ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks) : 1. Steve EVERALL, 2. James MARSDEN (capt.) 3. Shaka SHAW, 4. George MELLING, 5. Wayne LEATHER, 6. Stevie TAYLOR, 7. Levi KENNEDY, 8. Lewis CHALMERS, 9. Dwaine LYNSEY, 10. Adie ORE, 11. Kieran JAMES. Subs: 12. Sean SMITH, 13. Todd CUNLIFFE (gk), 14. Rod THORNLEY, 15. M CARTNER, 16. Michael BROWN.

REPORT

The notes that followed are based on information from Niel Brown, the Alty reserves' manager. Any errors are mine.

Altrincham put in a below par first-half performance during which Northwich took the lead. This poor display perhaps owed something to the many changes of personnel as Altrincham had made no fewer than ten changes to the staring eleven from the side which played last Wednesday against Southport. Several of Wednesday's squad were in the first-team squad at Southport this afternoon and others were unavailable. Only Lewis Chalmers started both Wednesday's game and today's. However, injured first-teamer Rod Thornley was making a welcome comeback to action this afternoon, though he started on the bench to ease him back to fitness. The referee suffered a hamstring injury at half-time and during the second half had to be replaced.

Sean Smith came on to replace Shaw and, roughly ten minutes into the second half, Rod Thornley came on in place of Stevie Taylor. The third substitution of the game saw Kieran James replaced by Cartner, who went on to have a good game. Altrincham created several second-half chances with Thornley going close two or three times in a ten-minute spell. Indeed, the Vics' keeper had to make three great saves to keep Altrincham at bay. But the equaliser would not come and Vics held on to the three points despite not creating any serious threats in the second half.