Match Report

REFEREE: Mr S Oldham (Poulton-le-Fylde)

ATTENDANCE: 382

Altrincham made one change, enforced by injury, as Adam Flynn was replaced by Mark Lees, with youth team central defender Joe Coombs making his first appearance on the bench.

BACKGROUND:

Vauxhall Motors, for whom current Altrincham captain Robbie Lawton was formerly captain, have something of a reputation as a "bogey" team for Altrincham. Away from home, Altrincham have won only once at Rivacre Park in six visits and have never won there in the league. The only Altrincham away win was on 1 February, 2005, when Alty won a Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final 3-2. The most recent league game at Rivacre Park was in November, 2004, when Alty went down 2-0, with Robbie leading the Motormen and Stuart Coburn the only remaining survivor of Alty's team that day.

However, Mike Garnett's statistics show that at Moss Lane, Alty have the upper hand.

Both teams came into this match having secured their first league win of the season, at the third attempt, last Saturday.

LINE-UPS

VAUXHALL MOTORS (White shirts, blue shorts & socks): 1. Scott Tynan; 2. Andrew Taylor, 4. Tom Hannigan, 5. Michael Jackson, 3. Lee Dames; 11. Craig Mahon, 6. Sean Highdale, 8. David Mannix, 7. Steve Beck, 9. Leighton McGivern, 10. Josh Wilson, Subs: 14. Kevin Grocott, 15. Sean Williams, 16. Anthony Wright, GK. Josh O’Connell, 12. John Bennett

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white stripes, black shorts, red socks): 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Robbie LAWTON (capt), 5. Paul JONES, 6. Mark LEES, 3. Ryan BROWN, 7. Shaun DENSMORE, 4. Chris LYNCH, 8. Anthony DANYLYK, 11. Nicky CLEE, 10. Damian REEVES, 9. Michael TWISS, Subs: 18. Josh OLLERENSHAW, 12. Joe COOMBS, 15. Astley MULHOLLAND, 14. Brian SUMMERSKILL, 16. Simon RICHMAN.

REPORT

With a strong band of their vocal supporters looking on, Altrincham kicked off this game on a warm, bright evening, at a Rivacre Park ground where their only previous win had been in a Cheshire Senior Cup match. Altrincham conceded two early freekicks, the first of which Coburn punched clear. Alty were then awarded a freekick they did not really want as "advantage" would have served them better on the left wing.

The Motormen won the game's first corner (5 mins), and it was becoming apparent that in right winger Mahon and central striker McGivern, Vauxhall have two dangerous and pacey attacking players. Altrincham were then a little fortunate to survive a handball by Lees; though not intentional, these are frequently given as penalties these days (8 mins).

Altrincham were now on the back foot as Josh Wilson headed another Vauxhall corner wide. When Altrincham won their first corner, after 13 minutes, it was wasted with a poor kick from Densmore. Altrincham were then almost caught out by a hoof up the middle which evaded Jones and fell for McGivern whose well struck shot looked goal bound but, fortunately for the visitors, it just cleared the bar (15 mins).

The Motormen had to make an early change when an injury meant that Grocott had to come on for the injured Andy Taylor after just 17 minutes. When Damian Reeves was felled by Jackson just outside the front left of the Vauxhall box, Shaun Densmore whacked an excellently taken freekick past a motionless Tynan into the Motors' net to give Altrincham the lead (20 mins).

The goal lifted Altrincham, who now won two successive corners, the first arising after a clever step over by Clee. Another Altrincham corner arrived when two Vauxhall defenders went for the same ball. With the visitors on top, the normally lethal Reeves had a great chance to double their lead in the 27th minute; an excellent pass from the hard working Danylyk set Reeves through on goal but he lifted the ball well over the bar.

