Hartlepool United’s 10-match unbeaten league run at the Prestige Group Stadium was ended after Altrincham bagged two late goals to snatch a 2-1 win.
Regan Linney and sub Lucas Weaver struck in a six-minute spell to condemn Pools to their first home defeat since late September, with Nicky Featherstone scoring a consolation with almost the last move of the game.
It proved a frustrating night for Anthony Limbrick’s side who had the better of the play but could bot translate it into goals.
The loss saw Pools drop to 10th in the table, seven points outside the top seven and having played more games than all the sides chasing the last couple of play-off places.
The first half proved a low-key affair with Mani Dieseruvwe and Reyes Cleary shooting harmlessly wide from distance while Adam Smith had a couple of routine saves at the other end.
Pools did go close in a 29th-minute scramble when Dieseruvwe saw his effort hit the post with Luke Waterfall close to scrambling the ball in.
After the break, David Ferguson skied a free-kick before his old Pools team-mate Tom Crawford, captaining the Robins, shot over the Rink End which was housing 169 away fans.
Limbrick made a double change just before the hour, introducing Joe Grey, making a welcome return after a seven-game absence following surgery, and Gary Madine for Sam Folarin and Adam Campbell.
Madine made an immediate difference and he was unlucky not to give his team a 64th-minute lead when the brave Alty defence denied twice from a Ferguson corner before away keeper Caleb Anson tipped over Dieseruvwe’s follow-up shot.
Mani had a shot blocked for a corner four minutes later and 10 minutes from time, Featherstone almost played Dieseruvwe in but the striker was thwarted by the defence.
If any team was going to win it, it looked like the hosts until they were floored by a sucker punch in the 87th minute.
Madine was penalised for handball, allowing Altrincham to punt the free-kick forward over the Pools defence. Linney got to the ball first, rounded Smith and rolled his shot into an empty Rink End net.
The Robins fans were chirping again in the second minute of added time when sub Weaver applied a calm finish low into Smith’s bottom right corner after good work by fellow sub Kahrel Reddin.
Pools kept going and were rewarded when Featherstone met Grey’s cross with his head to find the net, with Anson unable to keep the ball out.
But that goal proved too little, too late as the referee blew immediately after the restart.
Pools: Smith, Hunter, Waterfall, Ferguson, Stephenson (Charman 77), Miley (Featherstone 77), Sloggett, Campbell (Madine 59), Cleary, Dieseruvwe, Folarin (Grey 59)
Subs (not used): Foster, Sass-Davies, Robinson
