ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks) 1. Sam FOX, 2. Chris WAUGH, 3. Tom BANE, 4. Joe SMITHIES, 5. Matt GARLAND, 6. Adam BALL, 7. Arron HEVINGHAM (capt.), 8. James MONAGHAN, 9. Sam CAWTHRA, 10. Lee HENDLEY, 11. Adam WALKER. Subs: 12. John CHAMBERS, 14. Daley O'NEILL, 15. Kieran SALMON, 16. Hassan ZAREH-OURANG, 18. Chris BOWCOTT (gk).

MARINE FC 'A'YOUTH (White shirts, black shorts, black & white hooped socks) 1. Ben BARNES, 2. Anthony NIXON, 3. Andy WISEMAN, 4. James BERRY, 5. Chris SMITH, 6. David RICE (capt.), 7. Peter McSHANE, 8. James HARTLEY, 9. Joe BERRY, 10. Tom SUMNER, 11. Matt LEAHEY. Subs: 12. Steve O'ROURKE, 14. Steve HORAN, 15. Marc STEPHENS, 16. Sean PERREE, 17. Anthony WONG.

REPORT

Altrincham were forced to make many changes due to half-term holidays and injury which meant that there were four new starters and also four new faces on the bench compared with last Sunday's District Cup match.

After Marine had won the game's first corner, Altrincham won one for themselves from Monaghan's deflected shot (5 mins). Soon after this a fine cross from Ball was headed wide by Cawthra but then Marine went close when a freekick from 20 yards came out to Wiseman who shot wide (18 mins). The game flowed with end to end action but Marine then had to change things and replace the injured McShane by Horan. The nearest to a goal in the next part of the game was when Horan's good skill on the right produced a cross which just evaded the impressive Hartley at the back post (31 mins). For Alty, Cawthra got in a cross which Walker hooked over the bar (34 mins). Substitute Horan was causing some problems and Alty were pleased to see him stopped for offside from a pass by Joe Berry (39 mins). Then Marine did spring the offside trap and Joe Berry found Smithies who sidefooted just over the bar (40 mins).

Altrincham replied with a corner before Leahey shot narrowly wide for the visitors at the other end (43 mins). Next, Fox did very well to stop an effort from Horan after the Marine player was judged to have beaten the offside trap again (45 mins). Half time arrived with the score goalless and the Alty defence, despite its inclusion of two new faces, looking more secure than it had in several of the earlier matches this season.

As in the first period, Marine won the first corner of the second half (51 mins) Indeed, the visitors enjoyed the better of the opening stages of this half but it was Alty who went close when Hevingham and Cawthra put Hendley clear but the keeper came out smartly to block him in the goalmouth. But Marine then squandered a chance as Nixon shot wide. The end to end play continued with Hendley finding Cawthra's head with a cross from the right but the keeper made another fine save from close range, at the cost of a corner to Altrincham (58 mins). Barnes did less well with the corner, dropping Hevingham's kick, but getting away with it. Alty now brought on Chambers at centre-back for Smithies, who had been injured earlier (58 mins).

Berry then fed Horan for a shot which an Alty defender cleared off the line before Alty won a corner. Marine broke down to the other end and won a corner themselves before a fine Monaghan cross threatened the Marine goal. Things now got a bit heated for a few minutes after James Berry caught Monaghan in the air (63 mins). Play settled won again and Fox produced another excellent save after 70 minutes when Horan put Joe Berry clear of the Alty defence.

After 76 minutes Salmon replaced Cawthra, with Walker moving up front to partner Hendley as Salmon played on the left wing. When Hartley threatened to get in a shot at Fox, Garland did well to concede a corner. The entertainment continued when a cross from the right led to a shot from Walker which the keeper blocked (81 mins). After an Alty corner, O'Neill came on for Ball on the right flank (82 mins). The game was decided six minutes from the end when Garland was drawn into a foul on Horan just inside the box. Horan stroked the penalty home to put Marine ahead (84 mins). Altrincham almost got a leveller when Hendley got on the end of good work from Walker on the right and the giant Marine keeper had to stretch to stop the ball one-handed as it headed for goal (87 mins). There was time for Horan to shoot wide at the other end but Altrincham could not find an equaliser.

This was a very entertaining game between two well-matched sides and considering the number of changes to the Altrincham line-up, a very creditable performance by them.