LANCASTER climbed into the top half of the table after debutante winger Steven Miller rocked lowly Altrincham with a superb volley from over 25 yards out.

After their heartache of an FA Cup exit at the hands of Blyth Spartans, the Blues were desperate to get back on track after a mediocre start to the season which has left them off the pace of the leaders.

A tit for tat start to the game which saw an Andy Fensome header cleared of the line and City keeper Andy Speight making a full stretch save from Altrincham skipper Rod Thornley set the stall for a tight battle in the first half until Millers thunderbolt broke the deadlock.

The 21 year old, making his first full start, gathered the ball on the right and as the ball bounced he let fly to leave Robins keeper Richard Acton.

Altincham went in search of an equaliser before half time and only the intervention of Paul Sparrow and Jimmy Love kept Tony Hesketh's team with their noses in front.

The second half began as the first with both teams probing the goals and Andy Whittaker was unlucky not to double City's lead in the first minute before shooting just wide.

The game changed again midway through the second half as Gary Scott had a rush of blood and went in with a two footed challenge on Kevin Holliday saw the Robins man have an early bath with a red card and Holliday leaving the pitch nursing an injury.

The Blues doubled their lead 15 minutes later when Paul Haddow was on the end of a Fensome cross to swept the ball into the net from about ten yards out.

The third goal was a good move involving City's three substitutes, as Phil Brown, on for Whittaker linked up well with Chris Perkins, who had replaced Holliday and the ball across the box saw Brian Butler, who had replaced Miller, arriving at the back post to fire the ball into the net.