ALTRINCHAM RESERVES: 1. Anthony CUMMINS, 2. Lee MANNION, 3. Colin McALLISTER, 4. Danny GRAY, 5. George MELLING (capt), 6. Michael RISK, 7. John MALONEY, 8. Ben DEEGAN, 9. Pat McFADDEN, 10. Aaron EDWARDS, 11. Daniel HEFFERNAN. Subs: 12. Astley MULHOLLAND, 14. Mike BROWN, 15. Raphael WONG, 16. John OAKES.

REPORT

Report courtesy of information supplied by Neil Brown.

Captain Keith Wedge was out, injured, and in all, there were eight changes from the line-up which had won at Rossendale in the previous game. Centre-back George Melling took over the captaincy as Cummins, Mannion, McAllister, Gray, Risk, Maloney, Deegan and Edwards all came into the starting eleven as no trialists or first-teamers were involved today, other than Pat McFadden. On the bench, newcomer Raphael Wong joined Mike Brown, Astley Mulholland and John Oakes, who has shown great loyalty to the cause by travelling to away matches despite not getting a game recently.

The game was played on a good surface, though the grass was a little longer than average. The referee maintained a good rapport with the players and before the game he showed an openness not always to be found in match officials as he offered to speak to the managers after the match to discuss any problems which they might have with his officiating..

The first half passed without any goals but, just before the break, Alty centre-back George Melling twisted his knee as he turned, and the initial fears were that he had suffered cruciate ligament damage. Fortunately, after being taken to hospital where, coincidentally, the duty nurse turned out to be a friend of his family, George's problem was diagnosed as stretched ligaments which are likely to sideline him for about a fortnight.

At the interval, Astley Mulholland replaced the injured Melling, with Edwards moving to centre-back as Mulholland joined McFadden up front. Mulholland also took over the capaincy. After 58 minutes, Wong replaced Deegan, prompting McFadden to move to the left and Heffernan to centre-midfield as Wong played up front.

The only goal of the game arrived after 64 minutes when the ball went to McFadden on the left, amidst shouts of offside. Though McFadden lost the ball, it came back into the Alty midfield from where Mannion played a good pass through for Mulholland, with the home side claiming offside again. But Mulholland advanced into the box, from about 25 yards out, before feigning to go left and then placing the ball to the right, curling it round the advancing keeper and into the net. After the match, Altrincham were well treated by their hosts, with the quality of the food provided for the players receiving special mention from Neil Brown, who later denied rumours that he had eaten all the pies!