Match Report

REFEREE: Mr David Woolford

ATTENDANCE: 257

Duncan Watmore injured his ankle whilst jogging on Friday and captain Shaun Densmore was also ruled out through the injury to his ankle sustained in midweek at Gainsborough. Simon Richman and Scott Leather replaced them in the starting eleven.

BACKGROUND:

This was Altrincham's first visit to Oxford City, who were promoted last season to this division. They started the game a place above Altrincham, who lay tenth.

LINE-UPS:

OXFORD CITY - 1. Warren Carter, 2. Jack Mills, 3. Paul Stonehouse,4. Liam Malone, 5. Andrew Gunn, 6. Chris Willmott (c), 7. Jamie Cook, 8. Darren Pond, 10. Nabil Shariff, 9. Steve Basham, 11. Declan Benjamin. Subs: 12. Wayne Blossom, 15. Adam Learoyd, 14. Felipe Barcelos, 17. Albi Skendi, 16. Kynon Issac

ALTRINCHAM - Confirmed as 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Scott LEATHER, 3. Matt DOUGHTY 4. Carl RODGERS, 5. Gianluca HAVERN (capt), 6. Danny HALL, 7. Simon RICHMAN, 8. Jake MOULT, 9. James LAWRIE, 10. Damian REEVES, 11. Nicky CLEE Subs: 12. Sam GRIMSHAW, 14. Patrick LACEY, 15. Ryan BROOKE, 16. Danny MITCHLEY, 18. Adam REID (gk)

The first incident of note, after the game had kicked off was an Oxford header, which went wide from a second-minute right wing cross. But Alty responded a minute afterwards with a much better effort from Richman, whose back-post header forced a decent save from Carter.

And the open play continued as Alty, who had started well, won a corner on their left, following which Moult had a shot cleared. Now, Oxford enjoyed a good couple of minutes as, first, they won a corner and then had two shouts for penalties turned down, the second looking to be a fortunate decision for Altrincham.

After 10 minutes, Altrincham constructed a good move, culminating in an excellent Reeves cross from the right which was only just scrambled clear by City. Richman had a fine first half for Alty and, from his feed, a well hit shot by Clee whistled just past the post. Soon, Richman won a corner for his side on the right but a City freekick came from this, awarded against Reeves.

Next, from Reeves's feed, a fine shot by Richman was saved (16 mins), following which Lawrie forced another diving save. It was a lively and flowing game at this stage, with Alty having slightly the better of it, before Oxford won a corner on their right after 21 minutes.

In midfield Moult was impressing but after he had chested a ball down skilfully and got past a defender towards goal, he blasted his shot well over the goal from wide right. The attacking continued as, next, Clee shot wide after Reeves and Lawrie had combined effectively (28 mins).

Richman now won a corner off Stonehouse which was half cleared, before the ball ended up in the City net. A cross from the right had evaded Reeves in the centre but as Laarie went in to finish it off, a defender turned it into his own net, only for an offside flag against Alty to rule the goal out (30 mins).

At the other end, Shariff fired over from 25 yards before the sides traded freekicks. Six minutes before the interval, from the second of two throws by Clee, Rodgers rose well to nod the ball on to Reeves who was blatantly brought down about eight yards out. The penalty award was made but then Mr Woolford consulted his assistant at length before producing a red card to dismiss Oxford's captain, Wilmott, for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Damian Reeves had seen a penalty saved earlier in the week but he blasted this one confidently into the net to give Altrincham a 41st minute lead and take his tally to 10 for the season.

Immediately, Oxford adjusted to the loss of Wilmott as they brought on Blossom for Shariff (42 mins). City should have equalised before the break when a Pond shot was deflected for a corner from Cook's feed. This came to Blossom at the back post, but the unmarked substitute skied his shot over the target (43 mins).

JUst before the break, Richman was tripped 20 yards out and from the freekick, Clee curled an effort wide, leaving Alty with a deserved 1-0 lead and the prospect of 45 minutes against just ten men.

It was still very warm as the second half started with Oxford having introduced their Brazilian, Barcelos, for former Crawley man, Cook. Following a misplaced pass from Clee, Basham shot at goal from wide right and forced a save from Coburn. Then another City shot followed but went over the bar.

Next, Reeves was seen off in the Oxford box (47 mins) before a bizarre two minutes in which the ten men scored twice. Firstly, Benjamin equalized with a shot across Coburn from the right, about 15 yards out. Then Alty went to sleep again allowing Basham space, with only Doughty against him. The striker moved inside and curled a fine shot past a motionless Coburn into the far corner from right of goal (52 mins).

Altrincham responded to falling behind by dominating much of the rest of the second half. Soon Reeves found Moult, whose well struck shot was blocked at close range by the keeper (53 mins). And then Alty got another penalty when an excellent feed forward from Richman got Reeves free only for him to be tripped in the box by Stonehouse. This time no card was produced at all.

Again Reeves hammered home the penalty to make it 2-2 (57 mins). Soon after this, an impressive hooked shot by Richman was saved. Altrincham were now well on top though it took excellent tracking back by Clee to cover Doughty and stop a City attack up their right.

But Alty just could not find the target as, now, Reeves went inches wide with a well placed shot from 15 yards, right of goal. After a crude foul on Richman, Clee's curling freekick almost crept in at the back post (63 mins). The wingman was onvolved again as he was tripped on the left. The freekick led to a corner on right, taken by Clee which was scrambled clear, only for a Havern screamer to be deflected over the bar for another corner. Alty just could not convert their dominance into a goal.

Oxford took Benjamin off and left wingman Isaac came on. But Alty's dominance continued as Clee won a corner, after which Rodgers tried an overhead shot but got it wrong, from a Reeves feed.

The Robins went close again after 72 minutes when Lawrie was played in and, though his shot beat the keeper, it hit the inside of the far post. Richman's follow up then seemed to be handled before an impressive Rodgers header was cleared off the line after an excellent Alty move, including a fine switch of play to the left by Moult.

And still the chances came... and went, as now Rodgers headed a Clee cross wide. In a rare attack at the other end, Basham missed a good chance, as he spooned the ball over, after the pacey Isaac had got past Leather to the left byline. Now a good ten-pass move broke down as Lawrie lost possession, before Clee fired over from 25 yards.

How Alty had not scored from outfield play as the game went into its final ten minutes was remarkable. Play halted as Clee and an opponent went down hurt. After lengthy treatment, physio Alan AInsley and assistant manager Neil Tolson carried the stricken Clee off with an ankle injury (84 mins).

Brooke came on for Clee (85 mins) before another stoppage was needed for Basham to receive attention. A minute from the end of normal time Doughty got to the byline but his shot was saved. Alty showed little sign of scoring in the five added minutes and indeed,in that time, Oxford gained a corner.

So the game ended with Alty unable to break through and they were left to rue the loss of a potential two additional points against a ten-man side, their second half dominance undone by lapses of concentration at the back.