Match Report

SUMMARY:

In a superb first half Alty played very well and though Coburn made two important saves, the Robins had chances of their own to score. But Grays dominated the second half, though they failed to score from open play during it. Alty fell behind when Maddox headed a Thurgood freekick past his own keeper (55 mins) and then referee Scarr gave a penalty when Kightly went down despite no contact from Coburn as he dived at his feet. The excellent Thurgood beat Coburn comfortably from the spot (63 mins). Alty created no real chances in the second half but as news filtered thorugh of results elsewhere the magnificent home support chanted "Staying up!". After the match, all the players and the Board attended an awards ceremony on the pitchside for the wonderful team of ballboys and girls at Moss Lane, who are supervised by Ray Armstrong and Mike Antrobus. In a brief speech, Graham Heathcote praised his players and all at the club before presenting the Clubmen of the Year awards to Alty's kitmen, Dave Mitten and Charles Heathcote. Chairman Geoff Goodman paid tribute to the management, players and supporters and indicated that the club would be debt free in six months time.

Rarely can a seventh home game without a win have prompted such post-match scenes of celebration as Alty players and supporters saluted each other on hearing of the defeats for Forest Green, Tamworth and Scarborough, outcomes which ensured Alty's survival on merit in the Conference. Whether the FA chooses to take that hard-won success away from the club, as a consequence of another club's failure to get international clearance for a player, remains to be seen. If there is any justice in the footballing world, the FA will dismiss the points deduction and also address the mess that is international player registration, which has robbed Altrincham of the unalloyed joy that it should have experienced today at the achievement of its part-time team and management, on the lowest budget in the division.

SCORERS

REFEREE: Mr. I.K. Scarr

Having reached 36 points from 29 games, Alty had recently hit the buffers, taking just five more points from the 11 games preceding today's - and having failed to win any of the preceding six home matches. The pressure continued as this was to be their third successive game against teams in play-off places at the top of the Conference and they were still not safe from relegation. But Alty had gained a creditable draw away at Grays this season to give them some optimism.

Grays came into the game needing points to confirm their play-off place and having won their last match 7-2, away at Scarborough, they presented a potent threat to Alty's survival hopes. With an 18-point deduction hanging over Alty and having taken just five points from the preceding 33 on offer, Alty fans also had half an eye on games elsewhere, where results could help their cause.

Today's referee, Mr Ian Scarr was the same official who refereed the Nationwide Conference Promotion Play-Off Final at Stoke last May in which he awarded a penalty against Altrincham. He also officiated at the Altrincham v Southport match this season.

TEAM NEWS

Alty's Val Owen and Stephen Rose remained sidelined, as did long-term absentees Richard Norris and Eddie Hussin, whilst regular left-back Chris Adams was, once more, only fit to sit on the bench. Manager Graham Heathcote brought in Karl Munroe at centre-back and moved Gary Talbot to the bench, presumably a move designed to counter Grays' pacy attack. Alty reverted to their customary 4-2-4 after a flirtation with 4-1-4-1 at Morecambe. Up front, both Colin Little and Rod Thornley returned, with Pat McFadden moving to the bench where Kieran Lugsden returned returned to the squad. Steve Aspinall reverted to right-back as Gary Scott was again switched to left-back, whilst Peter Band played in midfield once more.

Grays were without their dangerous striker, Jamie Slabber, who was injured but the league's highest scorers had plenty of other attacking threats..

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks) 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Steve ASPINALL, 4. Mark MADDOX (capt), 17. Karl MUNROE, 11. Gary SCOTT; 5. Peter BAND; 7. Colin POTTS, 37. Ged MURPHY, 12. Warren PEYTON; 9. Colin LITTLE, 10. Rod THORNLEY . Subs: 3. Chris ADAMS, 5. Gary TALBOT, 14. Lewis CHALMERS, 20.Kieran LUGSDEN, 28. Pat McFADDEN

ALTY SUBSTITUTIONS:

GRAYS ATHLETIC (All pale yellow): 1. Ashley BAYES, 18. Joe BRUCE, 4. Jamie STUART, 26. Christian HANSON, 3. John NUTTER; 14. Michael KIGHTLY, 10. John MARTIN, 6. Stuart THURGOOD (capt), 23. Glenn POOLE; 7. Dennis OLI, 11. Aaron McLEAN. Subs: 8. Gary HOOPER, 12. Tom WILLIAMSON, 16. Nick EYRE, 19. Ade OLAYINKA, 21 Mark DE BOLLA.

