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LINE-UPS
ALTRINCHAM: 1. James THORN, 2. Dominic BATES, 3. Ben SHAWCROSS, 4. Liam BROMILEY-BLACKBURN, 5. Rory BRADBURY, 6. John BENNETT, 7. Jamie BROWN, 8. Dan SHAW (capt), 9. Blaine WHITESIDE, 10. Michael LINNEY, 11. Niall SHERIDAN. Subs: 12. Kieran MADDEN, 14. Glodi KUBA-KUBA, 15. Matthew CLINTON, 16. Dan MILLEN.
Match report, courtesy of George Heslop.
With a pre-match forecast of strong winds and heavy rain for this match against a Woodley team which was, like Altrincham, unbeaten in the league this season, the hosts knew that they were in for a tough game. Things did not improve on the morning of the match when left-back James Smart had to withdraw with a badly swollen ankle and cover keeper, Jack Abbott also had to cry off. In addition Joel Brownhill, James Fossdyke and Ryan Marsden were all still recuperating after injuries.
The match started in the predicted windy conditions, with Altrincham playing down the slight slope and with the wind blowing from right to left. Alty started very well, passing the ball and keeping it largely on the ground. In the seventh minute, Dan Shaw broke through and struck a very direct shot which the Woodley goalkeeper did well to get behind and tip over the bar for a corner. Had the shot gone either side of him, it would have been a certain goal.
After 10 minutes Jamie Brown was brought down but Bennett drove the freekick into the wall, from just outside the box. After a good four or five pass move the Woodley keeper again did well to keep put a shot from Shaw.
Just before the interval a Woodley defender was booked as he conceded a freekick for a foul. But Shawcross drove the resulting kick over the bar to leave the game goalless at the interval with neither side in the ascendancy. The Woodley keeper had been the busiest man on the pitch but had shown a very safe pair of hands.
| Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 0 WOODLEY SPORTS YOUTH 0 |
Things took a turn for the worse in the 55th minute when Shaw suffered an ankle injury and had to be helped off by coach Gareth Thomas and a substitute. This prompted a reshuffle as substitute Kuba-Kuba went up front and Whiteside moved to occupy Shaw's central midfield position.
A few minutes later the Woodley keeper again made a good save, tipping over a Linney shot for another corner. On the hour mark Woodley brought on Cameron Manning, a former Alty trialist of last season.
In the 77th minute, Jamie Brown cut in and came closest to scoring for the home side. His shot beat the keeper but brushed the outside of the far post. Five minutes from time the Altrincham central defenders lost concentration as a ball drifted over their heads and let in an attacker. But Alty keeper Thorn came to their rescue with an excellent save, despite having had little to do previously in the second half.
Although the game ended goalless it had been an entertaining match played in poor conditions. Both sides had played good passing football and so, next Sunday, when the same sides meet again in the Neil Thomason Memorial Trophy, at the same venue, it promises to be well worth watching. Kick off is at 1.30pm.
| Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 0 WOODLEY SPORTS YOUTH 0 |
Copyright: ©
Compiled by John Laidlar
