LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks):1. Lewis BISHOP, 2. Michael HOWE, 3. Tom BARCLAY (capt), 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. Ben ROBSON, 14. Jack ENTWISTLE, 15. Paul BARRY.

BOOTLE FC YOUTH (Blue shirts, green shorts, white socks): 22. Craig DUNN, 14. Chris MITCHELL, 15. Carl SAUNDERS, 3. Tom SWEENEY, 6. James DALEY, 9. Rob HARDWICK, 7. Jake JOHNSTONE, 21 K. CHARNOCK, 20. Stuart SMITH, 16. Anthony HICKEY, 11. Shaun HARRIS. Subs: 2. Kane DAVIES, 10. Matty McCRACKEN, 8. Lee CHESWORTH.

REPORT

Above: Marcus Baxby, Alex Murphy, Kieran Raynes and Danny Browne move upfield in unison.

Alty Youth lost 1-3 at home to Bootle this afternoon, after Tom Bailey had converted Michael Simcock's cross-shot from the right after 31 minutes to put Alty ahead. The Merseysiders were too strong for Alty in the second period and ran out comfortable winners.

With the referee lacking one of his assistants, Danny Browne's father was "volunteered" for service as a linesman before the match kicked off on a very sunny afternoon. Very soon, Alty won a corner. From Davies's kick from the right, an Alty head sent the ball goalwards only for Dunn in the visitors' goal to make an excellent save, seeming to push the ball onto the bar in the process. But soon Bootle applied pressure of their own and won themselves a corner kick. Play became fairly even over the next few minutes with Baxby's long range effort, which was comfortably saved, Alty's best effort at this stage (19 mins). Alty had a scare soon after when, Murphy had to cover smartly as Bishop's goal was threatened (20 mins). Following this the powerful Smith got into the Alty box but the danger was cleared once more. After Bootle's Daley had won a corner, Harris shot wide but play then switched to the other end where Howe did well to find Crawford, but the keeper did equally well to beat out his effort before Davies fired the rebound narrowly wide (25 mins). Next, Bailey had a one on one against Dunn in the Bootle goal but the keeper came off the better, blocking the striker's shot.

There had been a number of feisty challenges and finally the referee booked Smith for a late tackle (29 mins). Alty almost immediately took the lead when Simcock got free as his marker slipped, to the right of goal, and the Alty midfielder's cross shot appeared to be goalbound before Bailey arrived to hammer the ball home from very close range and give Alty the lead (31 mins). From a Bootle freekick soon after the restart, the ball came to Hickey who shot narrowly over the bar (33 mins). Altrincham came back again, winning a corner and then, in added time, Bailey and Browne combined well for Bailey's well struck shot to force a good save from Dunn, who was not deceived as the ball bobbled on the uneven pitch (45 +2 mins). The interval arrived with Alty's lead intact.

At the interval, Tom Barclay, who had been the victim of a harsh challenge which had snapped his shin pad, was forced to give way to Ben Robson at left-back. Bootle started the half at a high tempo with Smith getting clear but firing over the bar in the first minute of the half. But it was not long before the Merseysiders had levelled the scores when Saunders fed Smith who held off a challenge well and nod the ball forward for himself, finishing the move with a firm shot past Bishop (50 mins).

A minute later Hickey forced an excellent tip over the bar from Bishop in the Alty goal and soon after this, Bishop again did well, blocking Hardwick's effort at the cost of a corner. Bootle were now on top and using their strength to dominate the home side. Next, an excellent cross from the left by Harris saw Hickey head wide (57 mins). The visitors now brought on Davies for Saunders (58 mins). Bootle went ahead with a very well-worked goal as Harris, Sweeeney and Hickey exchanged passes leaving Sweeney free in the box to fire past Bishop and make it 2-1 to the visitors (60 mins).

Bootle continued to show the greater bite and Bishop had to make another excellent save to keep the score down, after 70 minutes, following good work on the right by Bootle's Johnstone (67 mins). Altrincham for their part were causing no threat to the Bootle goal in the second half. But when Simcock advanced strongly up the middle, he was tripped 22 yards out in a central position. Though the referee paced out ten paces, the wall seemed to be fewer than 10 yards from the freekick and, for his protests at this, Davies was booked after the kick had predictably been blocked by the defenders (71 mins). Soon, however, Bootle advanced up the left and though Howe fouled his opponent, play was waved on and the recovering Howe was then judged to have fouled another player in the box to concede a penalty. Raynes was booked for protesting at the decision before Daley stepped up and blasted the ball into the top centre of the net from the penalty spot to make it 3-1 (73 mins). The visitors immediately brought on a substitute, McCracken.

After 77 minutes, Alty brought on Entwistle for Raynes and soon afterwards Alty won a freekick on the front edge of the Bootle box. Davies's freekick hit the wall and, after this, each side made a change. Chesworth came on for Bootle whilst Alty swapped Browne for Barry (78 mins). Alty's Howe became his side's third booking when he committed an offence (82 mins). A very late challenge on Ben Robson gained Alty a freekick and, soon after this, Alty won a corner which was followed by a second flag-kick when Simcock's shot was deflected out. Alty were belatedly getting forward but Bootle held firm and indeed Bishop had to make another save when Smith got in a shot in the closing stages (88 mins). Alty pressed for a second goal but the game ended with Bootle comfortable winners after their strong second half display.