LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, red shorts and red socks): 1. Lewis BISHOP, 2. Tom BARCLAY (capt), 3. Rico COLULO, 4. Alex MURPHY, 5. Michael HOWE, 6. Marcus BAXBY, 7. Danny BROWNE, 8. Michael SIMCOCK, 9. Tom BAILEY, 10. Lewis DAVIES, 11. Anthony DAVIES. Subs: 12. Kieran RAYNES, 14. Rick CRAWFORD, 15. Jason MELLING-FONG.

REPORT

Right, is Alty midfielder Michael Simcock pictured during a break in the game..

This was Altrincham's first home game for an incredible twelve weeks, their last match at Wythenshawe Town having been on 26 November last year. The starting line-up was unchanged from last week when Alty had played well to gain a 2-2 draw away at Salford City, who are the league leaders.

The day's earlier sunshine gave way to cloud as the game got under way and Altrincham won an early corner. Anthony Davies's well-taken kick from the left found the head of Howe but his firm header just cleared the bar (2 mins). Immediately, Salford went to the other end and gained a corner for themselves. Though City headed narrowly wide from the corner, Alty were awarded a freekick. The game was proving to be very competitive but further goal chances were absent over the next few minutes. However, Altrincham were having the better of the game at this stage. But now Salford won two more corners in as many minutes and from the first, Bishop in the Alty goal was tested by a well struck shot but he held it well at thesecond attempt. Salford's number seven was proving a handful and his jinking run was only ended on the edge of the box by a well-timed tackle from Barclay. Altrincham soon won themselves a corner but this ended in Browne's shot over the bar. Next, Howe started a move which ended when Lewis Davies got in a shot which was saved (25 mins). After this Murphy had to concede a corner to Salford.

It was already clear that at the other end, the Salford keeper was suffering with what appeared to be a groin problem. But from Anthony Davies's curling freekick from the left, Alty could not test the keeper's mobility as a header went over the bar. After a hack at Anthony Davies by the visitors' number two, the offender was booked (34 mins). Play continued to be well balanced as, following a Salford corner, Bailey and Lewis Davies combined and the ball eventually fell for Anthony Davies but his shot cleared the bar comfortably (37 mins).

When Salford's ailing keeper under-hit a goalkick, Alty got the ball and, from a cross from the right, Lewis Davies forced a good save with a header at the back post (38 mins). Altrincham continued to gain regular freekicks but were not able to capitalise on them, though they won two successive corners just before the interval. From the second of these, Browne sliced a shot wide (45 mins). On balance, Altrincham had had marginally the better of the first half but the score remained 0-0.

Salford started the second half strongly, winning two early corners. But then an impressive surge up the middle by Simcock led to Lewis Davies getting in a shot which the keeper blocked at the cost of a corner (47 mins). Next the other keeper, Lewis Bishop was called upon to make a good save from Curtis Connell, the visitors' ex-Altrincham Youth striker. The loose ball came back towards goal and Bishop again did well to push it out from under the bar but, following a goalmouth scramble, Alty were awarded a freekick. In the aftermath of this incident Barclay and a Salford player needed treatment. Next the Salford no.5 was allowed to advance through the Alty ranks to the annoyance of the home management. Salford were now applying pressure to Altrincham and looking the better side.

After 56 minutes Bishop again had to make a useful save but at last Altrincham relieved the pressure as Lewis Davies, Simcock and Bailey broke forward, but Alty were caught offside (60 mins). This led to a better spell for Altrincham and soon Anthony Davies almost got round the City keeper but the ball would not drop for him. Then Bailey fired over from 22 yards. After a tackle had left a Salford player injured there was a melee which ended with a lecture for Danny Browne (65 mins). But Salford now reasserted themselves and, from a freekick won by Connell, their number seven fired wide (69 mins). The visitors then made a change as no. 16 replaced no.10. A few minutes later, Rick Crawford came on for Lewis Davies (77 mins).

Almost immediately the visitors went ahead and almost inevitably it was the former Alty man Connell who was the scorer. The Alty defence allowed him to turn and, from 15 yards or so, he hammered the ball past Bishop (77 mins). Altrincham were failing to test the injured Salford goalkeeper though they did win a corner after 84 minutes. But this was followed by a Salford corner. Soon after this Salford played the ball from the left across the front of the Alty box and once again Connell was allowed to turn. He fed the no.11 who scored the visitors' second goal (86 mins). Now, the visitors replaced the scorer of their second goal with no.12 (88 mins). It then took an excellent header off his own line by Danny Browne to save Alty from conceding a third goal from a firm header (0+1 mins). The referee played a surprisingly long six minutes of added time during which Salford won two more corners as Altrincham were unable to get back into the match. After their good first half performance it was a pity that two defensive lapses had allowed the visitors to record their win, but their victory was fully deserved by the time that the final whistle arrived.