ALTRINCHAM FC MATCH REPORTS

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WHITCHURCH ALPORT (0) 0
ALTRINCHAM (1) 1

Pre-season friendly match
played on Saturday, 6 July 2019, at 3pm

SUMMARY:

Altrincham secured a single-goal victory against their hosts from the Hallmark Security League (NW Counties) Premier (Step 5). Starting with three trialists in their line-up, Altrincham took the lead in the 15th minute when summer signing Nathan Arnold's low ball from the left was met at the back post by the incoming Conor Branson and trialist Lewis Salmon. It was unclear which of the two got the final touch, though Branson appeared to be credited with the goal ahead of the youngster from Hanley Town.

Just before the hour mark, Altrincham introduced seven substitutes, who included two more trialists, Matt Chadwick and reserves' striker Ben Elliott. For their part Alport made several changes, too, and were more in the game in the second-half and at one stage earned four corners in as many minutes. Tom Whelan (ex-Bury) was the only Alty trialist not to have appeared in last Saturday's game against the Youth team and he looked impressive in midfield.

SCORERS:

REFEREE: TBC
ATTENDANCE: 233
TEAM NEWS:

Absentees for Altrincham included injured captain Jake Moult and Jordan Hulme, who was apparently at a funeral. Likewise, Andy White and Steven Drench have yet to appear this summer but both were at the game. First-teamers who did appear in last week's friendly against the Alty Youth team included john Johnston (getting married) Toby Mullarkey and Max Harrop. Among the trialists involved today were goalkeeper Dan Gyollai (Honved Budapest and Stoke City), Zac Corbett (ex-Southport), Jamal Crawford (ex-FCUM, Chester FC) Lewis Salmon (Hanley Town) and Tom Whelan (ex-Bury).

LINE-UP:

ALTRINCHAM (Purple shirts and shorts, white socks): 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 3. Connor HAMPSON, 4. James JONES, 5. Zac CORBETT, 6. Sean WILLIAMS, 7. Jamal CRAWFORD, 8. Conor BRANSON, 9. Lewis SALMON, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Nathan ARNOLD. Subs: 20. Dan GYOLLAI (gk), 12. Matt CHADWICK, 14. Ben HARRISON, 15. Simon RICHMAN, 16. Tom HANNIGAN, 17. Ben ELLIOTT, 18. Tom WHELAN

BACKGROUND:

This was the first pre-season game of the summer for Altrincham although they had staged a game seven days ago with the club's youth team as opposition.

REPORT:

Altrincham started well and were soon passing the ball about in trademark style. But they were not creating any really clear openings as their mixture of first-teamers and trialists grew in familiarity with each other.

Although Altrincham won the game's first corner (10 mins), the first real shot on target came from the hosts and it caused Thompson some difficulty but he succeeded in scooping it away (11 mins).

Arnold responded, a minute later, with an underpowered effort which Parton gathered comfortably. In the fifteenth minute Altrincham took the lead when the ball was threaded through to Arnold, in the inside left channel. He fed the ball, low, across the box towards the back post where Branson and trialist Lewis Salmon arrived simultaneously and the ball was tapped into the next. It was unclear which of the duo had converted the chance but Branson appeared to be credited by his team-mates.

For Alport 42 year-old former Northern Ireland international, Steve Jones, was impressing but Altrincham continued to dominate the game. After an Arnold shot had been saved, Hancock's shot won a corner and after that, Branson saw a 25 yarder saved by Parton (33 mins).

Whitchurch created a decent chance shortly before the interval. Jones's jink led to his shot winning a corner, after whch their no.14 hit his shot disappointingly over the bar (42 mins).

Half-Time: WHITCHURCH ALPORT 0
ALTRINCHAM 1

Alty made no changes at the interval but Alport did change their keeper and some outfield players. Former Alty midfielder Kevin Street was one of the replacements.

After a smart body swerve had allowed Alty keeper Thompson to evade an attacker, Alty won three corners in as any minutes. The last came after Crawford had done well on the left. His cross was met by Hancock's downward header which the Alport keepr did well to keep out at the foot of the upright (56 mins).

Around the 57th minute Altrincham brought on seven substitutes, as Chadwick, Harrison, Richman, Hannighan, Elliott, trialist Tom Whelan and Hungarian goalkeeping trialist Gyollai came on. Almost immediately Elliott got in a goalbound shot that was blocked.

The referee curiously saw no offence when Salmon was flattened and, then, Elliott upended inside the box. After this the hosts brought on two more substitutes. A now fairly youthful Whitchurch enjoyed their best spell of the game, winning four corners in little more than five minutes.

Both sides made changes with fifteen minutes remaining. In Alty's case, Jones and Corbett returned to action to replace Densmore and Hampson.

Whelan was impressing for Alty and Chadwick was working hard without much luck as he sought to win a place in next season's squad.

Altrincham were unable to add to their single goal against a Whitchurch side which had given a good account of itself.

Full-Time: WHITCHURCH ALPORT 0
ALTRINCHAM 1