincham

A 1-0 defeat at Altrincham on Easter Monday means Latics' National League play-off hopes were further dented.

The disappointing defeat at Moss Lane followed Good Friday's home reverse at the hands of AFC Fylde.

Chris Conn-Clarke continued to underpin Altrincham's own play-off push, scoring the only goal to see off Latics.

The Northern Irishman scored his third of the Easter weekend and took his season's tally to 22 to lift the hosts to fourth in the table.

Alex Newby was instrumental in the 40th-minute winner, teeing up Conn-Clarke with precision to leave his team-mate a straightforward finish.

Regan Linney looked the likeliest finisher as the hosts pressed to put the Latics away, getting on the end of a handful of near misses, an unsuccessful penalty appeal and a deflected effort against the post, with late pressure from the visitors unable to tell.

Latics slipped five points shy of Aldershot in the final play-off position.

Manager Micky Mellon said: "I know it's very difficult for us right now, that gap's got too big with not enough games left.

"But you've just got to keep going and keep trying to pick up the results and make sure that we finish the season strongly."

Mellon's men are back in action on Saturday (12.30pm kick-off) when they host derby rivals Rochdale.

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