First half goals from Colin Little and Stephen Aspinall were enough, as Stevenage could only manage a consolation from George Boyd.
There were plenty of new faces on display at Moss Lane, evidence of a busy summer's recruitment on the part of both managers. Former Halifax midfielder Steve Bushell assumed a skipper's duty for Alty in place of released club captain Mark Maddox, and was joined in the starting line-up by fellow new arrivals Joe O'Neill and Robbie Lawton.
Meanwhile Stevenage, now under the guidance of ex-Grays boss Mark Stimson; were barely recognisable from the team that had grabbed a 1-1 draw here last season.
It was one of their summer signings, winger Craig Dobson, who made sure the visitors got off to a flying start. Altrincham's full-backs couldn't deal with the pace and trickery of the youngster and on two separate occasions he managed to carve their defence wide open.
Darryn Stamp was the beneficiary both times, but the striker was unable to take advantage, the first blocked by Aspinall on three minutes and then denied by Stuart Coburn soon after.
But, despite Stevenage's eagerness to make an impression, it was their opponents who began to take control of the game.
As the home fans began to find their voice, confidence surged through the Alty players and their breakthrough came on 14 minutes. The marking was slack from a right-wing corner and Warren Peyton floated the ball to the far post where Little met it with a sensational right-foot volley into the roof of the net.
Altrincham's midfield, marshalled well by Bushell, began to drive forward at every opportunity and it was the captain who almost provided his team's second on 33 minutes. After Bushell had played a one-two with O'Neill he found himself with a clear sight of goal, only to square it when he really should have been more selfish.
But the Robins had to wait just five minutes for their second goal to come.
O'Neill got past Ronnie Henry near the left corner flag and was then sent flying by Luke Oliver after cutting inside the area. Little lashed the ball into the area almost immediately after Oliver's offence but much to the home fans displeasure, the referee pulled play back for the penalty to be taken.
It mattered little though, as Aspinall stepped up and calmly sent Potter the wrong way from the spot.
After the interval, Altrincham continued in much the same vein, Peyton hitting the post with a shot from 18 yards.
But six minutes into the half, Stevenage clawed one back in controversial circumstances.
After bundling his way into the area, Thorpe saw the ball bobble up and seemingly roll down the length of his arm. And as the Altrincham players protested to the referee, Boyd popped up to blast the ball past Coburn.
The home side really should have restored their two-goal cushion just six minutes later, O'Neill firing wide of an empty net after charging down Potter's clearance.
But it was Stevenage who were in the ascendancy as they threw everything into attack as they searched for the equaliser. Coburn twice came close to Alty's rescue, making a sensational double save to deny both Dannie Bulman and John Nurse, before diving at full stretch to tip an Adam Miller free kick onto the bar.
The keeper then denied Boyd at point-blank range as Stevenage's chances of a flying start deteriorated in South Manchester.