WOODLEY SPORTS (Red & blue stripes, blue shorts and white socks) 1. Ryan MAIDMENT, 2. John WADDINGTON, 12. Rick BELL, 5. Phil WOODBRIDGE, 6. John ROURKE, 4. Daniel CHANNON, 11. Ben S???? [illegible on teamsheet], 7. Caine SMITH, 9. Adam MARSDEN, 17. Mike LAMBERT, 10. Stuart HYNES. Subs: 14. Tyrone TURNER, 16. Craig PENNINGTON, 8. Matt TEASDALE, 15. John BEARDSELL, 3. Daniel CARTER.

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Orange shirts, black shorts, orange socks) 1. Sam FOX, 2. Daley O'NEILL, 3. Ryan STEWART, 4. Marcus MADDIX, 5. Matt GARLAND, 6. James MONAGHAN, 7. Aron HEVINGHAM (capt.), 8. Ben DEEGAN, 9. Terrell FREEMAN, 10. Terry LEIGH, 11. Alex MIKE. Subs: 12. Paul LEWIS, 14. Lee SCANLON, 15. Dion PEPEIZA, 16. Chris BAILEY.

Referee: Billy Gregson

Left: Alex Mike is brought to earth by a Woodley challenge.

Alty made several changes from last week's defeat to Bootle, with Sam Fox replacing Chris Bowcott in goal, Marcus Maddix returning in central defence for Chris Bailey and, up front, with both Lee Hendley and Sam Cawthra out, Terry Leigh and Terrell Freeman started.

After its recent fire, Woodley's Laburnum Grove stadium looked impressively neat and tidy for today's game. Altrincham started quite well but it was Woodley who won two of the game's first three corners, all in the first ten minutes. Soon after the Woodley keeper had comfortably saved from Mike, Deegan advanced up the middle and planted an excellent, low shot into the bottom corner of the net, to the keeper's left, to open the scoring (14 mins).

Hevingham and Deegan were both playing well in central midfield at this stage. The sides then traded a corner each as the 20-minute mark was passed. Mike got in a couple of teasing crosses from the left but Woodley had their moments, mostly up the middle, with Maddix and Garland having to be alert to see off Marsden on two occasions. Then, after Hevingham had won possession, Deegan found Leigh whose shot was beaten out and Freeman's follow up won a corner (33 mins). From O'Neill's accurate corner from the right, Freeman nodded the ball further across the box to Garland who coolly volleyed the ball over the ranks of defenders in the goalmouth and into the top corner of the net to make it 2-0 to the visitors (34 mins).

From the restart, the cool Maddix had to make a great tackle to stop Marsden inside the box. Following one of Stewart's long throws, Hevingham then fired in a great shot which was just wide (38 mins). Altrincham were now well on top and from Monagahan's pinpoint long pass, Freeman went close (42 mins). From another of Deegan's advances and cross, Leigh and the Woodley keeper collided in the air and needed treatment (43 mins). Half-time arrived with Altrincham looking to be in a good position to wrap up the points.

Woodley came out strongly after the interval, having brought on substitute Pennington. The impressive Channon soon made a good run for Woodley and he fed Smith, whose shot was well blocked by Maddix. However, the ball soon came back towards the Alty goal and they conceded a freekick 22 yards out, slightly right of centre. The Woodley freekick taker drove a superb shot into the top corner, though Fox did get a hand to it as he dived to his right. So, it was now 1-2 after 47 minutes. Soon afterwards Deegan advanced once more and crossed from the left but Freeman failed to connect with his attempted header in front of goal (51 mins). Lambert then shot narrowly wide as Alty were penned back but he had better luck moments later when he received the ball from Marsden and, though his first effort was blocked, he was allowed time to compose himself for a second shot which beat Fox, to his right, from the edge of the box (57 mins).

Woodley were now fired up and soon won a corner before Lambert shot narrowly wide. Alty now started to lose possession cheaply and were showing little threat up front. Alty now brought on Pepeiza for Freeman (65 mins) and the substitute was soon getting involved. Three minutes later Woodley made a double change and Alty replaced the impressive Deegan with Paul Lewis in midfield.

Woodley continued to look threatening but a superb long ball from Lewis set Mike free on the left and his well-hit shot was parried out but Pepeiza could not bundle the loose ball home. Alty soon won a corner as they improved a little before Woodley brought on Turner for Channon (75 mins).

Alty made their last change, bringing on Scanlon at right-back for O'Neill (79 mins). There was a scare when Maddix lost possession but Garland made a crucial recovering tackle on the edge of the Alty box as Marsden threatened to get free (83 mins). Fox then produced a good save to stop Smith's shot. Alty won a late freekick just outside the penalty area "D" but Lewis drove this high over the target. Pepeiza forced a late save from Maidment before Alty survived the last corner of the game, by Woodley.

After their impressive first half, Alty lost their way after the interval. Woodley's early goal in the second half prompted a period of mis-placed passes and hesitancy but as the half wore on, Altrincham improved and a draw was probably the fairest result.