ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts shirts, black shorts & red socks) : 1. Danny CHEBRIKA, 2. Kieran RAYNES, 3. Tom BANE, 4. Richard GRESTY (capt), 5. Michael RISK, 6. Astley MULHOLLAND, 7. Hassan ZAREH-OURANG 8. Andy KEOGH, 9. Curtis CONNELL, 10. Matty WILLIAMS, 11. Anthony DAVIES. Subs: 12. Ben SHANKS-PEPPER, 14. Michael DARBYSHIRE, 15. Ashley McGRATH, 18. Philip LEAFF (gk)

REPORT

Report by George Heslop.

On a good playing surface but in a tricky wind, Altrincham went into this match having already beaten Leigh RMI in the home fixture. However, the opposition proved to be much stronger this time whilst The Robins were without regular starters Ben Deegan, Tom Barclay and Dean White. Altrincham started slowly and without their usual zest and zip. Leigh capitalised on this in the twelfth minute, from a free kick to which their number eight rose well to nod home, unmarked. Leigh seemed to be putting more effort into their performance than the visitors and this was reflected in their one goal half-time advantage.

In the 51st minute Leigh gave a further warning to Altrincham when Danny Chebrika had to get down smartly to parry a shot. Fortnuately, Leigh's no.11 missed the rebound. Altrincham made their first substitution in the 55th minute when Michael Darbyshire replaced Hassan Zareh-Ourang, with Richard Gresty pushing into midfield as a consequence. Then in the 58th minute, Ben Shanks-Pepper came on for Curtis Connell, with Astley Mulholland going forward. This change seemed to invigorate Altrincham, who now put Leigh under pressure.

However, missed chances were to cost Altrincham dear. Leigh broke away and a diagonal ball came from the right to their left-winger, who finished well with a shot into the far corner to make it 2-0 (70 mins). Altrincham's least committed performance of the season had cost them dear. "Room for improvement" was the manager's conclusion.