Match Report

SUMMARY:

Alty's Peyton, Lawton, Owen and Potts are all in line as Tamworth's Atenio wins the ball. Lewis Chalmers looks on, left/

With six of the first team squad out injured, Alty nevertheless comfortably beat an ineffectual Tamworth side to move up to 13th place. With 13 points from 11 games, Alty are two points better off than at this stage last season. Once again Alty scored early with Rod Thornley poking the ball past Bowles after good work from Chalmers on the left (5 mins). Joe O'Neill made it 2-0 as he scrambled the ball home from close range after keeper Bowles had fumbled a punt from Acton under pressure from Thornley. Tamworth made a double change at the interval and for ten minutes looked a little more menacing than they had been but Alty were comfortable for most of the half apart from when Atenio made an awful hash of a chance from six yards. Though Joe O'Neill won the Man of the Match for another hardworking display, Lewis Chalmers had an excellent first half whilst the back four deservedly recorded a clean sheet.

SCORERS

REFEREE: Mr. C L Pawson

Today, Alty had the added incentive to win after the Tamworth's manager's adverse comments about their club at the time of the points deduction last season. But The Lambs had been on a good run after a poor start to the season and had taken a point from Morecambe last Tuesday, albeit with a dour defensive display. For their part, though severely weakened by injury, Alty had shown great spirit to earn a point at Forest Green in midweek. Manager Graham Heathcote had voluntarily exiled himself to the stand for this game after being sent off at FGR.

Altrincham were still without six injured first-team members but, after their fine display at Forest Green in midweek, confidence was high that Tamworth could be beaten. Altrincham welcomed back Val Owen from suspension and both Gary Scott and Justin Bowler were fit enough to be included on the bench after missing Tuesday's game. But the absence list still comprised striker Peter Thomson, goalkeeper Stuart Coburn, centre-backs Peter Band and Gary Talbot, midfielder Steve Bushell and striker Colin Little.

Kieran Lugsden was the unlucky one to drop out today to make way for Owen, so Joe O'Neill reverted to his customary front-runnng position alongside Rod Thornley, as Lewis Chalmers moved to the left to accommodate Owen in centre-midfield.

Tamworth were without Graham Ward, with an ankle problem but John McGrath returned after injury, on the bench.

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks.): 13. Richard ACTON, 2. Steve ASPINALL, 17. Karl MUNROE, 20. Stephen ROSE, 11. Warren PEYTON; 22. Colin POTTS, 7. Robbie LAWTON (capt), 8. Val OWEN, 14. Lewis CHALMERS; 12. Joe O'NEILL, 10. Rod THORNLEY. Subs: 3. Gary SCOTT, 15. Justin BOWLER, 19. Lee HENDLEY, 21. Kieran LUGSDEN, 23. Eddie HUSSIN.

Alty Substitutions:

TAMWORTH (All pale blue): 1. Sean BOWLES; 21. Tom KEMP, 23. Simon WEAVER, 26 Joe KENDRICK, 30. Bradley THOMAS, 10. Jon STEVENSON, 2. Adie SMITH (capt), 8. Kyle STORER, 31. Gavin McALLUM, 25. Paul DEVLIN, 29. Taiwo ATENIO. Subs: 6. Emmet FRIARS, 9. Steve BURTON, 11. Matt WILLIAMS, 17. David CLARKE, 24. John McGRATH.

REPORT

Right: Warren Peyton, Stephen Rose, Karl Munroe and Richard Acton keep Tamworth at bay.

On a sunny afternoon, with a gusty breeze against them, Tamworth kicked off towards their own supporters in the 20/20 End. But as the first minute ended, a neat Alty move saw Chalmers's shot charged-down and it then went to keeper Bowles, off Lawton. Soon, O'Neill had another shot blocked by the Tamworth defence as Alty came out of the blocks the faster of the two sides. Then, after a five-pass Alty move had led to another O'Neill effort being blocked, Chalmers did well to win the ball just inside the Tamworth half, on the Alty left. He advanced towards the corner before sending in a low cross. Thornley and the keeper seemed to arrive more or less together in the centre of the box but the Alty striker got his leg to the ball to poke it past Bowles into the net to give Alty the lead (5 mins). It was Rod's second goal in two league starts this season and the third time in the last four games that Alty have scored in the opening ten minutes of a a league game.

Tamworth soon won a free kick, which Kendrick wasted with a poor effort, wide of goal (6 mins). Alty were soon pressing again and, from a cross whipped in from the right by Aspinall, O'Neill's header was put out for a corner on the Alty right. Potts's corner was cleared but Alty continued to dominate and soon a smart turn by Potts yielded a freekick, 35 yards out. Lawton took this quickly but it came to nothing. However the new Alty captain was impressing in midfield, as was Chalmers on the Alty left. Meanwhile, at the back, Munroe, who has settled well after a shaky start to this season, and Rose were looking assured and were well supported by Aspinall and Peyton.

O'Neill and Thornley were also keeping the visitors on their toes as they stretched them with their running up front and Alty did not seem to be suffering at all from the absence of half a dozen first-choice players. With Acton a virtual spectator, Chalmers now fed Thornley, whose first time left foot volley from 40 yards cleared the bar (16 mins). Potts headed across his own box but Peyton cleared and when O'Neill got the ball from Owen, he was flattened by Weaver. Aspinall's freekick was cleared. Soon an overhead kick from Owen found O'Neill who was again fouled (19 mins). Alty continued to dominate the match and after O'Neill had again been fouled Thomas was booked (23 mins). However, Alty's Lawton was also soon to be booked, for a foul on Kemp (28 mins). Next, Weaver blocked Lawton on the Alty left 35 yards out to concede a freekick and not long afterwards, Storer's foul on Peyton gave Alty yet another freekick, 40 yards out. This was well taken by Aspinall and was met by a brilliant leap from Chalmers near the left post but his header across the goalmouth was scrambled clear (30 mins).

