MATCH REPORT

Above, Alty captain Daniel Fradley in action against Lostock Rangers.

This friendly match kicked off ten minutes late due to the late arrival of the visitors. The game was officiated by local teenage referee Andy Coop, who gave an excellent performance in a game played in bright sunshine in front of a crowd boosted by the spillover from an adjacent Wythenshawe Town FC juniors' event. Despite only two of Altrincham's starting eleven being players who were at the club last season (Oliver and Cosgrave), Alty started well but there was little in the way of goal threats. However, it was Lostock who won the game's first corner (18 mins). But the home side continued to enjoy more of the possession and the territorial advantage, but Brownhill's shot wide in the 23rd minute was the nearest to a goal at this stage. Soon afterwards, Smith got in a shot which ran to the keeper. Alty were passing the ball about well and following one such neat passage of play they won a corner on the left. Kilkenny's flag-kick came out to Garner, whose well-hit shot just cleared the bar (29 mins).

For Alty Oliver was having a good game at the back. The home side won another corner and then gained a freekick which was driven at the keeper by Garner before Smith shot across goal from 25 yards. The visitors were now matching Alty without seriously troubling the Alty keeper, as his defence held firm ahead of him. But Walker did then have to be alert to race out and clear from the visitors' advancing no.17 (40 mins). Another Alty corner soon followed but as happened quite frequently they were then caught offside again. But as half-time approached Lostock gained a corner on their left from a deflected shot. From the corner, the ball came to Lostock's tall no.5 who scored coolly from close range (45 mins).

Altrincham again enjoyed plenty of possession early in the second half before Lostock made their first substitution (53 mins). The lively Cordrick fed Smith for a shot which was blocked before Lostock won another corner. Soon after this Tyrone Watson replaced Kilkenny for Altrincham (60 mins). Altrincham deservedly levelled the score after 66 minutes when Joel Brownhill did very well to get into the box and beat an opponent before planting a low shot past the keeper. Joel is the cousin of Liam Brownhill, who was an Alty trialist a couple of seasons back and who almost joined Alty this season.

After 71 minutes Lynch came on for Garner but Alty continued to undo good approach work by getting caught offside. A fine interception by Oliver led to the left back advancing up the field before feeding Brownhill, who again scored coolly to put Alty ahead (74 mins). Altrincham continued on top but Brownhill had to limp off, to be replaced by Darwen on the left (80 mins).

Alty had a scare after 83 minutes when a defensive mix-up saw keeper Walker block the advancing Lostock player. The resulting freekick was taken quickly and the resulting shot was well held by the Alty keeper. Lostock gained another corner after Walker tipped a shot round the post (83 mins). Then Watson shot narrowly wide for Alty before Shaw went very close. He got round the Rangers' keeper but was forced too wide of goal to be able to score. Alty continued to press in the closing minutes but the final scored remained 2-1. This was a good contest for ALtrincham which achieved its aim of getting better team understanding amongst so many new players. Alty's league season starts next Sunday with a trip to Morecambe.