IT took extra time and goals from both Marc Williams and Jefferson Louis to finally see us make progress in the Setanta Shield.
In front of a disappointing turn out at Moss Lane, it was the Wrexham fans, who seemed to number their home counterparts, who had the first effort to cheer, as Angelos Tsiaklis fired a low shot from the edge of the box that reserve team keeper Andy Ralph did well to take with two hands.
Although the Robins might have slipped down the Conference table of late, since our visit at the end of August they have only conceded one goal at home in six league games showing just how hard they have become to beat.
The play swung from end to end, with both teams demonstrating their desire to play attacking football and fireworks on the pitch as well as those exploding in sky on the night before November 5!
Both wingers, Shaun Whalley and Christian Smith, were seeing plenty of the ball, although maybe the quality of the crosses was not what the two strikers were looking for.
Yet with Mark McGregor marshalling his defence, the home side were battling hard to win every ball and doing their best to move it forward to their forwards as quickly as possible.
There was a moment of danger on 28 minutes, when Dale Johnson got goal side of Neil Taylor, but the Wrexham skipper recovered his ground to tackle back and concede the corner. When the kick was floated to the back post Greg Young beat his marker to the header but from eight-yards he was unable to direct his effort on target.
A nice run from Whalley on 37 minutes, having switched to the left wing, saw him drift passed two markers, but as he reached the Altrincham penalty box he was tackled from behind by Shaun Densmore with both Marc Williams and Jefferson Louis looking for the pass when well placed in the centre.
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A change at the break as Silvio Spann replaced Ritchie De Laet and went to the right back position.
The breakthrough came on 48 minutes when Louis opened up the home defence and then slipped a lovely pass through for Marc Williams, who skipped into the box and with just the keeper to beat he fired his effort in-off the far post, much to the delight of the Wrexham fans at that end.
Moments later Whalley found space on the right wing and sent over a great cross which Louis got head to, but the ball bounced agonisingly wide of the near post.
The home side drew level on 54 minutes when a horrible mix up at the back saw two defenders and the keeper only block Johnson on the edge of the box, before Gavin Ward punched the ball straight to Alex Meechan and the forward hooked in a looping effort that bounced into the unguarded net.
On 75 minutes, Mackin launched a great cross field ball that set Whalley clear on the left, but with two men waiting on the right, he simply ran into the challenge of McGregor, who robbed with winger with far too much ease.
Since their equaliser, Altrincham had enjoyed the better of the play, although the Wrexham defence had managed to keep them at arm's length.
Then a well worked free kick by the Welshmen saw Tsiaklis find the head of Louis, but the big man's effort carried high onto the terraces behind Ralph's goal.
As the game moved into added time at the end of 90, Louis was taken out as jumped for a high ball, a dangerous action which failed to see a yellow card issued!
90 mins
Striker Louis missed a glorious chance 11 minutes into extra time, when he completely missed a low pass from Marc Williams, laid up to him along the edge of the home penalty area.
Tom Kearney is Wrexham's last sub with 10 minutes remaining, as Dean Saunders attempts to win the game before penalties are needed.
Could that have happened when Brown drove to the byeline and crossed into the centre for Jefferson Louis to take on his knee and from just five yards out smash his shot passed Ralph.
Alty almost produced a spectacular equaliser on 117 minutes, when Young's bullet cross was met by the head of Colin Little and from 18 yards the ball flew only inches over Ward's crossbar.
A few nervous moments at the end, but the fourth round of the Setanta Shield finally welcomed Wrexham FC - our first cup success (without the aid of penalties) since the FA Cup win over Scunthorpe United in December 2006!
Altrincham: Andy Ralph, Chris Lane (Greg Young 24), Matt Doughty, Mark McGregor, Luke Waterfall (Anthony Danylyk 56), Robbie Lawton, Shaun Densmore, Colin Little, Warren Peyton, Alex Meechan, Dale Johnson (Dan Heffernan 72).
Subs: Val Owen, Chris Senior.
Wrexham: Gavin Ward, Neil Taylor, Mike Williams, Ashley Westwood, Ritchie De Laet (Silvio Spann 46), Shaun Whalley, Levi Mackin (Tom Kearney 110), Angelos Tsiaklis, Christian Smith (Simon Brown 65), Jefferson Louis, Marc Williams.
Subs: Anthony Williams, Steve Evans.
Referee: P Varley (Yorks)
Attendance: 537
Away Terrace: 228 - plus about another 50 in the main stand!
Booking -
Altrincham: (Young 113, foul)
