Match Reports
MORECAMBE FC YOUTH (2) 2 ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (3) 3
NWYA Premier Division league match
played on Sunday, 4 March, 2012
LINE-UP
ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Adam REID, 2. Josh MASON, 4. Joe COOMBS, 5. Alex WEATHERBY, 3. Sam GRIMSHAW (capt); 7. Jonathan MAKELA, 6. Alan TANSINDA, 8. Oliver RILEY, 11. Josh PALMER; 9. Denico WALTERS, 10. Derryn OFORI. Subs: 12. Sam ROWLEY, 14. Liam RUTLEDGE, 15. Thomas DAVIDSON, 16. Shakeel DEPEIAZA, GK. Ross BOOTH.
REPORT
Report by George Heslop.
This game at Lancaster & Morecambe College was played on a very soggy pitch. Altrincham were without Duncan Watmore (ill), Matt Fearon, Mark Napier-Hemy (injured) and Ben Hamilton (out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury).
Altrincham kicked off, welcoming back Joe Coombs for his first appearanmce since 8th January. Altrincham were playing up a slight slope, with a medium sea breeze behind their backs, moving the ball around well and using the wings. The away side had better possession and this came to fruition in the 18th minute when Derryn Ofori got possession in the right wing position. He crossed the ball to where Josh Palmer finished well at the near post, confirming his value since returning to the starting line-up against Nantwich Town.
However, Morecambe struck back immediately and, two minutes later, it was 1-1. Then in the 32nd minute, Altrincham went ahead again when, in a crowded area, Derryn Ofori turned well and forced the ball home to make it 2-1.
However, the previous scenario was repeated when Morecambe won the ball, as a defender slipped in the difficult conditions and Morecambe equalized again within two minutes to make it 2-2.
As the wind increased, Alan Tansinda pushed forward in central midfield and, from 25 yards, found the top right-hand corner of the net; 3-2. The goal showed the lessons learned in the warm up of how to use the wind - well done, Alan!
Then, for the third time, Morecambe came back quickly, bursting through the middle via three quick passes. Skipper Sam Grimshaw covered but stemming the attack led to his first-ever booking in football.
| Half-Time: MORECAMBE FC YOUTH 2 ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 3 |
The conditions got worse in the second half, with the wind getting stronger. Ten minutes into the second half, manager George Heslop made the first change, replacing Ollie Riley (playmaker) with defensive midfielder and debutant Sam Rowley, signed from Chester, coming on. This forced Morecambe to use the long ball.
Then Liam Rutledge came on for Jonathan Makela to tighten up further and, finally, Denico Walters was replaced by Tom Davidson.
With these changes, Altrincham coped easily with the long ball without too many alarms. The 14 players who participated in this game contributed to a very good win which lifted Altrincham into third place, but a lot of hard work is required to retain this position.
| Full-Time: MORECAMBE FC YOUTH 2 ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 3 |