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LINE-UPS
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA YOUTH: 1. James THORN, 2. Ben SHAWCROSS, 3. James SMART, 4. Dominic BATES, 5. Rory BRADBURY, 6. John BENNETT, 7. Jamie BROWN, 8. Dan SHAW (capt), 9. Blaine WHITESIDE, 1. Kieran MADDEN, 11. Ryan SHERIDAN. SUBS: 12. Joel BROWNHILL, 14. Liam BROMILEY-BLACKBURN, 15. Matthew CLINTON, 16. Luke LAVELLE.
Report courtesy of George Heslop.
Before the game, Altrincham had an early morning scare when Michael Linney was declared ill, with a severe headache and sickness. So, Kieran Madden came into the starting line-up for this crucial game, which was watched by Altrincham FC manager Graham Heathcote and his brother, Alan, who was also a former Altrincham player.
After kick-off, both teams tried to gain the upper hand and both keepers were kept reasonably busy with crosses and shots at goal. However, Altrincham were unable to get their usual passing game going until a six-pass move shortly before the interval sent them into the break with more confidence.
| Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 0 THE WIRRAL & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 0 |
The second half started in the same pattern as the first but Altrincham were now spending more time in the opposition's half. Altrincham made their first change in the 59th minute when Joel Brownhill replaced Kieran Madden. Brownhill is continuing his rehabilitation after injury and has only played the equivalent of one and a half games in the last three fixtures. The change seemed to revitalize the front line as Brownhill's pace and passing came into play.
However, in the 75th minute, left-back James Smart had to limp off with a recurrence of the injury he had suffered in the previous week's game. He was replaced by Liam Bromiley-Blackburn, who went to centre-back, with Bates moving to right back and Shawcross went to left-back.
With time running out, Altrincham launched one last attack, and the opposition keeper and a defender got into a misunderstanding. Brownhill pressurised them, gained position and took the ball away wide to the left of goal, from where he slotted it into the net (90+3 mins). The goal was testimony to Brownhill's putting pressure on the opposition and gave Altrincham a 1-0 win which leaves them needing a draw in their final group stage game to secure a place in the final. Should they achieve this, it would be their fourth appearance in the Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup final in five years.
This Tuesday, Altrincham travel to Stalybridge Celtic for an FA Youth Cup match, with their record in all competitions this season being: played 9, won 8, drawn 1, for 27, against 7.
| Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 1 THE WIRRAL & DISTRICT FA YOUTH 0 |
Copyright: ©
Compiled by John Laidlar
