ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (1) 1 MORECAMBE "A" YOUTH 1

NW Youth Alliance Premier Division match
played on Sunday 14 March 2010 at Wythenshawe Town


LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. James FOSSDYKE, 2. Ben SHAWCROSS, 4. Dominic BATES, 5. Ryan MARSDEN, 3. James SMART; 7. Jamie BROWN, 8. Dan SHAW (capt), 6. John BENNETT, 11. Niall SHERIDAN; 9. Kieran MADDEN, 10. Michael LINNEY. Subs: 12. Andy GAMBLE, 14. Glodi KUBA-KUBA, 15. Rory BRADBURY, GK. James THORN.

MORECAMBE "A" YOUTH (Pale blue): 1. Calvert, 2. Davies, 5. Axon-Smith, 12. Wans? 7. Draycott, 15. Winder, 10. Moore, 11.McMillan, 4. Duckworth, 18. Dhib, 9. Field. Subs: 6. Curtis, 3. Moffet, 8. Mills, 13.Stephenson.


REPORT

Altrincham had to make a late pre-match change in goal after James Thorn injured himself in the warm-up. So, James Fossdyke took over the gloves in an Altrincham side which showed one further change from the eleven who started the CCFA District Cup Final last Sunday; Ryan Marsden replaced Rory Bradbury in the central defence.

Play stopped almost immediately after kick-off when the visitors' striker, Field was injured and needed lengthy treatment. He was ultimately unable to continue, so Mills came on in his place. A Brown effort soon won Alty their first corner but Morecambe immediately responded with one of their own (10 mins). Sheridan then went close for Alty who were now having the better of proceedings. But the pitch was hard and bobbly and, with the additional hazard of a gusty wind, it was not easy to play a passing game.

Madden was keeping the visitors' defence on its toes as he chased down through-balls and when his partner, Linney, won a corner with a good bit of skill, a home goal looked more likely than one for Morecambe. However, when Sheridan's corner ended up with a goal-line scramble to clear the ball, Morecambe's Moore got free up the middle, past Marsden, and calmly placed a shot in to the bottom corner of the net to Fossdyke's left. The goal had arrived against the run of play (31 mins).

It only took three minutes for Altrincham to equalize. Marsden, then Bennett, fed Smart and his cross from the left was relayed to Madden, right of goal and he scored well (34 mins). As half-time approached, Shaw saw his shot saved for Alty but Morecambe also threatened, in added time, when the advancing McMillan was just beaten to the ball by Fossdyke (45+2 mins).


Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 1 MORECAMBE "A" YOUTH 1

Altrincham started the second half brightly but Brown's curling shot, narrowly over the bar, was the nearest to a goal (54 mins). The gusty wind continued to make flowing play difficult as the game continued without either side seriously threatening a goal.

Alty had a scare when Bates's clearance struck a Morecambe man and rebounded towards goal but Fossdyke was able to get back to cover as the ball headed narrowly wide (68 mins). Next Glodi Kuba-Kuba replaced Madden up front for Altrincham (71 mins). Alty then won a freekick on the edge of the box but Shawcross's effort was off target. Morecambe now brought on Moffet for McMillan (76 mins), following which a smart overhead shot from Linney went narrowly wide. Gamble now came on in place of Alty's Shaw (80 mins).

The Morecambe keeper soon saved a Gamble freekick before Kuba-Kuba threatened up the left. From another Gamble freekick, Kuba-Kuba glanced a header wide (85 mins). At the other end a 25-yarder from Morecambe kissed the top of the Alty crossbar and went out of play.

Morecambe won a late corner before Brown gave way to Rory Bradbury for Altrincham (90+1 mins). Four more added minutes were played but neither side could get the decisive goal.


Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 1 MORECAMBE "A" YOUTH 1