ALTRINCHAM FC MATCH REPORTS
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ALTRINCHAM (3) 6
YORK CITY (0) 1
played on Tuesday, 12 March, 2024 at 7.45pm.
SUMMARY:
Altrincham recorded their third 6-1 home win of the season, aided by three goalkeeping errors from the unfortunate George Sykes-Kenworthy.
The first howler came in just the second minute when Eddy Jones got in a cross from the left which Sykes-Kenworthy somehow fumbled into his own net at the near post.
With Amaluzor causing problems to McLaughlin on the York left and Alex Newby and George Wilson both impressing, Altrincham were comfortably the better side.
A second Alty goal duly arrived in the 27th minute, after Wilson had won the ball and, via an interchange betwee Amaluzor and Newby, the former hit a low shot across Sykes-Kenworthy from left of centre. The York keeper attempted to save with his feet but the ball went across him into the net .
Alty made it 3-0 in added time before the break when Sykes-Kenworthy kicked the ball to clear the danger but hit it straight to Cooper, inside the box. The centre-back's low shot went through the keeper into the net.
In the first half York had managed two or three speculative shots, way off target, but Ross had been required to make one routine save.
Both sides made double substitutions early in the second half and York's changes did improve them.
Indeed, it was substitute Kouhyiar who got past Osborne to fire home impressively for York from 25 yards, making it 3-1 after 65 minutes.
However, another goalkeeping error saw Newby's swerving shot, straight at Sykes-Kenworthy, go through the keeper's raised hands into the net (72 mins).
Next, a quick freekick by Conn-Clarke from the centre-circle set the alert Mooney running up the right; he cut inside and fed Conn-Clarke who calmly despatched a low shot between the keeper and his right upright, making it 5-1 (81 mins).
The scoring was completed by Newby's second goal as he got into the left of the box and drove a shot into the net at the near post (86 mins).
At kick-off York had had one of the better defences at the wrong end of the table, but that was not in evidence at all in this game.
The result lifted Alty back into the play-off places and was their third 6-1 home win of the season!
SCORERS:
- 2 mins: Own Goal (George Sykes-Kenworthy) (ALTRINCHAM 1 York City 0)
- 27 mins: Justin AMALUZOR (ALTRINCHAM 2 York City 0)
- 45(+1) mins: Jake COOPER (ALTRINCHAM 3 York City 0)
- 65 mins: Maz KOUHYAR (ALTRINCHAM 3 York City 1)
- 65 mins: Alex NEWBY (ALTRINCHAM 4 York City 1)
- 81 mins: Chris CONN-CLARKE (ALTRINCHAM 5 York City 1)
- 86 mins: Alex NEWBY (ALTRINCHAM 6 York City 1)
REFEREE: Mr David Richardson
ATTENDANCE: 1,554 (269 in away section)
TEAM NEWS:
Before the game, Alty had announced the arrival of Max Haygarth on a short-term contract. He is a winger cum midfielder who was at Northern Irish club Linfield for just over a year before his contract was terminated by mutual consent in January 2024.
Tonight's line-up was without the suspended Regan Linney, and Isaac Marriott who was injured last Saturday against Woking. In his absence Lewis Baines captained the side rather than previous stand-in Elliot Osborne. George Wilson replaced Marriott in midfield.
The other change saw Amaluzor start in place of Angus who moved to the bench.
Lennell John-Lewis returned to the side to captain the visitors.
New signing Max Haygarth joined the bench.
LINE-UPS:
ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 29. Ethan Ross, 2. Lewis Banks, 15. Jake Cooper, 4. Lewis Baines (c), 3. Eddie Jones, 8. Elliot Osborne, 19. George Wilson, 11. Justin Amaluzor, 10. Chris Conn-Clarke, 7. Matty Kosylo, 30. Alex Newby. Subs: 14. Dior Angus, 16. Sam Roscoe, 21. Matt Gould, 25. Max Haygarth, 44. Dan Mooney.
YORK CITY (Dark blue shirts and socks, white shorts): 38. George Sykes-Kenworthy, 2. Ryan Fallowfield, 6. Paddy McLaughlin, 7. Will Davies, 9. Dipo Akinyemi, 10. Quevin Castro, 14. Lenell John-Lewis (c), 15. Callum Howe, 29. Alex Hunt, 30. Alex Woodyard, 37. Will Smith. Subs: 11. Maziar Kouhyar, 18. Dan Batty, 19. Billy Chadwick, 35. Rory Watson, 36. Thierry Latty-Fairweather.
BACKGROUND:
After a run of just one win in seven fixtures, and in their third successive home game, Alty were facing a relegation-threatened side, also for the third time in a row.
Despite their poor position in the league, York brought 269 spectators to this match, which was the fourth game under new manager Liam Hinshelwood, who had yet to see his side emerge victorious.
REPORT:
With choreographed fireworks going off behind the Golf Road terrace, York kicked off towards that end. Inside two minutes Conn-Clarke fed Eddy Jones who was advancing on the left-wing. The left-back's low cross looked to pose litle danger, only for Sykes-Kenworthy to fumble it into the net at the near post (2 mins). It was the fourth time Alty had scored inside 11 minutes in the last three fixtures.
