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Archived News from October 2009

STAGS WIN AT NINE-MAN ALTRINCHAM
16th October 2009 22:09


Blue Square Premier
Altrincham 1 - 2 Mansfield Town
Burns 64. Sent off: Senior 28, Doughty 52. Perry 7, Briscoe 46
Attendance: 1642 (approx 450 from Mansfield)

Date: 10 October 2009

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report from altrinchamfc.co.uk/alty1.htm

10 October 2009
ALTRINCHAM 1 MANSFIELD TOWN 2

SUMMARY:
Altrincham paid the price for two defensive errors in a game where once again the referee became a major talking point. It was not that Mr Halliday sent off Chris Senior, who ill advisedly ran 15 yards to push Perry in the chest, who collapsed like a felled oak. Nor was it that he dismissed Matt Doughty for an alleged kick, which earned him a second yellow card, but the referee's general failure to clamp down in the first half on Mansfield's rugged approach to the game (18 fouls in the game to Alty's 7) meant that one or two Mansfield players stayed on the pitch whose cumulative fouls should have earned them an early bath. Four of Mansfield's five bookings only came after the score had reached 2-0.

Colin Little saw a first-half header crash back off the underside of the bar and Alty lost Chris Denham to injury in the opening 45 minutes. Stuart Coburn also limped through much of the game, but with no keeper on the bench he saw out the 90 minutes. But the game was decided through the Robins giving away avoidable goals at the start of each half. Having started the game better than the visitors, Alty fell behind as the game went into the eighth minute. After Alty had failed to clear their lines, Stuart Coburn made a brilliant save from Somner's attempt but the ball came out to Perry who found the top of the net. In the second half, Mansfield scored after just 12 seconds- the same time it took Alty to score in last year's encounter between these sides. That goal came as Alty allowed the ball to bounce in their own penalty area and Briscoe found the net.

Despite being down to nine men for the final 37 minutes, Altrincham continued to go forward and made Mansfield distinctly jittery before the end. The nine men got a goal back through Aaron Burns in the 64th minute and Robbie Williams headed home what the home crowd thought was an equalizer in the 90th minute only to see it ruled out for offside. Alty may have lost but they showed plenty of spirit and, but for their two defensive lapses, could well have won this game.

SCORERS

8 mins: Kyle PERRY (ALTRINCHAM 0 Mansfield Town 1)
46 mins: Louis BRISCOE (ALTRINCHAM 0 Mansfield Town 2)
64 mins: Aaron BURNS (ALTRINCHAM 1 Mansfield Town 2)

REFEREE: Mr Andy Halliday

ATTENDANCE: 1,642

TEAM NEWS
Colin Little was making only his second start of the season, replacing Sam Sheridan.

BACKGROUND:

Last season's game at Moss Lane between these sides was settled by a goal from Alty's Chris Senior after just eleven seconds of the first half. This year Mansfield had started better than in their inaugural BSP campaign and lay in fifth place at kick off whilst Alty were eighth, just two points behind The Stags. Altrincham went into the game unbeaten in seven games.

LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks): 1. Stuart COBURN, 6. Shaun DENSMORE, 2. James SMITH, 12. Robbie WILLIAMS, 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 10. Chris DENHAM, 4. Tom KEARNEY (capt), 16. Anthony DANYLYK, 11. Nicky CLEE, 19. Chris SENIOR, 9. Colin LITTLE. Subs: 7. Robbie LAWTON, 26. Sam SHERIDAN, 18. Michael WELCH, 5. Greg YOUNG, 25. Aaron BURNS.

MANSFIELD TOWN (Yellow shirts, blue shorts, yellow socks): 1. Alan Marriott, 16. Gary Silk, 15. Luke Graham, 6. Scott Garner, 3. Paul Heckingbottom, 7. Louis Briscoe, 14. Steven Istead, 4. Gary Mills, 8. Matthew Somner, 9. Robert Duffy, 19. Kyle Perry. Subs: 11. Ryan Williams, 12. Craig Armstrong, 17. Jake Speight, 32. Blair Sturrock, 33. Ed Eley (gk).

