Chris Senior fired the home side ahead inside the opening two minutes but Akins's 18-yard shot brought the visitors back on level terms.

And Northwich took the lead four minutes before the interval when Brown fired home from 20 yards.

After the break, Colin Little's shot hit the bar before Senior and Northwich's Luke Horrocks were both dismissed for violent conduct.

Altrincham: Coburn, Lane, Munroe (O'Neill 75), Tinson, Peyton, Lawton, Aspinall (Sedgemore 57), Scott (Whalley 57), Logan, Little, Senior.
Subs Not Used: McFadden, Bailey.

Sent Off: Senior (77).

Booked: Aspinall, Lane.

Goals: Senior 3.

Northwich: Tynan, Battersby, Carr, Welch, Brown, Danny Williams, Rusk, Byrne, Horrocks, Akins, Farquharson (Morning 80).
Subs Not Used: Connett, Maylett, Strong, Speight.

Sent Off: Horrocks (78).

Booked: Battersby, Danny Williams, Byrne.

Goals: Akins 17, Brown 42.

Att: 1,851