ALTRINCHAM FC MATCH REPORTS

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AFC FYLDE (2) 2
ALTRINCHAM (0) 2

Pre-season Friendly match
played on Saturday, 26 September, 2020 at 3pm
behind closed doors

SUMMARY:

Altrincham were second-best for much of the first half and reached the break two goals down, with Fylde also having hit the crossbar before the interval. The Coasters had started the game on top before Alty had enjoyed a few minutes looking more promising.

But, after Thompson had taken a short goalkick to Moult, the captain's pass back saw possession lost. Moult fouled Willoughby in trying to retrieve the situation and he conceded a penalty which Willoughby himself converted, his spot-kick just evading Thompson's dive (29 mins).

Five minutes later Nick Houghton made it 2-0 when he advanced from midfield to fire past a flat-footed Thompson from 25 yards (34 mins). Shortly before half-time Junior Mondal hit the crossbar with Thompson beaten. A routine save from Williams by the Coasters' keeper Neild was the only effort of note from Altrincham in the first half.

Alty finished the game well and were just about deserving of their draw at the final whistle after two late efforts had gone close to snatching a win.

SCORERS:

REFEREE: Mr D McNamara
ATTENDANCE: Behind closed doors.
TEAM NEWS:

Just five players who had started in the previous friendly at Alfreton started this game. Two of the three summer trialists who had played recently were named on the bench (Joel Senior and Will Hall).

In the shape of Hannigan, Koylo and Thompson, there were three ex-Coasters in the Alty team. There was no involvement for Josh Hancock, Curtis Miller, Dan Mooney or trialist Ashley Smith-Brown.

LINE-UP:

AFC FYLDE (All white): 1. Chris Neild, 12. Luke Burke, 5. Nathan Pond (c), 6. Alex Whitmore, 3. Luke Conlan, 10. Danny Philliskirk, 13. Dave Perkins, 16. Ben Tollitt, 27. Nick Houghton, 7. Junior Mondal, 9. Kurt Willoughby. Subs: 21. Max Johnstone, 8. A Trialist, 26. James Stanley, 24. A Trialist, 33. Jack Byrne.

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 3. Connor HAMPSON, 4. Ritchie SUTTON, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. Yusifu CEESAY, 8. Sean WILLIAMS, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. Max CLAYTON, 11. Matty KOSYLO. Subs: 12. Joel SENIOR, 14. Andy WHITE, 15. Toby MULLARKEY, 16. Simon RICHMAN, 18. Tom PEERS, 19. Will HALL, 23. Connor HAMPSON, 20. Matthew GOULD.

BACKGROUND:

This was Altrincham's fifth and penultimate friendly of pre-season, following two wins and two defeats.

REPORT:

The Coasters dominated possession in the opening five minutes without creating any real danger before Altrincham likewise had the better of the next five, during which they won two corners, which came to naught.

Next, good defending from Densmore gave Fylde the first of two corners to match Alty's tally at that stage (18 mins). Just before the midpoint of the first half Willoughby put a home freekick over the bar and several minutes later Thompson made a routine save from a Mondal effort (26 mins).

When Moult fouled Perkins, Houghton likewise put the Fylde freekick over the bar (28 mins).

Moments later a Thompson goalkick was played short to Moult who tried to pass the ball back but possession was lost and Willoughby was brought down by the Altrincham captain as he attempted to retrieve the situation. A penalty was awarded which Willoughby converted, his spot-kick just evading Thompson's dive (29 mins).

Five minutes later, Houghton was allowed to advance from midfield and, from 25 yards, he beat a flat-footed Thompson to make it 2-0 (34 mins).

An Alty appeal for a penalty for Pond's push on Hulme went unheeded and only an unproductive corner resulted (39 mins). As half-time approached a decent Alty move ended in an overhit cross from Densmore (42 mins).

The closing stages of the half saw a Mondal shot hit the bar, with Thompson beaten and, for Alty, Williams produced a routine save from Neild with a rare shot on target from the visitors.

There was still time for a Houghton left-footer to land on the roof of the net as Alty were grateful to reach the interval just two goals behind after a disappointing showing.

Half-Time: AFC FYLDE 2
ALTRINCHAM 0

The opening stages of the half were broken up by fouls by Ceesay on Conlan and by Kosylo on Mondal (50 mins).

With Fylde still looking comfortable Altrincham scored twice, more or less out of the blue.

Firstly, a 25-yarder from Kosylo hit Philliskirk and looped up and over keeper Neild to make it 2-1 (62 mins). And, within a couple of minutes, it was 2-2 as Williams located Cessay on the right. His apparently intended shot at goal was cleverly diverted by Clayton's head into the net (64 mins).

Fylde tried to respond but Sutton made a good block following a home corner (68 mins). Alty now made two changes at full-back as the experienced duo of Densmore and White gave way to trialist Senior and Connor Hampson (70 mins).

Three minutes later Fylde introduced a trialist number 8 and, on 78 minutes, he was joined by another trialist wearing no. 24. With ten minutes remaining Peers and Richman came on for Alty, replacing Clayton and Ceesay, so Williams moved to the no.10 role.

Alty finished the game well, winning a corner (81 mins) before Williams curled a shot inches wide (86 mins) and then Moult nodded a White cross just over the bar (88 mins).

Full Time: AFC FYLDE 2
ALTRINCHAM 2
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