REPORT
After changing ends, Alty kicked off attacking the away end and after a bout of head tennis, Altrincham almost took an early lead (80 secs). Danylyk fed Denham who played in Senior, whose cross from the right by-line just evaded the head of Colin Little in the goalmouth. But from their first serious attack, Mansfield took the lead. It came as Altrincham failed to clear their lines and though Coburn made a magnificent save from Somner's shot, the ball came out to Perry, who lifted the ball into the top of the net to give the Stags the lead, to the delight of their sizeable away following. Stuart Coburn protested that the goal was offside but to no avail. The game had just gone into the eighth minute.

Duffy got away with no more than a freekick award against him for both a foul and dissent as Mr Halliday set his low benchmark for taking action against the rugged approach of the visitors. A very late challenge by Somner on Kearney merely underlined this as a freekick was given but not even a word of censure was addressed to the perpetrator (10 mins). Altrincham had a glorious chance to equalise in the 12th minute when a ball dropped for Denham whose effort was blocked but came out to Senior. From about 12 yards Senior hit the ball hard - but well off target (12 mins).

Another crude foul from Mills, who somehow won the away man of the match award, flattened Denham and even Mr Halliday was induced to produce a yellow card (13 mins). Alty had a close escape when Perry got in a shot which Coburn saved smartly with his legs at the cost of a corner (16 mins). Altrincham continued to pass the ball well, with Kearney always looking to have time whenever he was on the ball. Clee was then flattened, with Mr Halliday playing advantage, which led to an Altrincham corner. Williams was being held two-handed round the waist as the ball came in but the linesman, spelt in the programme as Mr Cropp, failed to spot it.

At the other end Coburn injured himself kicking clear and needed treatment. This was the first game this season that Alty had no reserve keeper on the bench so Stuart had to continue, though clearly troubled with a leg injury (20 mins). Mansfield were now on top as the fouls continued at regular intervals. From a Clee cross, Alty went close again (24 mins) before the left winger was brought down by Silk. An Alty corner soon followed before a flashpoint in the game arose. Clee was clearly fouled again but Mr Halliday saw nothing wrong. The Alty man then exacted his frustration by fouling an opponent who went down, followed by a posse of his team mates arriving on the scene. Senior unwisely steamed into the action and clearly pushed a Mansfield player, two-handed, in the chest. He could have few complaints at seeing a red card. Following several unnecessary bookings amongst his four yellow cards this season, the Alty striker needs to act more wisely in future (28 mins). Doughty also picked up a booking in this incident, presumably for dissent.

So, heavily outpointed in the foul count, Alty nevertheless found themselves a man down. Denham was then given offside by Mr Cropp, the assistant referee. When Somner, not for the first time, committed a foul, this time catching Kearney very late, Mr Halliday again declined to show a card, but at least gave a freekick which is more than he did when Istead arm wrestled Danylyk off the ball barely six foot from his gaze (32 mins). Alty then almost equalised with a fine move on the right as Densmore's excellent cross was headed firmly against the underside of the cross bar by Colin Little. The ball bounced out and was cleared. This suggested it was not to be Alty's afternoon.

Smith was having another excellent game at the back for Alty but more controversy surrounded Mr Halliday when, shortly after Chris Denham had gone down for treatment following a clash with a Mansfield defender, for which no foul was given, Mr Cropp had a word with the referee which resulted in Alty substitute Greg Young, warming up at the side of the pitch, being booked, presumably for saying something which upset the linesman (37 mins). Alty's unhappy afternoon got worse as Denham had to limp off to be replaced by Burns (41 mins).

The ten part-timers held their own as the game approached the interval, before which five added minutes were announced. Burns nearly nipped in to score for Alty as Mansfield allowed a ball to bounce in their goalmouth. But his header was just clawed out for a corner by Marriott (46 mins). Mansfield had looked suspect in defence and this was the fourth decent chance that Altrincham had had in the first half. Alty won their third corner of the final five minutes of the first half before Mr Halliday curiously blew his whistle, having only allowed 19 seconds for an injury that had taken at least a minute to treat, and which occurred after he had decreed a minimum of five added minutes. Mr Ferguson would not have been amused.

Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM 0 MANSFIELD TOWN 1

Alty had won this corresponding match last season by scoring 12 seconds after the kick off; now Mansfield did exactly the same at the start of the second. Twelve seconds elapsed as Alty hesitated and, in a replica of the move just before the interval when the Stag's defence had allowed a ball to bounce in their box, allowed the same to happen which permitted Briscoe to hook the ball past Coburn. It was a bad goal from the defence's point of view and gave Alty a mountain to climb with ten men.

