Wayne Hatswell gave credit to Altrincham for leaving with a repeat of their goalless draw here in April, but he felt there was no doubt that United should have won the game.

"They've stuck eleven men behind the ball all game and we've just not been able to break them down and get the goal," said the veteran defender afterwards.

"They have improved from the team who came here in the last game of last season, but on paper we have much the better team and we are at home, therefore we should win - no buts. They've come here again to sit on the edge of the 18-yard box and that's all they were going to do in the second half.

"Greg Young had a great game at centre half, heading and kicking everything out of the ground, and he'll be happy that they have got a clean sheet," he added.

"We've had two disallowed goals for what, I don't know. We just didn't get that bit of luck in the box where the ball would fall to us. If we'd got a goal, like we did against Forest Green on Saturday, we would have finished them off with a three or four goal scoreline."

United had two 'goals' ruled out in the second half; the first when Andy Parkinson was ruled offside after a good move on the break, and the second following a corner when Hatswell himself came from deep to poke a cross home.

"You could say the referee was consistent for both teams," he said. "For my late goal he explained that it was disallowed because our number two (Dan Gleeson) was fouling somebody; somebody who was probably 15 yards away from the ball.

"There is a hustle and bustle in Conference games and I think sometimes they don't realise that it is a man's game and common sense has got to be used. But he set his stall out in the first ten minutes and both sides knew he was going to be fussy. But why does a game always have to be about referees? So I don't want to harp on about it."

Hats closed with his appreciation for the fans who saw a contrasting game of cagy football to follow Saturday's open and exciting second half against Forest Green.

"We all appreciated how the fans stayed with us tonight - they understood how hard we were trying and how difficult it was becoming to break them down," he said. "They don't boo and give us stick very often, and when they do I think they are probably right.

"There will be people who won't be happy with a draw against Alty - the players and management certainly aren't happy with it! - but we will go to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and it will be a different type of game. It will be a lot more open as they are at home and they will be a more attacking threat, which we will try to exploit.

"We will give our all again, and if we can bring home the three points it will be a good week for us despite this result."

Interview by David Gray

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