YOUTH REPORT

The only change from last week's 6-0 win at Leigh was the return, on the bench, of centre-back Alex Murphy in place of Tom Cosgrave. The referee had no linesmen with him so a volunteer from each side was "volunteered" and in Alty's case it was Phil Jones, father of Alty's goalkeeper, Andrew, who ran the line. After some early FCUM pressure a good shot from the edge of the box by Tom Bailey went narrowly wide (7 mins). But soon Jones had to make an excellent save from Williams after Carson had advanced up the right (8 mins). Next a cross from Francis was backheaded by Lillie and then deflected to the visitors' keeper (12 mins). Alty had an escape after 17 minutes when a ball up the middle was allowed to bounce and Mike got to it ahead of the retreating defence but he poked his shot narrowly wide of Jones's left post (17 mins). When Killilea made a fine 60 yard run into the opposition box, he won Alty a corner, which was soon followed by one for FC United (21 mins).

A fine diagonal ball forward to the left from Browne then allowed Killilea to get into the box but the danger was cleared (27 mins). Altrincham were now having the better of an entertaining game and won two corners. From the first of these Browne's header forced the keeper to tip the ball round the post. From a half clearance Browne then fired in a superb low volley which went only narrowly wide from 30 yards (41 mins). FCUM's Mike was then allowed to get forward and lay the ball off for Williams who forced an excellent save from Jones at the cost of a corner. But as half time approached FC came back into things with two corners, the first having to be headed off the line by Wakefield after the kick had eluded Jones (44 mins). .

Alty made a shaky start to the half, allowing a ball to bounce in their own penalty area before, at the other end, Lillie fed Killilea whose shot was chipped over the bar (47 mins). Browne, likewise, cleared the bar with a shot (51 mins) before Bailey played in Madeley whose effort was held at the second attempt by Edwards. But eventually the pressure told as Alty went ahead with a classic "route one" goal. A long punt up the middle of the field came to Bailey and he held off a challenge to plant the ball into the net (55 mins).

However, Williams then had a good chance at the other end but put his shot over the bar as Alty boss George Heslop told his defence they had been "slack". FCUM replaced Rothwell with Killeen after 62 minutes and, a minute later, Williams fired narrowly wide from right of the Alty goal. Another FCUM sub came on after 66 minutes when Stott replaced Carson. Alty then got forward again before losing possession and allowing the visitors to win another corner. Madeley now gave way to O'Connor for Altrincham (75 mins). The substitute almost got on the scoresheet soon afterwards when, from Bailey's pass, he got round the keeper but a defender got back to prevent a goal, though a corner was won for Altrincham. FCUM made their final change now as Malarky replaced Hulme (81 mins). Soon afterwards in almost a carbon copy of his earlier chance, O'Connor was put through up the middle by Bailey and this time he scored well to make it 2-0 (82 mins). Soon afterwards a fine run up the left by Killilea ended in a cross which only just evaded O'Connor in the goalmouth (84 mins). An Alty corner came and went but by the final whistle the score had not changed. This was an entertaining game played in a good spirit with Holder and James looking the pick of the visitors' players whilst for Alty it was a good team performance .