Altrincham 2 Forest Green Rovers 5

Stunning is the only way to describe Forest Green's first league win in eight attempts, as they crawled from the wreckage of a 2-0 half-time deficit to surge three points clear of the relegation zone.

Strikes from Paul Lloyd, David Brown and Alex Lawless were followed by Conal Platt's penalty and a debut goal from Marcus Palmer.

The shellshocked hosts were not helped by the stupidity of defender James Smith, sent off in the 55th minute for kicking out at Brown.

Rovers' triumph should rank even higher as they were missing two of their most influential players, the suspended Darren Jones and Andy Mangan, with the paucity of resources at Harvey's disposal shown by the make-up of the substitutes bench.

Joining spare keeper Ryan Robinson and forward Adriano Rigoglioso were Hartpury College starlets Palmer, James Baldwin and Ben Ashford.

Altrincham required only 90 seconds to take the lead. Terry Burton rushed out of his area to meet a long straight ball but headed weakly to the feet of Colin Little, who lifted the ball into the empty net.

Warren Peyton and Dale Johnson missed chances, while Lloyd was similarly wasteful at the other end, screwing wide of the far post from close range.

The deficit was doubled in the 21st minute, Little's 20-yard volley screaming past Burton.

The tide turned on 47 minutes when Brown shifted the ball right for Lloyd to smash home his first goal for the club.

It was all-square in the 54th minute, Kaid Mohamed beavering away before laying off for Brown to slot tidily into the bottom corner.

Altrincham's frustration manifested itself in Smith's moment of madness, and cue a goal-of-the-season contender from Lawless, who was found by Lee Fowler from a 72nd-minute corner and unleashed a 30-yarder that flew into the top corner.

Graham Heathcote's men were in disarray, and three minutes later Mohamed was crudely tripped by Greg Young on the corner of the box. Platt made no mistake from the spot to make it 4-2.

Mohamed was foiled twice more by Staurt Coburn before Harvey opted to introduce Palmer and Baldwin, the latter getting a chance at right-back after an impressive season with Shortwood.

Palmer, a pacy forward who has been on the books at Cheltenham Town and Hereford United, produced a sharp turn and clinical finish in stoppage time.