Match Report

REFEREE: Mr D England (Barnsley)

ATTENDANCE: 1,940

Nicky Clee was still unfit to play after suffering concussion at Harrogate last weekend, but Matt Doughty was restored to the side after his nasty cut had healed sufficiently. Carl Rodgers also returned after injury and Duncan Watmore started, too. So, loanee Jake Moult, as well as Scott Leather and Simon Richman moved to the bench. With Danny Mitchley returning to fitness, he replaced Sam Grimshaw on the bench.

BACKGROUND:

Altrincham were looking to get their campaign back on track after a disappointing performance at Vauxhall Motors, 48 hours earlier. In contrast Chester arrived with a confidence engendered by three successive victories since their promotion to this division.

Kick off was slightly delayed by a skirmish in the Golf Road end, which occurred after a number of Chester fans entered the home end. Before the game, lengthy discussions had been held with the local constabulary and they were satisfied that the combined force of Altrincham's own stewards and a dozen from the visitors' club were appropriate security resources. Their combined efforts prevented trouble escalating though an Altrincham supporter had to be taken to hospital with a head injury.

LINE-UPS:

ALTRINCHAM (Red and white striped shirts, red shorts and socks) 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 4.Carl RODGERS, 5. Gianluca HAVERN, 6. Danny HALL, 7. Duncan WATMORE, 8. Patrick LACEY, 9. Ryan BROOKE, 10. Damian REEVES, 11. James LAWRIE. Subs: 12. Scott LEATHER, 14. Jake MOULT, 15. Simon RICHMAN, 16. Danny MITCHLEY, 18. Adam REID (gk)

CHESTER FC (Green shirts, black shorts and socks): 1. John Danby, 2. Wes Baynes, 3. Levi Mackin, 4. Paul Linwood, 5. Michael Taylor, 6. Ashley Williams, 7. Dave Hankin, 8. Michael Powell, 9. Nathan Jarman, 10. Ben Mills, 11. Iain Howard. Subs: 12. Matty McGinn, 14. George Horan, 15. Marc Williams, 16. Sean Clancy, 17. Adam Proudlock.

Earlier rain had thankfully stopped as Moss Lane welcomed what may be its largest gate of the season for this Cheshire derby. Alty kicked off, towards Golf Road, and within the first minute Damian Reeves almost got through the Chester defence but the ball ran off his foot for a goalkick. But soon afterwards, a foul by Rodgers gave Chester a freekick 28 yards out. This was driven towards Doughty whose attempted clearance sliced off his boot for a corner, which Coburn punched clear (3 mins).

A mix-up between Rodgers and Doughty now led to another Chester freekick, awarded against the latter, 30 yards from goal. After this had been seen off, there was a highly optimistic shot from 40 yards out by Lacey, which sailed well over the bar (8 mins). The freekicks continued as, now, Brooke was fouled 30 yards from the Chester goal.

Following a good tackle by Densmore on Howard, an Alty counterattack ended with a Reeves shot being half blocked by a defender and running to keeper Danby (12 mins). The 13th minute was unlucky for Altrincham as Hankin was allowed to advance and get in a cross from the visitors' right, which the unmarked Mills, on loan from Macclesfield Town, headed home from the right to open the scoring.

Alty had not really got going on the pitch but a freekick was soon won by Watmore, 40 yards from goal. But it was Altrincham keeper, Stuart Coburn, who was next in action as he made a magnificent save, beating away a firm Jarman header which came from a Mills cross; the resulting corner was cleared. But the respite was short as Chester again threatened from their right wing. This time, Hankin's low cross evaded the boot of the stretching Havern in the centre of the box and ran to Mills. Now unmarked, Mills beat Coburn with his shot to make it 2-0 (21 mins).

Altrincham's immediate response was a weak shot by Lawrie. Alty's Ryan Brooke was now cautioned for a blatant trip deep in his own half before the home fans' spirits were lifted by a Watmore counter-attack, from which Lawrie won a corner (24 mins). After the corner had been cleared, a Rodgers' shot was blocked and then a foul on Reeves gave Alty a promising freekick from 25 yards in a central position. Unfortunately, Densmore put the freekick a good thirty feet over the stand at the Golf Road end.

