YOUTH REPORT

Above: Dominic Lillie in action against Runcorn in Sunday's match.

Runcorn had an early header from their no.10 comfortably saved by Jones (2 mins), but Alty had a better chance soon afterwards when a good ball forward set Madeley at goal but he put the ball wide (5 mins). After a slow start Altrincham improved but, overall, play was fairly even in the opening stages. Madeley had another chance when he sprang the offside trap but the keeper managed to get the ball (12 mins). However, Alty took the lead in the 13th minute when Kimber and Lillie got the ball up the right to Madele. His first-time cross found Bailey at the back post and he scored from close range.

In midfield, Browne was working hard whilst at the back Murphy and Watson were looking solid but when the visitors' no.9 evaded three tackles Alty were grateful to see his shot deflected narrowly wide for a corner (26 mins). Alty created a good opening on the half hour but this time Bailey mishit his shot to the keeper. Following a long throw Madeley won a corner for Altrincham but this came to nothing. Next, after 35 minutes, Madeley found himself in on goal for the third time but his shot narrowly cleared the bar. A Runcorn corner came and went before Alty resumed their pressure on the goal at the other end. Rain was now falling but half time arrived with Altrincham just a goal ahead, having spurned several chances to extend their lead.

Alty kicked off the second half and, at last, doubled their lead. The goal came when the Runcorn keeper misjudged a ball into the box and it went over his head, allowing Madeley to slot it home (51 mins). There was little in the way of goalmouth action for the next ten minutes before Alty brought on Killilea for Lillie (61 mins). Murphy deflected a Runcorn shot out for a croner and following this, at the other end, Killilea forced a decent save with a strong shot (63 mins) The Runcorn no.10 then caught keeper Jones with his studs as he slid in after a through ball but the Alty keeper resumed after treatment. The half was to be littered with injury stoppages, the next being for treatment to Jack Kimber. Just before that stoppage Jason Melling-Fong came on for Steven Crane in midfield (66 mins). Alty then left the visitors no.7 too much space but the no. 9 was unable to get in a shot from the wingman's pass. Soon Kimber and Madeley both had shots but then Runcorn won a corner. After this the Runcorn no.14 fired a fierce shot just over the bar from 25 yards. The visitors now brought on another sub, no.15, for the injured no.7 (72 mins).

Killilea now won a corner for Altrincham as his shot was diverted just wide of the post. From the corner Madeley became the next player to need treatment from the busy physio, Julianne Gresty (86 mins). From a freekick on the edge of the box, soon afterwards, Alty wasted a chance by taking the kick too quickly and as the game went into its final five minutes, captain Jack Kimber gave way to Declan Wakefield at the back (86 mins). There was time for a late Alty corner but the referee blew the final whistle as the ball came into the goalmouth from the flag-kick, leaving Alty the 2-0 winners in their defence of the District Cup.