Match Report

REFEREE:

ATTENDANCE: about 100

Lee Sinnott had announced well before the game that he would play two different teams in each half of this match. His first-half line-up comprised four players from last season (Coburn, Densmore, Watmore and Phelan), five new signings (Havern, Hall, Rodgers, Midgley and Brooke), one of last season's youth team in the shape of Sam Grimshaw and just one trialist, left winger Adam Mather, who had spent six years at New Mills before a brief spell at Woodley Sports.

The second-half eleven comprised Reid, Fearon, Lawrie, Richman and Clee from last year's squad, alongside youth team players Derryn Ofori and Denico Walters, with four trialists. The latter were the familiar face of Matt Doughty, former Huddersfield defender Greg Pearson (ex-Huddersfield), Nick Swirad (ex-Mossley, New Mills and FCUM) and Ashley Young, who had previously been with Hyde.

BACKGROUND:

A pre-season Altrincham fixture at Abbey Hey has been a regular and enjoyable event over the last twelve years or so and today was no exception. The pitch at the Gorton club has been transformed in recent seasons and the club itself had enjoyed its best season for years in 2011-12 in the NW Counties League.

LINE-UPS:

ABBEY HEY (Blue) : 1. Ross HEYWOOD, 2. Tyler DEVLIN, 3. Danny HEWITT, 4. Barry LAWSON, 5. Carl BORRELL, 6. Luke GIBSON, 7. Liam MURRAY, 8. Mike O'CONNOR, 9. Danny MURRAY, 10. Martin PILKINGTON, 11. Wesley HARRIS. Subs: 12. Paul SUNDERLAND, 13. Sam JONES, 14. David McDONALD, 15. Paul SMITH.

ALTRINCHAM (Yellow shirts, blue shorts, yellow) - First-Half Team: 1. Stuart COBURN; 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 5. Gianluca HAVERN, 6. Danny HALL, 3. Sam GRIMSHAW; 7. Duncan WATMORE, 4. Carl RODGERS, 8. Scott PHELAN, 11. Adam MATHER; 10. Ryan BROOKE, 9. Danny MITCHLEY.

ALTRINCHAM - Second-Half Team: 18. Adam REID; 12. Matt DOUGHTY, 5. Greg PEARSON, 6. Nick SWIRAD, *. Ashley YOUNG; 14. James LAWRIE, 4. Matthew FEARON, 16. Simon RICHMAN, 17. Nicky CLEE; *. Derryn OFORI, *. Denico WALTERS. (* indicates players who wore unnumbered shirts).

After the torrential rain of the preceding day, this game was played in bright sunshine on an excellent surface. Altrincham's team members were largely unfamiliar with each other and so it was, perhaps, no real surprise in these circumstances that the first two half-chances fell to the hosts. Firstly, Coburn had to save smartly at the foot of his post, following a freekick conceded by Densmore (5 mins). Then, Pilkington fired into the side netting for Abbey Hey.

For Alty, Duncan Watmore was an early threat and he was instrumental in the game's first goal, which arrived in the tenth minute. After an initial attempt had been beaten out, Watmore's shot hit the post before entering the net off a defender. Soon afterwards, an impressive run at goal from Watmore was only ended by a save from keeper Heywood.

Soon, a foul on Watmore as he advanced into the box gave Alty a freekick just outside the penalty area. Densmore's freekick took a significant deflection off a defender to make it 2-0 (20 mins).

At the back, Alty were looking secure and trialist Mather was also showing some good touches on the left wing. Phelan then impressed to win a corner before a fine cross from Grimshaw maintained Alty's dominance. After that, Watmore and Mitchley had successive shots blocked before Mitchley's follow-up went narrowly wide of the target.

Two more Alty corners came and went but then Abbey Hey almost scored when a good counter-attack ended with a well-placed shot from Danny Murray, which only narrowly cleared the Alty bar (34 mins). A fine ball from Hall then gave Alty a free kick on the left edge of the box as Mather was brought down. From a short freekick routine, involving Phelan and Mather, the latter's cross was headed against the upright by Havern (36 mins).

Brooke shot narrowly wide (41 mins) before half-time arrived. In the first half Altrincham had looked solid at the back and new man Rodgers had played well in midfield but all eleven players were to be replaced at the interval.

After the break, Doughty soon impressed with a cross which Walters was just unable to turn towards goal at the back post (49 mins). Next, Ofori did well and seemed to have won a corner but the referee decided on a goalkick instead. Of the other new players, Young was impressing as he got forward on the right.

In a rare Abbey Hey attack, Adam Reid did well to come out and head clear. As the hour mark passed, Walters shot narrowly wide, following more good work in midfield from Richman. Richman then had a shot blocked after a good move involving Clee, Ofori and Walters (61 mins).

Soon after an Alty corner, Walters got behind his marker and was brought down, to the left of goal near the by-line. From the resulting penalty, James Lawrie opend his account (63 mins).

Two minutes later, Lawrie made it 4-0 with a straightforward finish from a feed by Ofori (65 mins). Lawrie was denied a quick hat trick when his next shot was beaten out, as Altrincham dominated.

A good interchange between Clee and Walters ended with Walters firing over the bar (80 mins). In the closing stages Abbey Hey managed to get forward more regularly but were unable to deny Altrincham a clean sheet; a very rare achievement during last season.

Altrincham had reason to be pleased with their afternoon as a 22-man squad containing many unfamiliar faces played some good football in all areas of the pitch.