Match Report

SUMMARY:

Altrincham gave a very good account of themselves and took the lead in first-half added-time with a fine goal lashed in from the right by Chris Senior, following a freekick, the ball just going over the line after striking the inside of the post. But a very unimpressive Millwall got back into the match when their only real danger-man, Jay Simpson, was allowed to advance on the right and, though Coburn beat out his shot, Lane allegedly handled the follow-up on the goal-line and referee Ilderton believed he had no option but to award a penalty and send off the Alty right-back. Dunne sent Coburn the wrong way from the spot (53 mins). Millwall took the lead eight minutes later when Simpson again advanced and, though Coburn once more saved well, the loose ball ran to Hoskins who netted. Millwall enjoyed their best spell after this, taking advantage of their extra man but with the exception of Simpson and defender Zak Whitbread, son of Alty legend Barry, they seem to have few players of higher than Conference (BSP) standard. Alty threw everything at them in the closing stages with Shotton moving up front and even Coburn going up for a corner but the Londoners rode out the closing stages to advance into Round Two. The strong police presence appeared to have nothing to do but the cost of paying them will mean that Alty emerge with little financial gain from the afternoon

SCORERS

REFEREE: Mr E L Ilderton

Warren Peyton had recovered from illness and Colin Little had shaken off the rib injury that he picked up last week, but Val Owen and Gareth Whalley remained with Colin Potts on the injury list. So, Carlos Logan dropped to the bench for Peyton, whilst Bury striker James Dean's loan has been completed and his place went to Little.

Millwall had a long injury list for new manager, Kenny Jackett, to deal with. Richard Shaw (groin), Andy Frampton (broken toe) were out and Jamie O'Hara was ineligible to play. Youth team centre half Pat O'Connor all came into the senior squad for the first time. The Millwall site reported the injured list as: Richard Shaw (groin), Andy Frampton (broken toe), Danny Spiller (hernia op), Danny Senda (hamstring), Neil Harris (achilles), Ryan Smith (knee op), Chris Hackett (cruciate op), Dave Brammer (cartilage op), Ben May (ankle), Tom Brighton (op), Mark Phillips (cruciate op), Andrew Callaghan (foot). But Millwall had been allowed to bring in defender Marcus Bignot on an "emergency" transfer and he started at right-back. Bakayogo and Whitbread came in att he back for the injured Shaw and Frampton, whilst Hoskins, returned after injury.

BACKGROUND:

This was Altrincham's first appearance in Round One for six seasons but it brought a disappointing gate due to the media image which precedes Millwall's supporters.This not only put off some neutrals from attending but prevented any ticket sales on match day, with significant numbers having to be turned away at the turnstiles. Extra stewards and a cohort of policeman also had to be hired, at a significant cost to Altrincham, such was the reputation that proceeded the Londoners' supporters. But there was no trouble during today's game.

LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks): 1. Stuart COBURN; 15. Chris LANE, 5. Darren TINSON (capt), 16. Ryan SHOTTON, 3. Gary SCOTT; 12. Joe O'NEILL, 7. Robbie LAWTON, 6. Jake SEDGEMORE, 11. Warren PEYTON; 19. Chris SENIOR, 9. Colin LITTLE. Subs: 13. Richard ACTON, 2.Steve ASPINALL., 4. Karl MUNROE, 18. Pat McFADDEN, 22. Carlos LOGAN .

Alty Subs:

MILLWALL (Blue shirts, white shorts and blue socks): 1. Lenny PIDGELEY; 30. Marcus BIGNOT, 5. Paul ROBINSON (capt), 6. Zak WHITBREAD, 21. Zoumana BAKAYOGO; 19. Jay SIMPSON, 32. Bryan HODGE, 7. Alan DUNNE, 25. Ahmet BRKOVIC; 8. Gary ALEXANDER, 10. Will HOSKINS. Subs: 13. Chris DAY, 16. Scott BARRON, 22. Ali FUSEINI, 31. Ross GAYNOR, 36. Pat. O'CONNOR.

On a very dull and breezy afternoon, the visitors elected to play with the wind and, so, the teams changed ends before kick-off. Alty kicked off but Millwall attacked the end where their 302 supporters were grouped braving the drizzly rain. The floodlights were on from the start as the BBC cameras recorded the match highlights for "Match of the Day", their pictures showing the excellent playing surface and intricate mowing patterns prepared by Alty groundsman Neil Brown. Altrincham started well and Senior was soon threatening from the right but his cross was blocked (3 mins).

But at the back Darren Tinson was also excelling, geting in four excellent headers in the first five minutes. The first chance of the game arrived after 6 minutes when Brkovic was allowed to drift in from the left and his cross found Simpson unmarked at the back post. But the left winger's volley went narrowly wide of Coburn's left post for a goalkick. Gary Scott was also impressing in the Alty defence as the home side were roared on by a large contingent in the Golf Road End and on the Popular Side. However, Millwall won the first corner but that was soon seen off. O'Neill was also working hard on the Alty right and he almost got on the end of a fine ball into the box from Lane but Pidgeley arrived just in time to take the ball before the Alty man could reach it. Lawton then executed an excellent tackle as he worked hard in central midfield. But Millwall now won another corner after more good covering by Tinson (15 mins).

