After freezing weather threatened tomorrow’s scheduled game at Moss Lane, Altrincham and Sutton agreed to switch the fixture to Gander Green Lane and so U’s will take to the pitch for the first time in three weeks. having seen the Christmas and New Year programme wiped out due to Covid infections.

Altrincham were promoted through the National League North play-offs last season, regaining the National League place they had lost in 2016, the fourth time they had been relegated from a league they won twice in 1980 and 1981 when they were arguably the strongest non-league sides and unlucky not to gain election to the Football League.

They found the going tough at the start of this season, winning one of their first eight games, but after subsequently losing only two of their next nine they come to Sutton in a play-off place and could draw level with U’s on points with a victory.

The sides were regular adversaries in Sutton’s days in the non-league top flight in the 1980s and 1990s, with six previous meetings at Sutton of which U’s won four, most recently in 1999-2000 when two goals from Mark Watson and one from Jimmy Dack gave U’s a first win of the season. Altrincham reversed the score at Moss Lane later in a season at the end of which both sides were relegated.

There is a live stream of the game from SUFCtv, for which season ticket holders should have received a pass to gain access. Non season ticket holders can buy a pass for £9.99 here. There will also be a Mixlr commentary on the game.