But Motors now picked up their game with, first, McGivern going just wide and then, after 35 minutes, Mannix went close after an impressive passing move by the Motors. However, as half time approached, an Alty corner was won by Reeves but was cleared (40 mins). Alty then had a lucky escape after Wilson got past Lawton along the by-line to the right of Coburn's goal. But it was Lawton himself who saved the day by clearing a subsequent shot off the goal line (42 mins).

Indeed, Vauxhall were on top as the half drew to its close, but in the final minute of normal time, the Motormen had to make another change as Williams replaced Beck. In the first of two added minutes, Coburn made a magnificent save, tipping over a fine shot from McGivern which seemed to take a deflection en route to goal.

So, the interval arrived with Altrincham just about holding their lead after a first half in which Vauxhall started and finished the better side.

The second half was barely 30 seconds old when Altrincham doubled their lead in unusual circumstances. A back pass was played slightly strongly from the Vauxhall right-back to keeper Tynan. He controlled the ball as Reeves closed him down. But the keeper seemed unaware that Densmore was also racing in from the right and the Alty midfielder blocked the ball as Tynan attempted to clear it. At the cost of a sore foot for Densmore, the ball ran to Reeves who calmly slotted it into the empty net from the left of goal (46 mins).

But Vauxhall were soon pressing and it took a good block from Lees to stop McGivern; Lees had a good game on his first start for Altrincham (51 mins). The Motormen continued to apply pressure with some fast, passing moves and it was to take a fine save from Coburn to keep out a strong shot from Mahon (57 mins). Just before the hour mark, Altrincham brought on Richman for Clee, who was having a relatively quiet game by his own high standards (59 mins).

As the game passed the hour mark Alty remained on the back foot till, first, Flynn fired wildly over the bar and, then, they won two successive corners which led to a blocked shot from Richman (63 mins). As in the first half, Alty seemed to have weathered Vauxhall's early threat. A foul by Highdale on Danylyk sounded bad but fortunately the Alty midfielder recovered and the offender was cautioned (68 mins).

Moments later Reeves was pulled back as he threatened to get free but though a freekick was awarded no card was produced. The freekick led to two Alty corners, the second won by a fine interception and surge forward by Lynch. But, with Alty looking comfortable, Lynch was immediately withdrawn and Summerskill took over in midfield (71 mins). Another Alty corner soon arrived but on the breakaway Lawton showed a fine turn of pace to track back and clear the Vauxhall danger on their left.

Vauxhall had now brought on midfielder John Bennett for Highdale. John had made one first-team substitute appearance at Mansfield for Altrincham in 2009-10 season, after graduating from George Heslop's youth team, and he fired narrowly over from 35 yards after a spell of Alty pressure had kept the visiting fans in good voice (75 mins). It still looked comfortable for the Robins as Reeves won a corner, from which a firm Jones header was well saved by Tynan, Densmore having taken the corner-kick.

The busy Densmore then won a freekick, 35 yards out, before a Vauxhall freekick, just outside the box, was blocked by Alty’s defence as their striker, Astley Mulholland, prepared to come on. But, before he could so, Vauxhall had made it 2-1. The ball was played from the right to McGivern who controlled the ball well before firing a firm shot past Coburn from 15 yards or so (84 mins).

A couple of minutes later Reeves battled well to get on to a through ball but could only shoot wide of Tynan's left stick (86 mins). Vauxhall then won a penalty which appeared to be less than clear cut, against Lees, and Wilson stepped up to give Coburn no chance from the penalty spot (87 mins). It was the third penalty conceded by Alty in two away games this season.

Alty won three late corners (90+ mins) as they went to try and retrieve the additional two points that a victory would bring. But their best chance of the closing moments arose when Richman and Summerskill combined, the latter threading a low cross to Twiss, who tried to steer the ball into the net but could only screw it wide (90+4 mins).

And so, as in their previous away game this season, Altrincham had been undone by a late penalty. The draw meant they dropped three places to twelfth with their next fixture away at unbeaten Hyde FC on Saturday.