Teams

STAFF: Manager - Dalton STEELE. Team: 1. Neil SMERDON, 2. Alan AINSLEY, 3. Steve FOSTER, 4. Grahame ROWLEY (capt), 5. Steve HIBBERT, 6. Dan HEATHCOTE, 7. Charles HEATHCOTE, 8. Andy KNOTT, 9. Andy HOSGOOD, 10. Chris ROWLEY, 14. Pat McFADDEN. Subs: 12. John LAIDLAR, 15. Connor MURPHY, 16. Geoff GOODWIN, 17. Graham HEATHCOTE.

SUPPORTERS: Managers - Mark ECKERSALL, Martin JORDAN. Team: 1. Rik JORDAN; 7. Nick WRIGHT, 5. Noel SHIELD, 8. Tom COSGRAVE, 10. Neil FAULKNER; 15. James HARWOOD, 17. Gareth THOMAS, 2. Nick ROBERTS, 12. Wayne THORLEY; 11. Frazer THORLEY (capt), 16. Ollie NEEDHAM. Subs: 14. Alan SIMPER, 3. Michael McDONNELL, 6. Paul DAINE, 9. Rob JOHNSON.

report

In an underhand tactic before kick off, Supporters' managers Eckersall and Jordan deployed a randomly numbered starting line-up to try and bemuse the Staff opposition about their formation. They need not have bothered as the Staff were sufficiently confused already, having not had any team training sessions beforehand. So to ensure that they at least had some idea of their own formation, the Staff used a more conventional numbering system. But, getting their excuses in before kick-off, the Staff made it clear that they would be severely handicapped without their accomplished centre-half, a.k.a. the Alty keeper Stuart Coburn. Stuart was reported to be sidelined by the back injury he had suffered last Saturday against Aldershot Town but the picture on the cover of the matchday programme (seen, right) told another story; it showed Stuart in action clearly lacking his right arm! Hopefully Stu will locate the limb before the start of next season.

And the team's plans were further thrown into confusion before the game started when another star player, the Sale and Altrincham Messenger's star reporter, Connor Murphy, recently qualified as a football coach, had to cry off after the warm-up with a leg injury. Despite these difficulties, Dalton Steele who had once again drawn the short straw in being asked to manage the Staff side, was nevertheless upbeat as he gave his team-talk before kick-off. But he had the secret weapon of Graham Heathcote on the bench.

To counter the Staff side's player injuries, first-team squad member Pat McFadden was drafted in to join their starting line-up. Other players involved in the game who had non-league pedigree included centre-back Steve Hibbert, who had played for Flixton and various other north-west non-league clubs, and the Supporters' Gareth Thomas, who counts Trafford and Chorley amongst his former clubs.

The match officials, Phil Taylor, Andy Coop and A.N. Other (that was his name in the programme) rotated their duties in the middle and running the line. Watched by first-teamers Joe O'Neill, Rod Thornley, Robbie Lawton and Stuart Coburn, the game got under way in bright sunshine on the Moss Lane pitch. The Supporters had the better of the early stages but as the half developed, the Staff created the better chances and won the corner count. Needham was looking dangerous for the Supporters and he went close to opening the scoring after 17 minutes. Three minutes later, Charles Heathcote saw his shot saved by keeper Jordan for the Supporters. Needham went close again when he tried to lob Smerdon but his effort cleared the bar. Charles Heathcote's excellent freekick went across the goalmouth, producing a corner, which Hibbert headed firmly but over the bar. Play was now end to end as Wayne Thorley curled a shot at Smerdon (26 mins). Following a corner, Charles Heathcote blazed a shot over the bar.

Match photos: click on images to enlarge them...

Above: The Supporters' management duo, Martin Jordan and Mark Eckersall.	Above: The Supporters' Neil Faulkner tackles Alty physio Andy Hosgood.
Above: Charles Heathcote receives a painful blow!	Above: Referee Phil Taylor enjoys the game with Gareth Thomas.

Soon afterwards, Alty chairman Geoff Goodwin, returning after a knee injury, replaced Andy Knott (31 mins) and then a fine shot from Hibbert was well saved by Jordan. McDonnell then came on for the supporters instead of Harwood. Goodwin almost put the Staff ahead when he outpaced the defence but his shot came out of the keeper's right post (42 mins). But after a good run, McDonnell fired a shot narrowly wide of the target. After an entertaining 45 minutes, half-time came with the score 0-0.

Right: Supporters' captain, Frazer Thorley, raises the trophy.

For the second half Simper replaced Thomas for the Supporters whilst for the Staff, the pace of McFadden was replaced by the pace of Laidlar. Almost immediately a fine through ball from a player whom modesty prevents my naming, set Goodwin running at goal but his progress was blocked by the defence. Shield went close with a long-range effort for the Supporters before McDonnell fired over the bar for the same side (51 mins). Another fine through ball from the pacey substitute again set Goodwin in on goal and his effort was almost turned into the net by a defender. More substitutions arrived at regular intervals. After an hour, a numberless Graham Heathcote appeared on the bench to cheers from the crowd. After 66 minutes Charles Heathcote hit the bar with a fine shot before his father, the Alty boss, came on to replace the tiring Laidlar (67 mins).

Soon Graham was spraying the ball about with his usual accuracy, allowing the ball rather than his legs to do the work. From one pass from Graham, Chris Rowley had a shot blocked. But both defences were standing firm though a fine pass over the head of a defender by Graham Heathcote led to a shot for the Staff side which was saved (73 mins). The Alty boss was now taking the Staff side's corners but neither side could break the deadlock and the game went to a penalty shoot out.

The spot kicks were taken at the Golf Road End and went as follows: