Match Report

REFEREE: Mr P Graham

ATTENDANCE: 1,084 (473 in away end)

Altrincham had no new faces in their squad - apart from assistant manager, Neil Tolson, who was named as a player for the first time. Of the 13 players who, up to yesterday had signed on for next season, three were out injured today (Coburn, Richman and Clee), whilst Lynch was only fit enough for the bench. In addition, Brian Summerskill was on holiday, further reducing the management's selection options.

Stockport included three faces who had previously worn Alty shirts. Up front was Nick Chadwick who had played for Alty in pre-season before signing for County; in midfield was Sam Sheridan, who spent a spell at Moss Lane on loan from Bolton Wanderers in 2009-10; and on the bench was trialist defender Carl Piergianni, a very popular loanee from Peterborough at Altrincham last season.

And, to add these familiar faces, County's kitman today was Dickie Landon, the famed "super sub" of Alty's 1999-2000 season.

BACKGROUND:

This was a meeting of two clubs which had suffered relegation the previous season, leaving them still separated by one tier in the English football pyramid. County had endured financial meltdown until their recent takeover which had led to the appointment of German World Cup star Didi Hamann as their manager.

Altrincham had enjoyed an encouraging pre-season so far and this was their last game before the league fixtures start next weekend.

LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white stripes, black shorts, red socks): 1. Josh OLLERENSHAW, 2. Robbie LAWTON (capt), 5. Adam FLYNN, 6.Paul JONES, 3. Ryan BROWN; 8. Mark LEES, 4. Anthony DANYLYK, 7. Shaun DENSMORE; 10. Damian REEVES, 9. Michael TWISS. 11. Astley MULHOLLAND. Subs: 12. Chris LYNCH, 14. Joe COOMBS, 19. James SMART, 16. Matt FEARON, 17. Jake BARNABAS, 20. Neil TOLSON, 21. Adam REID.

STOCKPORT COUNTY (Blue shirts and shorts, white socks): 1. Matthew GLENNON, 2. Ryan McCANN, 3. Euan HOLDEN, 4. Sam SHERIDAN, 5, Nebile BOUNAB, 6. Danny HALL, 7. John MILES, 8. JonROUTLEDGE, 9. Tom ELLIOTT, 10. Nick CHADWICK, 11. Ryan FRAUGHAN. Subs: 12. Carl PIERGIANNI, 13. Ian ORMSON, 14. John NOLAN, 15. Martin GRITTON, 16. Keighan PARKER, 17. Andy HALL, 18. Cameron DARKWAH, 19. Daniel O'DONNELL, 20. Adam PEPPER, 21. Sean McCONVILLE.

REPORT

Altrincham kicked off using a 4-3-3 formation, with the midfield comprising Lynch, Danylyk and Densmore, whilst up front Michael Twiss was flanked by trialist Astley Mulholland on the left and Damian Reeves on the right. But it took Stockport barely 90 seconds to unlock the Alty defence, up the middle, with Chadwick feeding Elliott, and the former Hamilton Academical and Rotherham United man gave Ollerenshaw no chance in a one on one contest.

County remained on top after this good start for them, passing the ball about well. But when winger Fraughan got in a good cross from the left, the ball just evaded Chadwick's head in the goalmouth to Alty's relief (10 mins). Three minutes later, however, Altrincham were less fortunate when Miles picked up the ball some 35 yards out in a central position and unleashed an impressive dipping shot which gave Ollerenhsaw no chance and established a 2-0 lead for County (13 mins).

Altrincham had not threatened at all until Danylyk's freekick was met by a well-timed run by Paul Jones but his header was saved by keeper Glennon (17 mins). Then, Densmore fed Reeves who won a corner, only for the referee to award a goalkick (18 mins). Nevertheless, Altrincham's improvement continued when a six-pass move ended with Michael Twiss nodding narrowly wide (21 mins).

But Ollerenshaw had to come out smartly to block Chadwick at the cost of a corner (31 mins) before Alty's improvement continued with a 20-pass move in which, unfortunately, the movement was mostly lateral rather than direct. At the other end, Holden was allowed space for a shot from 25 yards, which Ollerenshaw fielded.

Mulholland was then played in for a run at goal but he was stopped by a well-timed challenge as he got into the box (37 mins). Though not at their best, Alty continued to create half chances and, next, it was TWiss who improvised a left-footed lob from outside the box, which only just cleared the bar to nestle in the roof of the Stockport net (41mins).

Next, it was Brown who threatened, with a 40-yarder only narrowly clearing the crossbar, as he advanced up the middle (42 mins). Nevertheless, the interval arrived with Altrincham having failed to score and trailing by those two early goals.

Altrincham won an early corner (48 mins), after which Glennon saved a header from Flynn. The Robins enjoyed the better of the early stages of the second half with Mulholland, first being given offside and, then, getting free but halted by a fine tackle on the edge of the box (62 mins).

Danylyk then went down injured - it appeared to be his left groin which was the problem. After treatment he was able to continue. Stockport now introduced four substitutes, a new goalkeeper, Ormson, plus Piergianni, Gritton and a player bearing no number on his back (58 mins). At this point Matt Fearon, one of Alty's youth team products, replaced the ailing Danylyk, the new man being stationed on the right flank.

After 66 minutes, Stockport made a triple substitution as Hall, Parker and Nolan replaced Sheridan, McCann and Elliot. Alty now wasted a promising freekick position, from 25 yards, when a rehearsed routine led to Densmore firing the ball high into the Golf Road (69 mins). Next, James Smart replaced Mulholland (70 mins), with Alty now playing a 4-4-2 system.

Stockport had posed little threat at all in the second half, whereas Alty tested Glennon again when Reeves got up the left but his angled shot was saved (71 mins). County did raise their game to earn two corners as the game went into its final ten minutes. Seven minutes from time two more County substituions occurred as Darkwah and O'Donnell replaced Hall and Miles.

Much of the play in the second half was pleasant enough passing stuff but the game lacking a truly competitive edge as County saw out the game with their comfortable 2-0 lead intact. Altrincham had improved in the second half but, with their injury-hit side not being able to match the team's earlier pre-season performances, they were unable to get back into the game.