LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH: 1. Lewis BISHOP, 2. Tom BARCLAY (capt), 3. Rico COLULO, 4. Michael HOWE, 5. Kieran RAYNES, 6. Marcus BAXBY, 7. Danny BROWNE, 8. Michael SIMCOCK, 9. Tom BAILEY, 10. Rick CRAWFORD, 11. Anthony DAVIES. Subs: 12. Reza ZAREH-OURANG, 14. Jason MELLING-FONG, 15. Alex MURPHY, 16. Kyle JOHNSON, 17. Joe STEENSON.

REPORT

Based on information provided by manager, George Heslop.

Compared with the side which started the last game (when Altrincham FC's players were representing the Altrincham & District FA), Tom Barclay had switched to right-back as Rico Colulo returned at left-back. A further unexpected change arose because central defender Alex Murphy had travelling difficulties coming from Liverpool and arrived after the line-up had been submitted, so he was only able to be named on the bench.

Altrincham manager George Heslop described his team's performance today as a case of "After the Lord Mayor's Show, along came the dust-cart", a reference to the previous game being his side's impressive 6-0 win in the Cheshire FA's District Cup Final. This game was played with a stiff wind blowing across the pitch which was a little bumpy and sandy in places. In the first half Altrincham defended the half in which the wind was blowing from left to right and they were soon under some pressure from Leigh but they did quite well to nullify this. However, Altrincham were hitting high balls forward which, in the conditions, meant that possession was repeatedly lost. On the pother hand, Leigh were playing in a more "football-orientated" manner. Failure to close players down and keep possession, as well as excessive dwelling on the ball, meant that Altrincham were defending for much of the first half.

Luckily, whenever Leigh had a corner from Altrincham's left, they were mis-reading the wind and, so, not capitalising on their posssession. Half-time arrived with the score goalless.

At the start of the second half Crawford was suffering from a dead-leg so, after 55 minutes, he was replaced by Kyle Johnson. Indeed, Altrincham were to suffer a number of knocks in the second half with Bailey and Howe, the players worst affected, though both soldiered on after treatment. Altrincham now began to adapt better to the conditions and started to play more football on the ground and use the wind well on the left side. Bailey, Davies and Johnson combined well three or four times as Leigh's attacks became fewer.

Around the 70 minute mark Altrincham won a freekick, on their right, 20 yards inside the Leigh half. Davies came across from the left flank and sensibly aimed his freekick towards the back post, allowing for the wind to bring the ball back towards the near post where it sailed over the head of the perplexed Leigh goalkeeper to put Altrincham ahead. Altrincham created two or three more chances but could not convert them before Melling-Fong replaced Browne after 85 minutes. The final whistle came to confirm Altrincham's win and their second successive clean sheet. But, hopefully, their performance will improve for next Sunday's Neil Thomason Trophy semi-final against Prescot Cables.