Match Report

SUMMARY:

Another excellent battling performance from an Altrincham side weakened by injury absences, and with other players playing though less than fit, gained the Robins a well deserved three points against Worcester. City did not look like a team which had been all but invincible in recent weeks. The visitors were not helped by a late arrival caused by an M6 accident but they managed to be ready for kick off just a couple of minutes later than scheduled. After Alty had enjoyed the better of the first half hour, Worcester won a penalty when Melling handled the ball. As the respective management teams argued over whether the Alty defender should have been punished by more than a spot-kick, Stuart Coburn produced yet another magnificent penalty save, from Webster's well-struck kick, to add to his long catalogue of such exploits (34 mins). Alty took the lead two minutes into added time in the first half when a long throw from substitute Chalmers, who had just come on for the injured Norris, was nodded across goal from the right by Little to Hilton, who hooked the ball into the net at the back post. In the second half Worcester were unable to get past a hardworking Alty with Talbot leading by example and both Adams and Scott playing spiritedly through injuries. Looking dangerous going forward, Alty wrapped the game up when Little made it 2-0 after 64 minutes. A pinpoint, low cross from the right by Chalmers needed only an apologetic tap-in at the back post from their leading scorer, who has now hit 35 this season.

SCORERS

REFEREE: Mr J D Stokes

Worcester came into the game on the back of an impressive run and were in with an outside chance of making the play-offs. Their journey to Altrincham was delayed when a lorry shed its load on the M6 and they only arrived on the pitch about 25 minutes before kick-off. Nevertheless the game began only a couple of minutes late though more spactators may have been present had the accident not barred their way.

Altrincham, too, were chasing a play-off place, and after their wobble in March, had won three and drawn one of their previous four games.

TEAM NEWS

Injuries again forced Graham Heathcote to ring the changes with Steve Aspinall (ankle) unfit after limping off at Bradford, whilst Mark Maddox remained sidelined, too, with a groin problem. Gary Scott, though still carrying an injury, was fit enough to take over at right-back. Jonathan Mitten gave way to Rod Thornley up front and Kirk Hilton returned from injury on the left flank with Lewis Chalmers reverting to the bench, where he joined a less than fit Colin Potts.

Manager and former Bury, Stockport and Carlisle striker Andy Preece named himself on the bench. John Snape, sent off against Alty in the reverse fixture this season was in the side as was George Clegg, who was briefly with Alty Reserves earlier this season.

ALTRINCHAM: (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks): 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Gary SCOTT, 3. Chris ADAMS, 4. George MELLING, 5. Gary TALBOT, 6. Eddie HUSSIN, 7. Richard NORRIS, 8. Val OWEN, 9. Colin LITTLE, 10. Rod THORNLEY, 11. Kirk HILTON. Subs: 12. Colin POTTS, 14. Kieran LUGSDEN, 15. Jonathan MITTEN, 16. Lewis CHALMERS, 17. Paul TILLEY.

WORCESTER CITY: (Blue, with white pinstripe, shirts, blue shorts and socks): 1. Danny McDONNELL, 2. Rob WARNER, 3. Les HINES, 4. Paul CARTY, 5. Carl HEELEY, 6. Barry WOOLLEY, 7. George CLEGG, 8. John SNAPE, 9. Leon KELLY, 10. Adam WEBSTER, 11.Jai STANLEY. Subs: 12. Andy PREECE, 14. Tom WARMER, 15. Nick COLLEY, 16. James SMITH, 17. Liam McDONALD.

REPORT

The opening minutes were scrappy and although this did not deter the singers in the Altrincham crowd at the Debbie Dawson (Golf Rd) End, it prompted Graham Heathcote to make an earlier than usual move from his seat in the stand to join Dalton Steele at pitch side (6 mins). The Alty manager's main concern at this stage was for his side to get the ball "on the deck" as the early minutes had seen both sides playing numerous high balls and headers. The first goalmouth incident of note arose when Scott's cross from the right bounced across the Worcester goalmouth without either side's players being able to make contact. Altrincham then began to settle and won the game's first corner after Norris, Little and Scott had combined on the Alty right (13 mins). From the corner, by Hilton, Thornley was penalised, for the third time in the game so far. There was another goalmouth scare for Worcester when Little's ball into the box came off a defender to Thornley but his pass back from right of goal to Hilton, in space in the six yard box, was struck too firmly and rebounded off the Alty no.11 to safety (15 mins). Worcester's only sight of goal was a 20 yard stabbed effort from Snape which went well wide (17 mins).

