LINE-UP

SKELMERSDALE UNITED (All blue): 1. George Johnson, 2. Ross Lowry, 3. Andy Miller, 4. Jacob Dale, 5. Sam Oates, 6. Ben Langley, 7. Tony Donaldson, 8. Harry Collins, 9. Jake Nicholson, 10. Luke Rooney, 11. Darren Healy. Subs: 14. Adam Rooney, 15. Morrison, 16. Russell, 17. Dunger, 19. ?

REPORT

The game got under way in poor conditions with rain, a gusty wind and a muddy pitch. Alty started well and took an early lead when Shaun Arrowsmith scored from a right-central position in the fifth minute. The lead was almost doubled four minutes later when the visitors' keeper was unable to hold a shot but Melingui was only able to divert the loose ball narrowly over the bar. Alty continued to dominate the early stages and as Cain and team-mates advanced up the left, a strong challenge went unpunished only for an Altrincham player to be brought down immediately afterwards inside the box.

The resulting penalty was taken by Heathcote and, though the keeper almost stopped it, the ball had enough power to find the net and make it 2-0 after 14 minutes.

Despite a tendency sometimes to over-elaborate in conditions which did not facilitate a passing game, Altrincham continued to have the better of things until midway through the half. Then Skelmersdale got forward with Nicholson in particular looking to be a threat. Just before the break, the visitors brought on Dunger for the injured Lowry but half time arrived with Altrincham still 2-0 ahead.

A good run from Melingui early in the second half led to a shot, wide, by Clancy who had just returned to the game after some pitch-side treatment for what appeared to be a blow to the mouth (50 mins). Nearly all of the play was in the visitors' half of the pitch as the weather conditions now improved for a while.

From an Alty corner, the visitors' keeper made a fine one-handed save but Davies scored from the follow up. After some initial confusion about whether the goal would stand, the referee consulted his assistant and confirmed its validity (52 mins).

Now Crompton came on for Campion, which in turn led to Clancy moving to right-back (54 mins). Crompton soon threatened with a well-struck shot which the keeper's hand just managed to divert onto the base of the goalpost (58 mins).

Four substitutions took place in the 61st minute as Alty brought on Folagbade and Bellingham for Arrowsmith and Cain and Skem brought on Russell and Adam Rooney. But the one-way traffic towards the Skelmersdale end continued whilst Skem introduced their no.19 (70 mins). Five minutes later Alty's Treyvon Simpson replaced Melingui, after which Russell was booked for the visitors.

Skelmersdale now enjoyed a good spell and the no.19 forced a fine save from Havern, who gave a confident and impressive performance on his debut in the Altrincham goal, replacing the suspended Burrows. Altrincham's Heathcote was cautioned after 82 minutes and was later substituted by the returning Campion. As the game ended, the rain and wind returned but Altrincham had secured a deserved three points in testing conditions.