MARINE "A" YOUTH (0) 2 ALTRINCHAM FC.YOUTH (0) 1

YOUTH REPORT

Match report from George Heslop.

Altrincham went into this match knowing that a win would take them into second place. However, they were without Alex Murphy, Sam Madeley and Ben Oliver (all injured), Steven Crane (suspended), Charlie Weir (playing for Cheshire Schools) and Reza Zareh-Ourang (long-term injured). Things started badly for Altrincham when skipper Jack Kimber was injured in a clash and was taken to hospital with a back problem but, after treatment, he was released. Tom Cosgrave came on as his replacement. The original back four of Ladd, Wakefield, Leigh-Watson and Kimber became Wakefield, Cosgrave, Leigh-Watson and Ladd.

The injury seemed to affect both sides and nothing much happened until the 35th minute when neat approach work by Daniel Killilea and Tom Bailey set up a chance for Emanuel Ladu, whose shot was saved by Marine keeper, Cummings. Ten minutes later Bailey crossed to Ladu with the same result, a shot saved by the keeper. In the 49th minute of the half, Declan Wakefield came to Altrincham's rescue by clearing a shot off the line. Then, Ladu passed to Killilea whose shot was blocked by Marine's no.5, Craig Pugh. The half ended goalless, after six minutes added time due to Kimber's injury.

The second half started in a lot livelier fashion and, in the 46th minute, Ladu and Bailey created a chance for Francis, who was thwarted by the keeper. A minute later, Bailey shot unsuccessfully and then, in the 49th minute, Marine were stopped from taking the lead by a tremendous save from Jones. In the 56th minute Killilea's run led to a chance for Browne but it went over the bar. However, Altrincham were rewarded in the 65th minute after good work on the left by Bailey who crossed for Killilea to score his first goal for Altrincham. But four minutes later a lack of concentration by the Altrincham defence gave Marine an equalizer. Marine's Nixon passed to Wilkie who put a good through ball behind Altrincham's Cosgrave and Marine's Teese, unmarked, finished well past the advancing Jones.

After 76 minutes Gavin O'Connor replaced Emanuel Ladu for Alty. Following a further save by Jones and after Marine had treplaced Teese with Dean Astbury, Altrincham succumbed in the 80th minute when, yet again, a half-cleared ball was not closed down and Marine's Alan Collins volleyed it home to make it 2-1. In the last ten minutes Marine took the pace out of the game and made two further substitutions whilst Altrincham replaced Jones with Lee Berrill in goal to qualify him for cup ties.

So, this was yet another disappointing result. The strikers are not scoring enough and the defence is conceding too many sloppy goals. There is a lot more commitment required to correct this.