LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Ben RIGBY, 2 Jack KIMBER, 3. Ben OLIVER, 4. Alex MURPHY, 5. Declan WAKEFIELD, 6. Luke FLANAGAN, 7. Dominic LILLIE, 8. Danny BROWNE (capt), 9. Tom BAILEY, 10. Sam MADELEY, 11. Christopher FRANCIS. Subs: 9* Osebi ABKDAKI, 12. Jacob BENNETT, 14. Paul BARRY, 15. Steven CRANE, 16. Simon WILLIAMSON, 17. Jason MELLING-FONG, 18. Andrew JONES (gk).

REPORT

Right: Tom Bailey in action against Ashton Town.

As happens every season, the Altrincham FC Youth team management - George Heslop and coach Tony Spilsbury - had spent the summer sifting applications and conducting trials for those wishing to join the team, whose composition has to change every year due to the under-18 age restriction in the NW Youth Alliance in which the team plays its league games. So, for today's pre-season friendly match on the all-weather pitch at Blessed Thomas Holford School in Altrincham, half of the squad were prospective new players for this season whilst the remainder were a mixture of regulars and fringe players from last season.

After rain and thunder over lunchtime, the match was played in generally sunny conditions and it remained dry throughout. A shot from Lillie forced the first significant save of the game but in the opening quarter of an hour each side won itself two corners. In left-back Ben Oliver it soon became clear that Altrincham had unearthed a player who could match the prodigious long-throwing ability of Lewis Chalmers, which had been such a feature of last seaon's first-team performances. It was also evident that this year's Altrincham side had more pace in its ranks than last year's team with Madeley impressing particularly up front in the early stages. Altrincham nearly broke the deadlock after 26 minutes when good work from Bailey led to his shot coming back out to Browne whose left-foot shot hit the woodwork. After Bailey had then turned well and shot narrowly wide, Lillie saw a shot blocked (37 mins). But, finally, the home side went ahead in the 42nd minute when Lillie fed Bailey from the right, and from just outside the box in a central position, the unmarked Bailey fired a low shot into the net.

Ashton responded by immediately winning a corner at the other end but half-time arrived with Alty leading by the game's only goal.

Altrincham made seven pre-planned changes at the interval. In goal, Jones replaced Rigby, who had played 90 minutes the day before against Georgians. At right-back, Jacob Bennett replaced Jack Kimber, whilst in midfield, Jason Melling-Fong and Steven Crane, members of last year's squad, replaced Danny Browne and Luke Flanagan.. On the right wing Paul Barry came on for Lillie whilst Williamson replaced Francis on the left. Up front, Osebi Abkdaki came on for Sam Madeley. In the first ten minutes of the half the visitors also brought on several substitutes.

Above: Action from today's game.

After 58 minutes Melling-Fong went close with a low shot and, soon afterwards, from another lengthy throw by Oliver, Murphy, who had been solid at the back for Alty, got forward but headed narrowly over the bar. The lively Abkdaki then rattled the cross bar (64 mins) but it was Crane who was arguably making the most impression on the game at this stage in central midfield, whilst Barry made some promising advances on the right wing. After 67 minutes Bailey headed wide from an excellent cross by Bennett from the right. But, two minutes later, the visitors levelled the scores. Their goal came through the persistence of their number six who held off a tackle before shooting home from a central position about 14 yards out (69 mins).

Altrincham then made two changes as Francis and Lillie returned to the fray, replacing Oliver and Bailey (74 mins). Following an Alty corner on the right, taken by Barry, Wiliamson volleyed strongly towards goal. The keeper stopped his shot but could not hold it and Crane nipped in to tap the ball home and restore Altrincham's lead (80 mins). But Ashton almost levelled again a minute later and Jones had to make a good stop from the no.15. Ashton now went at Altrincham and won two corners. From the second of these Jones made three successive interventions; two punches and, finally, a good save to preserve his side's lead. Altrincham held on for the remaining couple of minutes to record a deserved 2-1 win against opponents who played the game in a good competitive spirit.

On the evidence of today's game, George Heslop and Tony Spilsbury appear to have some good talent at their disposal for the coming season, which starts on 19th August.