GRAYS ATHLETIC SUBSTITUTIONS:

REPORT

On a sunny afternoon, after a short delay for a repair to the Golf Road goal-netting, Grays kicked off towards their own small band of supporters at the 20/20 End; the visitors had cancelled a supporters' coach to this game due to lack of interest, a surprising situation for a match which could have clinched their play-off place. For Alty, Karl Munroe was soon in evidence making a couple of timely clearances from what seems to be his best position, centre-back. In midfield, Warren Peyton was also making an impressive start on the left as Alty more than matched their opponents in the opening stages. Indeed, Alty had a decent chance to go ahead when when Band headed the ball forward and Thornley's first-time volley was very well saved by Bayes (5 mins). Soon afterwards, Alty threatened again as a foul by Bruce on Peyton gave Aspinall a freekick from the left which came out to Band, whose header again forced a save from Bayes (8 mins). But Murphy then put his own side under pressure with a curious pass back towards his own defence which allowed Oli to get possession and the tall Grays striker really should have done better than blast over the bar from left of goal.

The entertaining end to end play continued as the game went into the 12th minute. Then a cross by Kightly from the right was met by Poole's header which forced a flying save by Coburn, to catch the ball to his right and, more importantly, to hold onto it as he fell to the ground. Alty replied by winning a corner from Peyton's cross and, from Potts's corner-kick, Band headed firmly goalwards but the ball was cleared off the line (13 mins). Alty went close again when a neat move involving Scott, Peyton and Thornley ended as Little slipped the ball forward to Peyton as he advanced into the box but the large frame of Bayes rushed out and Peyton's shot struck the Grays keeper at point blank range (14 mins). Then, with a Grays player down injured in the Alty half, play continued and Alty advanced, only for LIttle to shoot disappointingly wide from the edge of the box after advancing up the centre (14 mins). Manager Graham Heathcote had good reason to shout to his players, "Good start, well done!"

However, Grays had weathered the early storm and began to threaten, themselves. A cross from the left was headed out by Scott for a Grays corner and, though this was cleared, an error by Peyton allowed Grays to advance and win a corner off Munroe (17 mins). Grays had the better of the next few minutes but the nearest threat to a goal was a testing cross, well caught by Coburn (23 mins). But Alty soon got to the other end where Thornley got on the end of an Aspinall freekick but his cross from the right by-line landed on the roof of the Grays net (24 mins). However, Coburn now had to make an excellent save, when Kightly was allowed to advance 40 yards up the middle, as Alty stood off, and and from his pass, McLean's powerful shot forced a fine stop by the keeper's legs. Grays continued to threaten at the other end and, from a theatrical fall by Kightly, they won an otherwise merited freekick on the edge of the Alty box. This was driven low into the penalty area by Poole from where it rebounded at 90 degrees off Band and flew just wide of Coburn's left upright for a corner to Grays. Coburn soon had to run out smartly to head clear from McLean who fouled him in the process.

The entertaining game continued as Alty continued to match their impressive full-time opponents and, in fact, it was the home side who won the next corner, after 32 minutes, with the supporters continuing to give strong vocal support to Altrincham. From the corner, Maddox rose well but headed over the bar. Potts then did well, to the right of goal, jinking into the box before being robbed as he was about to shoot. Alty had a scare after this when McLean's low ball from the left was saved by Coburn but the Alty keeper could not hold it. However, he recovered quickly to pounce on the loose ball as Kightly closed in (36 mins). After an apparent foul on Thornley had gone unpunished, Grays had a goalkick from which Altrincham gained possession and won a corner, through Thornley's efforts.

