ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (3) 3 MARINE "A" YOUTH (1) 1
played on Sunday, 9 May, 2010 at Wythenshawe Town at 2.30pm


LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. James THORN, 2. Ben SHAWCROSS, 5. Ryan MARSDEN, 4. Dominic BATES, 3. James SMART; 7. Blaine WHITESIDE, 8. Andy GAMBLE, 6. John BENNETT (capt), 11. Niall SHERIDAN; 9. Glodi KUBA-KUBA, 10. Michael LINNEY. Subs: 12. Jamie BROWN, 14. Kieran MADDEN, 15. Rory BRADBURY, 16. Harry McAUGHTRIE, 17. Josh BENNETT

MARINE "A" (Yellow and green): 1. Fannings, 2. Ferguson, 3. Jones, 4. Flynn, 5. Anderson, 6. Duff, 7. Francis (capt)., 8. Briscoe, 9. Watkinson, 10. Lamb, 11. Speed. Subs: 12. Mwanswe, 14. Walker, 15. Bentley


REPORT

Altrincham needed to win today, or at least match Stalybridge's result against FCUM, to secure the NWYA Premier Division title for 2009-10.

Right: Dominic Bates clears the Alty lines in the second half.

Marine got off to an unfortunate start; within thirty seconds of the kick-off both their keeper and an outfield player were simultaneously injured on different parts of the pitch. Keeper Fanning seemed to hurt himself kicking clear and limped throughout the rest of the match with what seemed to be a knee problem.

Alty almost took an early lead when Sheridan struck the outside of the post (6 mins). There was soon another stoppage for treatment to a Marine player after which Alty soon took the lead. Bates took a freekick from the left, ten yards or so inside his own half. Kuba-Kuba nodded the ball on to Linney, who executed a superb finish, looping the ball over the keeper with a bicycle kick (9 mins).

Marine responded by winning a corner but then Alty threatened again when Kuba-Kuba's strength allowed him to find Sheridan who fed Gamble, but he shot well over the bar (14 mins). From an Alty corner, after 22 minutes, Marsden rose well but headed narrowly over the bar. Alty made it 2-0 after 24 minutes when a good through ball found Kuba-Kuba who finished well into the bottom corner of the net. Moments later, the same player should have scored again but mishit his shot wide when facing the keeper, after a Marine defensive lapse. Two more Alty corners followed, as the home side looked to be comfortably in control.

Alty made it 3-0 on the half-hour mark when Kuba-Kuba latched onto a long punt from goalkeeper Thorn and again finished well. It was the third time the striker had scored two goals in a match in the last fortnight. But any thoughts that the victory would be routine were dispelled three minutes later when Marine scored. A cross from the right was headed back into the Alty danger area by Whiteside. Brsicoe latched onto it and lashed a fine shot past Thorn though the bobbly pitch did not help the keeper's cause as the ball took an exaggerated bounce (33 mins).

The goal lifted the visitors and they had the better of the period to half time but the Alty defence held firm, despite more than five added minutes due to the earlier injuries. Right at the end of the half, Kuba-Kuba could have completed his hat trick but his free header went straight to Fanning in the Marine goal.


Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 3 MARINE "A" YOUTH 1

Marine brought on Mwanswe as a substitute at half time. The period up to the hour mark saw Marine making most of the running but Altrincham working hard in midfield and defence to prevent any serious danger to Thorn's goal.

Alty's most threatening moment arrived after 70 minutes when Kuba-Kuba held off a challenge and found Linney who, from 25 yards, fired in an excellent shot which came down of the underside of the bar before bouncing out and being cleared.

Marine did hit the Alty post ten minutes from time through Jones but despite plenty of attacking possession the visitors could not get back into the game with a second goal. After a spat between Kuba-Kuba and Marine's Francis, the Alty striker was subbed following a talking-to from the referee. Kuba-Kuba was now replaced by Madden (83 mins) but, as he walked off, he took off his shirt and got himself booked to mar an otherwise excellent performance from the Alty man.

Marine continued to press and won a late corner but Altrincham held on without further alarams to clinch the league title. They have the chance to make it a double when they meet Salford City in the Open Cup Final on 18th May.


Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 3 MARINE "A" YOUTH 1