ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH: 1. Lee MILNER, 2. Chris WAUGH, 3. John PARKER-CHAMBERS, 4. Richard GRESTY, 5. Matt GARLAND, 6. Adam BALL, 7. Paul LEWIS, 8. James MONAGHAN, 9. Adam WALKER, 10. Lee HENDLEY (capt.), 11. Ryan STEWART. Subs: 12. Marcus MADDIX, 14. Arron HEVINGHAM 15. Hassan ZAREH-OURANG, 16. Tom HORNER, 18. Chris BOWCOTT (gk).

WOODLEY SPORTS YOUTH: 1. MAIDMENT, 2. ROURKE (capt.), 3. BELL, 4. TEASDALE, 5. WOODBRIDGE, 6. HYNES, 7. SMITH , 8. PENNINGTON, 9. HASLAM, 10. SENOGLES, 11. SHANNON. Subs: 14. MARSDEN, 15. ATHERTON. 16. CARTER.

REPORT

Paul Lewis and Ryan Stewart came back into the starting line-up and up front, Adam Walker moved forward to replace Dion Depeiaza. On the bench, Arron Hevingham was making his return from injury.

This game was played on a dismal afternoon and it was the visitors who started the better with Milner having to make a good early save to tip the ball out from a shot by Haslam (3 mins). This gave Woodley a corner but the ball ended up with Milner whose excellent long punt located Hendley. His ambitious first-time chip from 20 yards went narrowly wide (4 mins). Hendley was presented with another opportunity soon aftewrads when Maidment's clearing kick went to him but the Alty captain was unable to turn the ball into the net.

Alty keeper Milner's long kicks were causing the Sports' defence some discomfort as was Hendley's lively pace and close control. Waugh then fed Hendley who got past two defenders to fire in a shot which Maidment did very well to save, with a dive low to his left, to concede a corner (13 mins).

The game continued fairly evenly with Garland and Gresty doing well at the heart of the Alty defence. Hendley made himself another chance when his quick change of feet took him past two opponents but he shot over the bar (23 mins). Next, an error by Woodbridge allowed Walker into the box but his shot was saved (31 mins). Another defensive error allowed in Walker but he hurried his shot and put it wide (38 mins). Stewart was doing well for Alty on the left of midfield and he won a freekick when he was held back. Garland's freekick came out to Lewis but his lob from 35 yards fell comfortably for the keeper (41 mins). A Garland header then set off a move with Ball forcing a save from inside the box (43 mins). Alty won a corner in the fiurth added minute of the first half but the score remained goalless at the break.

Woodley won an early soner and soon afterwards Milner did well to beat out Shannon's shot from the left (48 mins). Woodley were now having more of the territorial possession but the Alty defence was keeping them at bay. Altrincham wer not putting together many flowing movements at this stage but then, out of nothing, Paul Lewis strode up the middle from the centre circle and drove the ball home from nearly 25 yards (60 mins). It was an excellent goal.

Woodley immediately made a double change with Atherton and Carter coming on to replace Shannon and Senogles. This produced the unusual sight of two subs coming straight on to take the kick-off off to re-start the game after the goal. Woodley soon won a corner which ended with a save from Milner. The visitors were still enjoying most of the possession and play was largely in the Alty half but they lacked real penetration. An incisive counter-attack by Alty soon saw Lewis set Hendley running towards the by-line but the ball was cleared (65 mins). An excellent Altrincham move then ended in Parker-Chambers's feed to Hendley who was tripped in the box> However, he did not get the referee's decision, perhaps because he went down a little too easily to convince him of a foul (68 mins).

Alty then brought on Hevingham for Ball, whilst Marsden came on for Woodley Sports(70 mins). Play continued largely in the Altrincham half but with Altrincham looking the more dangerous when did get to the other end. When Parker-Chambers and Stewart combined on the left they got the ball to Lewis and his ball across the box was heading for Hendley at the back post when the keeper came out but a defender poked the ball past him and into his own net to make it 2-0 (76 mins).

A minute or so later Woodley won a freekick on the far left about 25 yards out. The Woodley player who took the kick drove it into the far corner of the net but the linesman ruled the goal out, though whether this was because it was indirect or for some other reason was not clear.

As the game went into the last stages, Alty won a freekick on their right, 35 yards out. Lewis took it and found Walker well near the penalty spot and he headed it firmly home to make it 3-0 (83 mins). An Alty corner followed but Woodley then went close again when Marsden's cross allowed Hynes to get in good shot which cannoned off the upright but the move only ended up as a corner rather than a goal.

Alty brought on Maddix for Garland (87 mins) and then Hassan Zareh-Ourang for Monaghan (89 mins). With dark descending on the pitch the three minutes of added time produced no change to the scoreline.

3-0 was pehaps a litle harsh on Woodley, who had enjoyed plenty of possession and had had a goal chalked off and struck the post but Altrincham had been the sharper in front of goal. Paul Lewis had an influential second half whilst the pace and skill of Hendley, Walker and Stewart had tormented the Woodley back line. At the back the defence had looked solid and Milner's accurate and strong clearing kicks had often set up attacks for his side.