LINE-UP

WITTON ALBION YOUTH (Dark blue and yellow): 1. Tom Evans, 2. Cameron Cooper, 3. Elliot Woodthorpe, 4. Rick Barnes, 5. Jack Nicholls, 6. Will Semple (capt), 7. Sam Ashworth, 8. Jonathan Jones, 9. Calum Burleigh, 10. Brad Taberner, 17. Harry Cain. Subs: 12. Jamie Weeder, 14. Charlie Holmes, 16. Mikey Callaghan.

REPORT

With a slightly unfamiliar line-up, Altrincham nevertheless started the game brightly. Cunliffe's fifth-minute freekick just evaded the head of Pouncey before Crilly's feed saw Pouncey thwarted by keeper Evans (7 mins).

But then, from their first serious attack, Witton took the lead. Cane did well on the left and his pass found Burleigh, completely unmarked, and he took the chance well, with a firm shot past Samberg (8 mins).

Poor marking allowed Witton another chance as Jones got in a 25-yard shot which deflected narrowly over the bar, for a corner (9 mins). However, a good run by Coffey now earned Altrincham a corner of their own. The Alty midfield was cut open again when Burleigh was set free, once more, and his shot forced a fine save from Samberg (14 mins).

Taberner then had to go off, injured, for Witton (15 mins).

Westall's foul on Jones gave Witton a freekick but Semple's freekick was saved by Samberg (24 mins). Things improved for Alty as Cunliffe headed over after a smart interception by the lively Westall and then an excellent overlap, up the right, by Brown led to a Pouncey shot which was saved (26 mins).

Altrincham equalised after Westall, aided by a smart step over the ball from Coffey, advanced up the left and won a freekick near the left corner flag. Cunliffe's freekick was headed home by an unmarked Potts (28 mins).

The hosts were now on top. A good turn by Potts allowed him a shot, whch was saved but then a counterattack from Witton saw the impressive Burleigh strike the top of the Altrincham crossbar, his effort taking a deflection for a corner (38 mins).

After this, Albion threatened again as Jones's firmly struck 20-yard effort had to be tipped smartly over the bar by Samberg (40 mins). Although Witton won another corner on the cusp of half-time, the interval arrived with the scores level at 1-1.

Early in the second half, Burleigh headed home a Cain cross but it was ruled out for offside. Manager George Heslop was not impressed by his side's start to the half, telling his team, "Get a grip, that was terrible!".

There was little further threat to either goal till Burleigh again got in a shot, which Samberg saved (52 mins). After Westall had shot just wide, Burleigh won Witton another corner as the match went through an end to end spell near the hour mark.

After 58 minutes, Kane Hughes replaced Messam. After a Witton corner, Alty won two of their own. From the second of these, Pouncey rose unchallenged to put Altrincham 2-1 up (69 mins).

Over the next few minutes, Witton made a couple of changes of personnel but, as the game approached the final ten minutes, neither side went close to scoring. Messam now came back on for Pouncey (80 mins) as Altrincham enjoyed another period of superiority.

But in the closing minutes, Witton came very close to equalizing. Firstly, Burleigh got to the byline and, from his feed, Jones's shot was just deflected over the bar by Crilly. Following the corner, the ball evaded Samberg and Brown had to clear off the line. Another Witton corner followed but Alty held on to secure a win to help them in their quest to claim a second-place finish (90+2 mins).