Altrincham assistant manager Graham Barrow said he felt his side's battling 1-0 win showed there was no 'hangover' from Tuesday's FA Cup exit to Luton Town following extra-time and penalties.

Saved from relegation by technicalities in each of the last three seasons, Altrincham's impressive home record this season has lifted them to a mid-table position and Barrow commented, "The fact we were disappointed to lose to Luton shows how far this club has come.

"It was just a case of getting the players up and to be positive. We have a very healthy league position compared to this time last year and we want to kick on and have a good season. That's the most important thing, and today could well be the point where we cemented the self-belief as a team that we can do it."

Pointing to league leaders Histon as their inspiration, Barrow continued, "Cambridge are a good side, you only have to look at the striking options. He has a good squad and we went out and gave a great team performance. We didn't let them get going and the only thing we lacked today was the second goal.

"We've brought to the squad the battling qualities; it's more a mental state of play than a physical one with us. We go into games wanting to win them and will do everything we can to do that, and you saw it in the way we covered towards the end.

"You can see this in the likes of Histon," he added. "Man for man we are as good as them and we take our lead from them, albeit with more football being played, but it shows how clubs like ours can go further than just competing with the likes of Cambridge."

Interview by David Gray

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