ALTRINCHAM RESERVES : 1. Richie HUMPHRIES, 2. John MALONEY (capt), 3. Dominic LYNCH, 4. Michael RISK, 5. Colin McALLISTER, 6. Andy KEOGH, 7. Adam WALKER, 8. Ben DEEGAN, 9. Astley MULHOLLAND, 10. Scott METCALFE, 11. Danny HEFFERNAN. Subs: 12. Lee MANNION, 14. Rick CHETCUTI, 15. Arron HEVINGHAM, 17. Chris ROWLEY (gk)

REPORT

After the 7-4 defeat in the League Cup at Farsley last week, both sides showed changes. Farsley's changes were probably motivated by their fixture backlog and also by having secured the league title already. For their last match of the season, Altrincham showed three changes with goalkeeper Richie Humphries, left-back Dominic Lynch and striker Scott Metcalfe all coming into the starting line-up. Goalkeeper Chris Rowley, Lee Mannion and Rick Chetcuti dropped to the bench.

The game was played in pouring rain and Alty had the first worries when a slip by Lynch almost let in a Farsley forward but a fine piece of covering by Risk saw off the danger (3 mins). Soon afterwards, goalkeeper Humphries had to come out quickly to kick clear. Farsley went close again after 7 minutes when their no.11 fired in a decent shot across the face of goal from the right. However, an excellent dribble upfield by John Maloney let in Keogh for a shot which was saved (15 mins). A fine ball forward from Heffernan set Mulholland free but he was given offside. Soon, Farsley won a corner but after this was cleared, Maloney once again showed excellent skill as, firstly, he intercepted the ball and then feinted past an opponent before firing an excellent shot narrowly over the bar (18 mins).

Altrincham took the lead after 21 minutes when Metcalfe, a player in the mould of former Alty striker Lee Hendley, got clear of the defence to the right of goal before speeding into the box and beating the keeper with a well-struck shot (21 mins). For Alty Deegan was as committed as ever and was penalised a couple of times by the referee. Metcalfe went close again when Deegan and an excellent feed from Mulholland set him free but the keeper did well to block Metcalfe's effort (24 mins). After Mulholland had been obstructed in the box, but had won no sympathy from the referee, Lynch prompted another move, via Heffernan. From his pass a fine back header up the pitch from Mulholland set Metcalfe free again but he was given offside (25 mins). Alty were now on top but Farsley won themselves a corner just after the half-hour mark. But Altrincham responded with three corners in as many minutes. From the third corner, taken by Keogh, Deegan powered home a header but the referee ruled out his goal for a push (35 mins). But almost immediately Keogh and Mulholland got the ball forwards where the chasing Metcalfe's instinctive left foot flick put the ball past the keeper to make it 2-0 (36 mins).

From a well struck Farsley freekick a combination of Humphries and the post kept the ball out as the game continued to provide very good entertainment for the spectators. With the rain still falling steadily, half-time arrived with Alty two goals to the good.

With rain still falling, Farsley immediately pulled a goal back when the no.10 headed home a cross from the right. (46 mins). This goal lifted the visitors and they now enjoyed a good spell of attacking. After Humphries had done well to save a 30-yard freekick, Alty made a double change as Chetcuti and Mannion came on for Lynch and Walker (59 mins). But just after this, Metcalfe limped off with a groin injury leaving Alty with ten men until Hevingham could be readied to come on (61 mins). Just after a fine header from Deegan had gone narrowly wide, the Farsley number four was booked for a foul (63 mins). Deegan was impressing again in midfield and he won his side a corner but this was cleared before Farsley's no.14 replaced their goalscorer (68 mins). When the Farsley no.2 mauled Mulholland, he became the second booking of the game (71 mins). From the freekick, just outside the box, Mulholland's freekick was briliantly tipped over by the Farsley keeper, for a corner. Alty's McAllister then found himself in the book for what must have been dissent.

A fine ball from left to right by Mulholland was well brought under control by Chetcuti in the outer, right part of the Farsley box. Chetcuti then drove a low shot past the keeper at the near post to make it 3-1 (76 mins). Alty were now well on top as Farsley made a change of goakeeper (79 mins). After the referee had blown for an Alty freekick after Deegan had got himself free, he then booked Michael Risk for a foul, to bring the tally of yellow cards to 2-2. More good work from Deegan saw him lay the ball off for Mulholland but his shot came off his knee to the new keeper. When a Farsley defender got a handful of Deegan's shirt inside the Farsley box, neither the linesman nor the referee saw anything wrong. In the second half Alty keeper Humphries had been largely a spectator and he remained so as Alty won two corners in added time. The final whistle went soon afterwards to complete a very entertaining game to which both sides had contributed.

So, manager Neil Brown's period as Reserve Team Manager came to an end with an impressive win over the league champions. In his three years in charge Neil's Reserve Team has brought on new talent, enabled established first-teamers to recover fitness and kept fringe players match-fit, as well as providing many entertaining games on Wednesday nights at Moss Lane. Hopefully Neil's track record will stand him in good stead as he seeks a position in NW Counties or UniBond League football and all at Moss Lane will wish him well in that regard.