Altrincham condemned Bradford (Park Avenue) to back-to-back defeats at the Horsfall Stadium.
Both sides suffered bitterly disappointing defeats last week but it was Altrincham that produced a response with an impressive win over Mark Bower’s side.
The hosts nearly opened the scoring after just four minutes when Chris Dawson forced Elliot Wynne to parry and Nicky Wroe struck the rebound into the goalkeeper’s midriff.
However, it was the visitors that took the lead after six minutes. John Johnston’s cross caused a scramble to ensue in the box and Thomas Peers eventually poked over the line.
The lead was almost doubled shortly after, but Steven Drench produced a vital stop when Joshua Hancock struck with venom inside the 18-yard box.
Bradford did have chances of their own and Ben McKenna found himself in a promising position after some trickery on the right flank from Ryan Toulson. The full-back squared to McKenna but he blasted high and wide.
McKenna then turned provider and squared to Nicky Wroe after reaching the byline, but the midfielder’s poor touch deprived him of the opportunity to shoot.
As pressure continued to mount on Altrincham, Wynne made an excellent save to deny Shane Killock, who struck from close-range after meeting Toulson’s long-throw.
The Robins’ opener had proven that goalmouth scrambles can be dangerous and Thomas Hannigan was forced to blast clear when a sea of bodies contested a corner delivery from Wroe.
Bradford eventually drew level through Killock, who got the better of Wynne following his early denial by volleying into the roof of the net.
HALF-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 1-1 Altrincham
Seven minutes after the restart, Bradford took the lead. Jake Beesley advanced down the left before pulling back to Conor Branson, who fired past Wynne.
However, it took just four minutes for the visitors to respond and they were back on level terms when Johnston’s long-range piledriver took a deflection and was taken beyond Drench.
With the wind in their sails, Altrincham remained on the front foot and edged themselves ahead when substitute Max Harrop found the bottom corner with a low drive from the left-hand side of the box.
Frustration was etched on the faces of the Bradford players and both Wroe and Luca Havern went into the referee’s book for needless fouls shortly after conceding.
The hosts hunted for an equaliser but failed to carve Altrincham open in the late stages Wynne punched a Branson header away from danger and Adam Nowakowski flicked a header wide after connecting with Nicky Clee’s long-throw.
Clee delivered a free-kick with barely a minute remaining on the clock but Killock’s header looped over the woodwork.
Phil Parkinson’s side even had an opportunity to extend their lead in stoppage time but Johnston’s powerful strike was beaten away by Wynne.
FULL-TIME: Bradford (Park Avenue) 2-3 Altrincham
Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Toulson, Lowe (Nowakowski 82′), Wroe (Spencer 87′), Killock (c), Havern, McKenna, Branson, Beesley, Dawson (Johnson 70′), Clee.
Unused substitutes: Ross, Boshell.
Altrincham: Wynne, Richman, White, Jones, Hannigan, Moult, Johnston, Williams, Peers (Poole 76′), Hancock, Dale (Harrop 58′).
Unused substitutes: Hulme, Goulding, Thompson.
Referee: Adam Herczog
Attendance: 454