FALLEN giants Altrincham were the latest victims of bubbling Lancaster City on Saturday - dumped unceremoniously out of the FA Cup in front of a crowd of almost 500.

The Dolly Blues made a slow start and looked distinctly second best against the well-drilled Cheshire side, once known as the Manchester United of non-league football, in the early stages.

Altrincham set their stall out with a flat back four protected by a packed midfield and it was easy to see why they have become the Unibond League's draw specialists as they frustrated resurgent City.

But an injury to Ricky Mercer forced Giant Axe manager Phil Wilson to reshuffle his resources and call substitute Tony Sullivan into the mix - bringing an immediate change to the shape of the game.

He went up front alongside Jamie Hughes and the injection of extra pace unsettled the visitors to such an extent that chances immediately began to fall Lancaster's way.

Hughes might have done better with his header from a Neil Uberschar cross on 28 minutes and was denied only by a desperate tackle from defender Mark Maddox minutes later.

The pressure was even more intense after the interval as former Altrincham player Sullivan continued to show his old employers what they were missing as he combined with midfielder Neil Prince.

The breakthrough did not come until the 68th minute, though, as a knock down from Steve Jones put Sullivan in for a shot that Altrincham keeper Ben Williams could only parry to where Hughes was on hand to head in the rebound.

The score spurred Altrincham into an immediate response as Ian Craney's shot was saved by Kevin Welsby, back in the City goal following his suspension.

But Sullivan was again involved as the Dolly Blues made the game, and FA Cup progress, safe.

This time Hughes was the provider with a break down the right and cross for Sullivan to drill home his shot under the diving Williams.

LANCASTER: Welsby, Uberschar, Scott, Kilbane, Elderton, Sparrow, Clarkson, Mercer (Sullivan 22, Yates 87), Jones, Hughes, Prince.