From a Hilton feed, Thornley now won his side a freekick on the left, front edge of the box and, after a delay, whilst the Worcester wall was marched back to 10 yards away, Hussin's swerving left-footed freekick only just evaded the incoming Talbot, at waist height, at the back post. Then Kelly got past Scott on the Worcester left but he then put the ball out of touch. Worcester continued to concede regular freekicks and one of these came when Owen was caught on the head near half way. Norris's resulting freekick up the middle was well won by Talbot who, left of goal, outjumped Woolley but saw his header narrowly clear the angle of upright and crossbar at the back post. Alty now won their third corner which was cleared before Scott misheaded a long Worcester ball and it flew back towards his own penalty area. However, the Alty right back made a fine recovery to stop Kelly getting in a shot. Soon, Carty ran 30 yards up the middle of the pitch before shooting well wide from 25 yards (24 mins).

Altrincham were soon back at the other end and from Scott's cross into the box from the right, a Worcester player diverted the ball firmly against his own crossbar but offside was given in any case (27 mins). Soon Heeley almost repeated the act as he headed over his own bar from a Hilton freekick to give Altrincham a corner, their fourth of the half. The keeper punched Norris's flag-kick clear before Carty's foul on Scott gave Hilton a freekick on the right which Talbot could only direct at McDonnell. Altrincham were now on top with Coburn underemployed in the home nets, apart from a 25 yard curler by Stanley which cleared the bar comfortably (31 mins). But, against the run of play, City won a penalty when a shot by Clegg from the edge of the box into a crowded goalmouth hit Melling's outstretched left hand at thigh level. The referee pointed to the spot but took no other action against Melling, who had other players between him and the goal-line. Kelly took a long run up from well outside the 18 yard area and hit his shot firmly and low towards Coburn's right-hand bottom corner. But the Alty keeper, who has quite a reputation for penalty stops, made a magnificent stop and safely gathered the loose ball at the second attempt (34 mins).

Moments later, Webster burst into the Alty box and there appeared to be contact with his foot from Hilton but the City man went on a couple of paces before going down rather dramatically and this aspect probably was the reason why Mr Stokes waved away what looke like valid appeals for a penalty. Indeed, he booked Warner for his protests. Meanwhile the two management teams were exchanging remarks about the two "penalty" incidents; seemingly Worcester felt Melling should, at least, have been booked for his handball and they, and particularly Andy Preece's assistant Andy Morrison, were unhappy that the second penalty had not been awarded. The row on the touchline went on for some time during which play went down to the other end and back up to the 20/20 End where Worcester won their first corner of the night (37 mins). The penalty had raised Worcester's performance and they were now enjoying their strongest period of the game so far. The edge to the game was sharpened by two atrocious Worcester fouls within seconds of each other in front of the Carole Nash Stand. First, Adams was taken out by Stanley on the touchline 15 yards inside the Worcester half but the referee allowed advantage only to see Hussin have his legs taken from under him , from behind, by the robust Woolley. Mr Stokes stopped play for both players to be treated, to award a freekick and to book both of the Worcester offenders (41 mins).

When play resumed City won their second corner but Altrincham then had to make a change as Norris came off with a groin injury, his replacement on the right flank being Lewis Chalmers (43 mins). Talbot, who had a good game, then made two fine clearances for Altrincham as the half went into added time. Just as Worcester had won a penalty after a period of Altrincham dominance, now Altrincham took the lead at the end of Worcester's best spell of the half. The goal came after Scott won a throw not far from the right hand corner flag. Lewis Chalmers leant back against the groundside barrier to maximize his run up in that confined part of the ground at the Golf Road End and unleashed a long throw towards the penalty area. From right of goal, Little rose to nod the ball across the goalmouth towards the back post where Hilton arrived, just ahead of Warner, to knock the ball home for his first goal for Altrincham in his third start for the club (45+2 mins). Before the interval there was still time for Woolley to nod a Hines freekick comfortably wide, following a foul by Chalmers.

