ALTRINCHAM YOUTH (Red & white striped shorts, black shorts, red socks):: 1. Andrew JONES, 2. Jack KIMBER (capt), 3. Ben OLIVER, 4. Alex MURPHY, 5. Reza ZAREH-OURANG, 6. Steven CRANE, 7. Dominic LILLIE, 8. Danny BROWNE, 9. Tom BAILEY, 10. Sam MADELEY, 11. Chris FRANCIS. Subs: 12. Declan WAKEFIELD, 14. Tom COSGRAVE, 15. Paul BARRY, 16. Jason MELLING-FONG, GK. Ben RIGBY

CURZON ASHTON YOUTH 1. Luke BARRATT, 2. Ryan BURGESS, 3. Adam GARLICK, 4. James BLAIR, 5. Daniel TORT, 6. Nathan FINNIGAN, 7. Joseph NIELD, 8. Jordan LEACH, 9. Lawrence SLACK, 10. Jamie BYRNE, 11. Michael EATON. Subs: 12. Jake HARDICRE, 14. Josh DAVIS, GK. Bradley McINTOSH.

Altrincham welcomed back Tom Bailey, Danny Browne, Paul Barry, Steven Crane and Alex Murphy from their holidays, whilst Jason Melling-Fong had recovered from injury to be on the bench.

Alty kicked off but were soon on the back foot and after three minutes Zareh-Ourang's underhit back pass led to Jones having to come forward to gather the ball where he collided with the onrushing Slack, which left both players needing treatment. However, Alty almost took the lead after five minutes when Bailey and Madeley exchanged passes on the right before the Alty number nine found the inside of the post with a shot which came back out and was cleared. Soon Bailey had another shot, this time from 25 yards, which cleared the bar (7 mins).

After Curzon had won a corner, Alty suffered the first of a series of injuries in this game when Ben Oliver needed treatment. Slack then forced a fine save from Jones at the cost of another corner to the visitors. This was not properly cleared and the ball came back in and Tort should have found the target with a free header (13 mins).

Alty continued to labour and it appeared that Zareh-Ourang was carrying an injury. But an error at the other end gave Madeley a shot which cleared the bar. After 18 minutes Oliver had to give in to his knock and he was replaced by Wakefield. Immediately Curzon scored as Leach's freekick from the left was headed home by Slack (18 mins). Alty then brought off the lame Zareh-Ourang and brought on Cosgrave. Almost immediately the injury jinx continued as Cosgrave went down injured as he put a ball into touch (22 mins). After treatment from Gareth Thomas he limped on.

At the other end Francis lashed a shot just over the bar but then a freekick from 35 yards out on the Curzon right forced Jones into an excellent tip over the bar for a corner (26mins). This was the first of four corners for the visitors in the next 15 minutes during which Alty's Cosgrave continued to be troubled by his leg injury and he had to be substituted by Barry after 39 minutes.

So, Alty had lost three defenders to injury before half-time. Francis now moved to left-back with Barry slotting in on the left wing. Just before the break Bailey volleyed Francis's cross narrowly wide (43 mins). Francis himself went close soon afterwards but the keeper managed to get a hand to the ball. So, half-time arrived with Altrincham still trailing 0-1.

Above: Danny Browne, hidden behind Chris Francis (11) nets Alty's first.

Altrincham won three corners in the first five minutes after the break but Curzon held firm and then won a corner themselves. The home side continued to set the pace, however and just after the hour mark the visitors made a change as Hardicre replaced Finnigan (61 mins). Eventually Alty's pressure got its reward when a corner on the right, taken by Lillie, found the head of Browne who headed firmly into the net from the centre of the box (64 mins).

But as happens so often after a goal at one end, there was nearly one at the other end and only a smart save from Jones, diving to push the ball round the post for a corner, prevented it (65 mins). From the corner, Jones caught the ball but was fouled and though play continued the keeper went down and needed lengthy treatment to a blow to the head (66 mins). Francis, who had also picked up an injury (to his thigh) during the game, nevertheless began to make inroads on the Alty left in conjunction with Barry before Curzon brought on Davis for Slack. Kimber almost scored from the right wing when his freekick was missed by the keeper but a defender put it out for a corner, from which the keeper saved.

Above: Declan Wakefield, far right, scores the second equalizer.

Despite their dominance Alty could not get a goal. After Byrne had been booked for dissent, Francis's freekick was tipped over for a corner following which Barry hooked an effort over the bar. But despite their pressure it was Curzon who now scored a second goal when Eaton drove the ball into the far corner from Eaton's pass from the right (84 mins).

Altrincham responded with a corner at the other end. This was half cleared and came to Madeley at the back post whose goalbound shot was hooked in by Wakefield to make it 2-2 (87 mins). Alty continued to press and Madeley had a fine shot deflected over for a corner (89 mins). In the ninetieth minute Blair was booked for Curzon but Alty could not get the breakthrough that their second-half play had warranted.