ALTRINCHAM YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks) 1. Sam FOX, 2. Paul LEWIS (capt), 3. Tom BANE, 4. Tom HORNER, 5. Matt GARLAND, 6. James MONAGHAN, 7. Arron HEVINGHAM, 8. Graham BRYANT, 9. Ben DEEGAN, 10. Lee HENDLEY, 11. Sam CAWTHRA. Subs: 12. Alex MIKE, 14. Adam WALKER, 15. Terrell FREEMAN, 16. Chris BAILEY, 18. Chris BOWCOTT (gk).

EUXTON VILLA YOUTH (White shirts with red panel, white shorts and socks) 1. McGILLYCUDDY, 2. THOMPSON, 3. TULLY, 4. TAYLOR, 5. WARD, 6. DUNN, 10. MUNROE, 8. YARWOOD, 15. HAMPSON, 9. OUTERSIDE, 11. HEYWORTH. Subs: 12. HILTON, 14. BARNES, 16. HINDLEY,

REPORT

Alty made three changes from the side which had played so well in the FA Youth Cup last Monday. At left-back Tom Bane came in for John Chambers, Tom Horner replaced Marcus Maddix at centre-back and Sam Cawthra took over from Ryan Stewart on the left flank.

The game kicked off on a windy afternoon, with rain falling. Altrincham started well and, after they had already hit the side-netting, they won an early corner but this was punched clear (3 mins). Euxton's Heyworth was injured soon afterwards and was substituted by Barnes (8 mins). Then, Euxton went close when, following a throw, Yarwood's well-hit shot from 20 yards clipped the top of the cross bar. Alty won another corner after Hendley had done well and Cawthra's flag-kick was nodded on by Deegan and Hendley's resulting snap-header was well tipped over by the keeper (13 mins). Alty continued to press but, Euxton replied on the break prompting Horner into a good tackle, with the loose ball being cleared by Lewis (15 mins).

Bryant then won another corner for Alty but Euxton were now getting more into the game after Alty's bright start and the sub, Barnes was looking especially useful on the flank. From his run and cross, Outerside shot wide (20 mins). Hendley soon prompted another good save from McGillycuddy at the cost of a corner. The ball was half cleared and came out to Cawthra just outside the box. His left-foot shot arrowed into the top corner of the net for a fine opening goal to the match (22 mins). Almost immediately after the restart, Monaghan fed Hendley whose shot was saved by the keeper. More good work from Barnes led to a good saving tackle by Bane, who was to have an excellent game for Altrincham (28 mins). Next, Bryant advanced up the middle and exchanged passes with Hendley before curling a shot onto the foot of the post (31 mins). Another Alty corner came and went before Deegan went past two defenders but his progress was eventually halted.

Euxton got back in the game after Bane had again broken up an attack and passed to Garland. But Garland's intended pass went astray and Outerside laid off the ball for Dunn to hammer into the net to make it 2-1 (38 mins). A fine ball from Lewis then set Cawthra going forward but his shot cleared the bar.

Euxton won a corner but just before the break Alty regained the lead. The goal arrived when Hendley did well to get to the by-line, right of goal, and from his pass inside, Deegan scored cleanly (44 mins). Altrincham deserved their half-time lead - up front Deegan and Hendley had caused Villa problems whilst in central midfield Hevingham and Bryant had also played well. Bane had also taken the eye at left-back whilst Monaghan was as industrious as ever on the right.

The game was settled in the first five minutes of the second half when Alty scored twice. After a Monaghan shot had just cleared the bar, Monaghan found Deegan whose flick-on set Hendley in on goal and he slotted the ball home (48 mins). Monaghan impressed again moments later when he climbed magnificently at the back post and was unlucky to see his downward header strike the keeper (49 mins). Alty continued their good start and after Cawthra and Hevingham had found Monaghan, his low cross was missed by a defender and Hendley turned smartly to score his second and make it 4-1 (50 mins).

Euxton now brought on Hindley for Munroe up front. However, after a move involving Lewis, Bryant and Deegan, Monaghan made it 5-1 with a shot which was slightly deflected (60 mins). At this point Hevingham was replaced by Walker, with Monaghan moving into central midfield as Walker went on the right. Barnes shot just wide for Villa who did not give up the fight. Indeed they won five corners in the next ten minutes but Horner and Garland continued to keep them at bay. Between the corners they brought on Hilton for Taylor and soon afterwards, Freeman replaced Deegan for Alty (65 mins).

As the rain stopped, with Alty hemmed back for the last few minutes, the hosts made another change as Mike came on for Cawthra (72 mins). Eventually Alty got back into attack and Hendley shot wide (85 mins). A ball up the middle was then nodded on Freeman to Hendley who set up Walker to score number six with a firm shot (87 mins). Soon Walker was showing his great pace as he left a defender in his wake up the Alty right and he won a corner. From Bryant's corner Garland had a shot blocked. After an Euxton injury, play re-started with a throw-in which seemed to catch Alty cold and as the ball came across the Alty box, Mike pushed over an Euxton player for a clear penalty. Outerside drove the penalty home, though Fox nearly got to it (90 mins). The ref blew for time seconds later with Alty safely through to the next round.

This had been a good performance by Altrincham who now seem to have found improved form after their early season stutter; though their mixed start to the season was hardly surprising given the almost total change of personnel from last season.