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PRESCOT CABLES (Amber shirts, blue shorts, black socks): 1: Daniel Murphy, 2. Patrick Flynn, 3. Mathew Reddington, 4. Ryan Doyle, 5. Callum Jones, 6. Stephen Thomas, 7. Shekinnah Chipfatsure, 8. Kyle Sambor, 9. Andrew Scarisbrick, 10. Robert Johnson.

REPORT

Prescot arrived with only ten players so were facing an uphill struggle, even before kick off. So, when Altrincham took an early lead, it looked as if it would be a long night for the visitors. The goal arrived fortutiously when Cain's cross from the left deflected off Doyle and span upwards and over his stranded keeper, Murphy, and into the far corner of his net in only the third minute.

It almost became 2-0, two minutes later, when Arrowsmith's shot was saved and, as Davis pounced on the loose ball, it was deflected out for a corner. Altrincham continued to dominate and won three corners by the midway point of the half. But Prescot were working hard and their keeper had relatively little to do as Alty's attacks foundered.

However, after 26 minutes, Murphy had to do well to parry a fine shot from Clancy. As Alty failed to convert their one-man advantage into further goal threats, Prescot went close when Sambor's 20 yard effort narrowly cleared the bar (32 mins).

Altrincham's nearest effort to a second goal was Campion's well-struck shot from 25 yards, which hit the post supporting the back of the net (38 mins). As half time approached Alty won a freekick from which Heathcote's ball struck an opponent who had not retreated. The referee allowed play to continue to the annoyance of Heathcote who was booked for dissent (42 mins). For some reason, play restarted with a Cables' freekick.

Although Altrincham won another corner, half-time arrived with the home side making heavy weather of their numerical advantage.

At the break, Goldman came on for Foy, as Alty started with a back three. As in the first half, they again scored early. After a sweeping ball to the left from Heathcote, the ball was played into Taylor but as Doyle attempted to clear, Melingui dispossessed him and went on to score (49 mins).

Cables responded well, earning two corners, as Alty again failed to build on their lead. When Campion and the visitors' number seven went for the ball, the latter stayed down. Campion was harshly booked for what looked a fair 50-50 challenge (59 mins). Soon after this, Burrows had to get down to stop a Prescot shot.

There was a nasty moment on the hour mark when Arrowsmith's foul was followed by a late and reckless challenge on the Alty player by Sambor. After consulting his assistant, the refree showed Sambor a red card so the visitors were now reduced to nine men as play resumed with a Cables' freekick (61).

Prescot were briefly reduced to eight men when a player received treatment off the pitch following Davis's foul. Altrincham won two corners, the latter won by Cain's shot before Folagbade and Dwyer came on for Melingui and Cain (75 mins).

Two more Altrincham corners were won as the game went into its final ten minutes but the numerically disdvantaged Prescot kept going.

Crompton replaced Clancy (84 mins) and, five minutes afterwards, Alty were reduced to ten men. Campion's foul in the centre of the pitch saw him shown a second yellow card (89 mins). So the game concluded with just 19 players on the pitch. It had been a far from dominant performance from Altrincham but the three points kept them on target for a final-day showdown for the title with league leaders Chester FC.

With four more matches to play, Altrincham FC Youth have moved to within four points of Chester, with a game in hand on them.