ALTRINCHAM FC MATCH REPORTS

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GUISELEY (0) 2
ALTRINCHAM (0) 2

Vanarama National League North match
played on Saturday, 29 December 2018, at 3pm

SUMMARY

For the ninth time, Altrincham failed to win after a trip to Guiseley but they rescued a point with an injury-time equalizer. The first half was goalless and largely uneventful.

The second half had an early goal which sparked the match into life. It came six minutes after the break from loanee Ashley Hemmings after Johnston and Hancock had been involved in the build up.

Alty spurned further chances to extend their lead and paid the price as Guiseley scored twice in the final twenty minutes. Heaton's header levelled things in the 73rd minute before Hatfield put the hosts ahead in the 85th minute.

Just before that goal Hemmings put a great chance onto the bar from close range.

Alty managed to get their equalizer as the game went into added time. Following a Johnston run, Hampson netted with a cross-shot to make it 2-2.

SCORERS:

REFEREE: Mr Aaron Bannister ATTENDANCE: 791
TEAM NEWS

Altrincham were again without suspended striker Jordan Hulme, as he completed his three-match ban. So loanee Chris Sang made his first start. Andy White, James Poole, and Ben Harrison were all again missing from the starting eleven though Harrison was named on the bench.

Simon Richman returned to start in midfield in place of Sean Williams whilst lanky Bury loanee striker Chris Sang made his debut as Harrop moved to the bench.

For Guiseley, 18 year-old Sheffield United loanee, Dewhurst, made his debut in goal following the Lions' 1-5 home defeat on Boxing Day.

LINE-UPS:

GUISELEY (White shirts, navy shorts and socks): 1. Marcus Dewhurst, 2. Scott Smith, 3. Niall Heaton, 4. Alex Purver, 5. William Thornton, 6. Andrew Halls (c), 7. Kaine Felix, 8. Kingsley James, 9. Rowan Liburd, 10. William Hatfield, 11. Louis Walsh. Subs: 12. Olukayode Odejayi, 13. Joseph Green, 14. Alex-Ray Harvey, 15. Lewis Walters, 16. Paul Clayton.

ALTRINCHAM (All purple): 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 3. Connor HAMPSON, 4. James JONES, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 6. Jake MOULT, 7.John JOHNSTON, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. Chris SANG, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Ashley HEMMINGS. Subs. 12. Max HARROP, 14. Sean WILLIAMS, 15. Ben HARRISON, 16. Kallum MANTACK, 20. Elliot WYNNE

BACKGROUND

After defeat, last time out, at a ground (Edgeley Park) where Altrincham had never won against a first-team (Stockport County), the fixtures had dealt Alty another away game at a ground where they had never emerged victorious in eight previous visits. Mike Garnett's data confirm the grim Altrincham record at Nethermoor before today's encounter.

But the Lions had equally few grounds for confidence after a 1-5 home mauling on Boxing Day by a Bradford (PA) side which had played part of the game with ten men. Altrincham's nine-game unbeaten run had ended at Stockport and they arrived at Nethermoor looking for a first win in four outings in all competitions.

REPORT

With thanks to Mike Garnett for supplementary information.

Altrincham started brightly, winning three corners in a three-minute spell inside the opening ten minutes. The first arose in the seventh minute when a fine Hemmings run induced Dewhurst to push away his effort. The third corner arose when the keeper saved a Densmore effort.

Soon after Hemmings had won another corner, a Hancock effort went off target as Alty enjoyed the better of proceedings (15 mins).

After Hampson had need treatment off the pitch for an injury, Densmore's overhit backpass led to Thompson kicking the ball against Liburd but the ball rebounded wide of the goal.

As Alty continued on the front foot, the match nevertheless lacked goalmouth incident as it passed the half-hour mark. The hosts were showing relatively little ambition but closing down Alty effectively. As a result there was too much lateral movement and not enough forward momentum.

As the interval approached, Hancock fired over the bar (39mins). Soon after this the Lions won a corner but a disappointing first half was to end goalless.

Half-Time: GUISELEY 0
ALTRINCHAM 0

Six minutes into the second half, Hancock and Johnston were involved in a good move before the former got the ball to Hemmings who got the better of Smith to slot the ball home from an inside-left position, just inside the box and give Alty a 1-0 lead (51 mins).

After Densmore and Johnston had needed treatment following a collison, Sang was put through on goal but Dewhurst made a fine double save from him and from Hancock's follow up (58 mins).

After 65 minutes the former Barnsley striker Odejayi came on for Walsh. Now, Altrincham were increasingly on the backfoot

In the 70th minute Guiseley won a corner from which they equalised. Purver's corner was headed into the roof of the net by the unmarked Heaton (73 mins).

The equaliser stimulated Guiseley further and the game improved as a consequece.

After Halls had been booked for a foul on Johnston, Walters replaced Felix (75 mins). Alty then had a great chance to regain the lead as a stretching Hemmings could only hit the bar from close range (81 mins)

That glaring miss was to prove costly as Guiseley then seized the lead. Liburd received the ball in the box and, although Thompson did well to block his effort, the ball ran to Hatfield who netted (85 mins).

With the clock ticking into added time, Altrincham grabbed an equaizer. A Johnston ball was cleared to Hampson who made space before firing a shot across goal and into the net, just inside the post (90+1 mins).

Belatedly Alty introduced both Harrop and Mantack for Sang and Johnston (90+1 mins) and both were almost immediately drawn into a skirmish after a foul by Thornton on Hancock. Harrop picked up an unnecessary booking, as did Guiseley's James (90+3 mins).

So, Alty failed for the ninth time to win at Nethermoor. Athiugh their equalizer had arrived very late they were good value for a point.

Full-Time: GUISELEY 2
ALTRINCHAM 2