ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 1
DW DEVELOPMENT CENTRE "A" 3

Umbro Tournament, Class B final played on Saturday, 28 July, 2007
at The University of Manchester Playing Fields


LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM YOUTH: 1.Andrew JONES, 2. Jack KIMBER, 4. Alex MURPHY, 5. Reza ZAREH-OURANG, 6. Steven CRANE, 7. Danny BROWNE, 8. Paul BARRY, 9. Tom BAILEY, 10. Sam MADELEY, 11. Chris FRANCIS, 14.Ryan DALY. Substitutes: 12. Declan WAKEFIELD, 14. Tom COSGRAVE, 15. Rohin LALLI, 16. Adam ALWILL, GK. Ben RIGBY.


REPORT

Report courtesy of George Heslop.

The Umbro Tournament is now recognised as the world's largest youth football tournament at a single venue and this year 42 nations competed. This Final was played on the "show pitch" at Northenden, on which a stand had been erected.

Alty's opposition were an unknown quantity as there were no details of the team in the tournament literature. They were a London-based team, whose average age was close to the age limit for the under-19 group of which this was the Final. In contrast, Altrincham, whose squad plays in an under-18s' league, averaged exactly 17 years of age. So it was going to be a difficult struggle against a physically more developed side, who were mostly nearly two years older man for man. Alty fielded the same side which had started the semi-final except that Jones started in goal. Nevertheless, Altrincham started confidently against their strong oppnents who had plenty of height and pace in their side.

Alty had a lucky let off after 4 minutes when Alty's left-back, Francis, volleyed a clearance against his own upright. After 7 minutes an error by Alty in failing to close down an opponent allowed a DW man through to score. But Alty did not panic at going behind and battled well in an entertaining game. They reached half-time just one goal down.


Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 0
DW DEVELOPMENT CENTRE "A" 1

Early in the second half, as planned, Alty brought on goalkeeper Ben Rigby to share the experience of the Final. Alty were rewarded for their hard work when Bailey got into the right of the box and was brought down as he went away from goal. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. From the spot, Bailey sent the keeper the wrong way to level the scores (33 mins). Altrincham again opted to use their substitutes to give them experience of the big occasion and after Reza Zareh-Ourang had taken a knock on his ankle he was the first to come off, being replaced by Declan Wakefield at centre-back. Alty continued to battle in warm conditions against physically stronger opponents. But Alty were not let down by their fitness and were unlucky to go behind after 42 minutes when a DW shot hit a defender and fell to an unmarked player at the far post who placed his shot wide of Rigby to make it 2-1.

Adam Alwill now came on for Sam Madeley and Murphy gave way to Cosgrave at the back. Both Alty players had given their all before being replaced. Next Lalli came on for Barry. Then two minutes from the end DW scored again with many observers feeling that the scorer had handled the ball before shooting past the Alty keeper to seal the game at 3-1.

Manager George Heslop and the coaching team were rightly proud of the squad's performance against an older, bigger and better financed side against whom they had refused to give up. George said, "This performance in the Umbro Tournament augurs well for the development of youth football at Moss Lane". George added his sincere thanks to his coaching team of Tony Spilsbury and Gareth Thomas who, unfortunately, had not been able to witness the Final due respectively to illness and work comitments. Former Alty captain Mark Maddox had kindly recommended his Greek friend and fellow coaching student, Stelios, to assist George on Finals day in the absence of Tony and Gareth and the Alty boss was very grateful for his input. The Alty Youth manager was also very grateful to Chris Rowley who helped with the team for much of the competition. But above all, George wished to thank the entire squad for its hard work and its achievement in taking Altrincham FC Youth to the final of this prestigious competition for the first time. Last season's quarter final had been the previous best achieved by the club.


Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 1
DW DEVELOPMENT CENTRE "A" 3