Another fine run from Watmore raised Alty's hopes and things got even better when Lawrie's feed was skilfully volleyed home by Reeves to make it 1-2 (31 mins). A Rodgers foul gave Chester a freekick 45 yards out, which led to a header onto the roof of net. The fouls continued as, now, Doughty was the victim but Watmore was unable to control the freekick when it was played towards him.

However, Alty were now having a decent spell and Chester were further troubled by Ashley Williams's facial injury which needed attention and then a change of shirt. Following a throw, a Watmore feed allowed Densmore a shot which was deflected over for a corner. Following this, Rodgers mishit a shot well wide but Alty's pressing continued as Danby had to rush out to clear as Reeves chased the ball.

Next, a Densmore freekick went to a Chester player. But Altrincham’s best chance of an equalizer before the break was prevented not by Chester but by referee England who blew for an Altrincham freekick in midfield as Watmore found himself completely free and onside just outside the Chester box. It was scant consolation for failing to allow Alty to play on that the man in black showed a yellow card to Powell for his foul on Lacey (43 mins). However, the referee seemed to have made a further mistake as he then, belatedly, booked Taylor, who had committed the offence.

Half-time soon arrived with Alty fortunate that a late cross from Hankin was overhit when their defence was over-extended.

Altrincham brought on Alfreton loanee midfielder, Jake Moult in place of Paddy Lacey at the interval. Chester gained an early freekick as Hankin was tripped just outside the box but ex-Alty man Wes Baynes, now a right-back rather than a winger, hit the freekick just over the bar. Next Jarman handled the ball after a Hall misheader to continue the pattern of frequent freekicks that had been established in the first half.

Eight minutes into the half, Altrincham equalised against the run of play. The goal was made by a trademark surging run by Watmore which ended with a firm shot, which Danby beat out. But James Lawrie did well to drive the loose ball towards the net from 20 yards with Damian Reeves quickly diverting the shot with his head into the net.

Chester's reaction was to bring on the former Runcorn man, McGinn for Ashley Williams. But Watmore was soon at it again with a tremendous 60-yard run but he could not find a team mate at the end of it. Play was now end to end but when Reeves and Lawrie made a breakaway it all ended in a mix up. The pair soon did better as Lawrie’s cross was met by a diving header from Reeves but it cleared the bar (59 mins).

Next, Moult shot over the bar before another ex-Alty man, Sean Clancy replaced Howard on the hour mark. After this Lawrie was booked for a trip, after which Baynes's freekick from a Rodgers' foul clipped the cross bar from wide left. Chester went close again as McGinn shot narrowly wide from 40 yards (63 mins). Another change for Chester saw Marc Williams come on for Jarman.

Jake Moult now made a great dribble to the byline and his shot forced Danby to fumble and then gather his shot at the near post. But Moult did less well a moment later when put through by Watmore; the midfielder dragged his shot across the keeper and wide of the target. After this, Richman came on for Brooke.

In the 68th minute, Doughty conceded a freekick, which was curled just wide by McGinn from right of goal. Rodgers now received a yellow card for hands but which might also have been for an accumulation of misdemeanours (71 mins). Rain was now falling as a wild challenge by Densmore brought him a yellow card; in the aftermath the referee also booked Chester's Powell and Danny Hall of Altrincham.

A slice by Rodgers gave Chester a corner and Alty were now being put on the back foot. The pressure told when Marc Williams’s cross from the right was put into the net by Powell (81 mins). There was a further alarm as McGinn cut in and forced Coburn to parry his shot. Seven minutes from time Leather came on for Doughty in Alty's defence. Play continued to be very open as Danby smothered the ball at Reeves's feet, then Mackin forced a great tip over the bar from Coburn (88 mins).

From an 89th minute Leather freekick, Havern headed wide and, soon four added minutes were declared. In the first of these a ball was laid from the right into the path of McGinn who hit the ball with great power an accuracy low into the net from 40 yards but Coburn could not be blamed as the shot was unstoppable (90+1 mins).

Alty's last effort was a Lawrie run and shot which was saved, before the final whistle sounded, leaving Altrincham in 19th position, having conceded eleven goals in four games this season And five Alty bookings today were also a disappointing statistic.

After falling behind, Altrincham showed some good fighting spirit but ultimately were undone by slack defending and a failure to convert half chances. Next up is a home game with Histon, in which Alty will hope to secure a first home win after a run of seven league matches at Moss Lane which they have failed to win, since March last year.