Match Report

REFEREE: Mr Oliver Yates

ATTENDANCE: 239

Altrincham gave a first start to Duncan Watmore and with Nicky Clee unfit, James Lawrie started on the left. Simon Richman returned in midfield whilst Shaun Densmore was at right-back in the absence of Kieran Walmsley who has been ill. Leighton McGivern, who was playing his last game before suspension, started up front with 43-goal Damian Reeves.

There were only three substitutes on the bench for Town.

BACKGROUND:

Before kick off, Mike Garnett's statistics revealed the past record against Eastwood Town, which comprised just one match...

The win at Moss Lane on the afternoon of Bonfire Night 2011 had been the last time that Altrincham kept a clean sheet!

Eastwood had already been relegated before today's match and had been forced to field a team of young players in recent weeks following the financial problems caused by their previous backer's withdrawal from the club.

The ground here has three small stands and this fact is what, reputedly, cost Eastwood a place in the play offs last season - the club had the requisite number of seats but they were spread over too many stands for the football authorities to approve.

LINE-UPS:

ALTRINCHAM (Yellow & blue shirts, blue shorts, yellow socks): 1 Stuart Coburn, 2. Shaun Densmore (capt), 3. Andrew Smart, 4. Simon Richman, 5. Matthew Flynn, 6. Marlon Broomes, 7. Duncan Watmore, 8. Scott Phelan, 9. Leighton McGivern, 10. Damian Reeves, 11. James Lawrie. Subs 12. Chris Lynch, 14. Mark Lynch, 15. John Miles, 16. Michael Twiss, 18. Adam Reid

EASTWOOD TOWN (Black & white striped shirts, black shorts, white socks): 1. Sam Andrew, 2. Josh Raven, 3. Sam Benjamin, 4. Danny Elliott, 5. Mitch Hanson, 6. Gavin Caines, 7. Jake Green, 8. Alex Troke, 9. Wes Henry, 10. Kallum Keane, 11..Markell Bailey. Subs: 12. Nelson Burgess, 14. Perry Marriott, 15. Tyler Witton

The start of the game was delayed, firstly by a minute's applause in memory of an Eastwood club member and also by the discovery that there were no corner flags in position. Finally, Eastwood kicked off playing down the slight slope on a bobbly pitch, which was to make the "passing game" a difficult option.

The home side had the better chances early on. Firstly, a 25-yarder was well stopped by Coburn (2 mins), after which Reeves looped an effort well over the bar from a Lawrie feed. But Eastwood soon threatened again when Troke fired just over the bar with a well-executed shot with the outside of his foot, after he had beaten Phelan.

There were unanswered appeals from Altrincham when Reeves went down when challenged in the box (8 mins). Next, a fine ball was threaded forward by Richman but Phelan's first time shot well over bar. Both sides were making errors but it was The Badgers who next threatened but Bailey shot wide from 25 yards (11 mins).

And it was Eastwood who threatened again when Henry got the better of Smart and Densmore to force a good, low, one-hand save by Coburn, to his left (14 mins). Following this effort Henry seemed to have a groin problem and needed treatment before returning to the game (17 mins).

McGivern then did an Ashley Young in the box but without gaining the penalty for which he was looking. From a long ball from Flynn, Reeves tried to lob Andrew but got his attempt wrong. Play was pretty nondescript as was epitomised by a Wild shot from Elliott and then by Lawrie's poor freekick to the keeper (24 mins).

Next, Reeves was just beaten to a long ball from Flynn by Andrew, the keeper. On his debut, Watmore was showing promise but neither side could keep the ball long enough to impose themselves. The home side continued to create the better chances as, now, Henry turned past Broomes but his shot ran to Coburn (29 mins).

In the 32nd minute Watmore fired in a shot but it went well over from 25 yards, before a Smart cross was taken by the keeper. Then, a good Alty move saw Densmore advance up the right but his cross was blocked for a throw on the Alty right. Via Lawrie the ball came to Scott Phelan, who scored with a fine, low drive into the far corner from slightly right of goal (34 mins).

Rain was now starting, as Elliott took advantage of a sloppy ball from Lawrie which had allowed Green to feed the midfielder. Fortunately, Elliott's shot hit the side netting at Coburn's near post (35 mins). Next an Elliott cross was importantly just nodded out for a corner by Broomes (37 mins).

Penalties for and against Altrincham have been plentiful this season and another now arrived as Lawrie was tripped by Raven after Lawrie and Watmore had interchanged passes. Reeves duly scored goal no. 44 from the spot as the heavens now opened.

With a hailstorm raging, Richman tripped Green but escaped without a card. Following the resulting freekick, Hanson shot well over the bar as the torrential rain continued. Next, a fine ball from Smart was well controlled by Reeves and a corner resulted.

A 43rd minute Alty corner saw a glancing Matt Flynn header just clear the bar from Lawrie's kick. The sun now came out as conditions improved. But with the game just into an unannounced minute or two of added time, an Alty move seemed to have broken down, only for the ball to break for McGivern who, unmarked, drove the ball into the net to make it a slightly flattering 3-0 to Alty at the interval.

At the break, Chris Lynch came on at the back in place of Broomes. The first action of note was a good Watmore run and pass, which set Reeves free but, uncharacteristically, his shot hit the keeper (48 mins). The teenager was soon instrumental in Alty's fourth goal when, following a throw, Watmore got in a shot from the right which Andrew could not hold. Phelan arrived to sweep the ball into the net and make it 0-4 (49 mins).

Following this, McGivern’s fierce shot went over the bar, before Eastwood brought on Burgess for Henry (53 mins). Mr. Yates again showed leniency when Reeves was clattered by Raven. Soon, Densmore was replaced by Mark Lynch and Matt Flynn now wore the armband (56 mins).

In search of his hat-trick, Phelan's 25-yarder just cleared the bar (58 mins). Not long after this the Alty midfielder got to the byline and his excellent cross was only just too high for Reeves to nod home at the back post.

Eastwood made another change as Keane was replaced by Witton (61 mins). With the game here under control, Alty's travelling fans launched into a chorus of "Macclesfield are going down", before Town introduced Marriott for Raven (66 mins).

F Eastwood now enjoyed some possession and kept Alty on the back foot. Next Miles replaced Watmore on the visitors' right wing as the game drifted along uneventfully (72 mins). Indeed, such was the lack of excitement that the Alty choir was even singing its historic chant to Gary Talbot, who left the club several years ago!

On the field, Eastwood remained camped in Altrincham's half until a breakaway on the left by Lawrie saw him feed McGivern, who raced into the box from the left, drew the keeper and scored to make it 5-0 (78 mins).

Having failed to keep a clean sheet since their last encounter with Eastwood, 29 games ago, it was inevitable that Alty would concede today. They duly did so after a Troke shot had won a corner on their right. From this, Burgess scored at the near post (82 mins).

After a Reeves header had cleared the bar from a good Richman cross (86 mins), there was time for McGivern to complete his hat trick when he drove Miles's feed into the top of the net from close range (90+1 min).

A 6-1 away win is always welcome and it was the second time Alty had achieved it this season. But it felt a little hollow against a very young and inexperienced opposition who had worked hard throughout and did what many teams had failed to do this season - stop Damian Reeves from scoring from open play.

The results elsewhere confirmed that Altrincham will finish eighth this season. Coincidentally, that is the same position they achieved after their first relegation from the Conference in season 1997/98; and the following season Alty won the league - supporters will be hoping for a repeat of history in 2012-13!