Another fine Coburn save kept the score at 2-0 (49 mins), and then Alty won a freekick. Kearney took it and Mr Halliday blew his whistle after the ball had been kicked. Nevertheless he allowed play to continue. Alty then won a corner from which Marriott completely missed the ball but the ball was cleared. Doughty was then brought down by Silk as he advanced into the Mansfield half on the Alty left. After booking the offender, the ref had a word with his linesman before showing Doughty a second yellow card and then a red. Apparently, the Alty left back had kicked out at the offender. So Alty were now down to nine men (53 mins). Both of Alty's dismissals had followed fouls on Altrincham players; in the first case no freekick was given, Clee exacted his own revenge and Senior got himself sent off. In the second case, Doughty retaliated. It looked like curtains for Alty, as nine part-timers faced eleven full-timers for the remaining 37 minutes.

Mansfield then brought on Speight, the former Farsley winger, for Perry (55 mins). Soon afterwards, the already booked Greg Young came on to replace Clee for Altrincham (58 mins). Burns was then harshly penalised as he chased a 50-50 ball into the box and collided with Marriott who spilt the ball. A little too late to help Altrincham, Mr Halliday finally started to produce yellow cards for Mansfield's offenders, booking four of their players in the final half hour. First to se yellow was former Barnsley defender Heckingbottom for a foul on the excellent Densmore (60 mins). Kearney's' freekick from the edge of the box hit the wall. then Ryan Williams came on for Mansfield to replace Istead (62 mins).

Altrincham were showing good spirit despite the adverse circumstances and when Danylyk and Little got the ball through to Aaron Burns, the on-loan Northwich striker kept his composure to fire past Marriott and make it 2-1 (64 mins). Soon after this Danylyk was caught in the face by a Mansfield raised foot but the referee saw no problem in this. Then Lawton came on for Danylyk (66 mins). Speight got himself needlessly booked after 68 minutes when he played on well after an offside whistle had sounded and rounded Coburn and drove the ball into the net.

Altrincham continued to deploy two of their remaining eight outfield players up front as Mansfield looked distinctly uncomfortable. They tried playing the ball around to tire Alty but lacked any penetration and, quite embarrassingly for an 11-man side against one of nine, they had to be told off for time wasting with almost 20 minutes left. Williams looked their main threat on the left but Smith was doing well to shut him down.

Briscoe then pulled up with a muscle problem and had to be replaced by Sturrock, son of the Plymouth Argyle manager (77 mins). To his discredit, Briscoe walked quite comfortably towards the half way line before deciding that he had to lie down to allow his team to get a substitute ready. Though Mr Halliday saw through this ploy and made him get up, his gamesmanship went unpunished. Sturrock's first act was to kick Densmore in the face with a very high foot-up challenge which earned him a yellow card (78 mins).

Mansfield were far from imposing their two-man superiority on Altrincham with Mills's shot over the bar from 20 yards their best effort at this stage (81 mins). Soon afterwards a wayward shot from Speight cleared the goal comfortably as Mansfield failed to trouble the injured Coburn, until the Alty keeper saved smartly from an offside looking attack (84 mins). More wayward shots from Speight and Sturrock occurred before Alty seemed to have rescued a point. A cross from Little was headed home by Williams, but was ruled out for offside (90 mins).

The visitors were looking shaky as the game went into five minutes of added time. Alty pressed forward belying their two-man deficit but the final whistle went to confirm their second home defeat of the season. They could take a lot of pride from the way they went forward in the final half hour despite the dismissal of two players and a two-goal deficit. But they also had plenty to reflect on in terms of the defensive lapses that cost them the two goals and the receipt of two red cards, both in their way being cases of retaliation for fouls committed against them. Alty dropped to tenth, still a commendable position.

Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM 1 MANSFIELD TOWN 2

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Nine-man Alty get a standing ovation after losing to Mansfield
http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/sport/alty/altynews

ALTRINCHAM 1 MANSFIELD TOWN 2
ALTRINCHAM left the field to a standing ovation - despite having two men sent off and losing the game.

The Robins cut their own throats by conceding two softish goals, and their two red cards both arose out of retaliation to Mansfield's physical style of play.

But the nine Alty men remaining on the field for almost 40 minutes of this game showed a remarkable spirit which kept them going forward to the very end. Indeed, but for a linesman's flag, which ruled out Robbie Williams's last-minute 'goal', Alty would have taken a deserved point.

