Match Report

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE (2) 2 ALTRINCHAM (2) 4

Skrill North match
played on Monday, 11 November 2013, at 7.45pm

SUMMARY

Without Lawrie and Gilroy, Altrincham started with four on the bench, one being Max Pouncey, the youth team striker making his first appearance in the first-team squad.

BPA got off to a great start as Boshell scored after Alty failed to clear the ball in only the second minute. However, Reeves levelled after 20 minutes when he hammered home the ball after it was cleared to him. BPA had the better of the game and went ahead again when Deacey netted (30 mins). But another opportunistic goal from Reeves levelled things in the 42nd minute. Reeves controlled an up and under from Clee before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Lamb.

Wilkinson's deflected shot gave Alty the lead after 72 minutes before a Clee freekick made it 4-2 after 79 minutes. It was a spirited second half showing by Altrincham on a difficult surface.

SCORERS:

REFEREE: Mr Jonathan Hunt
ATTENDANCE: 383
TEAM NEWS

James Lawrie, who had missed the previous game through illness, was again sidelined, this time with a training injury. Rob Gilroy was also unfit to play. However, Scott Leather returned after his concussion injury. Youth team striker Max Pouncey came onto the four-man bench for his first involvement with the first team.

LINE-UPS:

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE (Green and white) 1. John Lamb, 2. Chris Howarth, 3. Scott Maxfield, 4. Richard Marshall, 5. James Knowles, 6. Adam Clayton, 7. Simon Lenighan, 8. Nathan Hotte (capt), 9. Nick Boshell, 10. Jordan Deacey, 11. Paul Walker. Subs: 12. Chibuzor Chilaka, 14. Steve Mallory, 15. Tom Corner, 16. Charlie Clamp, 17. Jason St Juste.

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shorts, red shorts and socks) 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 4. Jake MOULT, 5. Gianluca HAVERN, 6. Scott LEATHER, 7. Greg WILKINSON, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. James WALSHAW, 10. Damian REEVES, 11. Nicky CLEE Subs: 12. Carl RODGERS, 14. Junior SMIKLE, 15. Max POUNCEY, 16. Kyle PERRY

BACKGROUND:

Mike Garnett summarises the previous meetings between Alty and BPA...

REPORT

On a mild and dry evening, Alty kicked off. But after an uneventful minute or so, they fell behind when BPA advanced on the right. A first effort was blocked before the ball fell for Boshell to score from 15 yards (2 mins).

Bradford then kept Alty on the back foot but the travelling supporters were nevertheless giving strong vocal support (4 mins). After 7 minutes, Coburn saved a header from a Deacey freekick and then Leather had to make a clearance.

As Alty settled, Walshaw was fouled by Hotte, who escaped without a card from a referee who was to prove lenient throughout. After Reeves had almost played in Walshaw, Clee did well but Wilkinson's shot from his feed was poor and went wide (12 mins).

When Moult was fouled by Hotte, the BPA captain was only booked for throwing the ball away (16 mins). But Alty reaped a reward as the freekick was cleared to Reeves who hammered it home from the edge of box to level the scores (17 mins).

Almost immediately, a long ball forward hit Reeves and ran to the keeper. On a soft surface the play was far from flowing and the next event of note was when Leather conceded a freekick 25 yards out. Boshell's freekick was pushed out for a corner by Coburn who then punched the corner away (23 mins).

Another BPA freekick came and went before a BPA appeal for a penalty went unanswered as a man went down in the box before Reeves cleared from near the goal line. Goalkeeper Lamb then fumbled the ball as Reeves challenged, one of several moments of uncertainty by the BPA man.

After Clee had been penalised near the left by-line, he kicked the ball away and was booked (28 mins). BPA regained the lead when Wilkinson was penalised near half way. From the freekick the ball pinged around in the box and seemed to come off Densmore. Deacey scored with the loose ball (30 mins).

Reeves continued to look lively as he won the ball but Walshaw was soon dispossessed after this. After 35 minutes, Lamb spilt a routine ball on the edge of the box and had to kick clear hastily from Reeves (35 mins). Most of the BPA threat was coming from the right.

As half time approached a speculative "up and under" from Clee, up the centre of the pitch, was brilliantly brought down by Reeves who in one movement slipped the ball past Lamb to make it 2-2 (42 mins).

So Altrincham reached the interval level but the home team had arguably had the better of the first half.

Half-Time: BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 2 ALTRINCHAM 2

HT

Soon after BPA had kicked off, a Densmore foul on the by-line gave BPA a freekick, but the early stages turned out to be fairly scrappy, with Havern and Leather doing well at the back for Altrincham. The visitors threatened when Moult robbed Lenighan but his shot was so off target that it bisected the corner flag and goal post.

At the other end, Walker fired just wide from 30 yards (54 mins). The game was at a state of stalemate as it passed the hour mark and beyond. Both teams were battling hard on a surface that was cutting up and making fluent play difficult.

The deadlock was broken in fortunate manner when a speculative 30 yarder by Wilkinson hit an opponent and wrong footed the keeper to make it 3-2 to Altrincham (72 mins).

Now Chilaka replaced Lenighan for BPA (73 mins) and moments later Densmore was booked for a foul. From the freekick, 35 yards out in a central position, Boshell's effort hit the wall and he put his follow up over the bar (75 mins).

After bringing down Walshaw, Knowles also had a go at the Alty striker and was duly booked (78 mins). Once again, BPA paid a high price as now Clee scored from the resulting 30-yard freekick, low to the keeper's left, making it 4-2 (79 mins). Immediately, Alty brought on Perry for Walshaw. He was soon upended by the booked Knowles who remarkably escaped with nothing worse than a lecture (83 mins).

BPA made a double change as Mallory and Corner came on (85 mins). Moments later Alty's Smikle replaced Doughty (85 mins). Alty were looking fairly comfortable as Smikle and Perry linked to win a corner. After this Reeves then Perry wound down time in the corner before Rodgers replaced Reeves (90 mins).

Three added minutes were played out before Altrincham left Yorkshire with a valuable three points, earned with a hardworking display.

Full-Time: BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 2 ALTRINCHAM 4
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