ALTRINCHAM continue to hold the psychological edge over Bradford (Park Avenue) as they romped to a 4-0 home victory to make it three out of three over their rivals this term.

The sides have met in the National League North, the FA Cup and now the FA Trophy and the Robins have come out on top in every encounter. Their biggest margin of victory was reserved for this Trophy tie as they romped to a four-goal win over the National League North table-toppers.

There is no logical reason for the Robins’ dominance over Avenue but they rubbed it in at the J Davison Stadium. The visitors went close to breaking the deadlock but Ben McKenna’s 10th-minute shot from distance flew past the post and two minutes later the home side were a goal to the good.

Avenue full back Danny Lowe brought Jordan Hulme down in the area and John Johnston stepped up to send visiting keeper Steve Drench the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Midway through the first half Jake Beesley saw a shot blocked in a packed area after a free-kick had allowed Nicky Clee to get the ball into the Alty area, but Drench was soon back in action as he dived to deny Andy White.

The home side doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break when Hulme slotted past Drench after Josh Hancock had laid the ball to him.

Robins’ keeper Tony Thompson had his first save of the first half to make a little over three minutes before the interval when he parried a volley from McKenna.

It was no better for the visitors in the second half as Altrincham scored twice more without conceding.

Just eight minutes after the re-start they made it 3-0 after a long passing move. They kept the ball away from the Avenue players with some crisp passing and the move culminated in a shot from Hancock that curled past Drench.

Thompson tipped a looping header from Conor Branson over his bar and Avenue manager Mark Bower tried to turn his side’s fortunes with a double substitution just before the hour mark.

Nicky Wroe and Oli Johnson were introduced from the bench with Lowe and Jamie Spencer making way. Johnson laid on great chances for Beesley and Alex Hurst but both went begging as neither player troubled Thompson.

Robins’ substitute Kallum Mantack wrapped up the scoring 12 minutes from time to emphatically end Avenue’s interest in this season’s Trophy. Mantack was picked out by Hulme but he needed two attempts before steering the ball past Drench.

When the sides met in the league, at the Horsfall Stadium, back in September, Alty came from 2-1 down to win 3-2. They knocked Avenue out of the FA Cup in October with a 4-2 victory at the J Davidson Stadium.