Match Report

ALTRINCHAM: 13. Richard ACTON; 2. Lee ROCHE, 4. Karl MUNROE, 16. Ryan SHOTTON, 3. Gary SCOTT; 22. Carlos LOGAN, 6. Jake SEDGEMORE, 7. Colin POTTS (capt), 20. Jeff McGAW; 12. Joe O'NEILL, 24. Aaron BURNS. Subs: 15. Chris LANE, 5. Darren TINSON, 14. Stephen ROSE, 11. Warren PEYTON, 18. Pat McFADDEN, 9. Colin LITTLE, 19. Chris SENIOR, 13. Steve DOWNES (gk).

ASHTON UNITED: 1. Damien Rooney, 2. Indy Aujla (trialist), 3. Scott McManus (trialist), 4. Melford Knight, 5. Billy McCartney, 6. Danny Forde, 7. Ian Bennett, 8. Ben Smith, 9. Gareth Richards, 10. Glyn Barker, 11. Matt Edgington. Subs: Tommy Taylor, Michael Murray, Gary Furnival, 14. Lee Hendley, 16. Neil Chappell (trialist.)

Altrincham used most of their first team squad at some stage of this game, though the inclusion of three trialists in the starting line-up and seven substitutions at the interval did little to ensure a fluent performance. Ashton, who themselves included several trialists and were without injured players such as Chris Adams and Danny Caldecott, were generally the more accomplished side.

The three Altrincham trialists who started were striker Aaron Burns (19), a former Manchester United reserve, who learnt today that he had got international clearance but would not be allowed to sign for Altrincham till January as the FA had deemed him to be of amateur status and therefore ineligible to join a BSP Premier side till the transfer window reopens. Aaron had featured in an Alty Reserves' game back in August. At right-back was another former Manchester United player in Lee Roche (26), whose last league club was Wrexham. On the left of midfield was Jeff McGaw, recently released by Stoke City. Ashton' former Trafford boss Danny Johnson included ex-Shawe View players Damien Rooney, Glyn Barker and Billy McCartney. Barker was once a trialist for Altrincham who holds the strange distinction of having represented Altrincham FC in a cricket match but not in a competitive football match.

Joe O'Neill headed narrowly wide from a good cross from the left by Roche after 7 minutes but it was the visitors who took the lead when Scott McManus made a fine run up the field and won a freekick left of the goal. Though Acton did well to beat out the resulting shot, the ball came out to centre-back McCartney who showed good composure to drive the ball into the net (15 mins). An Alty corner soon followed but Sedgemore could only find the side netting with it. Burns showed a good touch after 18 minutes when he forced a decent save from Rooney with a rasping 20 yard shot (18 mins). Carlos Logan was looking Alty's liveliest player whilst Colin Potts was enjoying his central midfield role and the captain's armband. Roche showed some good touches at left back before an O'Neill shot earned Alty a corner, following which a Potts effort from outside the box was saved.

For Ashton, the left winger Edgington looked especially impressive. Graham Heathcote reminded his men that the game had been on for "Half an hour and only one shot at goal" as Alty continued to misfire, whilst Trafford played some neat passing football. They scored again after 33 minutes when an error by Scott allowed Richards through and, though his shot was blocked, it came out to McManus who rifled home a fine goal from 25 yards. As half time approached manager Heathcote was less than happy with what he was seeing but a pre-planned mass change of personnel at half-time promised the possibility of an improvement in the home side's display.

Only Acton, Roche, Potts and Sedgemore survived the half-time cull, as Lane, Tinson, Rose, Peyton, McFadden, Little and Senior came on. Ashton made a change three minutes into the half as Chappell replaced Richards. An early Alty corner suggested an uplift in performance and this improvement produced a goal after 56 minutes when an Ashton back pass was intercepted by Senior who rounded the keeper to score (56 mins). After an Alty corner, Lee Hendley came on for Ashton in place of Barker (58 mins). Alty continued to press as Scott returned to the game in place of Potts, who limped off injured (65 mins). Scott seemed delighted to assume the captain's arm band (65 mins). But the visitors then went 3-1 up when defender McCartney scored his second good goal of the night after an Alty half clearance (72 mins).

Alty changed their keeper after this with Acton giving way to Steven Downes who had featured in some pre-season games. Ashton made a triple swap with nos. 12,15 and 17 replacing McManus, Aujla and Smith (75 mins). Alty won a couple of corners before Ashton responded with one of their own. Alty got a goal back three minutes from the end when Senior lobbed Rooney to make it 3-2. But Ashton ran out deserved winners of a game which represented a below par performance from Altrincham. Senior will have enjoyed his two goals but few others will have derived much satisfaction from their labours.