Match Report

REFEREE: Mr Robert Jones (Wirral)

ATTENDANCE: 3,089

Altrincham made several changes; Nicky Clee, who had been ill, and Duncan Watmore, who had got a knock last Friday, moved to the bench as Ryan Brooke made a rare start. In midfield, Rodgers replaced Moult. On the bench Alty Juniors' keeper, Josh Samberg made a first appearance, as Tony McMillan was ill.

LINE-UPS:

BACKGROUND:

Altrincham kicked off but, well inside the first minute, conceded a freekick near half-way and then Hankins won a corner (2 mins).

When Lawrie was fouled by Jarman, referee Jones opted not to show a card he would have produced had it occurred later in the match. Lawrie's freekick was cleared (2 mins). And it was not long before a McGinn shot won Chester a corner, as the home side enjoyed the better of things (5 mins).

Altrincham were well supported, so much so that Chester had seriously miscalculated the area of the stand allocated to the visiting fans. Despite there being a completely empty block of seats in the corner behind the goal, the stewards opted to move some of their own supporters in the West Stand to accommodate the overflow. The Alty fans mocked the hosts' bad planning by chanting that they were not Vauxhall Motors, whose support would easily have been contained in the allocated space.

Altrincham were beginning to settle but, once again, Mr Jones annoyed the visitors as he failed to give a freekick when Brooke was brought down. However, Altrincham won their first corner, following a throw-in, in the 21st minute and a second corner immediately followed.

But just as it seemed they had seen off the initial threat from the champions elect, Chester took the lead when an interchange of passes in the box ended with McGinn lashing home a shot from 12 yards (23 mins).

Altrincham responded with a good move, started by Richman, which ended as Boshell was held. Mr Jones booked Sarcevic for the offence. But Boshell's freekick was poor and led to a counter attack, at the end of which Coburn made a save (26 mins).

Scott Leather had a good game and he now made an important clearance in the box before Gray won a corner off Havern (29 mins). A Danny Williams foul on Lawrie gave Densmore a freekick, which he hit well off target. Soon the Alty captain had another shot at goal, this time from a Boshell feed, but again he could not trouble the keeper (33 mins).

Three successive Chester corners were seen off before a goalkick to Alty ended the sequence. Chester were not afraid to use physical means as, first, Brooke and, then, Boshell were tripped.

The normally dependable Havern had a slightly shaky game today and now Leather had to make amends for an error by the centre-back. Alty were holding their own but equally they were not creating any chances for themselves.

However, they did win a corner on the right just before the interval but it was poorly taken by Lawrie, too low to clear the first defender. Half time duly arrived with Alty having kept Chester at bay quite comfortably for much of the 45 minutes, but without looking like scoring themselves.

Chester kicked off the second half and had an early scare when Coburn had to be alert after a Havern slip. The keeper and Havern got into a mix up soon afterwards (52 mins) as Alty were penned back in their own half.

Coburn now had to make a save after more Chester pressing (54 mins) but, at last, Altrincham relieved the pressure as a fine Boshell pass reached Richman, who won Altrincham a corner. After this, both Reeves and Lawrie had shots blocked. Jarman's foul on Brooke allowed Alty to increase their pressure.

Two crosses came in from Densmore as Alty continued to enjoy a good spell (60 mins). Next, Richman found Lawrie, whose excellent low cross from the right only just evaded Reeves and Rodgers in the box (61 mins).

After another Alty freekick Rodgers's header went to the Chester keeper. Ashley Williams replaced Jarman for Chester and Watmore came on for Brooke for Alty (64 mins).

Chester finally got to the other end and won a corner on their right before Williams came on for Gray (69 mins).

From a Chester freekick, 40 yards out, a header kissed the top of the Alty bar. But at the other end, Reeves controlled the ball well and won a corner on the left but Danby collected Lawrie's kick.

Now Clee replaced Leather and Chester's Brown came on for Turner (74 mins). After McGinn had shot well wide from 30 yards, Richman won a corner from a Clee feed (76 mins). Next, after Watmore had been tripped to the left of the box an excellent, curling Lawrie freekick was somehow put wide from two yards at the back post by Reeves (78 mins).

Following this, Boshell was booked despite seeming to win the ball fairly but Chester put the freekick well over the bar. The home side had now come through a spell of pressure from Altrincham.

After fouls on Watmore and Rodgers had sandwiched an offence by Hall, Richman was penalised near half way and booked. At this point Moult replaced Lawrie (82 mins).

The game was decided when, after Rodgers had cleared the ball, it came back into the Alty box and was not dealt in the middle with before it reached Collins, who slotted home a low shot to make it 2-0 (84 mins).

The goal gave Chester fresh impetus as, first Coburn smothered the ball ahead of Sarcevic and, then, Chester won a corner. There had not been a massive gulf between the winners and losers and had Reeves converted his second-half chance it could have been a different story.