ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH: 1. Lee MILNER, 2. Chris WAUGH, 3. Ryan STEWART, 4. Richard GRESTY, 5. Matt GARLAND, 6. Hassan ZAREH-OURANG, 7. James MONAGHAN, 8. Arron HEVINGHAM, 9. Adam WALKER, 10. Lee HENDLEY, 11. Adam BALL. Subs: 12. Deon DEPEIAZA, 14. Darren WILLIAMS, 15. Tom HORNER, 16. Ben DEEGAN, 18. Sam FOX (gk).

REPORT

Report courtesy of Youth Team manager, George Heslop.

With Paul Lewis having joined Leigh RMI this week, Adam Ball and Hassan Zareh-Ourang came into the side to replace him and Andy Umebuani. On the bench, Alty also welcomed back Ben Deegan for his first appearance since 3 October, due to injury. He was joined by newcomer Darren Williams from Hopwood Hall, Middleton. John Parker Chambers was away on college duties.

Altrincham started playing against a strong wind but soon settled into a good tempo in a competitive opening period between the sides placed 3rd (Alty) and 4th (Marine) in the league. After 10 minutes, Adam Walker fired in a good, low shot which produced a fine save from Ben Barnes in the Marine goal. From the resulting corner the ball was cleared but Altrincham were looking strong going forward, with Ryan Stewart playing particularly well at left-back.

After 20 minutes Lee Hendley gathered the ball on the left and, after an excellent dribble, crossed from the left but the ball was cleared. Five minutes later Adam Ball did well and found Stewart on the left. He took the ball on and crossed from the left but, again, the cross was cleared. However, this time, it fell to Walker on the edge of the box and he fired a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the keeper's net to give Alty the lead.

Five minutes before the interval, Lee Hendley gathered the ball 25 yards out and advanced on goal before smashing a tremendous shot past Barnes to make it 2-0 (40 mins). This was also Alty's 50th league goal of the season.

The second half was not as good a spectacle as the first but remained highly competitive as Marine tried to force their way back into the game. However, Alty showed a lot of character and fortitude to keep them at bay and also created the better chances. In fact, Milner in the Alty goal had only to make two serious saves during the game.

After 50 minutes, Hendley again proved a thorn in Marine's side as he ended another dribble with a good shot which a defender did well to clear. Hassan Zareh-Ourang had gone over on his ankle and he had to be replaced after 65 minutes by Williams, who went on to have a good debut on the right, rather than in his customary central midfield position. Walker then did well to fire in a shot just past the upright (70 mins) before Ben Deegan came on for Monaghan in central midfield. As Monaghan, who had played well, is away with work commitments for the next two matches, this gave the management a chance to assess alternatives in that area.

Soon, Depeiaza came on for Ball, with Walker moving to left midfield as Deon went up front with Hendley. Ball, too, had had a good game. After 83 minutes, Hendley cut in and beat two defenders in the right corner but his shot was cleared for a corner. The game ended with Alty keeping possession well and deserving of their 2-0 victory. As Bootle lost 4-3 to leaders, Morecambe, it allowed Alty to increase pressure on the Merseysiders, who lie in second place.