Match Report

REFEREE: Mr Mark Heywood

ATTENDANCE: 397

Trialist Russell Saunders was in goal as Stuart Coburn sat this game out, the Alty no.1 being still on the road to recovery after a summer knee operation. Alty's other injured player Michael Welch was at the game, on crutches, following his serious ankle operation. New signing Nicky Clee took part in the warm-up and was named on the bench but did not take part in the game. Despite his groin injury, Robbie Lawton started the game but was on the right of midfield in a 4-4-2 formation as the new signings Tom Kearney (ex-Wrexham) and Maty Crowell (from Northwich) took over central midfield. Colin Little was rested on the bench where he was joined by Anthony Danylyk and James Smith, (both still regaining match fitness), Danny Heffernan and trialists Aaron Chalmers and Robbie Williams. Another trialist, Ben Muirhead was named on the bench but did not appear to be present.

Bolton's side was mostly drawn from their Academy though the likes of Obadeyi had first-team experience and left-winger Harsanyi was a reserve.

BACKGROUND:

For this first home friendly of the summer, the Moss Lane pitch was in fine condition, a tribute to Neil Brown's hard work over the last three months. For once this summer, the rain held off and the game was played in sunshine from start to finish.

LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks): 1. Russell SAUNDERS, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 4. Mark McGREGOR, 5. Greg YOUNG, 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 7. Robbie LAWTON, 6. Tom KEARNEY, 8. Matty CROWELL, 11. Chris DENHAM 9. Chris SENIOR, 10. Dale JOHNSON. Subs: 12. Anthony DANYLYK, 14. Colin LITTLE, 15. Danny HEFFERNAN, 16. Aaron CHALMERS, 18. Robbie WILLIAMS. Also named but not used were Ben MUIRHEAD, James SMITH and Nick CLEE.

BOLTON WANDERERS (All white): 1. Rob LAINTON, 2. Nathan BATTERSBY, 3. Adam BLAKEMAN, 4. Sam SHERIDAN, 5. Stuart McDONALD, 6. Alex McQUADE, 7. Tope OBADEYI, 9. Jaylon CAMPBELL, 9. Danny WARD, 10. Michael O'HALLORAN, 11. Zolton HARSANYI. Subs: 12. Marcos MICHAEL, 14. Jack SAMPSON, 15. Ryan STAYTE, 16. Josh VELA, 17. Andy BURNS, 18. Tom ECKERSLEY.

Altrincham kicked off towards the Golf Road end but Bolton had the better of the opening stages. Bolton's Slovakian wingman Harsanyi soon got to the by-line, left of the goal, and from his pull-back, Campbell side-footed shot at goal was well blocked from close range by keeper Saunders (2 mins). Alty's ex-Wigan Athletic trialist keeper did even better five minutes later with an excellent double save from point-blank range from O'Halloran after Harsanyi had again got to the by-line on the left (7 mins). For Bolton, as well as Harsanyi, midfielder Sheridan was playing very well. Soon, Alty were again indebted to Saunders when he once more thwarted O'Halloran who had poked a shot at the Alty goal (12 mins). McGregor's fine tackle then saw off another Trotters' attack.

Alty now began to get into the game and the combative Campbell earned a lecture from referee Heywood when he fouled Johnson. From the resulting freekick, near the left corner flag, Senior executed an excellent volley which Lainton tipped away. Johnson continued to suffer one or two foul challenges and from another such an offence, Young got his head to a Kearney freekick but could not direct the ball at goal. Lawton was then booked for a foul on Ward (18 mins) and was immediately substituted with a recurrence of his groin problem. Danny Heffernan came on for Lawton on the right (19 mins).

Harsanyi continued to cause Densmore further problems on the Bolton left and the tall winger now laid the ball off for Sheridan who smacked a firm shot from 25 yards, which Saunders did very well to beat out at full length, to his left (19 mins). But play was now much more even with Kearney in particular shining for Alty; he and fellow newcomer Crowell seemed to be establishing a good understanding with both looking to play the ball out of midfield rather than launch speculative balls forward. Indeed, Altrincham had the ball in the net after 23 minutes when Kearney fed Heffernan and his low, firm cross from the right was hit into the net, off the upright, by Chris Senior, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Altrincham were now on top and a fine turn from Johnson, combined with his excellent control, led to a shot which Lainton did well to smother as Senior closed in for a rebound (30 mins). At the back Alty were now looking solid and further forward Heffernan was beginning to impress. Referee Heywood, who tended towards the fussy but got most of the decisions right and played the advantage rule well, then lectured McGregor, presumably for something that was said, after a foul by his colleague Young on Obadeyi (34 mins).

