ALTRINCHAM will play host to York City tonight having taken just one Conference point from a possible 18.

The Cheshire club have managed just one draw - against lowly Southport - during a six-game run without a victory that stretches back to February 11 when Graham Heathcote's men defeated Cambridge United 2-1.

Since then, part-timers Alty have lost their last three home games at Moss Lane and are now just six points above the relegation zone.

Only Aldershot and Southport have conceded more goals than the 56 Alty have shipped this season.

Bottom two Southport and Tamworth are also the only teams to have netted fewer times than last season's Conference North play-off winners' return of 33 goals from 35 matches.

Alty rely heavily on former Halifax, Macclesfield and Crewe striker Colin Little for their goals.

Little, 33, has scored in his side's last two matches - 3-1 and 2-1 defeats to Exeter and Burton respectively - and has managed 14 from 35 Conference starts this season.

Only Minstermen striker Andy Bishop, Woking's Justin Richards and Paul Mullin, of table-toppers Accrington Stanley, have hit the net more times in the league than Little, who cost Crewe £50,000 when Dario Gradi plucked him from Hyde United back in 1996.

But Little is likely to be without striking partner Peter Band against the Minstermen.

Utility man Band is expected to drop back into defence in place of skipper Mark Maddox, who was sent off in first-half stoppage time for kicking out during Altrincham's defeat against Exeter to Saturday.

Reserve striker Kieran Lugsden, who scored four goals for the second string at the weekend, is now likely to be drafted in on his 20th birthday to play alongside Little.

City match points

Altrincham v City

CITY'S only previous visit to Altrincham was on January 2, 1982 when they lost an FA Cup second round replay 4-3.

Brian Pollard (2) and Keith Walwyn were the scorers and the line-up was: Blackburn, Senior, Flood, Hood, Dawson, Kay, Pollard, Crosby, Walwyn, Ford, Bentham.

It Happened on

April 4

1955: A 3-2 win at Bradford City with goals from Arthur Bottom, Norman Wilkinson and Billy Fenton moved City up to fourth in the Division Three North.

1958: Billy Hughes was the marksmen in a 1-0 Good Friday win at Southport but City remained in the lower reaches of the Northern Section.

1959: City were third in Division Four filtering a 2-1 home victory over Darlington. Norman Wilkinson and Charlie Twissell were on target and the attendance was 7,896.

1969: A 3-1 win over Port Vale on Good Friday at Bootham Crescent in front of 4999. Bobby Sibbald netted twice along with Archie Taylor and City were in the bottom four of Division Four.

1992: City won 3-1 at Chesterfield with goals from Glenn Naylor (2) and Ian Blackstone. It was the first away success since November and City were 19th in Division Four.

1994: An unbeaten run was extended to eight games (six wins and two draws) following an Easter Monday victory over Blackpool at Bootham Crescent watched by 5,740. Steve Bushell and Ian Blackstone were the marksmen and City were fifth in Division Two (League One).

2004: City dropped to 23rd in Division Three (League Two) after losing at home 2-0 to Macclesfield Town. The crowd for this Sunday fixture was 3,855. It was the 13th game without a win.

Compiled by David Batters

Updated: 10:04 Tuesday, April 04, 2006