ALTRINCHAM FC MATCH REPORTS

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WREXHAM (0) 0
ALTRINCHAM (1) 1

Vanarama National League match
played on Tuesday, 1 December, 2020 at 7.45pm
behind closed doors

SUMMARY:

Wrexham almost took an early lead when Vassell headed Davies's cross firmly against the bar in the third minute. And, during the rest of the first half, several other Wrexham crosses and corners looked dangerous but Alty dealt with them and Thompson had no real save to make before half-time. However, the unmarked Kelleher should have done better with one ball into the box which he headed off target. Goalkeeper Dibble at the other end was likewise underemployed.

Alty enjoyed a good passing spell as half-time approached and, when they won a corner on the right, Sutton rose well towards the back post to power a header into the roof of the net above Young, who was on the line (44 mins). So Alty led at half-time.

A superb second-half performance saw Altrincham relatively comfortably preserve their lead against a disappointing Wrexham team. Alty now lie fourth in the league albeit having played more games than anyone else. On a PPG basis Altrincham lie twelfth.

SCORERS:

REFEREE: Mr David Richardson
ATTENDANCE: Behind closed doors.
TEAM NEWS:

For Altrincham in tonight's match, Fisayo Adarabioyo was replaced by Ryan Colcough in the starting eleven whilst, on the bench, James McDonald came in and Joe Robbins, who has returned to Crewe, was replaced by Billy Sass-Davies. Yusifu Ceesay was deplyed up front rather than on the left wing.

Unavailable for Altrincham, once again, through injury, were Andy Dales, Sean Williams, Toby Mullarkey, Simon Richman, Dan Mooney and Connor Hampson.

Elliott Durrell started for Wrexham against an Altrincham team for whom he had played successfully at the back end of last season. A bad injury on Saturday to Wrexham's regular keeper, Lainton, meant that Christian Dibble, son of the former Alty keeper, started in goal for The Dragons.

LINE-UP:

WREXHAM (Red shirts, white shorts and socks) 21. Christian Dibble, 2. Reece Hall-Johnson, 3. Jamie Reckord, 4. Theo Vassell, 7. Elliott Durrell, 8. Luke Young, 14. Paul Rutherford, 19. Abillahie Yussuf, 22. Fiacre Kelleher (c), 29. Jordan Davies, 39. Kwame Thomas. Subs: 10. Devonte Redmond, 15. James Horsfield, 11. Anthony Jeffrey, 12. Daniel Jarvis, 27. Jacob Bickerstaff.

ALTRINCHAM (Yellow shirts with blue and white sash, yellow shorts and socks): 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Andy WHITE, 4. Ritchie SUTTON, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 24. Joel SENIOR, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 29. Alistair SMITH, 15. Matty KOSYLO, 34. Ryan COLCLOUGH, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Yusifu CEESAY. Subs: 28. Billy SASS-DAVIES, 20. Shaun DENSMORE, 23. Tom PEERS, 12. Curtis MILLER, 31. James McDONALD.

BACKGROUND:

At kick-off, it had been more than five years since the last league clash between the sides.

Courtesy of the late Mike Garnett's data, the historical record in matches between our two clubs before this game was, as follows,

Two Hollywood actors were in the throes of a takeover at Wrexham, who were unbeaten in five games, as this game was played.

REPORT:

Altrincham kicked off but almost fell behind in the third minute. An excellent curling cross from the right by Davies was headed firmly against the crossbar by Vassell and the rebound was put wide by Yussuf.

The visitors replied with a shot from Kosylo, which ran easily to Dibble. And then Colclough, making his full debut for Alty, earned his side a corner (7 mins). But Alty were conceding too many early freekicks and, from the next one, by Durrell, Kelleher missed a good chance with a free header which he put over the bar (10 mins).

Smith's 30-yard effort sailed over the bar at the other end before Wrexham won a corner which came to nothing (14 mins). The hosts were looking threatening as another ball came into the box which just evaded Yussuf, who was unmarked (18 mins).

Next, a Durrell long shot cleared the bar as Alty remained largely on the back foot (19 mins). But, midway through the half Alty began to establish themselves in the game more. However, when Kosylo went down in the box there was no spot-kick and that was probably the correct decision (25 mins).

Just after a Wrexham corner had again come to nothing, Dibble took too heavy a touch to a backpass and Ceesay almost closed him down (30 mins).

Next, another Rutherford cross came and went but neither keeper had had to make a serious save before Thompson comfortably batted away a Hall-Johnson corner.

Alty then together a passing move which must have comprised gettong on for thirty passes before they won a corner. From the right, Colclough's corner was headed into the roof of the net by Sutton who had arrived towards the back post. Young was on the line but powerless to stop the ball as Alty went ahead (44 mins).

Another Alty corner in added time came to naught, leaving the hosts behind despite having enjoyed the better fo the first half.

Half-Time: WREXHAM 0
ALTRINCHAM 1

The first action of the half saw a Hancock effort, from distance, come to Dibble without causing problems (48 mins). Shortly afterwards Kosylo fired wide as Alty began the half well (50 mins).

A foul by Davies soon earned him the game's first yellow card (52 mins) before the game drifted fairly uneventfully towards the hour mark.

Wrexham then won two corners, the second coming needlessly when Thompson tried to find a team mate with a misplaced pass along his left byline. But Alty replied with a good spell of possession before Peers replaced Colcough (65 mins). Peers went up top with Ceesay moving to the flank.

Jeffrey now came on for the Dragons. Dibble was in action on 68 minutes when Smith's side-footed volley went to him. After a home corner had been cleared, a fine run up the right and into the box by Senior resulted in his shot being saved by Dibble (71 mins).

Alty now suggested they were aiming for containment as Densmore replaced Hancock, taking up a position in midfield (72 mins). Two more Wrexham corners came and went but Alty defended well. They reinforced their defences when Sass-Davies replaced Ceesay in the 79th minute.

Wrexham were making little impression against a well organised Alty before the Welshmen made a double change as Durrell and Yussuf gave way to Jarvis and Bickerstaff (87 mins).

As three minutes of added time were proclaimed, Thomas needed lengthy treatment for a leg injury and, eventually, he hobbled off though he was to complete the game as a passenger (90+3 mins).

Nevertheless that is an excellent position to be in for a part-time side riven by injuries. This was a mature peformance which bodes well for the rest of the campaign.

Full Time: WREXHAM 0
ALTRINCHAM 1
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