Match Report

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ALTRINCHAM:(1st half: Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks; 2nd half: Blue shirts, black shorts, red socks) 1. Chris ROWLEY, 2. Neil FAULKNER, 3. Ashley BROWN, 4. Ben DEEGAN, 14. Tom BAILEY, 5. Danny HEFFERNAN, 6. John MALONEY, 7. Michael BROWN, 8. Charles HEATHCOTE, 10. Pat McFADDEN, 11. Colin POTTS (capt). Substitutes were 12. Danny BROWNE, 17. Dominic LILLEY, 9. Rod THORNLEY, 1. Craig ELLISON (gk), Grahame ROWLEY and Alan AINSLEY.

The wet weather limited the attendance to this charity mtach, which was a return fixture of the game played last summer when East Levenshulme were known as Houldsworth. Altrincham included players from all levels of the club, with the first team represented by Rod Thornley, Pat McFadden and Colin Potts, the last named being on trial after leaving the club last season. From last season's reserves were Chris Rowley, Ashley Brown, (making a welcome return after breaking his leg at Runcorn a year ago), Ben Deegan, Danny Heffernan, John Maloney and Michael Brown. From the current youth team, Tom Bailey, Danny Browne and Dominic Lilley were in the squad, as were kitman Charles Heathcote and Neil Faulkner, who had won an auction to participate.

Right: Neil Faulkner masterminded the second goal, with his throw to Danny Heffernan, who collected the ball before undertaking a great run through the opposition to set up Colin Potts.

The unlikely centre-back pairing for Alty comprised this season's Youth team striker Tom Bailey with the holder of the all-time youth-team scoring record, Ben Deegan. Colin Potts was captain and Altrincham soon took the lead when fine work from the wingman set up Pat McFadden for the opener (3 mins). Alty almost doubled their lead after seventeen minutes when Maloney and McFadden combined but the first-named's shot hit the post. However, a minute later Alty did make it 2-0, at the end of a move masterminded by Neil Faulkner. His throw-in to Heffernan (seen right) prompted Danny to dribble through the opposition before playing the ball inside, to his left, for Colin Potts to sweep it into the net (18 mins). But the goal of the match came from East Levenshulme. Their number nine struck a tremendous shot from 25 yards which gave Rowley no chance as it smashed against the underside of the bar and into the net (19 mins). The visitors almost levelled the score four minutes later when, from a 30 yard freekick, the number two crashed the ball against the Alty crossbar but, this time, it rebounded to safety for Altrincham (23 mins).

Levenshulme started to make substitutions after this and Alty followed suit after 30 minutes when Danny Browne replaced Neil Faulkner, pormpting one of many changes of formation as the youth team player slotted into midfield and the versatile and dependable John Maloney switched to right back. An excellent move from East Levenshulme then prompted a good save from Rowley before Potts tried an audacious 50 yard chip which only just cleared the bar to land on the roof of the net (35 mins). Rowley then had to make a good tip over the bar at the end of an excellent move by the visitors (37 mins).

For Altrincham, youth-teamer Dominic Lilley now came on for Danny Heffernan (39 mins). McFadden was then involved in the build up to a well-taken goal, from an acute angle at the back post, by Michael Brown to make it 3-1 (43 mins). Indeed Brown might have scored again before the break but he spooned a close-range effort over the bar from an excellent feed by McFadden (44 mins).

Altrincham played the second half in the Robinsons Preservation blue kit and at the interval Rod Thornley came on, having rushed to Moss Lane from his duties at Old Trafford to add his presence to the good causes benefitting from today's match. Also appearing at the interval were goalkeeper Craig Ellison, who had been with Alty Reserves before moving to Crewe and, currently, trialling for Northwich Victoria. East Levenshulme then lost a player injured and he subsequently had to be taken to hospital with concussion; hopefully he has since recovered (48 mins).

Fine play by Potts on the left set up Browne for a very well taken headed goal (51 mins). Then a fine cross from the right almost found Lilley, who was having a good game, at the back post as Alty took control. Another fine dribble from Potts then set up Charles Heathcote who scored smartly, prompting his father, Alty boss Graham, to shout to Geoff Goodwin, "Mr Chairman, we ought to sign him!". It was now 5-1 (61 mins). Deegan now came back on and partnered Rod Thornley up front. Rod soon had a shot well saved before Bailey came on in midfield for Browne (66 mins).

Next, a fine ball from the left from McFadden set up Deegan who made it 6-1 (67 mins). Mike Brown now came back on for his brother Ashley who had done well in only his second outing after breaking his leg last summer. A fine shot from 25 yards by Heathcote was well saved before Ellison was called to make an equally good stop at the other end . McFadden was providing a good supply of crosses from the left and from one of these, Heathcote volleyed at goal but was denied by a good save (74 mins). Alty vice-chairman Grahame Rowley then made an unconventional entrance, joining the match from the Popular Side to replace Neil Faulkner at right-back (75 mins).

Alty completed the scoring when a good run by Bailey set up Thornley who chipped the keeper expertly to make it 7-1 (76 mins). Alty brought on physio Alan Ainsley as their final substitute after 82 minutes, replacing Danny Browne. East Levenshulme continued to battle and forced a fine save from Ellison from a fierce shot from their no. 6 (83 mins). Mike Brown smashed a shot against the upright a minute later but the game ended without further scoring.