Match Reports, 2003-04
ALTRINCHAM YOUTH (2) 3
HALLAM YOUTH (0) 1
FA Youth Cup, 3rd Qualifying Round Match
played at Moss Lane,
on Tuesday, 30 September, 2003, at 7.45pm.
LINE-UP
ALTRINCHAM YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks ): 1. Ashley TIMMS, 2. Adam DOUTHWAITE, 3. Matthew TOOTH, 4. Alex FROST (capt.), 5. Josh COLLINS, 6. Andy THORPE, 7. Lewis CHALMERS, 8. Stevie TAYLOR, 9. Steve LUNT, 10. Kieran LUGSDEN, 11. Kelvin LUGSDEN. Subs: 12. Stuart COOK, 14. Anthony POTTS, 15. James GREENHALGH, 18. Barry GEORGE (g/k.)
HALLAM YOUTH (Blue and white hooped shirts, blue shorts and socks): 1. Chris HINCHCLIFFE, 2. Matt DAVIS, 3. Danny SEAMAN, 4. Simon CLARK, 5. Chris HOGAN (capt.), 6. Not Used, 7. Alan MAWFORTH, 8. Ashley DONOHOE, 9. Ashley LONGSTAFF, 10. Danny COOPER, 11. Anthony WILSON, 12. Ben GOPHARD, Subs: 14. Tom REVILL, 15. Ben FURNISS, 16. Ben CRANEY, 17. Joe THOMPSON, 18. Luke TANCAL
MATCH REPORT
Altrincham had a team re-shuffle forced by the absence of Michael Bailey due to flu. Josh Collins moved to centre-back, and Andy Thorpe to no.6, with Kelvin Lugsden moving out to no.11. His identical twin brother, Kieran, returned up front after illness.
Altrincham kicked off towards the Golf Road End, with Kieran Lugsden getting in a shot straightaway which was saved by the Hallam keeper. From the resulting goalkick Frost fouled a Hallam player and Timms had to save from a free-kick, 20 yards out. Lewis Chalmers then needed treatment after being fouled as he jumped for the ball. From the free-kick Frost ran into the Hallam box and put the ball in the net, but the whistle had gone for a foul on the keeper (4 mins). The play was end to end with Lunt passing across the box to Kelvin Lugsden, who shot wide of the post (6 mins), followed by Tooth making a block on Hallam's Cooper on the edge of the Alty box (7 mins). Lewis Chalmers then produced the first of a series of very long throw-ins into the box, but Kieran Lugsden headed straight at the keeper. Alty were now starting to get the upper hand and Hallam's passes were going astray. Frost made an interception and passed into the Hallam box where Kieran Lugsden shot again at the keeper. Both of the Lugsden twins were causing the Hallam defence problems with their quick running and inter-passing . A move by Douthwaite, Kieran Lugsden and Thorpe then led to Thorpe's cross being headed out. Chalmers's fine long throw from this found Steve Lunt, who beat a defender and scored with a strong shot across the box (14 mins).
Hallam immediately responded and Douthwaite conceded a free-kick on the left, Chalmers stopping it on the goal-line just before Timms reached the ball (16 mins). At this point Hallam brought on Revill, as their no.4, Clark, limped off. Play was still end to end, with Timms making a fine stop followed by a corner from Thorpe at the other end being held by the Hallam keeper. A massive kick from Timms just evaded Kieran Lugsden in the Hallam box, but his brother shot wide as the keeper came out to get the ball before the advancing Kieran (25 mins). The next few minutes saw a succession of chances for Alty, with a Frost free-kick cleared, a Josh Collins chip knocked wide by Kelvin Lugsden, and Kieran Lugsden and Steve Lunt being declared offside. After a Chalmers interception Lunt shot just wide of the post (30 mins). Josh Collins needed attention after being hurt in a goalmouth collision and, following this, a fine move started by Taylor, via Kelvin Lugsden and Lunt, led to Kieran Lugsden having an overhead kick well saved (33 mins). A trademark long throw from Timms started another move, via Chalmers, to Tooth in front of goal but his shot was deflected out (37 mins).