After starting well and going close to opening the scoring, Alty fell behind after just eight minutes when a poor clearance allowed Somner a shot, which Coburn beat out brilliantly.

But he was powerless to stop Perry converting from the rebound.

The Alty keeper was to spend much of the game limping but, with no keeper on the bench, he played out the 90 minutes.

Chris Denham was less fortunate. After being scythed down by one of many rugged challenges from the visitors, he had to give way to loan player Aaron Burns before the interval.

Colin Little almost headed Alty level in the first half but his effort came back off the crossbar.

But the key incident occurred after 27 minutes when referee Halliday, who throughout displayed a lenient approach to the visitors' physical tactics, allowed Nicky Clee to be fouled.

Clee responded seconds later by fouling an opponent which prompted a posse of Mansfield players to come running from yards away.

Unfortunately Alty's Chris Senior did the same and compounded his action with a two-handed push on the chest of Perry. The outcome was a red card for Senior and yellows for Clee and for the dissenting Matt Doughty.

A mix up in the Alty defence allowed Briscoe to make it 2-0 just 12 seconds into the second half before Doughty was sent off eight minutes later, for retaliating after being brought down yet again.

But, out of this adversity, came Alty's fighting spirit. First, Aaron Burns finished well to make it 2-1 after 64 minutes.Then the nine part-timers refused to lie down for Mansfield's eleven full-time professionals.

But Alty's two defensive errors and the decisions by Senior and Doughty to take revenge into their own hands had created a mountain that was ultimately just too steep to climb.

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CHAD report:

Altrincham 1-2 Mansfield Town, Saturday 10th October
CHAD.co.uk, 10 October 2009
By John Lomas
RECALLED strikers Kyle Perry and Louis Briscoe gave the Stags a two-goal lead at 9-men Altrincham this afternoon - but remarkably they were left hanging on for their first away win in five matches.
Perry struck first, slamming a loose ball high into the net after Matt Somner, also among the recalled players, saw his seventh minute deflected shot well saved.

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Altrincham-12-Mansfield-Town-Saturday.5721845.jp

The striker was then involved in the game's second major incident when home striker Senior was red carded in the 26th minute, after the Stags forward was sent crashing to the ground by a punch.

But just 12 seconds into the second half Louis Briscoe - also recalled to the team - added a second goal in a move also involving Perry and Duffy.

Then Altrincham's Doughty, booked for dissent in the first half, was sent off moments later after an incident which also saw Stags' full back Gary Silk yellow carded.

However, the nine men hit back with a goal midway through the second half from Burns on the breakaway to set up a tense finish.

And in the last minute the home side thought their 9-men had grabbed an unlikely equaliser, but Williams' header was ruled out for offside.

Adding to the two red cards, there were also saw nine yellow cards in a passionate encounter.

Stags had their chances to wrap this one up but allowed the battling home side to push them all the way to the wire before the whistle brough an end to Altrincham's seven game unbeaten run.

Stags had made four changes as David Holdsworth kept his word to tighten things up when he went 4-3-3.

In came Steven Istead, for his full debut in midfield, as well as Somner, Briscoe and Perry.

Out went Ryan Williams, Blair Sturrock, Daryl Clare and Kyle Nix as the Stags looked to end a run of three succcessive away defeats and one point from 12 on their travels - at a side unbeaten in seven matches.

Stags did not concede an 11th second goal like last year's horror start at Moss Lane.

But they lived dangerously on 76 seconds as Little just failed to get a head on Senior's cross from the right after he had beaten Graham to the ball.

However, it was the Stags who drew first blood this year as Perry netted his seventh goal of the season on seven minutes.

Doughty tried to clear a right wing cross from Mills but sent it only to Somner whose first time shot took a deflection and brought a good save from Coburn, diving to his left.

But he was left helpless as Perry rammed the loose ball high into the net from seven yards.

Senior was not far off an equaliser five minutes later as he volleyed wide from 18 yards after Garner had tried to head a left wing cross clear.

Mills saw the afternoon's first yellow card for a reckless tackle on Denham on 13 minutes which left the Altrincham player down for treatment.

Perry really should have doubled his tally and Stags' lead on 16 minutes as Briscoe shaped to shoot but cut inside 16 yards out and then rolled a pass to Perry to his left who, with just the keeper to beat, shot straight at his legs.

Both sides cleared corners. Then on 19 minutes home keeper Coburn went down after a scuffed clearance and needed treatment but was fit to continue.

