ALTRINCHAM YOUTH (Pale blue shirts, white shorts and black socks ): 1. Clint WALKER, 2. Jason LENNOX, 3. Matthew TOOTH (capt.), 4. Kelvin LUGSDEN, 5. Stephen HOWARTH, 6. Adam GIRDLESTONE, 7. Paul LEWIS, 8. Stuart COOK, 9. Andy THORPE, 10. Kieran LUGSDEN, 11. Adam BALL. Subs: 12. Paul BREIDENBACH, 14. Matthew BARTON, 15. James GREENHALGH, 16. James MONAGHAN, 17. Anthony POTTS.

These were Stephen Howarth (ex-Sheffield Utd), Adam Girdlestone (ex-Stockport County and Rochdale), Paul Lewis (ex-Stockport County) and Adam Ball (ex-Bury). Altrincham FC's Matt Tooth was team captain today.

Despite yesterday's FA Vase game on the Woodley pitch, it was in good condition though initally a little dry - but that was to change! Stockport enjoyed the better of the opening stages which largely took place on the Stockport left flank, where Alty's Lennox and Girdlestone were kept busy, as was the central pairing of Kelvin Lugsden and Stephen Howarth. Indeed, Walker soon had to make a good save (5 mins) but the resulting corner was cleared.

Walker then fielded a long shot before Stockport won the game's second corner. From this a Stockport header kissed the top of Walker's crossbar (18 mins). The Altrincham side, many of whom were unaccustomed to each other, now began to settle with Thorpe getting on the end of a multi-pass movement, which also involved Lennox, Lewis and Kieran Lugsden (26 mins).

Cook and Lewis showed some good touches in central midfield before Kieran Lugsden got on the end of another good Altrincham move involving Howarth, Tooth and Girdlestone. But Kelvin Lugsden was soon forced to concede another corner following which the Stockport no.7's shot came off Lennox for another flag-kick on the left (34 mins). The game was now fairly even and another good Alty move soon followed.

This time, Ball, Lewis, Thorpe and Girdlestone combined in a move which ended with a Kieran Lugsden shot that went narrowly wide of the keeper's left post (35 mins). The Stockport no.9 then got behind the Alty defence but volleyed well over the bar (40 mins). Stockport won their fifth corner of the half just before the interval which arrived with the game goalless.

Gentle rain started to fall during the interval. For the second half Altrincham introduced Barton in place of Thorpe up front (46 mins) and the newcomer soon won a corner for his side. Stockport then put in a cross across the face of the Alty goal and, soon after this, Walker was in action to save from the no.9 (56 mins).

James Monaghan, whose brother Paul was a graduate of the Altrincham Youth Team a few years ago, now came on for Altrincham. He replaced Cook in midfield (58 mins). Tooth then saw off an attack at the cost of another corner, on the hour, and three more Stockport corners followed in the next four minutes as the rain now fell steadily.

Stockport's no.2 became the first player to be booked, just before Breidenbach came on for Girdlestone (69 mins). After the sustained Stockport pressure of the preceding minutes, Altrincham won a penalty when Monaghan was pushed over on the outer fringes of the box. Kieran Lugsden, who had missed a penalty at Barnsley in the Youth Cup last Monday, had no hesitation in taking this spot-kick.

This time, he made no mistake, sending the keeper the wrong way to give Altrincham the lead (71 mins). Kelvin Lugsden then made an excellent interception to stop a Stockport attack before Kieran Lugsden fed Breidenbach, who lifted his shot over the bar. Alty were now pressing forward confidently as Stockport started to leave gaps at the back, with Kieran Lugsden in particular making a nuisance of himself with the home defence. The rain was now pelting down as Stockport brought on their number 17.

They almost got level when the no.9 got almost to the by-line to the left of goal but Clint Walker made an excellent save to beat the ball out at the near post. After Breidenbach had won a freekick, Lewis delivered an excellent dead-ball kick which Barton headed firmly onto the underside of the bar but the ball rebounded to the goalkeeper's arms (83 mins).

Monaghan soon fed Barton for another strike but this time his shot went narrowly wide (84 mins). The Stockport no.9 and no.4 were both booked before the end but the only real scare for the visitors in the closing minutes came when the no.10 went down under Lennox's challenge in the box, but the referee waved play on.

It was ironic that Altrincham's only win in the District Cup so far was secured by an unfamiliar line-up. But this was an indication of how well the team played despite weathering a fair amount of Stockport pressure at the start of each half. Manager George Heslop and coach Neil Thomason will have seen plenty to encourage them for the future well being of the team.