ALTRINCHAM F.C. YOUTH: 1. Andrew JONES, 2. Jack KIMBER (capt), 4. Jake WATSON, 5. Alex MURPHY, 3. Ben OLIVER; 7. Dominic LILLIE, 6. Steven CRANE, 8. Danny BROWNE, 11. Chris FRANCIS; 9. Tom BAILEY, 10. Sam MADELEY. Subs: 12. Paul BARRY, 14. Daniel KILLILEA 15. Jason MELLING-FONG, 16. Charlie WEIR, GK. Lee BERRILL.

Altrincham kept the team which had represented the Altrincham and District FA last weekend, but Charlie Weir and Daniel Killilea came back into the squad, on the bench. The home side got off to a perfect start when they went ahead in the third minute. Francis's good cross from the left was headed home with Sam Madeley acknowledged as the scorer.

Above: Alty (in blue) go close to scoring in the first half.

Morecambe responded by winning a corner but it soon became apparent that their keeper, Jamie Scott, was having problems with a leg injury. Nevertheless, after 13 minutes, Scott made a fine save, at the second attempt, from Madeley's shot. Soon afterwards a Lillie volley from the right cleared the Morecambe bar. But Alty then pushed too far forward on the right leaving space for Morecambe's Fitzpatrick to play a well judged ball forward for Stone. From well left of the target and 20 yards or more from goal, the Morecambe striker unleashed an unstoppable shot into the far top corner of the net for as good a goal as you could wish to see (18 mins).

Alex Murphy saw off another Morecambe attack soon afterwards as the standard of football from both sides gave the crowd some good entertainment. The flow of the game was helped by the young match officials who kept up with the play and gave correct decisions with a greater frequency than the Altrincham first team has experienced in many a Blue Square Premier game this season. Morecambe fired wide from a freekick before a quick throw from Oliver gave Crane a shot which the keeper saved (30 mins). Play continued in an even manner before good work from Crane led to a shot from Bailey which just cleared the bar from left of goal (33 mins). Alty were looking particularly threatening up the left whilst in central midfield Browne and Crane were impressing. From a Murphy freekick from his own half, Francis got up well to force the keeper to tip his effort over the bar for a corner (36 mins). The remaining minutes of the half were evenly fought but without clear goal chances and the interval arrived with the sides level at one goal apiece.

Play resumed after the break in the same even fashion that had ended the first period, with both sides playing good football. Morecambe made the first change of personnel, after 55 minutes, when Mills replaced Preston. The visitors' keeper then held a Francis shot before Alty brought on Killilea for Chris Francis with Lillie switching to the left wing (62 mins). Soon the new player was threatening the Morecambe defence on the right and, from his cross, Lillie got in a firm shot which seemed to hit a Morecambe hand in the box, but a penalty would have been a harsh decision against Morecambe. Alty won a corner after 65 minutes and soon after each side made a change. Morecambe's Philpott replaced Dodwell and two minutes afterwards, Tom Bailey was withdrawn in favour of Charlie Weir (70 mins).

A freekick by Morecambe's Baird from his own goalmouth went to an Alty player and though Morecambe half cleared the resulting danger, Alty got the ball back and from Browne's astute pass forward, Madeley got clear to slip the ball neatly past the keeper and restore Altrincham's lead (72 mins). Morecambe almost equalised immediately when Mills curled an effort narrowly wide (73 mins). But Alty now applied some sustained pressure, with Lillie seeing a shot well saved (80 mins). But then Killilea went down injured and had to be helped off. So, Paul Barry came on to replace him on the Alty right wing (83 mins). Lillie then forced a fine save from Scott before a stoppage for treatment to Morecambe's Shinks and Scott (84 mins).

But soon after this, Jones had to be alert to see off a threat from Charles. With Altrincham looking to be heading for a well-earned victory, Morecambe put together a neat move up the middle which culminated in an equaliser after 89 minutes. As the game went into added time Weir nearly snatched a win for Altrincham but keeper Scott parried his shot and then gathered it before it could trickle over the line (90+1 mins). So the game ended all square with Altrincham rueing their inability to finish off Morecambe in the second half. But as an advert for NW Youth Alliance football, this was an excellent contest played in a good spirit by two skilful sides.