< Altrincham FC

Altrincham FC Match Reports

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (2) 2
GREGORIANS JUNIORS (0) 1

Umbro Tournament, Class B quarter final played on Friday, 27 July, 2007
at The University of Manchester Playing Fields


LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM YOUTH: 1. Andrew JONES, 2. Jack KIMBER, 3. Ben OLIVER, 4. Alex MURPHY, 5. Reza ZAREH-OURANG, 6. Steven CRANE, 7. Rohin LALLI, 8. Ryan DALEY, 9. Tom BAILEY, 10. Sam MADELEY, 11. Chris FRANCIS. Substitutes incl: 8. Danny BROWNE, 15. Tom COSGRAVE,14. Paul BARRY, 17. Declan WAKEFIELD, GK. Ben RIGBY (gk).


REPORT

Report courtesy of George Heslop.

Altrincham had equalled their best performance in this competition, emulating last year's squad in reaching the quarter-final stage. Manager George Heslop opted to stay with the team which had done so well in defeating Maine Road, but his substitute options were reduced as Williamson had dropped out to go on holiday. The opposition, Gregorians, included several of the players who had played Altrincham's senior side in a pre-season friendly a few weeks ago.

Altrincham went ahead a third of the way through the first half when a clever ball from Bailey set up Madeley to score (8 mins). After 14 minutes a superb shot from Daley was saved by the Gregorians' keeper who also made a great save from Francis. After 22 minutes Steven Crane fired a superb shot against the bar and as the ball dropped down between two defenders and the stranded goalkeeper, Bailey emerged to score .


Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 2
GREGORIANS JUNIORS 0

At the interval Browne came on for Lalli who had expended a lot of effort playing in right midfield rather than as an out and out winger. In the second half Altrincham continued on top. After 30 minutes they swapped their keepers as Jones gave way to Rigby and, also, Paul Barry came on for Oliver, whose tight calf muscle had now seized up. Barry went to left midfield as Francis moved to left back in place of Oliver.

But disaster struck after 37 minutes when Gregorians pulled back a goal to make it 2-1. Their goal came when their main danger man broke to the left of the Alty defence and placed his shot into the far corner of the net with Alty keeper powerless to stop him. Alty made their last change after 43 minutes whenCosgrave repalced Zareh-Ourang who during this competition has proved to be a contender for one of the central defensive positions.

Altrincham held onto their lead and will meet their old rivals the Macclesfield & District side in the semi-final. But they will be without both Ben Oliver and Simon Williamson who are both on holiday so will need to reshuffle their side.


Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 2
GREGORIANS JUNIORS 1