Briscoe was clearly up for battle and again did well to burst to the right by-line and get in a cross which a defender's leg prevented from reaching an unmarked Duffy behind him.

Then Marriott did well to gather a low cross under pressure as Senior slid in and, soon after, the visitors survived a Denham cross from the right as Silk cleared in front of goal.

Perry showed good vision to control a high ball on his chest and volley just over on the turn from 20 yards.

However, the game erupted on 28 minutes after Silk was felled by a late tackle. Players waded in and Senior threw a right handed punch at Perry which left the Stags striker on the turf.

Once it had all calmed down Senior was shown the red card and there were yellows for Clee and Doughty. Somner was lucky not to join them in the book for a cynical late tackle on Kearney.

The home side came so close to an equaliser on 35 minutes as Densmore crossed from the right and Little beat Marriott with a header that came back down off the crossbar.

Then Perry wasted another chance as Duffy cushioned Briscoe's cross back towards the big striker who completely missed his kick at the vital moment.

Denham went in late on Garner as the defender tried to see the ball back to his keeper and then stayed down for treatment. During this sub Young shouted something at the referee as he warmed up on the touchline to earn himself a yellow card.

Denham was still struggling as play resumed and was replaced by Burns on 41 minutes. Immediately the sub found his way into the box only to be denied by the most solid of blocks by Garner as he tried to shoot.

There was danger for Mansfield in stoppage time as first Marriott had to save a misguided headed clearance from Silk that almost looped into his own goal. And then Clee was unable to direct a far post header on target from the tightest of angles from a left wing cross.

As the game entered a fifth minute of stoppage time, Marriott confidently collected a right wing corner and Stags were halfway to success.

After that 11 second embarrassment last year, ironically Stags took just 11 seconds of the second half to double their lead!

Duffy helped on a long clearance towards Briscoe who did supremely well to pip the keeper to the ball and poke it across him into the net.

Then Perry fed Mills into the box who brought a smart save from Coburn with his low finish though Briscoe was in acres of space to the right and a better option had Perry seen him.

Little almost pulled one back when he raced in to meet a Kearney free kick from the left but blazed over with his first time attempt.

Silk joined the names in the book on 53 minutes for a foul on Doughty who then must have said something to the referee as, having already been booked, he was shown a second yellow and subsequent red to leave his side down to nine men.

Densmore was booked for hacking down Duffy and, during the stoppage, Speight came on up front for Stags.

The referee's pen was back in action on the hour as Heckingbottom brought down Densmore right on the edge of the box. Thankfully Kearney's free kick, from a great central position, was straight into the wall.

Williams came on for Istead for the final 28 minutes to give Altrincham fresh problems to worry about.

But the home side, who had continued to battle gamely, grabbed an unlikely lifeline on 64 minutes.

Little's through ball put sub Burns goalside of Graham and away on goal and he kept his composure to slot home and give the nine men an unexpected chance of a grandstand finish.

Williams went on a good run down the left and then crossed to the far post where the ball bounced agonisingly wide with Duffy and Speight so close to a finish touch.

Then Garner got in the way of a Williams shot from a half cleared corner

Sturrock came on in the 77th minute for Briscoe and within a minute had been harshly booked for an accidental high boot into the face of Densmore.

Mills crashed a rising shot over the top from 20 yards as we entered the nervous last 10 minutes.

Speight might have done better as Sturrock's pass put him into the box and he fired over with Duffy better placed and free to his right.

Still desperate for a killer third, Stags broke well from a home free kick and worked the ball out wide to Williams on the left who cut inside before forcing Coburn to save low at his near post.

Speight really should have sealed it on 87 minutes as Williams picked him out with an inch-perfect cross from the left. The striker controlled perfectly and came inside the last defender but, with only the keeper to beat, lashed wildly over the bar.

Then Sturrock was off target from the edge of the box after twisting and turning the defenders but once again with better options to his left.

Dramatically Altrincham had the ball in the Stags net in the final minute of normal time. Little lofted it in, Williams made the run and just beat Marriott to it to head into the empty net.

But Stags' embarrassment was thankfully spared by a raised offside flag.

Gutsy Altrincham continued to press in the five minutes of nerve-shredding added time, roared on by their supporters.

When Mills conceded a free kick near the halfway line as we went into a 96th minute, the tension was unbearable. But Stags cleared their lines and hung on for what should have been a much easier victory.

