ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH TEAM MATCH REPORT

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (0) 0
ASHTON ATHLETIC FC YOUTH (0) 1

NWYA Premier Division match
played on Sunday, 21 August 2016, k.o. 2.30pm
at Hale Country Club and Spa, Clay Lane, Timperley


LINE-UPS

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1 Ryan Millington, 2 Tom Kelly, 3 Sam Bown, 4 Deklan Hill, 5 Milo Pitterson, 6 Pete Iacovou (capt), 17 Thabani Jambaya, 11 Darius Palmer, 8 Jordan Milne, 9 Declan McGloin, 10 Aaron Clayton. Subs: 14 Kafele Swanston, 12 Michael Carcamo, 15 Alfie Holden, 16 Alex Foord.


REPORT

It was an almost completely new-look under-18 Altrincham Youth side which kicked off the 2016-17 season at home to Ashton Athletic in the Premier Division of the NWYA League. One element of continuity, however, was captain Peter Iacovou who had regularly featured last season under George Heslop's managership. Today the team was overseen by Adam Nuttall.

Alty kicked off in warm sunshine and they won the game's first corner in the fifth minute. But play was fairly even before Altrincham's first half-chance arose as Jambaya was unable to convert Palmer's good cross (13 mins). A sequence of three Altrincham corners arrived between this effort and the 16th minute, with a freekick also won in between these, as Alty maintained the upper hand.

However, Ashton then threatened as their no.10's shot from 25 yarder flew narrowlty wide of the Alty goal (18 mins). The home side responded as Clayton fed McGloin for a shot which the keeper saved. Then Palmer went on a good run but dragged his shot wide (21 mins).

The defences remained on top, however, and Hill made a good tackle to halt an Ashton attack. Next Milne had a shot deflected for a corner but this was overhit by Jambaya (24 mins). Ashton responded with a corner of their own and, after this, they had a good chance when their no.9 crossed from the right but their no.8 headed the chance wide (26 mins). After their no.9 had been fouled, an Ashton freekick was tipped over the bar by Millington for a corner.

Ashton introduced their first substitute after 30 minutes. When their no.10 fouled Pitterson, the Ashton man was booked (33 mins). Altrincham were again on top at this stage and after Palmer had seen a shot blocked, they won another corner. This fell to Hill, at the back post, but his shot was well saved, another corner resulting.

Shortly before half time Palmer was fouled but he put the resulting freekick over the bar (43 mins). Despite a late Ashton corner, half-time was reached at 0-0.


Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 0
ASHTON ATHLETIC FC YOUTH 0

Ashton made three more changes at the interval and it was they who enjoyed the better of the opening stages of the second half. Seven minutes into the half, Alty brought on Foord for Palmer.

The sides traded attacks with Ashton's no.9 almost getting on the end of their no.2's cross. From a subsequent Alty corner, Bown headed over the bar (64 mins). Milne, Clayton and McGloin then combined well before the last named was upended in the box and a penalty was awarded. But Jambaya's spot kick was saved by the Ashton keeper, diving low to his left, though a corner did result (65 mins).

When Pitterson brought down an opponent there was a minor fracas and both Pitterson and Ashton's no.11 were lectured by the referee. Next, Pitterson gave way to substitute Holden (67 mins).

Jambaya and then Holden saw shots saved but play was end to end at this stage of the game. Between two substitutions by Ashton, Altrincham brought on Swanston for McGloin (77 mins).

Goalkeeper Millington had to be alert to push away a shot by Ashton's no.15 (82 mins) but then Clayton and an opponent were both booked for a minor spot on the touchline (83 mins). But then Ashton got the decisive goal. A slick interpassing move took them up the centre of the pitch from the centre circle and opened up the Altrincham midfield and defence. The move was finished off with a low shot by their number eight who had played an instrumental role in the build up (87 mins).

It was too late for Altrincham to get back on level terms and so the Robins were unlucky losers of a generally pretty even game.


Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 0
ASHTON ATHLETIC FC YOUTH 1