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ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, red shorts and aquamarine socks). 1. Josh SAMBERG, 2. Callum HARKIN, 3. Tom LYONS, 4. David BROWN, 5. Alex WEATHERBY, 6. Andy ROYLE, 7. Rob GILROY, 8. Oliver RILEY (capt.), 9. Adam BEZZINA, 10. Derryn OFORI, 11. Michael KING. Subs: 12. Jamie McLELLAN, 14. Jordan HAMES, 15. Matt TODD, GK. Stephen BULLEN. Reserve: 17. Tom CLARKE.

REPORT

The game kicked off in bright sunshine on a warm evening at the Manchester United training ground at Ayrshire Road, on the banks of the River Irwell in Salford. In a fairly quiet start to this Manchester FA Youth Cup Final, Altrincham won three corners in the opening fifteen minutes. The nearest efforts to a goal were a 30-yard shot from Ofori, which the keeper stopped, and a 25-yard freekick by King, which the Vikings' keeper tipped over the bar (15 mins).

Another long range effort from Ofori went narrowly wide (20 mins) before a further Altrincham corner was won on the right. This came back to the taker, King, and this time his cross found Royle whose effort at the back post struck the upright (23 mins).

After a good run by Gilroy had been interrupted by a foul, Alty were given a freekick on the right edge of the box. Thoughts that "advantage" might have been played were soon banished when, following the freekick, Alty scored. From the freekick, the ball was played to Riley, whose shot at goal came to Gilroy and he slotted the ball past the keeper, before celebrating with a backward flip (29 mins).

Above: Rob Gilroy, about to slot home the only goal of the game, in a photo taken facing into bright sunshine.

Almost immediately, a good ball from Gilroy found Royle, who forced a good save, at the cost of a corner, which was soon followed by another corner for Altrincham, as they continued to enjoy the better of the game. However, Samberg soon had to make an important stop from the Vikings' number three (36 mins).

Just after another Altrincham corner, Altrincham started their use of the "rolling substitutes" arrangements, as Gilroy gave way to Potts (41 mins). Stockport finished the half on the front foot but, apart from a corner, there was no serious threat of an equalizer.

Altrincham had an escape, six minutes into the second half when Samberg was unable to hold a cross but the visitors put the ball wide of the net (51 mins). The rolling substitutions clntinued as Todd replaced Riley (54 mins), McLellan came on for Royle (57 mins) and Hames replaced Bezzina (61 mins).

Soon after a long stoppage, when the Stockport no.3 injured himself challenging Samberg, their no.11 was booked for a foul on the Altrincham keeper (68 mins). After Gilroy had replaced King (73 mins), two more Altrincham corners sandwiched the exchange of Royle for McLellan, who had been injured in a foul challenge made on him in midfield.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action as the sides cancelled out each other. But, as the ninety minutes neared their end, Bezzina won a corner from which a Potts header was cleared (88 mins). At the other end a long range shot flashed narrowly wide before the game entered what were to be some eight added minutes.

After a very late corner for Stockport (90+5 mins), a good move involving Royle, Bezzina and Gilroy gave Hames a close range chance which the keeper saved impressively (90+7 mins). The final whistle soon sounded to confirm a deserved win for Altrincham.