Match Report


WELLING UNITED (0) 1 ALTRINCHAM (0) 1

Vanarama National League match
played on Saturday, 6 February, 2016 at 3pm


SUMMARY

Altrincham threw away two of the three points they seemed to have deservedly secured as they conceded a 90th minute equalizer at Welling. With Ryan Crowther ill, Alty brought in James Lawrie to the side which had beaten Woking.

In gusty conditions the game remained goalless at half time, although Alty had struck the woodwork through Moult. Alty took the lead after 58 minutes when keeper Rodak hesitated and then failed to match the determination of the oncoming Michael Rankine as both men converged on a ball up the middle. Rankine was left in the clear and rolled the ball into the empty net.

Rankine then had a good chance to make it 2-0 when he was put clear but his shot was straight at Rodak. However, the visitors seemed to have successfully contained Welling until a counter-attack up the right led to a shot which was beaten out then cleared off the line by Leather before substitute Kabba netted the loose ball from close range.


SCORERS:


REFEREE: Mr Bromley
ATTENDANCE: 551
TEAM NEWS

Ryan Crowther was ill, so James Lawrie started today in his place.

Welling had recently acquired nine new players; Noah Chesmain ex-Millwall (Loan), Kadell Daniel ex-Woking, James Ferry ex-Brentford (Loan), Ian Gayle ex-Dagenham (Rest of Season Loan), Jake Green ex-Mickleover Sports, Harry Lee ex-Leyton Orient (Permanent), Marek Rodak ex-Fulham (Rest of Season Loan), Luke Wanaido ex-Staines, Ade Yusuff ex-Dagenham & Redbridge (Rest of Season Loan). Six of them started today.


LINE-UPS:

WELLING UNITED (Red & white) 21. Marek Rodak, 23 . Barney Williams, 8. Harry Lee, 3. Noah Chesmain, 6. Michael Chambers, 17. James Ferry, 30. Kadell Daniel, 32. Xavier Vidal, 24. Ade Yusuff, 15. Nortei Nortey, 10. Luke Wanadio, Subs: 1. Michael McEntegart, 9. Sahr Kabba, 5. Harry Osborne, 11. Ricky Wellard, 34. Michael Bakare,

ALTRINCHAM (Yellow shirts and socks, blue shorts) 17. Tim DEASY, 20. Jordan SINNOTT, 6. Scott LEATHER, 28. Marcus HOLNESS, 3. Adam GRIFFIN, 4. Jake MOULT (capt), 8. Simon RICHMAN, 15. Josh GINNELLY, 7. James LAWRIE, 27. Jonathon MARGETTS, 9. Michael RANKINE. Subs: 10. Damian REEVES, 14. Josh O'KEEFE, 12. Sam HEATHCOTE, 26. Dylan MOTTLEY-HENRY, 23. Callum WILLIAMS


BACKGROUND

Mike Garnett provides the historical record between the two clubs,

For the second season in succession, Altrincham arrived at Welling soon after the hosts had appointed a new manager.


REPORT

Alty kicked off down the slope and almost immediately Margetts won a freekick as he was blocked off on the edge of the home box. But there was little more to note until an impressive Ginnelly run and cross saw the ball just evade Rankine (6 mins).

Then Lawrie had a shot saved from Holness's feed as Alty set the early pace. However, Welling came to life as a move ended with Lee shooting wide.

After Margetts had won a corner, which Lawrie overhit, a Nortey mispass to Richman produced another corner for Alty (13 mins). From this, Margetts saw an effort cleared off the line before Moult hit the bar from right of goal (14 mins). From the touchline, the Welling manager told his players, "We need to go that way" pointing to Alty's goal!

The Wings took the hint as a well-hit Daniel 20 yarder was saved by Deasy. Then a Leather foul on Wanadio conceded a freekick 25 yards out in a central position. Daniel's freekick flew just wide (18 mins).

So Welling were now coming into the game after Alty had started the better. But play was fairly unremarkable before handball was harshly given against a Welling man in the right-back position. Ginnelly's freekick flew across the face of goal (27 mins).

More scrappy play ensued before Alty constructed a good move when Rankine found Ginelly and, from his ball, a Margetts header was saved (31 mins). After Altrincham had won and quickly take a freekick, Rankine got into the box but lost control of the ball.

Next, the lively Ginelly got in a cross after Alty loanee Holness had again impressed at the back. Now Margetts slipped but the keeper spilt his low cross to concede a corner, but this was poorly taken by Ginnelly.

But when Alty were opened up on the Welling right, Alty were grateful to see a Wanadio shot saved by Deasy's leg (41 mins). In this move the referee had played advantage but now went back to book Holness for an earlier foul (42 mins).

A Ginnelly 25 yarder was now well saved, to his left, by Rodak. In added time, Ferry shot wide as Alty backed off.

So half-time arrived goalless; after a bright start from Alty it had been a fairly even half.


Half-Time: WELLING UNITED 0 ALTRINCHAM 0

With the floodlights on, Welling kicked off down the slope and were soon on the front foot. Five minutes in, however, Ginnelly won a corner, which Margetts headed over the bar (51 mins).

Conditions were not brilliant but neither was the quality of play. But then a goal arrived. A through ball led to Rankine chasing forward as keeper Rodak initially hesitated before advancing off his line. Rodak then lost his challenge with Rankine on the front edge of the Welling box. The ball broke forward and Rankine was left clear to walk the ball into the empty net (58 mins).

On the hour mark, Mottley-Henry came on for Margetts with Lawrie now occupying "the hole" behind Rankine. Moments later Bakare replaced Vidal for Welling.

A pivotal moment arrived in the 64th minute when Rankine was put clear but hit his shot at the keeper. After this, a Welling corner came and went before Kabba came on for Yusuff for Welling (67 mins).

Altrincham now looked quite comfortable with their lead and, after Richman had won the ball, a Rankine shot deflected for a corner (71 mins). Soon afterwards, a Rankine pass prompted Henry to win a corner on the right, followed by one on the left.

The hard working Rankine now won the ball deep in his own half, and a good Henry cross followed but was cleared. Alty survived a scare as Deasy had to rush out to clear after Kabba had got past Holness just inside Alty's half (77 mins).

Then, after a Leather and Sinnott mix up, Henry was penalised against Kabba just outside the Alty box but the freekick was dealt with. Henry got in another good cross from which a Rankine shot was saved on the line but not held by Rodak (81 mins).

Although Holness was clearly being held, the ref allowed Welling a corner before a Rankine header at the other end was caught by the keeper from a Moult freekick (86 mins). A Sinnott 18 yard drive now flew wide as Alty looked comfortable with their lead.

Welling wasted a freekick when Richman was penalised just outside the box left of centre. Daniel's poor freekick flew very wide. Then as Lawrie was just unable to feed Rankine, Welling got the ball and advanced on the right. An initial shot was saved then Leather cleared off the line before Kabba equalized as he knocked the loose ball into the net from close range (90 mins).

Three added minutes could not alter the outcome as Alty rued their late draw in a match which they seemed to have well within their grasp.


Full Time: WELLING UNITED 1 ALTRINCHAM 1