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, 11. Ryan STEWART. Subs: 12. Marcus MADDIX, 14. Arron HEVINGHAM, 15. Andy UMEBUANI, 16. Tom HORNER, 18. Sam FOX (gk).

REPORT

Thanks to George Heslop and Tony Spilsbury for the information on which the following report is based.

This game was played on a very heavy pitch at Cardinal Newman College, Penwortham. Altrincham sported the same line-up that had beaten Woodley Sports the previous week, but on the bench was a versatile newcomer, Andy Umebuani, formerly at Stockport County and Manchester City.

After 8 minutes, Matt Garland was in action making an excellent saving tackle as the home side threatened to break through. But two minutes later, a Stewart interchange with Hendley led to the latter's cross which the Lancaster keeper intercepted well. Though Alty won a freekick a minute later, they rushed the taking of it and the chance was gone. However, after 20 minutes, Lee Hendley received the ball with his back to goal and he turned well to drive a right-footed shot into the net from 20 yards to give Altrincham the lead.

Milner then did well to punch clear a Lancaster corner (25 mins) but Alty now pressed forward with a good cross from Hendley and, then, one from the left by Walker. Monaghan slid in well to connect with Walker's cross and knocked the ball towards goal but the keeper made a good save (27 mins). Indeed, the Lancaster keeper made another good save from an Alty corner (29 mins) but then the home side had a good chance on the left but they shot over the bar (37 mins). Half-time arrived with Alty one-up.

Alty made their first change after 52 minutes when 18 year-old Andy Umebuani came on for his Alty debut in place of Adam Ball in right midfield. Andy can play in a variety of positions but has been recovering from a broken leg. On the hour mark, Arron Hevingham came on for James Monaghan in central midfield, the Alty management ringing the changes due to the heavy nature of the pitch. Lancaster forced a fine save from Milner, after 66 minutes, the Alty keeper tipping a header from a left-wing cross over the cross-bar.

City almost levelled the game after 69 minutes when they broke on the left and the ball ran along the Alty goal-line before the retreating Adam Walker made an excellent clearance off the line to prevent a certain goal. Ten minutes from the end Tom Horner came on for Ryan Stewart. After Umebuani had moved up front, with Walker moving to the right, Horner now played in attack, with Walker switching to the left. Soon after the substitution, Arron Hevingham's hamstring injury recurred and he played out the last few minutes hobbling badly.

This was Alty's fourth successive win and they have now played more than four hours of football without conceding a goal.