Altrincham were now playing some impressive passing-football in which Kearney and Crowell were largely instrumental. Altrincham continued to have the better of things as half time approached but Densmore was then booked after Bolton had won a corner off him, presumably for speaking out of turn. Senior and Heffernan then combined before a raking cross from the right by Kearney, aimed for the incoming Denham at the back post, was turned past Lainton by the retreating Obadeyi to give Altrincham the lead (43 mins).

But, with the last kick of the half, Bolton equalised when Blakeman fed Ward who, despite appeals for offside, went on to chip the ball over the advancing Saunders (45 mins). The 1-1 score was a not unreasonable reflection of the game at half-time; indeed, but for three saves from Saunders it could have been far worse for Altrincham.

The second half started fairly evenly with Senior shooting wide from 30 yards before each side won a corner. Alty's corner arose when Senior was tripped on the edge of the box and Densmore's resulting freekick struck the wall and prompted a scramble in the Bolton goalmouth (54 mins). But Saunders was again in action when Obadeyi ran 50 yards upfield to feed Sheridan for a shot at goal which the keeper held well.

The substitutions now started with Michael replacing Harsanyi (55 mins). Alty had not learnt their lesson from allowing Obadeyi to run unchallenged upfield and when he repeated the act soon afterwards he completed his run this time with a goal, to give Bolton the lead (55 mins). But just like Alty earlier, Bolton also could not hold their advantage for long. Following a throw-in on the left Denham laid the ball off to Heffernan, who fired a fine low shot across Lainton and into the back of the net to make it 2-2 (57 mins). Denham immediately went off, to be replaced by Danylyk (57 mins).

Once again Obadeyi was allowed a long run forward but this time a fine tackle from Doughty stopped him (61 mins). With Heffernan on the left, Senior on the right and Johnson up the middle, Altrincham themselves continued to look dangerous too. But again Altrincham allowed a long, unchallenged Bolton surge out of defence, this time from Sheridan, before his advance ended in Obadeyi's shot wide of the target (64 mins). The game was now open and entertaining as, next, an Alty move ended with a fine shot from 20 yards by Crowell which came back off the crossbar. Moments later, from Heffernan's lay-off, Senior forced Lainton to tip his shot round the post for a corner (67 mins).

Trialist Aaron Chalmers, watched by his brother, Aldershot Town's former Altrincham midfielder Lewis Chalmers, now came on for Crowell in midfield as Alty enjoyed the better of the game. Next, another neat Altrincham build up ended with Senior's shot forcing a good save from Lainton. But Bolton took the lead again after 73 minutes when, yet again, Obadeyi surged forward, getting past Danylyk. The Alty midfielder recovered to get in a challenge but could not stop Michael placing a good shot just inside Saunders's right-hand post to make it 3-2.

The changes continued as Williams replaced McGregor in Alty's back line (73 mins) before Vela came on for Bolton's Campbell (75 mins). Colin Little then replaced Johnson (76 mins) before Danylyk forced a good save from Lainton (78 mins). Wanderers then made a triple change as Sampson, Stayte and Burns came on to replace Battersby, Sheridan and Obadeyi (79 mins). Altrincham continued to pass the ball about well and, when Chalmers impressed with some trickery on the Alty right, he drew a foul challenge and won a freekick. Kearney took this from right of goal and Williams rose well to head firmly against the crossbar. But his fellow defender Greg Young managed to poke the loose ball home in the resulting melee (84 mins).

Altrincham pressed forward and won a late corner but full-time arrived at the end of a very entertaining game between two well-matched sides, leaving the scores tied at 3-3.

Altrincham will have taken particular encouragement from the performance of their new central midfield duo, Kearney and Crowell, whilst Danny Heffernan continued to show the strides he has made since emerging from Altrincham reserves three years ago. In goal, trialist Russell Saunders was again faultless, making several excellent saves, whilst the rest of squad all contributed to varying degrees to a pleasing display characterised by a desire to play the ball to feet rather than resort to the long ball. Alty's next test is at home to new League two side Burton Albion at Moss Lane next Saturday.