ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Lee MILNER, 2. Chris WAUGH, 3. Ben ROBSON, 4. Richard GRESTY, 5. Matt GARLAND, 6. Graham BRYANT, 7. James MONAGHAN, 8. Ryan McDARMAID, 9. Adam WALKER, 10. Lee HENDLEY (capt.), 11. Ryan STEWART. Subs: 12. Dion DEPEIAZA, 14. Ben DEEGAN, 15. Danny GREY, 16. Tom HORNER, 18. Sam FOX (gk).

FIRST TOUCH HALEWOOD (Blue): 1. Graeme ERICSON, 12. Chris TAYLOR, 3. John SULLIVAN, 4. John KELLY, 5. Shaun ALLCOCK, 6. Ian BENTHAM, 7. Neil BEST, 8. Scott KEARNS, 9. Wayne MILES, 10. Lee GALLAGHER, 11. Matthew DUTTON. Sub: 15. Ryan BARNES.

REPORT

After last week's friendly against the Cataraqui Clippers, when Alty fielded a side of young players who would be eligible for next season in the under-18s league, today's squad saw most of the regular players restored.

Altrincham enjoyed the better of the opening stages with Walker hooking a shot wide as early as the third minute before Hendley got free on the right and shot across goal (6 mins). Further pressure yielded a corner to Alty from Bryant's cross, which went out of play off Sullivan. Waugh broke up a Halewood incursion but it was Alty who continued on top when Waugh's fine ball up to Walker on the right led to a cross which just evaded Hendley in the goalmouth (15 mins).

Milner then dealt well with a good shot from Best (17 mins) before Alty made an enforced change as Deegan came on for midfielder McDarmaid (18 mins). Halewood began to improve as Dutton got in a shot from 20 yards and then Allcock dribbled impressively up the middle but shot narrowly over the Alty bar (25 mins). Soon, Halewood took the lead when Sullivan's ball to Gallagher saw him lay the ball off to Dutton who hammered his shot into the net from 12 yards (28 mins). Alty had paid for squandering chances at the other end.

But Alty went close again soon afterwards when Hendley was put clear but he rolled his shot wide of the keeper's left upright (30 mins). Halewood then won a corner. After a scramble, Milner punched clear. At the other end Stewart and Hendley now fed Walker, but his shot was saved by Ericson. Hendley soon got in another shot which the keeper saved at the second attempt (33 mins). Then as half-time approached Hendley won a corner from Allcock's tackle. But a minute later Best got the ball into the Alty box where Bentham's shot from close range was beaten out well by Milner but Dutton knocked home the rebound to put the visitors two up (40 mins). Half-time arrived with Alty having had the larger number of chances but Halewood having capitalised on their more limited openings.

Altrincham started the second half with more purpose than in the first period and an early cross from the left by Stewart needed the keeper's intervention. Then Garland got forward impressively up the left before Hendley got to the byline again and rolled a ball across goal which none of his team-mates could turn in (48 mins). This was at least the third low ball to go across the Halewood penalty area without being converted into a goal. A smart back-flick from Hendley then set Walker free but he was caught offside. Finally Alty's pressure paid off when Gresty's ball forward found Walker and he relayed the ball on to Hendley, who drew the keeper before slotting the ball into the net from the right of goal (56 mins).

The game then developed an edge when Deegan and Allcock clashed. This was followed by one of several questionable decisions when a goalkick went to Halewood rather than a corner to Alty. A kick at Deegan by Best went unpunished by any card and when a Hendley challenge provoked a reaction from Sullivan, the referee booked both players.

Altrincham were still creating chances but when Stewart's cross found Deegan his header just cleared the bar (68 mins). Deegan was soon involved again, getting a header in from a Waugh cross. But Halewood won the game's next two corners before Alty brought on Grey for Monaghan in midfield (80 mins). A foul on Walker on the right gave Alty their equaliser. From 25 yards out on the right, Waugh's freekick came through to Garland at the back post near the byline. He hooked the ball onto the underside of the cross bar from where Walker tapped it into the net (82 mins).

Deegan was again the victim of a foul by Kearns before Halewood brought on Barnes for Miles (85 mins). The impressive Deegan then won a corner for Alty which was cleared but soon, yet again, Hendley got to the by-line and crossed into the box only for the ball to be cleared. Deegan won a late corner but, as the game entered injury time, Milner was called into action when Gallagher got past Bryant for a shot at goal (90+1 mins). But the game ended with the points shared and Alty regretting their missed chances.