Soon, Chalmers was excelling again, this time with a fine tackle but then Tamworth got in their first decent shot of the game as Devlin found some space in the inside left position but his low shot was well saved by the advancing Acton. From Acton's punt upfield, his opposite number, Bowles, failed to gather ball cleanly as Thornley closed in and it broke free. O'Neill still had to battle with a defender but managed to poke the ball goalwards as he was brought down and it rolled over the line for the ex-York striker's first Conference goal for Altrincham (33 mins). O'Neill has become a popular figure with the home supporters for his hard work but his shooting has let him down so far and it was a great relief to player and fans alike for him to get off the mark today.

Tamworth got in a cross from the left which Acton handled confidently and, soon after, he also took another cross assuredly (36 mins). Storer was very lucky not to be booked when he used both hands to pull down Chalmers to concede a freekick. From Potts's freekick Chalmers himself leapt well but headed wide (38 mins). However, soon Lawton saw an effort clear the bar but he was jostled as he made his shot. After his recent suspension lay-off Owen was looking surprisingly sharp and his improvised hook over his shoulder, from 30 yards out, almost embarrassed Bowles as it dropped behind the back-pedalling keeper onto the roof of the net (42 mins). Belatedly Tamworth began to get forward and won their first corner, two minutes before the end of the first half's normal time. But, in added time, Aspinall responded with a superb 70 yard diagonal ball from the right to Chalmers, on the left wing, but Peyton's resulting cross was overhit for a goalkick. So, for the second home match in succession Alty had gained a 2-0 lead but, today, Tamworth did not look to have the threat to reverse that scoreline that Woking had displayed last week at Moss Lane.

Tamworth made a double change at the interval as Burton came on for McAllum and former League player Williams replaced right winger Stevenson (46 mins). Alty kicked off the second half, with the ground still bathed in bright sunshine and soon a Chalmers long throw came back to the left-midfielder and his cross came off a Tamworth defender into Bowles's hands (47 mins). Potts and O'Neill then combined and the latter's shot from inside the box span into the air across goal off the keeper's body to Thornley who went down under a challenge. Play continued and the ball came out to Lawton who rifled a low shot just wide of the keeper's left post from 20 yards (47 mins).

However, Tamworth now enjoyed their best spell of the game and won a corner which was taken short and to no serious effect. But son afterwards Atenio's cross found Burton in space only for him to fire over the bar (50 mins). Chalmers needed treatment to his back after a challenge as play went through a scrappy period but, by the hour mark, the minor revival in Tamworth's performance had more or less blown itself out. At this point Kieran Lugsden replaced Rod Thornley, who left to a deserved ovation (60 mins). Good work from Lawton now set up O'Neill but his rising shot from the edge of the box cleared the bar. A potentially nasty incident took place as a Tamworth player pushed Peyton over into the hoardings but then the Lambs took off Kendrickand brought on McGrath (62 mins). However, Tamworth looked unlikely to get back into the game at this stage and Alty soon won a corner through good work by Lawton from a Peyton feed. Bowles palmed the corner away unconvincingly. Not longer afterwards, a looping Peyton cross from the left was well met at the back post by Potts who knoced it back into the goalmouth to Lugsden whose well hit shot was blocked (66 mins).

After Burton had pulled down Munroe by putting an arm round his neck, the Alty defender reacted and both players were lectured by Mr Pawson. Alty continued to look comfortable and, from a well hit freekick by Aspinall, Lugsden earned them another corner, but Bowles caught Potts's kick. With good vocal support from a crowd whose overall numbers were disappointing, Altrincham now brought on Gary Scott on the right in place of Potts, who has just returned after a summer operation (75 mins). After Aspinall had been penalised just inside his own half, Alty half cleared the ball but it was played back in for Atenio who, six yards out with only Acton to beat, fired badly over the bar, missing the target comfortably (77 mins).

Tamworth enjoyed some brief pressure but Atenio was caught offside at the end of it, which was probably just as well for him as he had again poked the ball over the bar from close range. Tamworth's belated pressure then saw McGrath hook an effort over the bar from 18 yards (81 mins). Alty boss Graham Heathcote finally joined Dalton Steele in the technical area at this point. Soon afterwards Aspinall was booked for a studs-up challenge near half way but Acton gathered Storer's free-kick comfortably (84 mins). A Chalmers throw-in gave Alty a corner on the left, at which point Eddie Hussin came on for Chalmers (86 mins). Storer then felled Owen and unjustifiably lost his rag when a freekick was awarded. Mr Pawson booked him for his pains (87 mins). Rose then saw off a Tamworth probe before Acton caught a cross well. In the announced two minutes of added time, which became three minutes in reality, Atenio headed high and wide before a fracas between Hussin and Williams on the touchline near half way saw both players lectured, after the Alty man had taken exception to a foul from the Tamworth player (90+3mins).

Joe O'Neill was a deserved Man of the Match but again many Altrincham players did their reputations good today, not least Chalmers, especially in the first half, Lawton in midfield and central defenders Rose and Munroe, who have deputised so ably for Talbot and Band.