Match Report

SUMMARY:

Altrincham failed to capitalise on an early two-goal lead and then, after getting ahead again 3-2, conceded a late equaliser. All the game's goals raised questions about the respective defences. Marcus Hallows fired Alty ahead from close range after 11 minutes and a minute later Colin Little headed home a second. After Hallows had struck the upright, Danny Bacon pulled one back for the visitors as he and Talbot went for the ball from a pass by Ricketts (28 mins). Town levelled after 32 minutes when stand-in Alty keeper Cummins did well to beat out a Todd effort only for Bacon to score from the rebound. After 39 minutes Colin Little got a foot to the ball ahead of the Hucknall keeper from a ball into the box by Aspinall to make it 3-2 (39 mins). Alty seemed to be holding on for victory until, two minutes after right-back Aspinall had limped off, the ball was rolled across the goalmouth from the left by Bacon(?) and despite a defensive scramble and Rose's effort to clear, it trickled into the net for the equaliser which the tannoy credited as an own goal (83 mins).

SCORERS

REFEREE: Mr J Salisbury

After two away defeats on their last two games, Altrincham were looking to continue their unbeaten run at Moss Lane this season. Hucknall arrived unbeaten in the six games since player-manager Dean Barrick had taken over from Ernie Moss. Hucknall brought good travelling support as they sought to make progress towards a first ever appearance in the FA Cup Proper.

TEAM NEWS

With Stuart Coburn out of action and Richard Acton cup-tied, Altrincham today fielded their fourth different goalkeeper in their last four games (Coburn, Senior, Acton, Cummins). Today's incumbent, Dave Cummins had been signed on Friday on non-contract forms from Trafford FC. He had been Trafford's first choice last season before suffering a 60-day suspension which ruled him out till after the start of the season. He had therefore not played for Trafford's first team this season. Apart from the change in goal, compared with the game last Tuesday, Alty moved Adams to left midfield with Rose coming in at left-back. Peter Wright dropped to the bench to make way for Rose. Barry Shuttleworth suffered an injury in the warm-up so was replaced on the bench by Stuart Wright. On the bench was Rod Thornley as he continued his rehabilitation, whilst Steve Torpey was missing as he was cup-tied. Alty were also fielding a new physio today.

Hucknall included former Burscough keeper Matt Taylor, ex-Worksop midfielder Andy Todd and former Alty captain Chris Timons in their starting line-up. Up front, paired with Gary Ricketts, was ex-Mansfield youngster Danny Bacon. The Yellows were captained by Mike Heathcote, formerly of Plymouth Argyle and Colwyn Bay. Whilst Heathcote shares a surname with the current Alty manager, Hucknall substitute Mark Ward, the Hucknall no.12, was the namesake of an earlier Alty boss.

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Dave CUMMINS, 2. Stephen ASPINALL, 3. Stephen ROSE, 4. Mark MADDOX, 5. Gary TALBOT, 6. Peter BAND (capt.), 7. Colin POTTS, 8. Eddie HUSSIN, 9. Marcus HALLOWS, 10. Colin LITTLE, 11. Chris ADAMS. Subs: 12. Peter WRIGHT, 14. GARY SCOTT, 15. Rod THORNLEY, 16. Stuart WRIGHT, 17. Kieran LUGSDEN.

HUCKNALL TOWN (Blue shirts with white trim, white shorts, blue socks): 1. Matt TAYLOR, 2. Alistair ASHER, 3. Dean BARRICK, 4. Roy HUNTER, 5. Mike HEATHCOTE (capt.), 6. Chris TIMONS, 7. Steve WARNE, 8. Steven PALMER, 9. Gary RICKETTS, 10. Danny BACON, 11. Andy TODD. Subs: 12. Mark WARD, 14. Mark SMITH, 15. Frazer McHUGH, 16. Nathan WINDER, 17. Michael PLUMMER.

REPORT

With Hucknall providing more numerous support than a number of other visitors to Moss Lane this season, the game started with both sets of fans in good voice. After Peter Band had been invited to toss the referee's coin, the sides changed ends and Altrincham kicked off towards the 20/20 terrace on a bright afternoon. New keeper Cummins got an early touch as he fielded a gentle effort from Palmer. Town's keeper was soon in more serious action, surprisingly punching clear a cross from Aspinall when he had time to catch the ball (3 mins). Alty now began to settle and to enjoy the better of the early exchanges. But a ball into the Alty box almost found an unmarked Chris Timons, who had stolen into the Alty goalmouth, but the intended pass to him was inaccurate. A foul by Hunter on Hussin then gave Alty a freekick. This was relayed towards the back post by Little to Hallows, who had got behind the defence to score from close range - Alty's earliest goal in a match this season at Moss Lane (11 mins). But within a minute they had doubled their lead when a cross from the left from Rose was headed home by Little (12 mins).

In response, Hucknall won two corners between more promising play from Altrincham. From the second corner, Cummins punched clear only for Timons to shoot the rebound over the bar (19 mins). Altrincham almost wrapped the match up soon afterwards when Rose's freekick form the left was met by Hallows's header against the foot of the post from 10 yards (21 mins). When Alty won their first corner shortly afterwards, after Hussin and Potts had set Little up the left, it all looked as if it was going to be a comfortable afternoon for Altrincham.

