ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (2) 4
ROSSENDALE UNITED RESERVES (1) 1
Lancashire League Cup Match
played on Wednesday, 31 January 2007 at 7.45pm
LINE-UP
ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Richard ACTON, 2. Gary SCOTT, Keith WEDGE (capt), 4. Laurence BALL, 5. Colin McALLISTER, 6. Andy KEOGH, 7. Justin BOWLER, 8. John MALONEY, 9. Pat McFADDEN, 10. Peter THOMSON, 11. Danny HEFFERNAN. Subs: Lee MANNION, 14. Astley MULHOLLAND, 15. Adam WALKER, Michael BROWN, Chris ROWLEY (gk)
REPORT
Altrincham were without three of the first team squad (Talbot, Rose and Thornley) who had played in the last Reserves' game but into the side came right-back Gary Scott, which meant that captain Keith Wedge moved to left-back. Laurence Ball and Colin McAllister replaced Talbot and Rose in central defence. Also coming into the starting line up were former Alty Youth midfielder Andy Keogh, who has missed much of the Reserves' season through injury, and Danny Heffernan, who played on the left flank.
After a relatively uneventful opening, Altrincham took the lead with their first real chance. A through ball set McFadden free against the keeper. As Pat delayed his shot, the keeper refused to commit himself but eventually Pat ended the stand-off as he slid the ball, low, past the goalkeeper to open the scoring (15 mins). But Rossendale responded with a well hit effort from 25 yards but Acton held this confidently (18 mins). After an Altrincham corner had passed without being converted, Alty failed to get in a tackle just outside their box and the visitors equalised with a shot which Acton got his hands to, but which he could not keep out of the net (27 mins). As the half hour approached McFadden was again set free but he passed to Thomson whose shot was blocked (29 mins).
After a Rossendale corner had been and gone, Altrincham won one themselves through Thomson. Bowler took a poor kick but another corner resulted and, this time, Heffernan took it - equally unsuccessfully. But Altrincham were now on top and with Rossendale also playing their part, the game was providing good entertainment. An excellent ball from Maloney put Thomson clear but he shot disappointlingly wide (37 mins). From a good cross by Scott an Alty corned resulted. After this, Bowler advanced well but shot wide from 20 yards before Alty went ahead again. Their second goal came when Thomson got the ball on the edge of the box and, out of the blue, hammered a low shot into the keeper's left-hand corner of the net (42 mins). Just before the break the visitors' number nine almost got free but the ball went to Acton.
| Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 2 ROSSENDALE UNITED RESERVES 1 |
Alty started the second half with a good move, at the end of which the Rossendale keeper saved from Heffernan's right foot shot (46 mins). Then Alty should have scored a third goal when a good cross from the left by Heffernan found McFadden but he nodded his header wide (48 mins). Altrincham were well on top at this stage and, next, Keogh fired over the bar from Thomson's lay-off (51 mins). The visitors' keeper then had to be out smartly to get the ball ahead of McFadden. Now Adam Walker came on to replace John Maloney (56 mins). Walker slotted into the right side of midfield with Bowler switching to the left. Soon Walker had a shot at goal deflected before Roasendale sqaundered a decent chance as their no. 10 fired wide. Then Mulholland came on to replace Keogh (62 mins) followed by a United substitution as no.14 replaced no.11 (63 mins).
Alty scored soon after this when the Rossendale keeper came out and slid for the ball as Mulholland closed but the keeper did not gather and Mulholland slotted the ball into the empty net to make it 3-1 (65 mins). At this point Lee Mannion replaced Bowler. Pat McFadden soon went close, executing a superb turn in the box to get free of a marker and get in a shot which hit the post (68 mins). Walker was looking lively for Alty and he soon fired in an excellent shot which the keeper tipped over for a corner (71 mins).
Alty's fourth goal came in bizarre fashion when Wedge put in a cross from the left. With Thomson and the keeper both going for it, the goalkeeper missed the ball and Thomson had a simple tap-in (73 mins). Altrincham were playing some excellent football and were well in control. But, as the game went into the final ten minutes, Acton had to save well from the visitors' no.10 (82 mins). From Mannion's feed, McFadden then shot over the bar before another Mannion pass set up Mulholland, who shot wide. The whistle came soon afterwards on a convincing win against the only side to have beaten Altrincham Reserves this season.
| Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 4 ROSSENDALE UNITED RESERVES 1 |