MID-CHESHIRE FA YOUTH (0) 0
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA YOUTH (1) 3

Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup
played at Northwich on Sunday, 27 September 2009 at 10.30am


LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM: 1. James FOSSDYKE, 2. Ben SHAWCROSS, 4. Liam BROMILEY-BLACKBURN, 5. Rory BRADBURY, 3. James SMART; 7. Jamie BROWN, 6. John BENNETT, 8. Dan SHAW (capt), 11. Joel BROWNHILL; 9. Kieran MADDEN, 10. Michael LINNEY. Subs: 12. Matthew CLINTON, 14. Dominic BATES, 15. Luke LAVELLE, 16. Hugh McAUGHTRIE, GK. James THORN.


REPORT

Report based on information kindly provided by George Heslop.

Altrincham had Kuba-Kuba, Millen, Whiteside, Sheridan and Marsden all sidelined by injury or illness, and centre-back Dominic Bates was rested to give Liam Bromiley-Blackburn action after several games on the bench. On the left, Joel Brownhill made his first start since his recent injury.

Perhaps because of the early morning start, Altrincham began the game sluggishly though they were nevertheless looking the better team. Their opponents, Mid-Cheshire, included two former Alty players in Kane Berkeley and Sam Mackay. Watching the game along with Cheshire County FA officials was the Northwich Victoria chairman, Jim Rushe, as the game was being played on his club's ground.

Altrincham gradually found their feet and began to dominate possession but their passing was not up to its usual standard. The nearest to a goal in the opening stages came after 25 minutes when John Bennett struck the top of the bar with a long-range shot. After this, Altrincham spent much of the remainder of the first half camped in their opponents' half of the pitch.

After 37 minutes Michael Linney laid the ball off for Jamie Brown, who had cut in from the right wing. From five yards outside the box, Brown scored to give Altrincham a 1-0 lead. Mid-Cheshire did get in some long-range efforts of their own but the Alty midfield was generally stifling their attacks.

Before the interval, Brownhill saw a shot strike the post and from the rebound the Alty winger struck the other upright. This close shave seemed to unsettle the hosts but they got to half time just a goal adrift but as Alty jogged off for the break, the Mid-Cheshire side looked tired.


Half-Time: MID-CHESHIRE FA YOUTH 0
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 1

In the second half Altrincham were more of an attacking force and, in the warm conditions, Mid-Cheshire soon used all three of their substitutes. In the 59th minute, Altrincham doubled their lead. The goal came after Brownhill crossed to Madden from the left. Madden flicked the ball on to Brown who, at the far post, sidefooted the ball into the net for his and his side's second goal of the match.

Madden gave way to Clinton in the 76th minute, which allowed Brownhill to push forward. Linney made it 3-0 in the 83rd minute before McAughtrie came on to replace Shawcross, five minutes from time.

This excellent result was made all the better when it was learnt later in the day that the other Group Stage match between The Wirral and Chester had ended 1-1, leaving Altrincham two points clear at the top of the table. And things got even better when the NWYA results came in, revealing that the top two, Stalybridge Celtic and FC United, had both lost, allowing Altrincham FC to climb to second place without having played in the league this weekend.


Full-Time: MID-CHESHIRE FA YOUTH 0
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 3