BOOTLE "A" YOUTH: 1. Jon WILSON, 2. Sam GARBET, 3. Terry SWEENY, 4. Peter PORTER, 5. David TAYLOR, 6. Jack SINNOTT, 7. James MEA, 8. Craig RILEY, 9. Charlie JONES, 10. Steven WILLIAMS, 11. Will JONES. Subs: 12. Phil SYMES, 15. Matty SEDDON, 16. Danny SMITH, 17. Chris PRESTON, GK. Jack GARLE.

ALTRINCHAM YOUTH : 1. Andrew JONES, 2. Jack KIMBER (capt), 4. Tom BAILEY, 5. Declan WAKEFIELD, 3. Jimmy LADD; 7. Paul BARRY, 6. Steven CRANE, 8. Luke FLANAGAN, 11. Chris FRANCIS; 9. Charlie WEIR, 10. Sam MADELEY. Subs: 12. Alex MURPHY, 14. Emmanuel LADU, GK. Lee BERRILL.

For this game Altrincham were still weakened by numerous injuries and retained the revamped side that had done so well to win the previous match against FCUM.

The following match report is courtesy of George Heslop.

Kick-off was fifteen minutes late due to the non-appearance of any of the match officials.So, both teams agreed to Gareth Thomas taking charge. Altrincham started brightly and took the lead in the sixth minute when a good through ball by Crane reached Weir who found the back of the net. However, this goal seemd to inspire Bootle rather than Altrincham and in the twentieth minute they went close to levelling when they hit the crossbar.

This was followed immediately by an Alty attack instigated by Paul Barry who put Sam Madeley clear but his shot was saved. Then the home keeper had to stop a Francis freekick and a Madeley shot. In the 29th minute Alty keeper Jones turned a Bootle shot round the post for a corner. After 34 minutes Weir had an opening but missed his shot for Altrincham before Bootle got back into the game in the fortieth minute. Their equaliser came after Altrincham had conceded a freekick and, whilst they protested against the award, Bootle played the ball into space and levelled the game.

Weir had a chance after 44 minutes but the scores remained level as the game went into added time. After five minutes of additional play, Jones came to Altrincham's rescue with another good save.

The second half started with a scare for Alty but Bailey got back and made a magnificent save clearance off the line, via the crossbar. In doing so he wrenched his shoulder as he got caught in the netting. But the Alty striker recovered to produce another fine performance in his stand-in role as centre-back. The game now settled into an evenly balanced contest but with neither side creating much in the way of goal chances. After 63 minutes the Bootle keeper made a double save and, from the second block, Bootle broke away upfield and should have scored as Alty's back-four failed to clear a long ball.

After 68 minutes Alex Murphy, returning from injury, replaced Paul Barry, which allowed Tom Bailey to go up front as Murphy went to centre-back. Sam Madeley moved to right midfield. After 89 minutes Emmanuel Ladu came on for Jimmy Ladd, Alty's injured left-back, so Chris Francis moved to left-back and Charlie Weir went to left midfield, whilst Ladu partnered Bailey up front.

An unbelievable amount of added time brought an amazing climax to the game. In the 91st minute, Bottle took the lead with a Maradona "Hand of God" goal, fisted into the net. But between the 97th and 102nd minutes, Altrincham showed their great fitness by scoring twice. First, skipper Kimber scored after a goalmouth melee and then "super sub" Ladu netted to make it 3-2 to Altrincham. Overall Altrincham did not play to their full capabilities but showed a lot of character and commitment, having lost two players just before the match which reduced their squad to only fourteen.