However, Maddox now had to make a good tackle to see off the lively Bacon and then Barrick found Ricketts for an effort which he hooked wide (25 mins). Hallows had another chance when Aspinall's cross found him but he headed over the bar (27 mins). Then out of nothing, Asher played the ball forward to Ricketts, who chested it down in the right of the box before sending a low pass inside for Bacon. As he and Talbot contested possession the Hucknall man slotted the ball, low, past Cummins from close range. The new keeper was none too happy at his defence's lapse (28 mins). Hucknall's tails were now up and they enjoyed the better of the next few minutes which culminated in their equaliser- another bad goal from the Alty defence's viewpoint. This time, Asher's cross from the right went low across the face of several static Alty defenders who were just inside their own box. It arrived at the unmarked Todd, inside the box, slightly left of goal. He fired in a shot which the exposed Cummins did well to beat out. Unfortunately the loose ball went to Bacon who slotted it into the net to make it 2-2 (32 mins).

Alty had now gone off the boil, despite Hussin's impressive work in midfield. Indeed, the hosts were lucky when Barrick's cross gave Hunter a free header but he put it wide of Cummins's left post (35 mins). An Alty free kick gave some hope to the Robins and when it came back out to Little he turned well but saw his shot blocked. However, Alty soon did better when first Hussin and then Band battled to keep the ball in midfield. The ball continued, via Aspinall and Potts, for an Alty throw. From this Aspinall got in a diagonal ball from the right and Little ghosted in from left to right to beat the keeper and defence to the ball and to poke it into the near corner from six yards and restore Alty's lead (39 mins). As half-time approached Hallows was just beaten to a 50-50 ball by Taylor and then Potts was flattened as he sought a goalscoring opening on the edge of the box- but Mr Metcalfe gave no freekick. However, Aspinall had to be alert to see off Todd as the 45 minutes ended. Inexplicably, in a half which had no injury stoppages, the referee found reason to add two extra minutes. In this added time, Hussin was booked for a foul on Ricketts.

Hucknall made a double change at the interval, Smith and Winder coming on for Warne and Heathcote respectively whilst Hunter now assumed the captaincy. Smith soon got the better of Adams on the Alty left and it took a foul by Talbot to stop the substitute. Offside followed the Hucknall freekick. Following a foul on Little, a freekick 40 yards out by Aspinall led to Hussin lobbing the ball back in behind the Hucknall defence but Little's header went straight into Taylor's hands (49 mins). When Hallows got onto a feed from Little he shot badly wide but was relieved to see that he had been given offside in any case (52 mins)>

The game now went through a bit of a stalemate period until Little did well and got in a low shot from left of goal which Taylor failed to hold. A scramble involving Hussin and Hallows failed to put the ball into the net and a goalkick resulted (60 mins). The next significant goalmouth action came when Ricketts was judged to be onside but he did not catch his shot fully and Cummins was able to make a good save at the cost of a corner.

Hucknall were now beginning to press and keep Alty on the back foot. When Ricketts got the better of Rose in the right corner a poor cross by Smith saved Alty. Hunter was then booked for a foul on Hussin but the resulting Alty action failed to create any more openings. Indeed, Hucknall won the next corner which Cummins got away but the ball came out to Smith who lifted his effort over a crowded goalmouth and over the bar (70 mins). In the aftermath of this incident, Barrick was cautioned (71 mins) and then Alty brought on Peter Wright for Marcus Hallows, who had had a good game and had increased his season's haul to 7 goals in 7 starts (+5 sub appearances) this season (72 mins).

Alty remained on the back foot as time ticked away without any real chance at either end of the pitch. Aspinall then went down but after treatment he continued, though still hobbling. Just after a Potts effort had cleared the bar, Gary Scott came on for the injured Aspinall at right-back (81 mins). At last Alty did threaten when Band did well and exchanged passes with Little but Band was unable then to find the advancing Adams, to his left, inside the box (82 mins). Hucknall went up to the other end and Smith fed Bacon in the left of the box. As Cummins advanced to his right towards him and other defenders scurried back, the ball was knocked gently goalwards. In a scramble, Rose attempted to clear but failed to do so and the ball bounced into the net - being credited by the tannoy as an own goal, presumably by Rose, though it was not clear that he had touched it before it crossed the line (83 mins).

Immediately Rose was substituted by Rod Thornley, who was making only his second sub appearance of the season as he recovers from injury (84 mins). Wright then won an Alty corner before play stopped for treatment to Hussin. Following this Taylor punched clear to Wright whose shot cleared the Golf Road roof. Alty threatened again when Hussin, Potts and Little combined but a defender managed to run the ball out of play (89 mins). Three minutes of added time were announced and, as in the first half, it was in added time that Alty picked up a booking. This time Scott was cautioned for a trip on Todd. Eddie Hussin was deservedly named Man of the Match as the final minutes ebbed away and Alty were left to face a tricky replay next Tuesday at Watnall Road. Having led for most of the match Altrincham will have been disappointed that lapses by a defence which started the season so solidly deprived them of victory today.