Match Report

Some of the invited "Legends" were unable to play due to commitments at their current clubs but, nevertheless six stars from the past played (Shaun Constable, Paul Cuddy, Ken McKenna, Peter Band, Chris Adams, Gary Talbot) whilst at least three more (Barry Shuttleworth, Marcus Hallows and Terry Bowker) were spectators. So, some of the current squad became "Legends" overnight and even Oliver Osbaldeston - an Independent Schools international earlier this year - achieved legendary status whilst still in his teens! The Present XI was managed by Dalton Steele, as Graham Heathcote was away watching our FA Cup opponents Kendal Town who were playing tonight at Witton. Neil Brown, himself a legend in his own lifetime (or was it lunchtime?), was the manager of the opposition. At Ken McKenna's insistence, it was the former players who donned the famous red and white stripes whilst the Present XI wore the change kit of blue.

The game also gave an opportunity for recently injured and suspended players to rehabilitate themselves - these included Stuart Coburn, Gareth Whalley, Stephen Rose, Steve Aspinall and Karl Munroe. Colin Potts's injury ruled him out. The match also gave home fans their first glimpse of James Dean, who had made his debut last Saturday at Salisbury.

LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM FC PRESENT XI (Pale & dark blue shirts, pale blue shorts and socks) 13. Richard ACTON; 15. Chris LANE, 4. Karl MUNROE, 16. Ryan SHOTTON, 14. Stephen ROSE; 12. Joe O'NEILL, 6. Jake SEDGEMORE, 11. Warren PEYTON, 22. Carlos LOGAN; 19. Chris SENIOR, 20. James DEAN. Subs: 14. Oliver OSBALDESTON, 18. Pat McFADDEN, 21. Gareth WHALLEY, 24. Steve DOWNS (gk)

ALTRINCHAM FC LEGENDS XI (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks) 1. Stuart COBURN; 2.Steve ASPINALL, 4. Paul CUDDY, 5. Gary TALBOT, 12. Clive FREEMAN; 7. Shaun CONSTABLE, 6. Peter BAND (capt), 15. Gary SCOTT, 11. Chris ADAMS; 9. Colin LITTLE, 10. Ken McKENNA. Subs: Danny HEATHCOTE, Charles HEATHCOTE.

Carole Nash, a long-time benefactress of Altrincham FC was the welcome guest at this match and she was given the honour of kicking off the match. However, it soon became apparent that there was an imbalance between the two sides as the present-day first-team squad went two-nil up inside the first five minutes. Although Colin Little, playing for the Legends, had fired a shot wide after 2 minutes, the Present XI went ahead a minute later when Logan got the ball to Senior whose effort was saved but ran for Joe O'Neill to put it into the unguarded net (3 mins). O'Neill was well on course for a rapid hat-trick when he netted again two minutes later after Dean had fed Senior. Senior got past Talbot to the right of goal and laid the ball into the path of O'Neill who took the chance well (5 mins). Coburn was soon busy again, saving from the lively Senior before a body-check by Constable on Logan, delivered in a joking rather than serious manner, gave the Present XI a freekick. Logan continued to cause problems on the Legends' right side and the Present XI won three of the game's next four corners. From the last of these, taken by Logan, Shotton timed his run well but put his volley wide (23 mins). At the other end Colin Little was on the end of one or two harsh tackles from his regular defensive team-mates. The loudest cheer of the night went up when Constable, who was hugging the right wing for the Legends but seeing little of the ball, finally got possession and nutmegged Stephen Rose in front of the Main Stand, leaving the Alty defender with a broad smile on his face. Soon afterwards Senior got the better of Cuddy and fired past Coburn to make it 3-0 to the Present XI (26 mins).

Four minutes later Senior got his second and his side's fourth after Coburn had done well to save a fine volley by Logan only for Senior to latch on to the loose ball and score (30 mins). Sedgemore was then put through into the box but dragged his shot narrowly wide of the post (32 mins). It was then Dean's turn to get on the scoresheet, netting his side's fifth goal from Peyton's feed. The big striker advanced into the box, held off a challenge and scored a well-taken goal (39 mins). Senior completed his hat-trick after 40 minutes following Logan's good approach play.

The Legends came to life after this with Little testing Acton with a well-hit shot but the keeper held the ball at the second attempt (41 mins). From Peyton's pass Logan then took on Aspinall on the Legends' left and, though a good tackle stopped the winger, he got up and regained control before advancing into the box to lay the ball off for Dean to record his second goal and make it 7-0 (42 mins). But the Legends were awarded a penalty soon afterwards when the referee, Mr Howe, entering into the spirit of the occasion, gave them a generous handball decision against Shotton. Ken McKenna strode up to send Acton the wrong way from the spot and make it 7-1 (43 mins).

There were various changes at the interval. McFadden and Whalley came on for the Present XI, whilst Rose, Aspinall and Lane switched sides. Charles Heathcote replaced Gary Scott for the Legends and the goalkeepers also swapped sides. The changes produced a more balanced contest, though the Present XI did win two early corners. The second of these arose after Logan's cross had left O'Neill free but Joe delayed his shot allowing Acton to block his effort. Next, Senior had a chip shot well saved by Acton.

After 57 minutes Adams gave way to Oliver Osbaldeston in midfield. After Senior had shot wide at one end, a fine pass from Constable gave Little a great opportunity at the other end but he opted to try and make more space rather than shoot immediately and the chance was lost (62 mins). At this point, Steve Downs came on in goal for Coburn in the Present XI goal. Shotton impressed with a fine dribble out of defence but his back-four colleague Steve Aspinall was clearly carrying an injury, possibly to this hamstring. The Present XI made it 8-1 after 68 minutes when Senior superbly lifted the ball over Acton and into the net.

This goal seemed to stir the Legends into action and they now won two successive corners and from the second, by Constable, Talbot rose as majestically as ever he has over the years but his header landed on the top of the net (70 mins), After Dean had found the sidenetting at the other end, Band played an excellent through ball for Little, but he sliced his shot wide. The end to end play contiunued with Senior dribbling into the box but Acton made a great save to tip the ball out for a corner. At last Aspinall had to give way to his injury and he limped off leaving his side a man short. Danny Heathcote now came on to replace Shaun Constable who received a generous round of applause for his entertaining performance and banter with the crowd (77 mins). Charles Heathcote then started what was to be something of a minor recovery for the Legends as he fed Colin Little who scored from 12 yards to make it 8-2 (79 mins).

However, the immediate response of the Present XI was for Dean to get past Rose and advance up the middle into the left of the box where he scored well past Acton, completing his hat-trick in the process of making it 9-2 (82 mins). Osbaldeston almost made it ten for the Present XI when he smashed a fine shot against the crossbar a minute later. Charles Heathcote then made it 9-3 with a well taken drive (84 mins), and he almost scored again shortly afterwards when he followed up and saw Coburn save his shot after a superb shot from McKenna had crashed against an upright (87 mins). In the final minute of normal time the Legends brought back Constable, Adams and Cuddy for Lane, Little and Rose. Two minutes into added time Charles Heathcote netted his side's fourth goal with another well-taken effort and that was to be the thirteenth and final goal of an enjoyable evening.