Match Report

REFEREE:

ATTENDANCE: 204

Damian Reeves made his first appearance of the summer, after re-signing for The Robins. Altrincham also included in their squad midfielder Paddy Lacey, who had impressed against Altrincham as a trialist for Morecambe a few days ago. He signed for Altrincham after the game.

BACKGROUND:

This has become a fairly regular pre-season fixture against the Borough of Trafford's two main non-League clubs.

LINE-UPS:

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Adam REID, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (Ofori 82), 5. Gianluca HAVERN, 6. Danny HALL, 3. Matt DOUGHTY; 11. Duncan WATMORE (Leather 60), 8. Simon RICHMAN (Lacey 60), 4. Scott PHELAN, 7. James LAWRIE (Grimshaw 77); 9. Ryan BROOKE (Mitchley 60), 10. Damian REEVES (Walters 82).

TRAFFORD - Squad as listed on programme: Tom READ, Steve MASON, Sam HALLIGAN, Andy SMART, Billy BURGESS, Nia BAYUNU, Milton TURNER, Kamahl WRIGHT, Warren COLLIER, Chris PALMER, Simon GALLANDERS, Gareth THOMAS, Melford KNIGHT, Will AHEARN, Martin ANDREWS, Paul ASHTON, Kyle COLLINS, Luke HERON, Michael OATES, Lee MORRIS, Scott BARLOW.

Report by John Edwards, joint Press & Media Officer, Altrincham FC

Damian Reeves marked his return to Altrincham colours in familiar style by scoring within 15 minutes of a convincing 3-1 pre-season friendly win at Evo-Stik League Division One North side Trafford.

Last season’s 44-goal leading marksman started alongside Ryan Brooke and wasted no time reminding travelling Alty supporters of the scoring prowess that made him a target for clubs in the Football League and Conference National during the summer.

That he turned them down and re-signed for Alty on a two-year deal was greeted with widespread jubilation in and around Moss Lane, and there were more cheers as he fired the Robins in front from a 15th-minute penalty.

Alty had already gone close twice, through Brooke in the third minute and Simon Richman six minutes later, when Trafford’s defence was left floundering by a clever interchange between James Lawrie and Matt Doughty.

Lawrie turned brilliantly on the left flank and timed a delayed pass to perfection to send the overlapping Doughty charging into the area. When the Alty-left-back was sent sprawling by a clear trip from behind, Reeves stepped up to blast an unerring spot-kick past the keeper and into the roof of the net.

As if Reeves's movement and positioning was not enough to contend with, Trafford also had to deal with more surging runs from Duncan Watmore, and a second goal may well have resulted after the Alty youngster manoeuvred Andy Smart off the ball in the 20th minute and made inroads towards the area. After cutting inside and setting up Brooke, though, the chance was lost, as Alty’s recent signing shot wide.

There was a liveliness about Alty’s approach work, and Trafford were stretched once more in the 22nd minute, as Richman played Reeves through with an expertly-weighted pass. A one-on-one involving Reeves goes his way more often than not, but Alty’s prolific frontrunner for once lost out in the battle of wits as Trafford’s keeper blocked his shot with his legs.

Another purposeful burst by Watmore set up a 27th-minute shooting chance for Doughty that was parried by the keeper and scrambled clear, as Alty kept up the pressure on the home goal.

An overworked Trafford keeper denied Richman with a diving save on the half-hour and he was relieved to see a Richman header fly wide soon after, following another impressive combination between Lawrie and Doughty on the left.

There was nothing he could do about Alty’s second goal in the 38th minute, though, as perseverance paid off for Richman. Sensing a long ball out of defence might cause problems, he gave chase and was left with just the keeper to beat after it bounced over a defender’s head. A perfectly-executed lob did the rest, as Alty deservedly moved two goals clear.

Smart had warned of the consequences of conceding free-kicks within range of goal by curling one narrowly wide, with Adam Reid struggling to get across to it, in the 26th minute. It went unheeded, and Alty paid the price in the 41st minute as the former Robins left-back took careful aim from another set-piece 25 yards out and bent it into the left corner.

Smart was at it again, seven minutes into the second half, once more rendering a defensive wall wholly ineffective with a free-kick that was uncomfortably close to Reid’s left-hand post.

Alty replied with a 54th-minute near-miss by Shaun Densmore, after a slick one-two with Richman, and a third goal of outstanding quality from the industrious and enterprising Lawrie on the hour.

Taking a pass from Richman in his stride, he unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard drive that arrowed past the keeper and went in off the inside of the left post.

Whether inspired by Reeves’ arrival is a matter of conjecture, but it was noticeable how the goal attempts kept coming thick and fast, as Scott Phelan skimmed the bar from long range in the 63rd minute and Lawrie lifted a golden opportunity over after being sent clear by a brilliant Densmore through ball seven minutes later.

Phelan was out of luck again, with a 77th-minute shot that was cleared off the line, but, to his credit, the Alty midfielder was not deterred. When the ball fell to him on the halfway line, 10 minutes from time, he had no hesitation trying his luck with an audacious effort that just cleared the bar, with the keeper back-pedalling desperately.

When Trafford finally managed to exert some pressure near the end, Reid once more underlined his potential with two smart stops in quick succession, as Alty’s preparations for the new season continued in encouraging style.