Soon afterwards another Jones cross only narrowly evaded Conn-Clarke (4 mins) before Altrincham won four corners in as many minutes as the home side dominated proceedings (11 mins).
The hosts had a good chance to double their lead when a fine pass by Amaluzor set Kosylo racing up the middle towards goal but his attempted chip was too high and cleared the bar, as well as the keeper (13 mins).
York did now begin to settle and a strong shot from distance had to be saved by Ross, who had been York's goalkeeper last season (18 mins). After a stoppage for treatment to Amaluzor, and a foul on Conn-Clarke which earned a freekick that was wasted by being taken too hastily, Kosylo was booked, a little harshly, for a foul (24 mins).
Next, Wilson won possession in his own half before Amaluzor and Newby exchanged passes when they advanced upfield. Amaluzor shot low at goal, across the keeper, to make it 2-0 (27 mins). Sykes-Kenworthy attempted to save with his legs to no avail
Altrincham soon won another corner through Amaluzor, who was giving McLaughlin a torrid time on the City left. Next, Jones located Newby whose shot was deflected upwards and looped to the keeper (30 mins).
For City, two wild shots from 25 yards by John-Lewis and, a few minutes later, by Castro flew mile over the bar (34 mins). Then, when McLaughlin fouled Amaluzor he was fortunate to escape a booking (36 mins).
Next, Ross dwelt on a kick clear and was almost closed down (37 mins) as the visitors were having a slightly better time now, but that soon ended as a fine run by Newby led to Amaluzor firing over the bar.
Another good move saw Wilson hit a fine shot which drew a good save from Sykes-Kenworthy at the cost of a corner (42 mins). As the interval approached Kosylo won Alty's seventh corner of the game, off Fallowfield (44 mins). Following this a Conn-Clarke shot was blocked and deflected towards the York goal where the keeper kicked the ball away but straight to Jake Cooper to the right of goal.
Alty's centre-back drove a low shot across the keeper and into the far corner of the net to make it 3-0 (45+1 mins).
It had been a disastrous first half for the Minstermen and, in particular, for their goalkeeper.
Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM 3 |
Whilst Altrincham made a double swap at the interval, York waited six minutes to do so. Alty brought on Roscoe and Mooney for Banks and Kosylo, the latter having been booked in the first half (46 mins).
Before York made their changes, the Minstermen had shown some improvement on their first half display, winning two corners. The second was almost a rerun of Alty's first goal insofar as the taker aimed low for the near post where Ross was only able to shovel it away unconvincingly but, fortunately, not into his own goal as his York counterpart had done.
York's changes saw Latty-Fairweather replace McLaughlin and Chadwick come on for Castro (51 mins). Shortly afterwards, John-Lewis lobbed Ross and only just missed the target
Belatedly Altrincham got going in the second half with Conn-Clarke's run earning a freekick and, soon afterwards from Amaluzor's feed, Conn-Clarke shot inches wide from 18 yards (57 mins).
York made their final change before the hour mark as Afghan international Kouhyar replaced John-Lewis, with Hunt assuming the captaincy (58 mins).
A twisting run by Newby ended with a shot which went narrowly wide (61 mins). A minute later Newby also got in a cross which flew across the goalmouth with no team-mate there to benefit. But York's Kouhyar soon made an impact, dispossessing Osborne before advancing to fire an excellent shot past Ross from 22 yards, making it 3-1 (65 mins).
York's hopes of a dramatic recovery lasted just seven minutes before Jones fed Newby, left of goal. The winger hit a swerving shot from 20 yards for which Sykes-Kenworthy did not have to move his feet. He got both hands, at face height, ready to stop the ball but, somehow, he only diverted it to his left and into the net (72 mins). So it was 4-1.
Conn-Clarke now went close before Altrincham withdrew Amaluzor for debutant new signing Haygarth (74 mins). Altrincham were in comfortable control and soon won another corner. When Sykes-Kenworthy caught this, there were ironic cheers from the Golf Road supporters (78 mins).
With Alty cruising, York took advantage to earn two corners. The first came when Davis forced a good save from Ross and the second arose from a Chadwick shot which deflected off Roscoe (80 mins).
Conn-Clarke then took a quick freekick to set Mooney running up the right. Mooney cut in and fed the advancing Conn-Clarke who slotted the ball home to make it 5-1 (81 mins). A York fan then ran the length of the pitch for reasons that only he will know.
Ross then had to make a decent save at the cost of a corner and the Alty keeper picked up a needless caution, presumably for timewasting (84 mins).
York's pain was not over as Newby got into the box left of goal and his low shot beat the keeper at his near post to complete the scoring at 6-1 (86 mins).
It could have got even worse when good play by Mooney allowed Conn-Clarke to feed Osborne whose shot drew a decent diving save to his left by Sykes-Kenworthy at the cost of a corner (90 mins).
Four added minutes were played out, with Alty winning a very late corner, but the match ended in Altrincham's third 6-1 home win this season.
Victory lifted Alty two places and back ito the play-off places.
Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM 6 |