ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (3) 3 FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER YOUTH 0

NW Youth Alliance Premier Division match
played on Sunday 21 March 2010 at Wythenshawe Town at 2.30pm


LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Yellow shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. James FOSSDYKE, 2. Ben SHAWCROSS, 4. Dominic BATES, 5. Ryan MARSDEN, 3. James SMART; 7. Rory BRADBURY, 12. Andy GAMBLE, 6. John BENNETT (capt), 11. Niall SHERIDAN; 9. Kieran MADDEN, 10. Michael LINNEY. Subs: 14. Harry McAUGHTRIE, 17. Konstantinos NEOS, 16. Luke LAVELLE.

FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER YOUTH (Red): 1. Grantham, 2. Banda, 3. Fitton, 4. Dainty, 5. Edwards, 6. Cheetham, 7. Burke, 18. Kulakowski, 9. Eme, 10. Moloney, 11. Haslam. Subs: 12. Walker, 14. Lyons, 15. Graham, 17. Mousa.


REPORT

For the second game running, Altrincham lost a player in the warm up - this time it was captain and number eight, Dan Shaw, so the armband went to John Bennett as Andy Gamble came into the vacated midfield berth. So, coincidentally both sides took to the pitch without a number eight as an FCUM player wore no.18 instead. Rory Bradbury, normally a centre-back, started on the right of midfield for Altrincham, as Ryan Marsden retained his defensive position alongside Dominic Bates.

FCUM won the game's first corner but otherwise Altrincham started the game well and after a Madden shot had gone wide, they won a corner themselves, following a throw-in on the right wing. Following this, Sheridan drove an effort wide from left of goal (14 mins).

Play was now fairly even and, indeed, the visitors won two more corners in succession, followed by another as the half approached its half-way point. However, when Alty gained a corner on their left it was to prove decisive. Sheridan's kick was cleared to Bennett and, via Sheridan, the ball was played back into the goalmouth where keeper Grantham palmed it away towards the Alty right. There, Bradbury sent an excellent shot back across goal to give Altrincham the lead (23 mins).

The referee then showed a yellow card to Shawcross for dissent after a foul by another Alty player. Another FCUM corner followed but Alty then wrapped up the game with two goals in as many minutes. First of all a cross from the left was met by a firm header from right of goal by the incoming Bradbury and that made it 2-0 (30 mins). The centre-back had underlined his versatility now with two very well-taken goals.

Next, as FCUM argued amongst themselves, Alty took advantage of their disarray to score again. A good move up the left involving Smart, Madden and Sheridan ended with the last-named's cross which Linney converted, from close range, at the second attempt to make it 3-0 (32 mins). The scoreline was a bit harsh on FCUM though it could have got worse when Linney's attempted chip just cleared the bar.

In the 39th minute both teams made a change and, having both started without a no.8, each side again mirrored the other as they made identical changes; the respective number elevens gave way to number seventeens. In Alty's case, Sheridan had taken an earlier knock which prompted his replacement by Neos. Half-time arrived with Alty in control.


Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 3 FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER YOUTH 0

Alty had an early scare, having to clear an FCUM header off the line following a corner. But they then suffered another injury disruption when Neos was accidentally kicked on the head by the high boot of Banda and had to leave the field for treatment to a gash above his left eye. McAughtrie came on for the unfortunate Neos (56 mins).

Play went through a fairly uneventful period before FCUM brought on Lyons for Dainty (74 mins). Altrincham won a corner following which Marsden went close to scoring (85 mins) but the second half was largely a non-event as Altrincham reached the final whistle with their three-goal lead intact.


Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 3 FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER YOUTH 0