ALTRINCHAM FC MATCH REPORTS
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BOREHAM WOOD (0) 0
ALTRINCHAM (0) 1
played on Saturday, 16 March, 2024 at 3pm.
SUMMARY:
On an afternoon when none of the top teams won, Altrincham secured a narrow win against troubled Boreham Wood to strengthen their quest for a play-off place.
A fit again Justin Donawa was restored to their starting eleven, making only his fifth league start of a disrupted season, but captain Isaac Marriott was again unfit and Regan Linney suspended.
It was Boreham Wood who started the better, following a rallying call from their owner. Indeed, the hosts won several corners and Ross was required to make two important saves in the early stages.
However, in the second half of the first forty-five minutes, Altrincham got into the game with Newby spurning a good chance and Amaluzor hitting the post before both Wilson and Osborne each forced decent saves. Neverteless the score remained goalless at the interval.
Just before the hour-mark, Chris Bush's late challenge on Donawa earned him a red card (59 mins). Altrincham took the lead after 72 minutes when Osborne fed Conn-Clarke. From the edge of the box his low shot somehow left the keeper flat-footed as it found the net to his right just inside the post.
SCORERS:
- 72 mins: Chris CONN-CLARKE (Boreham Wood 0 ALTRINCHAM 1)
REFEREE: Mr James Durkin
ATTENDANCE: 1,077 (92 in away section)
TEAM NEWS:
Lewis Banks had a minor hamstring problem and his replacement was Justin Donawa, back from a loan spell at Chorley. On the bench new signing Mitch Hancox replaced another recent signing, Haygarth.
LINE-UPS:
BOREHAM WOOD (All white) 1. Nathan Ashmore, 8. Mo Sagaf, 5. Chris Bush, 3. Femi Ilesanmi, 4. Jack Payne, 15. David Agbontohoma, 12. Jamal Fyfield, 14. Angelo Balanta, 24. Matt Robinson, 9. Lee Ndlovu, 19. Erico Sousa, 17. Kabongo Tshimanga. Subs: 2. Cameron Coxe, 7. Tom Whelan, 10. Tyrone Marsh, 22. Billy Sass-Davies, 23. Charles Clayden
ALTRINCHAM (All dark blue with yellow sash on shirts): 29. Ethan Ross, 17. Justin Donawa, 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, 26. Mitch Hancox, 44. Dan Mooney.
BACKGROUND:
Altrincham were meeting a club fighting to avoid the drop for the fourth match in succession. That was a new situation for the Wood who normally occupy the upper reaches of the division. However, this season their normally tight defence has been porous.
REPORT:
Inside the opening minute Ross had to make an important save, getting to Sagaf's rising shot. Bush also went close in the opening minutes with Ross again standing between him and a goal.
The Wood had won four corners before Altrincham tested Ashmore when Conn-Clarke forced a good save from an Amaluzor feed (25 mins). But then the visitors got on top with, first, Amaluzor only halted by Fyfield, before Newby got the ball off Sousa and after exchanging passes with Conn-Clarke, the winger should have tested Ashmore again with a shot across the face of goal (33 mins).
Next, Amaluzor hit the post with a low shot from the right (35 mins) before Wilson obliged Ashmore to produce another good save, tipping the midfielder's shot over the bar (38 mins).
The threats to the home goal continued as Osborne forced Ashmore to make another good stop at the cost of a corner shortly before the interval.
Half-Time: BOREHAM WOOD 0 |
The Wood started the second half brightly with Tshimanga producing an attempted overhead shot which Ross saved comfortably. Baines then had to be alert to stop the striker getting in a shot from a promising position.
The match's most controversial incident came just before the hour mark when Bush slid in late and brought down Donawa. The Wood man was shown a red card by Mr Durkin (59 mins).
The ten men were soon grateful to Fyfield's block which denied Kosylo a shot from a Donawa cross but the decisive goal arrived after 72 minutes when Osborne fed Conn-Clarke to his left, just outside the front of the box, and via a clever step overby Kosylo,.
Conn-Clarke's well-hit low shot somehow left Ashmore flat-footed as it flew past him just inside his right-hand upright (72 mins). Immediately, Angus came on to replace Kosylo.
Five minutes later Coxe replaced Balanta for the hosts (77 mins). Altrincham's defence remained solid as Boreham Wood sought a way back, with an effort from Marsh which rose over the bar being the closest to a leveller.
Wood made a double change when Whelan and Marsh replaced Sagaf and Tshimanga (83 mins), just after Newby had put a freekick over the bar which had been awarded for a foul on Amaluzor.
Mitch Hancox made his debut with four minutes of normal time remaining and, two minutes later, another change saw Mooney replace Amaluzor (88 mins).
Six added minutes did not change the score, though Angus did get himself booked for kicking the ball away (90+1 mins).
Shortly afterwards Angus also wasted a glorious chance when Ashmore had raced miles out of his goal, towards his left touchline.
Despite the keeper slipping, Angus disappointingly could not get the ball past him which would have given him a completely unguarded goal to aim for (90+2 mins).
Victory lifted Alty two places and back into the play-off places.
Full-Time: BOREHAM WOOD 0 |