LINE-UP

COLNE (All sky blue) 1. James BECK, 2. Perry JEPSON, 3. Kamil DEPTUS, 4. Cory MOLLOY (capt), 5. Steven BELL, 6. Scott NEWSON, 7. Matthew PATES, 8. Daniel STANNERS, 9. Damian WILLIAMS, 10. Jack BROOKS, 11. Callum WEATHERALL. Subs: 12. Ellis HARKER, 14. Scott McCONNELL, 15. Dominic COMERFORD, 16. Michael HODSON, 17. Matthew SHIRT.

Referee: Mr Oliver Johnson

Attendance: 71

REPORT

Despite their success in reaching the Second Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup last season, Altrincham had to start the competition this season in the Preliminary Round. Their opponents were Colne FC, from Division Two of the NWYA League, a competition in which Altrincham FC Youth competes in the "Premier League".

Altrincham kicked off towards the Golf Road end and soon the pace of Arrowsmith on the Alty right wing won his side a corner (4 mins). From a Colne freekick which followed, Burrows palmed an aerial ball to safety but it was Altrincham who won another corner, in the eighth minute as the home side began to get on top.

However, slack defending by Altrincham allowed a ball over the top of the back line to lead to a shot which, fortunately, was directed straight at Burrows (12 mins). Some trickery from Dwyer induced a foul just outside the box and this led to another corner. Dwyer almost put his side ahead two minutes later when a smart ball up the middle led to his firm shot coming back off the woodwork (20 mins).

A few minutes afterwards, Dwyer won possession but his shot went narrowly wide. However, Altrincham did not help their own cause by being caught offside half a dozen times in the first half. However, when Arrowsmith turned smartly past his marker, Bell, the Colne man tripped him and was booked (26 mins). From the freekick, another corner arrived but again was dealt with by the Colne defence.

Arrowsmith was now played in on goal but fired over the bar before Jake Foy found himself in the referee's notebook for jumping into a tackle (33 mins). The freekick eluded Burrows and led to a Colne corner and then the visitors' Williams got in a shot which Burrows stopped as Colne enjoyed a good spell.

When the speed of Arrowsmith drew another foul, Jepson was cautioned (42 mins). So half time arrived with the game goalless. Altrincham had enjoyed the better of things with their pacey wingmen causing Colne partiular concern throughout. But, although the hosts had hit the woodwork, they had not overworked Beck in the Colne goal.

No doubt benefitting from their interval team-talk, Altrincham started the second half at a higher tempo. But captain Sam Heathcote was booked after 53 minutes for apparently disputing a throw in (53 mins). When Beck miskicked to Coffey the Alty striker could not get much power behind his shot which the Colne keeper saved comfortably. But a minute later, Altrincham took the lead. From a freekick outside the box, Heathcote went on a decoy run into the goalmouth before darting out to the right where he received the ball from Dwyer's short freekick. The Alty captain turned smartly and from his low cross, Cain bundled the ball home at the near post for a very well-worked goal (55 mins).

Colne immediately brought on Hodson for Williams (56 mins) but Altrincham remained on top. Next McConnell replaced Pates (62 mins). Cain was having a fine second half on the Alty left but it was a cross from that wing by Foy which produced Altrincham's second goal. Keeper Beck was unable to get Foy's deep cross, leaving Coffey with a clear header at the back post which he converted (67 mins).

A late challenge from Campion on Stanners brought Altrincham's third yellow card of the evening (70 mins). In the next fifteen minutes Altrincham won four corners. Between these, they made a double change as Goldman and Reid replaced Coffey and Dwyer (75 mins).

Colne made their final change as Shirt replaced Bell at the back (78 mins). With ten minutes remaining a fine ball from Heathcote was threaded up the middle to Goldman but his shot went narrowly wide. After this, Farrington replaced Foy at left back for Altrincham (83 mins).

With three minutes remaining a fine 20 yard shot by Reid made it 3-0 for Altrincham, who now meet either Irlam Town or Glossop North End in a fortnight's time (date to be arranged) at the J. Davidson Stadium. In the end it had been a comfortable win for Altrincham but it had needed an increase in urgency in the second half to bring its rewards in terms of goals.