Match Report

REFEREE: Mr Mark Duncan

ATTENDANCE: c120

Alty were without Michael Twiss, who was on holiday, and Adam Flynn had a minor strain so was present but not playing tonight. Otherwise manager Lee Sinnott went for a strong starting eleven but named four Youth team graduates and two trialists amongst his seven substitutes.

BACKGROUND:

This was Altrincham's only away pre-season friendly. As usual for this now regular fixture, the playing surface at Shawe View was in excellent condition, a tribute to the Trafford groundsman who had won the divisional groundsman award for last season.

LINE-UPS

TRAFFORD (All yellow): 1. Greg Hall, 2. Steve Mason, 3. Andy Smart, 4. Gareth Thomas, 5. Nia Bayunu, 6. Russell, 7. Ben Morris, 8. John Buckley, 9. Tom Bentham, 10. Matt Landregan, 11. Paul Ashton. Subs: Not known.

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white stripes, black shorts, red socks): 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Robbie LAWTON, 5. Paul JONES, 6. Mark LEES, 3. Ryan BROWN, 4. Anthony DANYLYK, 7. Shaun DENSMORE, 8. Brian SUMMERSKILL, 11. Nicky CLEE, 10. Damian REEVES, 9. Simon RICHMAN. Subs: 13. Josh OLLERENSHAW, 17. Astley MULHOLLAND, 15. Joe COOMBS, 18. Jake BARNABAS, 19. Sam LANGFORD, 16. James SMART, 12. Chris LYNCH, 22. Matt FEARON

REPORT

The action started with a mis-kicked clearance from Stuart Coburn but Trafford were unable to capitalise on this. Altrincham began to settle and to pass the ball about well but their first half chance did not arrive till the tenth minute when Densmore got free and found Reeves, who was partnering Clee up front, but his effort went narrowly wide. Trafford's closest effort of the early part of the game was a 35-yard shot which whistled narrowly wide of the Alty net.

Richman, playing behind Clee and Reeves, had suffered an early knock and he had to be replaced after just 17 minutes. Chris Lynch was his replacement. Altrincham were making the running but came no closer to a goal in the next few minutes than Summerskill's mis-kick wide of the target. Otherwise, the young midfielder was to have an impressive game.

Round the half hour mark there was a short stoppage for treatment to the Trafford keeper, Hall, who had collided with Damian Reeves going for a 50-50 ball. Shortly before half time Clee was caught by a lunge from Thomas and hobbled on till half time but was unable to continue after that. He had twisted his ankle. A freekick from Brown brought Alty a corner in the final moments of the first half but the first 45 minutes ended with Altrincham having failed to impose themselves on opposition from two leagues below them in the pyramid.

Former Alty Youth player, Astley Mulholland, who had spent last season in prolific form at Flixton, came on for the injured Clee at the interval. And he had an immediate effect. He and Densmore broke up the inside right channel and the ball was relayed by the substitute to Densmore who turned the ball accurately inside to the onrushing Reeves who finished with a firm shot with less than a minute on the clock in the second half.

It was Mulholland who laid on the second goal, five minutes later, surging to the touchline, right of goal, before delivering a firm cross, which Reeves bravely headed into the net from close range (51 mins). Altrincham were now comfortably on top as Brown got forward to win a corner. There was a minor spat when Bentham followed through on Coburn after the keeper had caught the ball and the Alty number one, understandably, took exception to being bundled to the ground. Soon afterwards, Josh Ollerenshaw, the former Oldham Athletic reserve, replaced Coburn in goal (59 mins).

Next, Mulholland and Summerskill combined well for the latter to fire in a shot which was deflected narrowly wide for a corner. After 62 minutes Trafford made a double swap as a new number 9 replaced the old one, Bentham, and another no.2 came on for Landregan. Alty now continued to give a more energetic performance in the second half than they had in the first 45 minutes. They made another change in the 66th minute when youth team defender Joe Coombs replaced Paul Jones at the back, alongside Lees.

The lively Mulholland now tested keeper Hall with a smart turn and shot from a Danylyk feed. But the Alty frontman was soon on target when he latched onto an excellent ball up the left from Lees which he took forward and drove past the keeper to make it 3-0 (69 mins).

Trafford now brought on a new number 11 for the existing one, Ashton - they did not announce their team, so the subs were all anonymous. Ollerenshaw was tested in the 73rd minute when he parried an initial shot before blocking the follow-up. The feisty Thomas fouled Summerskill before Alty made a double change with youth team products Sam Lungaord and James Smart coming on to replace Brown and Danylyk (74 mins).

Altrincham further extended their lead nine minutes from time when Reeves was set free on the left from a measured through ball by Densmore. The striker crossed the ball in and Mulholland made himself space well before drilling a ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the keeper's net to make it 4-0 to the visitors. Now Matt Fearon and Jake Barnabas replaced Robbie Lawton and Mark Lees (81 mins) to leave just four of the Altrincham registered first-team squad on the pitch. Shaun Densmore assumed the captaincy as Lawton left the game.

Trafford then replaced their no.8, Buckley, with another number eight but there was still time for another goal. This time it came from the right where Summerskill did well and produced an excellent through ball for Reeves to chase. The striker gathered the ball before finding the net confidently to complete his hat-trick (90 mins).

So, after a solid if unspectacular first half, Altrincham had come to life after the break with Astley Mulholland doing his chances of a squad place for the coming season no harm at all with a lively performance. Summerskill also impressed as did more established players such as Densmore and Reeves. Alty now have a week off before entertaining Barrow at Moss Lane next Tuesday.