ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH : 1. Barry GEORGE, 2. Adam DOUTHWAITE, 3. Matt TOOTH, 4. Alex FROST (capt.), 5. Steven HOWARTH, 6. Joe CONNOR, 7. Kelvin LUGSDEN, 8. Paul LEWIS, 9. Steve LUNT, 10. Kieran LUGSDEN, 11. Josh COLLINS. Subs: 12. Lewis CHALMERS, 14. Adam BALL, 15. Andy THORPE, 16. Stevie TAYLOR, 18. Tom READ (gk).

MORECAMBE 'A' YOUTH 1. Scott DAVIES, 2. Chris WHITELEY, 3. Jack SUNTER, 4. Guy SHARRACK, 5. Jake DAVIES, 6. Paul NICHOL, 7. Liam LARKIN, 8. Jonathan SMITH, 9. Paul LLOYD, 10. Nic MAKIN, 11. Roger SHARRACK. Subs: Gareth ARMISON, Chris SQUIRRELL, Phil BRIERLEY

Based on a verbal report kindly supplied by George Heslop.

After their excellent performance last week against Prestwich Heys, Alty retained the same starting line-up with the only changes being on the bench where Lewis Chalmers returned after suspension and Stevie Taylor was included after being unavailable due to work commitments last Sunday.

On a bright, sunny afternoon the first ten minutes football were even, with the game being played at a fast pace and with plenty of open football. At this stage, there was little to suggest the eventual margin of the outcome.

After 10 minutes, Paul Lewis's corner came to Steve Lunt. Steve's shot was saved but Kieran Lugsden was on hand to drill home the rebound. Another Lewis corner also brought Altrincham's second goal when, with an assist from Mattie Tooth, Kieran Lugsden scored his second (17 mins). The game then went through an even spell until a rare mistake by the consistent Mattie Tooth saw a Morecambe striker get in a shot from a threaded pass. The shot was deflected past Barry George to make it 1-2.

After this, the Altrincham defence returned to its mean attitude and kept goalkeeper George out of the firing line. Altrincham's third goal came, like the first two, from a Paul Lewis corner, this time Joe Connor powering a header into the roof of the net (30 mins). Altrincham's fourth goal was a rather fortunate one though it resulted from a flowing passing movement. Steve Lunt, in the centre of the goalmouth, fired at the target and his shot hit a divot to loop over the keeper and make it 4-1 to the visitors (41 mins).

At half-time, Altrincham made two changes which were prompted by the need to give Lewis Chalmers and Stevie Taylor match practice after their lay-offs rather than by any failings in the team's first=half performance. The players who went off were Paul Lewis, who had had a hand in the first three goals and Josh Collins, who was playing soon after having stitches removed from last week's head injury but who, nevertheless, gave his customary 100% effort.

After a fairly sloppy start to the second half, Altrincham were awarded a penalty. This came after Kieran Lugsden had slipped through two or three tackles and the ball had run out for a goal-kick. The linesman signalled to the referee and, after discussion, Altrincham were awarded a spot kick. Having scored in three successive games from the spot, captain Alex Frost took the penalty again today. However, he put his effort too near the keeper who pushed it onto the post from where it was cleared.

The game went through a dull period though Morecambe were trying to play good football and applied some pressure. Taylor and Chalmers now began to settle back into the Alty team, whilst Adam Douthwaite had taken over the corner kicks from Paul Lewis. Once again a corner led to an Alty goal when Adam's corner led to two blocked shots before Alex Frost knocked the ball home to make it 5-1 midway through the second half.

After 73 minutes Andy Thorpe came on for Kelvin Lugsden. Soon, from his right midfield position, Andy's cross found Steve Lunt who used his favoured left foot to drive home a cross-shot into the bottom corner of the net. Morecambe had a late chance which came back off the post and Barry George was well tested by a breakaway but he played the ball away athletically to demonstrate how well he had kept his concentration despite the relative lack of action in his goalmouth.

This was another good team performance and meant that in consecutive games against the second and third-placed teams, Altrincham have scored ten goals. Amongst many good performances today those of Matt Tooth, with a strong attacking display, and Joe Connor, showing his County form, were particularly notable.