At the interval, Altrincham made their second enforced change when goalscorer Kirk Hilton was replaced by the less than fully fit Colin Potts. Potts replaced Hilton on the left flank, with Chalmers continuing on the right. Worcester won an early corner but nothing came of this and indeed, there was little to report in the second half till Potts went past two tackles on the left to win Alty's fifth corner of the game. From Potts's corner, Talbot won the ball at the back post and set up Little for what looked like a clear chance till a defender just got his foot to the ball at the same time as Colin was kicking it, to concede a corner as the ball flew over the bar. After this, play was again unexceptional for a few minutes and included an injury to Lewis Chalmers who was caught by Hines. Play continued for the best part of a minute with Chalmers on the deck till Alty put the ball into touch (56 mins). Soon after Chalmers had recovered, Adams went down and needed lengthy treatment. Chris has been playing through an injury for several weeks now but it epitomised his determination that not only did he eventually recover to complete the game but during his treatment, the Alty management did not feel it necessary to get anyone ready to come on as a substitute - they knew that unless he had broken his leg, Adams would battle on, such is his determination. Meanwhile, City boss, Andy Preece, prepared himself to come on as a substitute.

Following Worcester's fourth corner of the game, which was taken short, a cross came in which Woolley rose to meet well. With the ball heading for the bottom corner, Coburn dived low, to his left, to make his second very impressive save of the game, putting the ball round the post for another corner (62 mins). It was to be a turning point, for Altrincham soon went to the other end and scored. After Chalmers had shaken off Carty, he set Little free on the right. Colin's low cross went right through the goalmouth, behind Thornley but ahead of incoming colleagues. However, it was retrieved from left of goal and found its way back to Chalmers, on the Alty right flank. He sent in a well directed, low cross which almost hit Little's foot rather than the other way round and the ball ran, almost apologetically, into the net to make it 2-0. It was Little's 35th goal of the season (64 mins).

Immediately, Andy Preece brought himself on instead of Heeley as City went for a goal (65 mins). But Worcester rarely looked incisive up front tonight and Gary Talbot continued to marshal the Alty defence expertly. They did begin to apply some pressure and won a corner but this came to nothing (72 mins). Chris Adams was then booked for stepping into the path of an opponent. Although it was the defender's fifth yellow of the campaign, suspensions are not applied at this late stage of the campaign except for sendings-off. Nor are suspensions for five yellows carried forward to next season.

As Worcester prepared to take the freekick, Kieran Lugsden came on for Rod Thornley (74 mins). Following this Kieran was immediately tripped as he attempted to gather the ball for his first touch. A minute later Worcester's Colley, the man involved in the tackle which left Stephen Rose with a broken leg, replaced Warner (75 mins) and soon after this Chalmers fed Little, but he misdirected his intended pass for Lugsden who had taken up a good position. Chalmers impressed again with a fine tackle but then followed it up with a foul on Clegg. Worcester keeper McDonnell was now limping and unable to kick the ball as Altrincham continued to menace with their attacks using the pace of Lugsden and the guile of Little. Kieran won a corner from Woolley, following which a shot from Lugsden hit a Worcester body or hand, to prompt an appeal which got nowhere. Worcester made another change with 9 minutes left when Warmer replaced Stanley.

When Preece pulled Hussin to the ground a freekick was awarded. But it was another couple of minutes before the next goal threat when Little, Lugsden and Potts combined to get the ball to Chalmers, who chested the ball down, and then fired narrowly wide (86 mins). Alty then lost a chance when both Little and Lugsden stopped chasing a through ball expecting an offside that was never given (88 mins). Altrincham were maintaining their lead without any undue alarm, even though Worcester had plenty of possession, as the game entered an unspecified period of added time. The requirement on the referee to make known how long has been added appears to have lapsed - to the detriment of the paying spectator. Worcester won a late corner, after three minutes of added time, but the final significant act of the game was a Worcester foul, by Warmer on Chalmers, who was hurt once again but recovered to complete the game (90+4 mins).

This was a surprisingly comfortable win against a disappointing Worcester City side whose physical effort was not matched by their creativity. The victory was all the more commendable for being achieved by a side carrying so many injuries. Stuart Coburn was deservedly named as Man of the Match. The result also ensured that no team in Nationwide North would record a league double over Altrincham this season.