ALTRINCHAM: Coburn, Smith, Doughty, Kearney, Densmore, Little, Denham, Clee, Rob Williams, Danylyk, Senior. Subs; Young, Lawton, Welch, Burns, Sheridan.

STAGS: Marriott; Silk, Graham, Garner, Heckingbottom; Mills, Somner, Istead; Perry, Duffy, Briscoe. Subs: Ryan Williams, Armstrong, Speight, Sturrock, Eley.

REFEREE: Andy Halliday of Ripon.

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Evening Post report:
Altrincham 1 Mansfield Town 2

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Undefined-Headline/article-1409422-detail/article.html

MANSFIELD clinched their first away victory in five attempts this afternoon – but made much harder work than it should have been against nine-man Altrincham.
With a 2-0 lead – given to them by Kyle Perry and Louis Briscoe – and a two-man advantage for much of the second half – the Stags should have been on cruise control.
But once Aaron Burns pulled a goal back in the 64th minute, Mansfield were suddenly looking nervy.
The home side battled on until the end and were unlucky not to level in the closing stages when Robbie Williams' header was ruled offside.
Nevertheless, the visiting fans were delighted to see their team collect three points as the Altrincham supporters booed off referee Andy Halliday for sending off Chris Senior and Matt Doughty.
The home side made a bright start and Anthony Danylyk's cross from the right byline was only inches from finding the head of Colin Little.
But it was Mansfield who took the lead in the seventh minute through the recalled Perry.
Gary Mills right-wing cross was headed partially clear but Doughty miscued as he attempted to complete the job.
The ball spooned to Matt Somner on the edge of the box whose first time volley took a deflection and was well pushed away by Stuart Coburn.
But Perry was alert to the situation and lashed the rebound in from eight yards.
The Robins looked to level quickly only for Senior to lash the ball wide of the right-hand post on the volley following a left-wing centre.
Skipper Mills was the first player booked in the 13th minute as he scythed into the back of Chris Denham close to the halfway line.
The Stags had a golden chance to double their lead soon after as Louis Briscoe's smart work gave Perry a clear sight of goal.
He had time to line up an angled drive but his disappointing, low effort was blocked by the legs of Coburn.
Perry went close again when he controlled a header forward and spun to volley just over the top from outside the box.
Tempers frayed just before the half hour mark after a late challenge on Silk.
As Mansfield players reacted angrily, Senior appeared to throw a punch at Perry, who went down.
The Altrincham player was duly sent off while Nick Clee and Doughty were also booked.
Both sides had chances in quick succession as first Little's header, from Shaun Densmore's cross, came back of the bar with Alan Marriott beaten.
Then, at the other end, Briscoe's left-wing centre to the far post saw Rob Duffy cushion the ball back for Perry, who missed his kick with the goal at his mercy.
As half-time approached, Alty pulled off Denham for Aaron Burns.
In stoppage time, a long kick from Coburn caused confusion in the Mansfield defence and forced Marriott to claw the ball for a corner as Silk's header back to him looked to be looping in.
Mansfield got the perfect start to the second period as they went 2-0 up after 11 seconds.
A long ball forward from the left-back area was flicked on by Duffy and poked over the advancing Coburn by Briscoe from close range.
It might have been 3-0 when Perry played in Mills but his low finish was too close to Coburn, who held on.
Altrincham almost pulled one back from Tom Kearney's free-kick when Little blasted over from the edge of the six-yard box.
Things got even worst from the hosts in the 53rd minute when they were reduced to nine men.
Silk was booked for fouling Doughty, who then must have said something to the referee as he was shown a second yellow card and then a red.
But Altrincham simply refused to lie down and gave themselves hope when substitute Burns raced clear to pick his spot in the left-hand corner as the Mansfield defence was caught square.
In the 72nd minute, substitute Ryan Williams went close when his cross-cum-shot dropped just wide of the far post and just out of the reach of Duffy and Jake Speight.
As the game moved into the last 10 minutes, Mills fired a rasping drive just over the top with Coburn at full stretch.
Soon after, Speight should have played in Duffy in acres of space but drilled over when well marked.
Next to go close was Williams as his drive, cutting in from the right was pushed away by Coburn.
Another chance went begging when Williams teed up Speight but he blazed his finish too high.
In the final minute there was a massive let-off for Mansfield when Williams headed in a Little cross only to be adjudged offside.

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