The Hallam keeper came out to kick into touch from Lunt as the Hallam defence were frantically having to clear from their box at this stage. In a rare attack Cooper's weak shot went straight to Timms (40 mins). After a fine passing build-up, a delightful chip by Chalmers, over the defenders at the edge of the Hallam box, was met by Kieran Lugsden who scored from the centre of the box (41 mins). A minute later Lunt headed just past the post from a pass from Douthwaite. Chalmers now went down with his second injury of the night - a nosebleed. Next, Cooper nearly got behind the Alty defence after a couple of defensive slips but the half ended with another massive freekick by Timms which nearly found the back of the Hallam net (45 mins).
| Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM YOUTH 2 HALLAM YOUTH 0 |
The second half started with a Chalmers interception, followed by a foul on Taylor, from which the free-kick was cleared. Hallam then won their first corner of the match which was headed over (46 mins). Hallam now started to apply a bit of pressure but a Taylor interception put an end to this. An upfield pass from Tooth was then headed by Lunt over a defender to Kieran Lugsden who beat the keeper to make the score 3-0 (49 mins).
Immediately, Hallam brought on Furniss for Gophard. Following this, three long throws from Chalmers were frantically cleared by the Hallam defence, and a pass from Collins to Thorpe on the left was also cleared. Hallam pushed up into the Alty box and, as Alty tried to clear, a Hallam player fell to the ground. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty but did not book anyone. Longstaff struck the penalty but Timms made a fine save diving to his right to concede a corner, which was headed over the bar (54 mins). Alty responded with a Chalmers throw to Thorpe, whose pass into the box was cleared out. A Hallam attack was stopped by Thorpe and led to a move involving Douthwaite, Thorpe again, Taylor and Kieran Lugsden, who was fouled on the edge of the centre circle. Tooth took the free-kick, long, into the box where Chalmers just failed to connect (60 mins). After Chalmers again had a long throw cleared, Hallam counter-attacked with Mawforth curling in a shot, which Timms caught.
After a Taylor corner was knocked over the bar by Kelvin Lugsden, Hallam upped their pressure further and, from a corner, Tooth made two fine clearances. Furniss then chanced a long range shot before Hallam had a corner from the right, cleared again by Tooth for a second corner (65 mins). From this a foul by Frost, 30 yards out, led to a free-kick taken by Furniss. Frost's clearance was met 35 yards out by Mawforth who lashed the ball into the top left hand corner of the net, leaving Timms no chance to stop it (66 mins). Before the restart the referee spoke to Donohoe. This was followed by a double substitution with Cook coming on for Thorpe for Alty and Craney replacing Donohoe for Hallam. On 71 mins Wilson felled Chalmers with a very late tackle. Lewis needed lengthy treatment on the pitch from Neil Thomason, and was helped off the pitch for further treatment before coming back a couple of minutes later. The referee, who had a good game, surprised the crowd by only awarding a yellow card. After a first half played in a fine spirit, the game now started to have an edge to it as Hallam grew more frustrated with their inability to break through the Alty defence. The resulting free-kick from Timms reached the Hallam goalmouth, where Lunt and the keeper collided. The referee spoke to the keeper but no booking followed (71 mins).
Alty were awarded another freekick after a push in the back. Tooth took this but Chalmers headed straight at the Hallam keeper. After another Hallam corner, the Lugsdens combined to set up Lunt but his shot was deflected out (77 mins). Chalmers then went down clutching his foot with cramp, but as the game carried on around him, Lewis at one point lifted up his head and cleared the ball to an Alty player, whilst stll sitting on the floor. A ripple of applause greeted this! After a collision in the Alty box Timms and Wilson both needed attention (80 mins). Down at the other end Kieran Lugsden made a fine surge forward but, expecting an offside call which never came, took his eye off the ball and drove it wide. Alty were now weathering the Hallam pressure, and another Chalmers long throw just cleared the goal. Frost was about to take another Alty freekick following a foul, when the referee spoke to him. Timms took the kick instead and sent it into the Hallam box but it was just too long for Kieran Lugsden. Hallam then had a long throw into the box but Cook was fouled, and a goal kick resulted. Chalmers then made progress down the pitch taking two long throws, and then Lunt won another two throws for him (85 mins). A Hallam freekick led to some argument in the Alty area and the referee spoke to Kelvin Lugsden and a Hallam player without booking either of them. Tooth cleared the Hallam freekick. The last action at the Alty end was a miskick by Josh Collins on the edge of the Alty box but Timms was alert to catch the ball. A final fine interception by Taylor and the referee blew the final whistle to the delight of the Alty supporters.
Altrincham deservedly won this match and will now travel to meet Barnsley in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup. Their first half performance was their best of this season with a fine passing game that was necessary given the height of their opponents. In the second half the defence stood firm against the Hallam counter-attack. The Lugsden twins and Steve Lunt had the speed to disturb the Hallam defence and the midfield all had fine games. Lewis Chalmers hobbled off badly at the end, a result of the heavy tackle he suffered late in the game, and manager George Heslop and coach Neil Thomason must be hoping he will recover quickly from this.
| Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM YOUTH 3 HALLAM YOUTH 1 |