A Sedgemore error then allowed SImpson to threaten, the Millwall right winger looking their most potent threat by some margin. A few minutes later it was Simpson who set up Hoskins for a shot but he aimed narrowly wide of the target (19 mins). Five minutes later Senior won Alty a corner and fron Peyton's kick, Shotton headed wide. Soon after this Bakayogo handled the ball and the referee brandished his first yellow card of the game. Next, Bakayogo brought down Senior and was fortunate to receive no more punishment than a freekick against him, 45 yards out. From the kick the ball came to Shotton inside the front edge of the box and though it was clear to see from the stand that his shirt was being pulled, the nearby Mr Ilderton failed to take any action (28 mins). But Alty kept playing some good football and an excellent move involving O'Neill, Scott, Little and Lawton, ended with the last named's cross from left of goal. Senior got on the end of it and his low shot forced a good save from Pidgeley on the goal line (29 mins) as Alty now enjoyed the better of the game.

After Simpson had again threatened for Millwall, great harrying from Peyton drew spontaneous applause from the Main Stand. Soon, a long throw from the left by Shotton was badly dealt with by Millwall, the ball bouncing in the box and coming off a defender's body for a corner, amidst penalty appeals for hands from Altrincham. Scott then saw off Simpson once more but Bignot's skied effort over the bar was the nearest to a goal at this stage (40 mins). An error by Scott almost allowed Millwall to capitalise and when the covering Shotton then dallied on the ball it took the retreating Scott to see off the danger as one minute of added time was signalled. As the game actually passed into a second added minute Alty won a freekick when O'Neill was fouled just outside the box.

With the crowd anticipating an attempt from deadball expert Jake Sedgemore, it was Warren Peyton instead who played the ball forward superbly to Senior, and he lashed in a superb volleyed shot from well right of goal which cannoned off the inside of the post and over the line before being clawed back into play by the keeper who then tried to claim the ball had not crossed the line. The referee gave a goal and no other Millwall players protested at this fine effort which had put Altrincham ahead (45+2 mins). Seconds after the restart, the whistle sounded for half-time with an FA Cup upset on the cards after a good Alty first-half performance.

Millwall kicked off the second half and soon Tinson was excelling once more with a clearance for Alty. But it was the home side who continued to look the livelier and a fine move from the Robins ended with Peyton tapping the ball home but Senior had been given marginally offside in the buiild-up by Mr Tyas the linesman (51 mins). And that decision was to prove the turning point for immediately after almost going 2-0 up, Alty allowed Dunne to feed Simpson and he cut in from the right before firing in a shot which Coburn did well to beat out. But the loose ball came to Millwall's Alexander and his goalbound shot was stopped on the line by the diving Lane, the referee adjudging him to have handled. TV pictures suggested Lane was very unlucky as he had turned his back on the shot and it appeared to strike the back of his shoulder. So, Millwall were awarded a penalty and Lane was sent off (52 mins). Dunne sent Coburn the wrong way from the spot, sliding the ball, low to the keeper's left to draw Millwall level at 1-1 (53 mins). Scott now moved to right back and Peyton dropped to left back to compensate for the loss of Lane. Little then tried to lob Pidgeley from 25 yards but the keeper caught the ball before Bignot fired over at the other end.

The game now went through a quiet spell before Millwall scored a second goal. This came when the Londoners built up a good move ending with Simpson forcing a fine save from Coburn. But the keeper could not hold the effort and Hoskins drove home the rebound (61 mins). Millwall now played their best football of the afternoon as they exploited the extra man that they had. Coburn produced a fine save soon afterwards when Millwall gained advantage from what looked like an offside position (63 mins). Soon afterwards, Alty changed things with left-winger Logan coming on for the hardworking O'Neill (64 mins).

Lawton then surged up the middle but opted to shoot rather than feed Senior, to his right, and he sliced his effort badly from 25 yards (66 mins). Logan then beat two men before losing possession as Alty went in search of an equaliser. Coburn then easily caught a curling shot from Brkovic (74 mins) before a series of offside decisions given by Mr Dyas annoyed the home contingent. Millwall now won three corners in four minutes as the game went into its final ten minutes. At this point Munroe came on for Peyton (80 mins). Scott now reverted to left back as Alty adopted a three-man backline. A good Alty move ended with Little stretching to poke a shot narrowly over the bar from Sedgemore's excellent ball forward, but offside was given anyway (82 mins).

When Little and Munroe left the ball to each other just outside the Alty box, the home side was fortunate not to be punished. But then Millwall survived appeals for a handled back pass by the keeper at the other end before Little over ambitiously elected to try and shoot from 35 yards without success. Now McFadden came on for Senior up front for Alty, with Shotton also pushing forward (85 mins). Simpson then wasted a decent chance for Millwall when he was allowed too much space by Altrincham. Following three long throws from Shotton, Alty won a corner and Pidgeley was lucky to escape as he deliberately threw the ball away to delay the kick (88 mins).

Alty keeper Coburn came up for the corner and when Millwall cleared it he was stranded in the wrong half of the pitch. Fortunately a rolled effort by Millwall from long distance failed to find the vacant net and with the crowd chanting "Attack, attack, attack", Alty continued to press forward as three minutes of added time started. But a poor ball from Sedgemore into touch undid one of Alty's last hopeful movements forwards and soon afterwards, following a very late Alty corner, the whistle went to send Millwall through to Round Two, though they could have had few complaints if Alty had won at least a replay. This was an excellent performance from Alty, undone by a couple of defensive lapses against a side which certainly did not look two leagues above the Blue Square Premier. Though Chris Senior won the Alty Man of the Match and Zak Whitbread took the visitors' accolades, Darren Tinson had arguably his best match in an Altrincham shirt today.