ALTRINCHAM RESERVES: 1. Richard ACTON, 2. Steve ASPINALL, 3. Ashley BROWN, 4. Stephen ROSE, 5. Laurence BALL, 6. Paul MONAGHAN, 7. Michael BROWN, 8. Kieran KILACKY, 9. Byron JENKINS, 10. Rod THORNLEY, 11. Pat McFADDEN . Subs: 12. John MALONEY, 13. Craig ELLISON, 14. Lewis CHALMERS, 15. Kwame BARNETT, 16. Michael RANKINE.

REPORT

This report is based on information kindly supplied by Neil Brown

After their disappointing show against Marine last Friday, Alty made a number of changes but these were prompted by the need to include first-team players recovering from injury or to look at trialists. So, in goal was Richard Acton, playing only his second game since breaking a bone in his foot. At right-back was Steve Aspinall, still gaining match fitness after injury and another first-teamer, Stephen Rose was at centre-back, keeping fit, as he will be suspended on Saturday. Paul Monaghan returned after his injury and first-teamer Rod Thornley joined new man Byron Jenkins in attack. Jenkins, a former Southport, Crewe and Accrington player had only made his debut, as a substitute, last week for Altrincham Reserves. A tall trialist striker, Michael Rankine (20), who made 1 start and 20 sub appearances last season at Scunthorpe United but previously played for Barrow, was delayed in traffic so could not start as planned. So, Lewis Chalmers, who had come as a spectator, was named on the subs' sheet in case of need. However, Rankine turned up soon after kick off and was later used as substitute.

The game was played on a pitch lacking much grass cover and in the early stages Alty struggled to cope with BPA's 3-5-2 formation. However, things improved once Alty themselves switched to 3-5-2 to strengthen the midfield. Alty went ahead through an own goal, which was preceded by good work from Jenkins. Pat McFadden made it 2-0 as he ended his "goal drought"; he had not scored in the last game, his first barren match after netting in ten successive games! Unfortunately Pat suffered an elbow in the cheek during the game and was sporting a lump on his face by the end of the match.

Rankine came on for Mike Brown at the interval, with Monaghan moving to the wing. Rod Thornley made it 3-0 after the interval, scoring from 40 yards out on the left with a cross-shot which lobbed the keeper. After 62 minutes John Maloney replaced Stephen Rose who was suffering cramp and then after 65 minutes, Kwame Barnett came on for Ashley Brown. BPA pulled two goals back in quick succession after these substitutions but Alty recovered to make it 4-2 through Rankine before Thornley netted a fifth.

This was an impressive win against a previously unbeaten Bradford side.