A bad tackle from behind by Hanson on Thornley drew a deserved yellow card from Mr Scarr and Thornley needed treatment, after which he had to leave the field as is dictated by the ridiculous rule to this effect.Not only did this cost Alty his services for a short while but also led to his booking. When Mr Scarr appeared to wave Thornley back on, the Alty striker returned to the game. But Mr Scarr then stopped the game to book Thornley for allegedly returning to the field without permission, a decision met with deserved derision by the spectators (40 mins). Soon Alty went close again when an Alty throw led to a neat move involving Little and Potts with the latter's cross being met by an intuitive header from Band which just cleared the bar (40 mins). An excellent Aspinall tackle saw off a Grays attack before Martin was booked for a foot up offence in midfield against Murphy (44 mins). As half time approached Grays won a corner but the whistle soon went on a very entertaining first half in which Alty fully deserved to be at least level with the visiting play-off contenders.

Whilst the half-time scores elsewhere brought good news to Altrincham, Grays heard that Morecambe were two-up and therefore threatening their own claims to a play-off place. This may have prompted their increased tempo in the second half. Alty again allowed Kightly far too much room and he turned but shot just over the bar (46 mins). Soon Maddox had to make an excellent tackle but despite Grays' early pressure, Peyton soon got in a good shot which went only narrowly wide (50 mins). But it was the visitors who were now making the running. However, it took great good fortune to give them the lead. After Little had lost the ball, Munroe was penalised 22 yards on the Grays left. Thurgood's freekick was aimed towards the centre of the goalmouth where McLean and Maddox went up for it. But Maddox was only able to head the ball back into the corner of the net at the near post and the Alty captain remained for some seconds afterwards kneeling on the pitch with his head in his hands. Mark has had the misfortune to be relegated in both his previous seasons in the Conference with Altrincham and he must have feared that he had unwittingly propelled Alty towards a treble which he did not deserve for his great service to the club (55 mins).

Above: 55 mins - Thurgood (in yellow, foreground) has just sent ina freekick which McLean (on the deck) and Maddox (hidden behind Karl Munroe (17) went for. The Alty captain unfortunately headed the ball (seen just above Grays no.3's head) into the net for an own goal.

Just before the hour mark Ged Murphy was booked for a foul which hardly seemed to merit it (59 mins). Thurgood again took a very good freekick from a similar position to that which had led to Grays' goal but this time the ball just reached Coburn as a Grays player ran across him and almost made headed contact. Grays continued to press as Alty were penned back. The game was settled after 63 minutes when Mr Scarr amazingly pointed to the spot when Kightly sprawled on the by-line to the left of goal after Coburn had rushed from his goal and dived at his feet. This was the second penalty conceded by Coburn in recent weeks but on this occasion there was plenty of doubt about its validity. No booking was made and Thurgood took a very long run before sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot .

Moments later, Alty made a double change which had been readied just before the penalty incident. The young pairing of Kieran Lugsden and Pat McFadden came on up front for Rod Thornley and Colin Little (64 mins). Manager Graham Heathcote indicated his displeasure at the penalty to the referee's assessor sitting behind him as Mark Maddox almost atoned for his own goal when he got free from a Potts freekick but he was offside and narrowly missed the target anyway (67 mins). A clear handball by Murphy was then missed by the officials as Alty tried to get forward. For the second time in the game, McLean caught Coburn very late but Mr Scarr merely gave him a lecture and awarded an Alty freekick. There was then a heartstopping moment as Oli outpaced Scott on the Grays right and went down just inside the box but this time the referee waved away the penalty appeals before Oli was treated (72 mins).

Grays now made a double change as De Bolla and Williamson replaced Martin and McLean (75 mins). Alty then won a freekick 35 yards out which Peyton blasted into the wall but Alty could not create any clear openings to get back in the game. With 11 minutes left Gary Talbot replaced Mark Maddox at centre-back. Grays continued to look comfortable with their lead as the minutes ticked away and they brought on their last substitute, Hooper, for Oli after 88 minutes, to help the remaining minutes disappear. In the three added minutes of the game, Grays won a corner and then gave a lesson in keeping possession to while away the closing stages. Gary Scott was a deserved Man of the Match for Alty whilst Dennis Oli won the Grays award.

But the closing stages of the game had been marked by strong chanting from the Alty supporters on the Popular Side to the effect that Alty were staying up - news from other grounds had told them that Tamworth, FGR, Scarborough and Southport were all losing and although the Sandgrounders got a very late equaliser, the other results were enought to ensure that Alty had won their battle to stay in the Conference on their playing performance. Whilst there was delight amongst the spectators, they were robbed of the full joy of the occasion by the threat of an 18-point deduction hanging over the club.