Altrincham FC Match Reports

THE WIRRAL & DISTRICT FA YOUTH (0) 1
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA YOUTH (1) 2

Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup Final
played on Sunday, 9 March 2008 at 1.00p.m. at Vauxhall Motors FC.


LINE-UP

THE WIRRAL & DISTRICT FA YOUTH (Green& white striped shirts, green shorts & socks): 1. Daniel ARTEL, 2. Chris REILLY, 3. Tom REILLY, 4. Daniel MAXWELL, 5. Josh DURES, 6. Carl MURPHY, 7. Tom CRAIG, 8. Daniel SEARGEANT, 9. Kearon DELANEY, 10. Mark NOKES, 11. Ben DAVIES. Subs: 12. Robert BOYD, 14. Tom WARD, 15. David HODGSON, 16. Dean THOMAS, 17. Adam CHRISTOPHER (GK)

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Yellow shirts, blue shorts and socks): 18. Andrew JONES; 2.Jack KIMBER (capt), 3. Declan WAKEFIELD, 4. Alex MURPHY, 5. Jake LEIGH-WATSON, 6. Dominic LILLIE, 7. Daniel KILLILEA, 8. Danny BROWNE, 9. Tom BAILEY, 10. Gavin O'CONNOR, 11. Charlie WEIR. Used subs: 12. Sam MADELEY, 14. Chris FRANCIS, 15. Ben OLIVER, GK. Lee BERRILL.


MATCH REPORT

Above: The Altrincham & District FA team with the District Cup. Back row, left to right: Gareth Thomas, Tony Spilsbury, Charlie Weir, Declan Wakefield, Ben Oliver, Danny Browne, Lee Berrill, George Heslop. Third row: Alex Murphy, Gavin O'Connor, Daniel Killilea. Second row: Chris Francis, Andrew Jones, Sam Madeley, Dominic Lillie, Jake Leigh-Watson. Front row: Jack Kimber, Tom Bailey.

The Altrincham & DFA side was made up of players who were all from Altrincham FC's youth team. Manager George Heslop made one change from last week's Altrincham FC line-up with Tom Bailey joining Gavin O'Connor up front as Sam Madeley moved to the bench. Altrincham were the holders of the District Cup trophy and had, in fact, won in it for the last two seasons. But The Wirral had beaten Alty in the group stage of this year's competition and had the advantage of playing in home territory at Vauxhall Motors Rivacre Park ground so it promised to be an evenly-matched game. It started in bright sunshine with Altrincham playing into a stiff breeze. The Wirral made the better start and in the first five minutes they went close with a header, followed by Carl Murphy's volley, which went well wide. Altrincham then came to life when Lillie prompted a move which ended with Bailey feeding O'Connor who did well to test the keeper with a low shot (6 mins), But he was given offside.

The Wirral won the game's first corner when Nokes got behind Murphy. From the corner, The Wirral got in an unchallenged header which cleared the bar (10 mins). Another header over the bar from Delaney confirmed that the home side were having the better of things at this stage (14 mins). Next, Nokes got clear in the inside left channel but Jones came out to close him down and the striker lifted his shot well over the bar (16 mins). Altrincham won their first corner soon afterwards and then, after Wakefield had seen his ball into the box cleared, Bailey really got hold of a shot from 25 yards which tested keeper Artel, who took the ball at the second attempt (19 mins). Alty were now improving and went ahead in the 23rd minute. Fine play by O'Connor saw the striker shoot into the bottom corner of the net, his shot seeming to come off both the keeper and post before crossing the line.

The Wirral responded to their reverse by attacking Altrincham but again squandered a reasonable chance as Nokes headed wide of the target (27 mins). Danny Browne became the first player to be booked for a tackle in midfield (32 mins). At the back, Leigh-Watson was excelling for Alty whilst in midfield Lillie was also impressing. When Alex Murphy was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball, The Wirral had a freekick on the front edge of the box but they hit this badly off target (42 mins). Half time arrived with Alty's slender lead intact and The Wirral ruing their missed chances.


Half-Time: THE WIRRAL & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 0
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 1

A late tackle by Tom Reilly on Killilea earned him an early yellow card (47 mins). After some early Wirral pressure, Alty came into the game again briefly before the Wirral won two successive corners. After this Killilea had a shot well saved, the ball being half cleared and resulting in a corner for Altrincham. Soon afterwards The Wirral brought on Boyd for Davies (57 mins).

The Wirral threatened again in the 65th minute when Jones did well to gather a deflected shot from Boyd. Wirral's sustained pressure paid off when they equalized a minute later. The goal came when Alty failed to clear the ball inside their own box and Delaney took advantage to tuck the ball into the bottom corner of the net from 10 yards. However, parity did not last more than two minutes as Bailey put O'Connor through on goal. Though O’Connor’s advance was blocked by the keeper and a defender inside the penalty area, the ball span up into the air and Lillie, who had quickly supported the breakaway, headed the ball into the empty net from 12 yards to make it 2-1 (68 mins).

Daniel Killilea (in yellow, no.7) forces a good save from The Wirral's keeper, Artel.

The Wirral now brought on Ward for Maxwell (69 mins) after the defender had picked up an injury in the lead up to Alty's second goal. Bailey was then booked for kicking the ball away before, unbelievably, Boyd did exactly the same thing and got exactly the same punishment just 10 seconds later! (73 mins). Alty then went close as Bailey chipped an effort narrowly over the bar before Chris Francis came on for Charlie Weir (79 mins). When Leigh-Watson was caught late by Carl Murphy, the Wirral player saw a yellow card (80 mins).

Altrincham now brought on Madeley for O'Connor (81 mins) and the minutes passed without the Altrincham defence looking in any major danger. With two minutes of normal time left, Ben Oliver came on for Daniel Killilea, necessitating a shift of Chris Francis to the right wing as Oliver slotted in on the left flank. Ward then hurt himself making a challenge and after treatment was unable to continue. Two minutes later, Thomas came on for Ward (90+2 mins). The referee played more than five added minutes during which The Wirral pressed forward but Altrincham held firm to record their third successive triumph in the District Cup.

As well as all the players contributing to an entertaining and well-matched game, referee Mr. Clayton and his assistants also had an excellent game.


Full-Time THE WIRRAL & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 1
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 2