A strong Altrincham side comfortably beat Stalybridge Celtic to reach the quarter finals of the CSC.

Wilson opened the scoring from an Angus pull-back (29 mins).

Five minutes later a fine finish by Kosylo made it 2-0.

Numerous changes were made in the second half before Angus scored a third goal after excellent work from Linney (82 mins). Finally, a defensive error allowed Linney to score a fourth in added time (90+4 mins

SCORERS:

• 29 mins: George WILSON (ALTRINCHAM 1 Stalybridge Celtic 0)
• 33 mins: Matty KOSYLO (ALTRINCHAM 2 Stalybridge Celtic 0)
• 82 mins: Dior ANGUS (ALTRINCHAM 3 Stalybridge Celtic 0)
• 90(+4) mins: Regan LINNEY (ALTRINCHAM 4 Stalybridge Celtic 0)

Unlike in the first round of the CSC when Altrincham had fielded a decidedly second-string eleven, tonight Phil Parkinson had taken advantage of the CSC to give many of his first-team squad a run out.

Even so, Roscoe and James Jones were the only survivors from last Saturday's starting eleven.

The main surprise was the return of Bruno Andrade who, after playing in Round One, was playing for Chesham United at step four in the non-League pyramid as recently as earlier this month.

Those who had not appeared in a first-team squad for Altrincham before were Lucas Aldcroft and, on the bench, 16 year-old Kaiden Powell, both of whom had come through the club's age-group system to the Reserves.

Ross Speight rather than Phil Parkinso was in charge of the team tonight.

Two former Altrincham players are in the Celtic squad, namely Darius Palma and Greg Wilkinson. In addition, Joe Robbins started the game, having been a loanee at Altrincham.

LINE-UPS:

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 21. Matt Gould, 32. George Burroughs, 5. James Jones (c), 15. Sam Roscoe, 3. Lucas Aldcroft, 19. George Wilson, 8. Ollie Wright, 7. Matty Kosylo, 9. Regan Linney, 14. Dior Angus, 11. Bruno Andrade. Subs: 12. Harrison Howells, 17. Oliver Partington, 18. Amaar Hussain, 20. Tom Jones, 22. Kaiden Powell.

STALYBRIDGE CELTIC (Blue & white): 1. Luke Hewitson, 2. Pawel Zuk, 3. Cole Lonsdale, 4. Joe Robbins, 5. Max Leonard (c), 6. Jack Tinning, 7. Brad Byrne, 8. Jack Irlam, 9. Darius Osei, 11. Aaron Dwyer, 11. Darius Palma. Subs: 12. Greg Wilkinson, 14. Joe Edwards, 15. Michael Brewster, 16. Jordan Burton, 17. Obua Mugalula

These clubs had not met in the league for five seasons, when both were in the Northern Premier League. Since then Alty had risen two tiers in the pyramid whilst Celtic had dropped a level to the First Division of the NPL, three tiers below the National League.

They did meet again in the CSC in 2019 when Stalybridge won 2-0 at the Bower Fold.

On a cold night, Altrincham kicked off towards the Hale end.

Linney won an early corner (4 mins) before Stalybridge responded with one of their own won y a Palma shot (7 mins). However, Altrincham were having the better of the early stages but, from a low Linney cross from the left, Angus lifted his shot disappointlingly over the bar from ten yards (9 mins).

Finally Altrincham's pressure earned the opening goal. Burroughs's ball fed Angus who advanced rapidly to the right byline, from where his pull-back set up Wilson, who stepped past a defender, to net his first goal for the club (29 mins).

It was not long before a fine shot from Kosylo doubled the lead (33 mins). The goal came from a right-wing corner which, Roscoe, at the back post headed back into the goalmouth from where it was cleared but only to Kosylo who hit it on the half-volley.

However, a deflection off Wilson, who had a good game, soon gave the visitors a corner (37 mins) before Altrincham also earned a corner, yet again through the endeavours of Linney (44 mins).

Into added time, another half-chance for Angus saw the striker fire narrowly wide as he sought to end his goal drought (45+1 mins).

There was still time for the impressive Linney to force a save from Hewitson, from an Angus feed, before the interval arrived with Altrincham looking comfortable.

Alty made two changes for the second half as 16 year-old Kaiden Powell replaced James Jones and striker Tom Jones came on for Kosylo.

Following a shot by Jones, Alty gained another corner, which was cleared. Next a Wright freekick went only just wide (54 mins). After an ambitious Wilson effort had been well off-target, Stalybridge won a corner but gained nothing from it.

Edwards replaced Irlam for the visitors (62 mins) before a Tom Jones cross won another corner for the Robins (66 mins) and a second corner soon followed.

Midway through the half Partington replaced Wright (67 mins).

The next corner went Celtic's way (70 mins) before Andrade was fouled in the box but, perhaps because he stayed on his feet, nothing was given.

Greg Wilkinson came on now for Palma for the visitors. At the same point Amaar Hussain replaced Andrade, who had had a decent game (75 mins). It was good to see Hussain back on the pitch as he had missed virtually a year's football with an ACL injury.

After a foul on Dwyer, his freekick beat Gould but struck the upright (76 mins). Following a Tom Jones shot, which had been blocked, Lonsdale became the game's first booked player (77 mins). However, Lonsdale immediately atoned by winning a corner from which Dwyer fired over the bar.

Young defender Aldcroft was doing well on his debut for Alty, who now extended their lead. This third goal arrived when Linney charged down a ball near halfway on the Alty left and fed Angus who netted competently (82 mins). Linney had been showing signs of a return to his best form after his long lay-off.

Immediately, Angus was withdrawn in favour of young Harrison Howells, whilst Osei was replaced by Mugalula for Stalybridge (83 mins).

A Stalybridge corner came and went before Linney's clever chip landed on the roof of the net from 18 yards (88 mins). In the fourth added minute a slightly underhit back-pass by Lonsdale allowed Linney to intervene and reach the ball just ahead of the keeper for the goal that he had deserved and which completed the scoring.

The game had allowed those first-team players who needed game time to have it, whilst also building confidence for those out of form or who had limited opportunities this season so far. In addition the use of several Academy and Reserve players was a useful exercise and an opportunity that, in general, they took impressively.