PHIL Wilson refused to defend his players after Lancaster City hit skid row a week before their big FA Trophy tie with Morecambe.

The manager believes too many of his men may have had an eye on the Giant Axe clash with the Shrimps as City whimpered to their worst defeat of the season and their first away from home since losing at Worksop in October.

The galling thing for Wilson was the fact his men didn't compete and he blasts: "I was very disappointed. In the second half in particular it was the worst we have been.

"And it is made all the more disappointing because we have played quite well in the last seven or eight games.

"We lost the game in midfield we did not get near Altrincham."

It seemed like City were set for a coast in the sand also known as Altrincham's Moss Lane ground when they started well.

In fact, Peter Thomson should have put City ahead after just three minutes when clean through after a lovely move.

But Thomson drilled the ball at home keeper Stuart Coburn when it was easier to score.

And then the big striker missed a penalty on 10 minutes after Jamie Hughes was hacked to the ground on his debut.

Thomson hit his shot well enough but the ball smacked against the outside of the post and Lancaster's chances had gone.

Alty dominated midfield and they broke the deadlock in the fourth minute of time added on at the end of the first half when ex-City man Colin Potts swung over a cross which was stabbed home by Colin Little.

The game became tetchy after the break with one or two personal duels being played out before Altrincham went 2-0 ahead through towering sub Josh Mitten on 70 minutes.

His free header left City defenders arguing with each other as to who should have been marking him.

And things went from bad to worse when Potts punished his former club from close range six minutes from time.

With City reeling at 3-0 their day among the Cheshire Set became less than posh with a fourth goal at the end.

Paul Sparrow found himself the only defender in the area and was surrounded by red and white shirts.

Mark Maddox claimed the goal as Sparrow was barged out of the way but the ball hit Jamie Speare's leg and hit a post before trickling over the line.

CITY: Speare, Clark (Hollis 46), McMahon, Sparrow, Scott, Uberschar, Moogan, Jones, Black, Thomson, Hughes. Subs (not used): Yeomans, Elderton, Bates,