Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson says defeat to Chesterfield was 'absolute kick in the teeth'

The Robins played some attractive football and could have gone ahead in the first half.

Town started on the front foot after the break and Akwasi Asante grabbed his eighth goal in 11 National League games to give the hosts the lead.

Goalkeeper Grant Smith made himself a hero when he saved Joe Piggott’s penalty with 15 minutes to go and the Blues held on for all three points.

“I feel like a broken record, great performance, but we lose,” Parkinson, who felt a draw would have been fair, said.

“Coming to a place like this you have got to give everything, the lads did that and did not get the rewards tonight.

“Missing a penalty is an absolute kick in the teeth.

“The goal we concede is really disappointing.

“You aren’t always going to shut teams out, they are going to have a moment and when you have got someone like Akwasi in your team, you have got a chance of scoring.

“There is nothing in the game, I don’t think we dominated, I don’t think they dominated, and we knew it would be a game of few chances because they very much play for re-starts, crosses in the box, throw-ins, free-kicks and it is just so hard to take.

“I am not going to lie, I feel really down after that. I’ll be honest, that was hard to take.

“A draw would have been really fair and I think everyone would have been pleased with that.

“These lads did not deserve to lose.”

On Chesterfield’s impressive form under Rowe, which has seen them lose just one in 13 in all competitions, Parkinson added: “He (Rowe) has improved them. They are a lot fitter, they are organised, I thought they would play a little bit more but he is playing a winning brand of football and their manager will be delighted with that. We have different ideas about the way we want to play but the top and bottom of it is when you win that is all people care about.”