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ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks):1. Lewis BISHOP, 2. Michael HOWE, 3. Tom BARCLAY, 4. Alex MURPHY, 5. Kieran RAYNES, 6. Marcus BAXBY, 7. Danny BROWNE, 8. Michael SIMCOCK, 9. Tom BAILEY, 10. Rick CRAWFORD, 11. Anthony DAVIES. Subs: 12. Paul BARRY, 14. Jack ENTWISTLE, 15. Andy ASTON, 16. Kirtis HOGAN, 17. David LEIGH (gk).

LEIGH RMI YOUTH (Navy blue with yellow trim): 1.Ben TSCHOBOTKO, 2. Gareth BAILEY, 3. Austin TUNNICLIFFE, 4. Anthony SCOTT, 5. Tom ASPEN, 6.(wearing 15?) Andy DALY, 7. Jason MELLING-FONG, 8. Kevin HEATON, 9. Danny RAFFERTY, 10. Olli HODKINSON, 11. Rick GLEAVE. Subs: 12. Danny TAYLOR, 14. Scott MASON, 16. Matt STOROSH, 17. Lewis HYNES.

REPORT

Though played on the day that the clocks went back, this game was played on a surprisingly warm and sunny autumn afternoon at Wythenshawe Town FC. Leigh started the brighter of the two sides and, following a freekick by Leigh from the left, Alty keeper Bishop was forced to make an important block save at the back post in the opening minutes, at the cost of a corner. Though Alty slowly got settled, the visitors won themselves another corner after 15 minutes before Alty had seriously threatened the visitors' goal.

Above: Bailey crosses the ball for Crawford (in background) to head home.

Indeed, Alty only won their first corner following a miskicked clearance by the Leigh keeper which went to Bailey. He fed Davies, to his left, but his shot for the near corner was beaten out to concede the flag-kick (24 mins). But Alty's improvement continued and, following the corner, Baxby did well and found Bailey and although the striker got the ball under his feet, he nevertheless dug out a good shot which struck the base of the post. However, Alty were not to be denied for much longer as Bailey did well to get in a cross from the left wing which Crawford met with a well-timed run and header past the keeper into the net (25 mins).

However, Leigh's heads did not drop and when a shot from Gleave was pushed out by Bishop, low to his right, there was a scramble before the Alty dfence could clear the ball (33 mins). The visitors then won two corners in three minutes as half-time approached. From the second, Crawford had to clear off the line to maintain the lead (44 mins).

Leigh brought on Taylor at half time for Tunnicliffe. For Alty, Baxby soon continued his good work in midfield but the visitors put the home side under early pressure. Indeed, when Gleave burst into the Alty box, it was fortunate that Raynes's tug on his shirt went unnoticed by the match officials (51 mins). However, from Bailey's feed Crawford soon forced a good save from the RMI keeper but Leigh soon won a corner at the other end. This was followed by another penalty appeal as a Leigh player went down in the box. Leigh continued to press and gained another corner after 58 minutes. But then, completely against the run of play, Bailey received the ball just outside the box and from a more or less central position, did well to control the ball and lash a shot past the keeper to give Alty a two-goal lead (58 mins).

Leigh immediately replaced the no.15 by Storosh but Alty now had control of the game and won a corner after good work from Simcock. Then, after a Leigh error, Crawford threatened the Leigh goal but was forced wide by a covering defender. After another Alty corner had been cleared, Browne fed Bailey whose half-volley was well saved by Tschobotko (78 mins). Hogan now replaced Simcock for Altrincham (79 mins) before Browne, who had a good second half, surged forward but was blocked off. Then Davies fed Bailey but this time the striker stumbled over the ball inside the box. Baxby and Bailey then fed Crawford who smartly attempted to lift the ball over the advancing keeper but Tschobotko just got a hand to it to stop it sailing into the net. From the follow-up, Crawford shot wide from a tight angle left of goal (84 mins).

Leigh continued to threaten sporadically but without troubling Bishop who was well protected by his back four. However, Bishop had to be alert to smother a loose ball which cannoned off Howe (87 mins). Leigh's Hodkinson was booked for a verbal offence soon after this but despite playing several minutes of added time, the score remained 2-0 in Altrincham's favour. Had Bailey's goal not arrived when it did, Leigh's pressure might have forced an equaliser and, possibly, a different outcome. But once Alty got two ahead they held onto their lead reasonably comfortably.