Match Report

SOUTHPORT (1) 2 ALTRINCHAM (0) 1

Vanarama Conference match
played on Saturday, 23 August 2014, at 3pm

SUMMARY

Altrincham started the game well and were the better side in the opening stages. However, it was Port who took a 20th minute lead, against the run of play. A poorly taken Southport corner was half cleared but was soon played back into the box where Marsden's shot hit the post. Brodie was the quickest to react and hit the rebound home from close range.

The goal lifted the home performance but there were no further goals before the interval. Altrincham drew level after 61 minutes. A corner from the left by Griffin reached the unmarked Gillespie at the back post and he drove home the equalizer. Alty looked the more likely to score a winner until a freekick in added time proved their undoing. From the right, Gorman's kick was headed in by Foster, though Coburn seemed to get his hands to the ball.

SCORERS:

REFEREE: Mr K Evans
ATTENDANCE: 1,082 (242 in away end)
TEAM NEWS

Altrincham's Shaun Densmore was again sidelined by his broken toe, but Altrincham were also without Peter Cavanagh and Nicky Clee. Cavanagh had a work commitment with Liverpool FC whilst Clee had a slight injury. Ryan Crowther replaced Clee, whilst Jake Moult partnered Sean Williams in central midfield. Youth team graduate Jeff King came into the squad on the bench, along with keeper David Parton.

LINE-UPS: >

SOUTHPORT (Amber & black): 1. Daniel Lloyd-Weston, 22. Andy Mitchell, 3. David Fitzpatrick, 7. Micah Evans, 5. Dom Collins, 6. Luke Foster, 4. Scott Kay, 8. Luke George, 10. Richard Brodie, 11. Stephen Brogan, 18. John Marsden. Subs: 12. Johnny Lynch, 13. John Gorman, 15. Joe Connor, 16. Paul Rutherford, 9. Danny Hattersley,

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Stuart COBURN, 3. Adam GRIFFIN, 4. Jake MOULT, 5. Gianluca HAVERN (capt), 6. Scott LEATHER, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. Steven GILLESPIE, 10. Damian REEVES, 16. Tom MARSHALL, 18. Sean WILLIAMS, 19. Ryan CROWTHER., Subs: 7. James LAWRIE, 14. Kyle PERRY, 15. Greg WILKINSON, 17. David PARTON (gk), 21 Jeff KING.

BACKGROUND:

Mike Garnett reminds us of the historical record of Altrincham v Southport games.

On the eve of the match, Southport had signed winger John Gorman. The Sandgrounders went into the match without a win this season.

REPORT

Alty elected to defend the away end, so Port kicked off, in bright sunshine. An early half chance for the visitors was followed by a Reeves shot, over the bar, from 20 yards after one of several Southport errors in the opening stages (2 mins). Altrincham had the better of the opening minutes but two Crowther shots cleared the bar,. However, Evans raised home spirits when he did well on the right.

After 12 minutes, from a Mitchell freekick, Brodie's firm header was saved. But both sides continued to make unforced errors which prevented much flowing football. Then Port goalkeeper Lloyd-Weston handled outside his box as Reeves challenged and was both penalised and booked (15 mins). The keeper recovered his composure to punch Griffin's freekick well clear.

After Brogan had clattered Leather, Crowther's freekick was cleared. Soon after this, Crowther won the ball and fed Gillespie but the advancing keeper blocked Alty's striker. Alty were still on top as Richman, then Williams, had shots blocked. However, Port countered and won a corner through Brogan. This was poorly taken but only half cleared. So, the ball was played back into the box where Marsden's effort hit the post and Brodie reacted the quickest to dart in to convert the rebound and give his side the lead against the run of play (20 mins).

The goal lifted Southport, who soon won another corner, before Alty wasted a potential opening through Crowther's poorly taken freekick (26 mins). After a fine Havern tackle on Evans, a Mitchell 30-yarder flew wide. After the goal, Alty's ascendancy had been lost. The visitors had a let off when Marshall delayed a clearance and lost the ball. Thankfully, Marsden put the resulting feed from Brodie wide of the target when he should, at least, have tested Coburn (36 mins).

Two Port corners were seen off before a combination of Havern and Griffin halted Brodie (41 mins). As halftime approached, the referee took no significant action after a melee on the halfway touchline involving Sean Williams and an opponent but a home freekick was awarded.

So, the break arrived with Altrincham a goal down after failing to capitalise on a bright start.

Half-Time: SOUTHPORT 1 ALTRINCHAM 0

HT

Three minutes into the half, Brodie got past Griffin but produced a weak shot into the side netting from right of goal. At the other end, Crowther won, but then wasted, a corner, with a dreadful kick which went behind the goal and very low. Altrincham were having a decent spell, however, and next Gillespie gathered the ball and shot well but saw his effort saved (54 mins).

The busy Griffin twice stopped Evans before the Alty full-back's cross won Altrincham a corner. The keeper flapped at Griffin's corner but then Griffin himself threw the resulting throw in out of play over the by-line. Play was very scrappy before Brodie won a header and found Marsden but he put his shot into Coburn's waiting arms; it was the second major let off for Altrincham in this game (58 mins).

When Richman was wrestled over in the box, nothing was given and, likewise, when Havern halted Brodie, home shouts for a freekick went unheard. A clever feed from Gillespie then allowed Richman to hit a goalbound shot, which was beaten out for a corner, which Williams took from well outside the corner marking. A second corner followed, this time on the right. From Griffin's kick, this came to Gillespie at the back post, who hammered home the equalizer (61 mins).

Immediately, Port brought on new winger Gorman for Brogan. When a back-tracking Gillespie was penalised for a challenge on Mitchell he was harshly booked (64 mins). Coburn came out for the freekick but it was headed over the bar for a goalkick. Now, Perry replaced Gillespie (66 mins), followed by Crowther giving way to Lawrie and Port's Rutherford replacing Evans (67 mins).

Lawrie and Moult combined to prompt an excellent volley by Perry, which was beaten out for a corner (70 mins). Soon, Connor came on for Marsden, just after Richman had fired over. The tenacious Williams won possession twice in a minute before Moult found Reeves, who was halted in the box. Next a fine long ball from Williams located Griffin but his cross went to the keeper (78 mins).

With ten minutes left, Wilkinson came on for Reeves. Alty remained on top as the impressive Williams robbed Brodie to feed Perry. But, when Havern bundled over Brodie on the right edge of the box, Alty's captain was booked (82 mins). This, and a subsequent freekick, were wasted by Port before Alty again threatened at the other end as Lawrie was only halted in the box. However, Alty continued to concede freekicks before a foul on Williams restored the balance.

When Griffin took a throw which Mr Evans judged to be from the wrong spot, he pointed out that he had warned the Alty man and awarded the throw to Southport. They quickly moved upfield and drew a foul on Brodie from Havern. From wide right, Gorman's freekick was met by Foster. The defender's header did not seem particularly powerful but it evaded Coburn to give the hosts a last-gasp win (90+1 mins). Southport successfully wound down the clock for the remaining three minutes played by Mr Evans.

Altrincham had deserved something from this game but a third defeat in four outings underlines the effort that is going to be needed to establish the club back at the national level. With Cavanagh available and, hopefully, Clee fit to play as well, a stronger Altrincham side will be looking to provide a tough game on Monday against many people's title favourites, Gateshead. But The Heed have their own problems after crashing 1-6 at home to Grimsby this afternoon!

Full-Time: SOUTHPORT 2 ALTRINCHAM 1
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