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ALTRINCHAM : Steven Bullen, Callum Harkin, Alex Weatherby, David Brown, Mike King, Samuel Rowley, Rory McGoldrick, Oliver Riley, Spencer Cunliffe, Derryn Ofori, Adam Bezzina. Subs used: Tom Lyons for Alex Weatherby, Joe Hand for Samuel Rowley, Louis Brown for Derryn Ofori. Subs not used: Sam Bowles, Jordan Mainoo-Hames, Ben Hall".

REPORT

Report by Callum Harkin.

On an unattractive 3G pitch and testing a new formation, Altrincham began the game slowly. With the away side struggling to get going and with passes going astray, Nantwich took the upper hand forcing two early corners. Alty keeper Steven Bullen was then forced into action earlier then he would have liked when he sensibly tipped over an early Nantwich effort.

The game continued in a disjointed fashion until the 20th minute when Altrincham registered their first attempt on the Nantwich goal. The home side, undoubtedly in control of the game, were then unlucky not to take the lead as they tried to take advantage of Alty’s poor start, hitting the post in the 34th minute. This seemed to rock the Reds, who then began to get going.

An attacking run from right-back Callum Harkin resulted in a chance for in-form striker Adam Bezzina, who saw his attempted finish slide the wrong side of the post. Altrincham continued to push forward and a driving run from midfield dynamo Spencer Cunliffe earned a free kick, which captain, Oliver Riley, beautifully curled over the wall and into the back of the net just before the half-time whistle.

The Reds came out in the second half with a point to prove after luckily taking a lead into the break. The seemingly regenerated Alty side then created chance after chance displaying some superb football with Bezzina hitting the post with the half only five minutes old. The pressure continued to mount for the home side as Riley forced a wonderful stretching save from left back Sam Rowley’s long throw.

Altrincham were to extend their lead from the resulting corner. A perfectly struck ball from Riley found the imperious Alex Weatherby, who was more than happy to head home.

The Reds really began to flex their muscles on the hour mark when a sweeping attack down the left from debutant Mike King set up Derryn Ofori, who forced another good save from the Nantwich keeper. The hard-working Ofori then executed a perfectly timed flick on for Bezzina, who could only fire wide. But this only seemed to fuel the Altrincham fire as Cunliffe stole the ball from the home side and set up Ofori, who forced yet another save from the home stopper. However his efforts were in vain as Altrincham’s top scorer Bezzina was in the right place at the right time to extend the lead in the 75th minute.

Alty keeper Steven Bullen was then called into action, pulling off an outstanding one on one save, which Alty instantly broke from. Ofori again turned provider, setting off the free-scoring Bezzina, who expertly finished off a wonderful move from the away side in the 83rd minute.

A wonderful second half performance, showcasing what Altrincham are really about, saw off the home side with ease and, if the passages of play shown can be repeated, followers of the Reds are surely in for an exciting season.