For the tenth game in succession Altrincham failed to win a match inside ninety minutes as they bowed out of the Cheshire Senior Cup in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless ninety minutes.

Despite winning numerous corners Altrincham were unable to find the net and Ollie Crankshaw missed a second-half penalty..

After a goalless ninety minutes, the shoot-out went to fourteen kicks and, despite Winsford blinking first by missing their fourth kick, Baines then missed his attempt before Kosylo also had his spot kick saved. So Winsford won 6-5.

The most obvious conclusion to be drawn was that the fringe members of the first-team squad who were involved tonight were in some cases not currently fit enough or, in other instances, just not good enough to challenge those in possession of the first-team shirts.

SCORERS:

• None

For shootout goals see belwo...

REFEREE: Mr Martyn Kent

ATTENDANCE: 313

TEAM NEWS:

Alty started with nine first-team squad members and two Academy players, albeit only two of the starters had also started the last National League game. The two survivors were keeper Fallon and striker James Gale.

LINE-UPS:

WINSFORD UNITED (Blue shirts and socks, white shorts): 1. Jacob Kirwan, 2. Ashton Brogan, 3. Elliot Coleman, 4. 4. Callum Chapman, 5. -- Hooks, 6. Sam Latham, 7. Ewan McGeady, 8. Danny Kerr, 9. Ollie McDonagh, 10.Ollie Pope, 11. Blake Robinson. Subs: 12/ Steve Jenyons, 14. Reece Davies, 15. - Eleftheriadis, 16. Kallum Boyle, 17. Matty Birchall. .

ALTRINCHAM (Red shirts with white pinstripes, black shorts and white socks): 30 Louie Fallon, 23. Tylor Golden, 34. Dan Sassi, 24. Sam Barnes, 3. Sam Reed, 22. Tom Crawford, 6. Elliot Osborne (c), 8 Isaac Marriott, 20. Kahrel Reddin 11. Jimmy Knowles, 9. James Gale. Subs: 4. Lewis Baines, 5. Jake Cooper, 7. Olly Crankshaw, 10. Keaton Ward, 21. Jack Hinchy, 40. Charlie Kirk, 41. Max Beddow (gk)

Alty had exited the CSC last season at this First Round hurdle, when they lost at home to Vauxhall Motors.

REPORT:

Altrincham kicked off and dominated both possession and forward momentum, gaining five corners inside the first seventeen minutes. But none of Ward's corners led to a serious goal threat. However, it was Rowe's winning of the fifth c0rner which was Altrincham's best effort so far, as the young player forced a save from Kirwan.

Winsford weathered the early onslaught and their first effort on goal, by McDonough, proved to be routine fare for Fallon to save.

After another Alty corner had been and gone (24 mins), former Alty Academy product McGeady earned Winsford's first flag-kick (26 mins).

Gale was looking Alty's liveliest forward, albeit without having a clear chance to score. On the half-hour mark a Crankshaw shot deflected to the home keeper as Alty laboured to impose themselves.

Ward did then force Kirwan into a decent save before Crankshaw fired wide when a pass to the nearby Ward might have been a better option (37 mins).

After Brogan had been booked for a foul on Gale, a Ward shot won a another corner (39 mins). From this corner Cooper got in a header which Kirwan saved well (41 mins).

The half ended soon after a home error had given Crankshaw a chance but he fired wide (45 mins).

At the break Altrincham brought on a tenth first-team squad member in Elliot Osborne, who replaced St Romaine.

The first meaningful effort of the half came from Gale whose well hit shot was well saved at the cost of yet another corner which, yet again came to nothing (51 mins). Next, a fine ball from Hinchy set Kosylo in on goal but Kirwan was again equal to the effort.

Another corner (61 mins) produced nothing before Gale advanced and fed Hinchy but the loanee blazed his shot over the bar from 15 yards (63 mins).

Now Cooper, who had been making his first appearance of the season, gave way to Dan Sassi at centre-back (64 mins).

Another Alty corner came and went without incident before Boyce replaced McGeady for the hosts (68 mins).

After a Gale shot had earned another corner, a Boyce freekick earned Winsford a corner at the other end (71 mins). Pope met this at the back post but his effort cleared the bar.

At the other end Gale sliced an effort well wide (75 mins) as Alty continued to misfire in front of goal.

Rowe then ran into the box and won what was a clear penalty as he was brought down. Crankshaw stepped up to take the penalty but his effort was saved (76 mins).

With eight minutes remaining, Kosylo fired over from 25 yards after which Winsford introduced Jenyons for Hooks and Davies for Latham (82 mins).

Alty's evening did not improve as Hinchy was now booked for a foul on Birhcall (86 mins). Next, Crankshaw found himself in space but his shot was comfortably saved by Kirwan (87 mins).

Next, Eleftheriadis replaced striker McDonugh for Winsford (88 mins). After this change, a Sassi shot deflected out for another unproftable corner (89 mins).

Four added minutes were allocated by the referee during which a collision between Gale and the keeper brought about a stoppage (90+3 mins). Crankshaw was then caught offside in what proved to be Alty's final chance to win the game before the whistle sounded after five added minutes. So, a penalty shoot-out was necessary.

1. Osborne scores (Winsford United 0 Altrincham 1)
2. Boyle scores, down the middle (Winsford United 1 Altrincham 1)
3. Crankshaw sends keeper the wrong way (Winsford United 1 Altrincham 2)
4. Davies sends keeper the wrong way (Winsford United 2 Altrincham 2)
5. Kirk sends keeper the wrong way (Winsford United 2 Altrincham 3)
6. Birchall sends keeper the wrong way (Winsford United 3 Altrincham 3)
7. Ward scores (Winsford United 3 Altrincham 4)
8. Chapman fires over the bar (Winsford United 3 Altrincham 4)
9. Baines's effort is saved (Winsford United 3 Altrincham 4)
10. Kerr scores into the top corner (Winsford United 4 Altrincham 4)
11. Hinchy drives his penalty high into the net (Winsford United 4 Altrincham 5)
12. Jenyons scores (Winsford United 5 Altrincham 5)
13. Kosylo's penalty is saved (Winsford United 5 Altrincham 5)
14. Eleftheriadis scores to win the game (Winsford United 6 Altrincham 5)

And so ended a very disappointing night for Altrincham who have now not won any game inside ninety minutes in their last ten outongs in all competitions. Whereas the plan had been to bolster the chances of fringe players breaking into the first eleven by overcoming lower-rank opposition with conviction, the outcome had been to reinforce the squad's lack of confidence ahead of a vital clash at Braintree Town on Saturday in the National League.