ROSSENDALE UNITED RESERVES (2) 3 ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (0) 4

Lancashire League (East) Match
played on Friday, 15 September 2006 at 7.45pm


LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM RESERVES : 1. Chris ROWLEY, 2. Keith WEDGE (capt), 3. Paul COLLINS, 4. Adam HITCHEN, 5. George MELLING, 6. Eddie HUSSIN, 7. Justin BOWLER, 8. John MALONEY, 9. Pat McFADDEN, 10. Rod THORNLEY, 11. Daniel HEFFERNAN, . Subs: 12. Lee MANNION, 14. Justin BOWLER, 15. Michael RISK, 16. John OAKES, 17. Mike BROWN.


REPORT

Report courtesy of information supplied by Neil Brown.

Into the side for this game came goalkeeper Chris Rowley, club captain Eddie Hussin, continuing his path to full fitness and, on the right, was Laurence Ball, normally a centre-back but who had played on the wing as a youth for Chelsea. Up front, first teamers Pat McFadden and Rod Thornley replaced Aaron Edwards and Astley Mulholland. Trialist defenders Hitchen and Collins again played but a third trialist, Joe Waterhouse, was ill.

Rossendale's fluid formation, converting from 4-5-1 to 4-3-3 when they went forward, caused Altrincham some early proiblems.In fact, they took the lead after just three minutes when a Rossendale player flicked the ball over the advancing Rowley and it trickled into the net, with Melling and Hitchen unable to clear it before it crossed the line. After 10 minutes it got worse as a high cross from left went above the floodlights and came down into the back of the net. Despite forcing three very good saves from the home keeper and McFadden having a goal ruled out for offside, Altrincham were being sucked into Rossendale's system and were second best at this stage. Manager Neil Brown used the interval to reorganise his team.

Half-Time: ROSSENDALE UNITED RESERVES 2 ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 0

At the break, Bowler replaced Hitchen, with Ball moving to centre-back. After 51 minutes, Keith Wedge, who was injured, had to give way to Michael Risk. Alty got back into the game ten minutes after the interval when Melling fed McFadden, who dropped his shoulder and went past his marker before finding the top of the net with his shot (55 mins). But, just before the hour mark, Eddie Hussin went off to be replaced by Lee Mannion. Eddie had completed a very good hour and his withdrawal was purely precautionary as he makes his way back to match fitness.

After 61 minutes, McFadden scored again, the ball reaching him via Danny Heffernan, from Paul Collins. From the left, McFadden's well-hit shot struck a defender's foot and carried on into the net. McFadden continued to cause the opposition problems and after 71 minutes he went on another run but went down under a challenge in the box. Though the Alty man pointed out to the referee that it was not a penalty, a spot-kick was awarded and Thornley despatched it into the bottom of the net (70 mins). Alty went further ahead after 81 minutes when a fine ball from Mannion found McFadden, who cut in behind a defender and clipped the ball over the keeper and the ball went into the net off the bottom of the post.

Alty had to endure a tight last five minutes after Rossendale made it 4-3. The goal came after Bowler slipped on the damp surface and a Rossendale player slammed the ball home from 30 yards into the bottom corner.


Full-Time: ROSSENDALE UNITED RESERVES 3 ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 4