At a rain-sodden J. Davidson Stadium, Altrincham beat Chester FC 1-0 on Wednesday night in the FA Youth Cup Third Qualifying Round.

The only goal arrived just before the interval through a Harrison Howells header and it came after Chester had been the better side in the first half. However, Altrincham retained their lead relatively comfortably in the second half.

SCORERS:

• 45 mins: Harrison HOWELLS (ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 1 Chester FC Youth 0)

Paul Fay was in charge of the team as they sought to reach the First Round Proper where EFL teams join the competition. Most of the Alty team were from their Academy though Tom White was a notable exception. He plays for the under-18 age group.

Shirt numbers to be confirmed.

ALTRINCHAM (Red and white striped shirts, black shorts, white socks): 1. Louie FALLON, 2. Tom WHYTE, 3. Lucas EDWARDS, 4. Oscar COOPER, 5. Blyth BYWATER, 6. Thomas MURPHY, 7. Nathan WOOD, 8. Remi RAYMOND, 9. Vlad SHTYHLIAN, 10. Max WHITTLE, 11. Harrison HOWELLS. Subs. 16. Charley JERRALD, 18. Afernee DENISE and others.

CHESTER FC YOUTH (Blue and yellow) 1. Charlie Young, 2. Michael Lawson, 3. Mason Duff, 4. Michael Jameson, 5. Harry Briscoe (c), 6. Thomas Beswick, 7. Oscar Rosenblatt, 8. Muirhead, 9. Connor Murphy, 10. Luca Boone, 11. Patrick Davies, Subs: Lawrence, 18. Lewis Corbett, 21. Ryan Atkinson.

Alty had beaten Warrington Town 2-1 at the JDS to reach this stage of the competition.

Chester started the better and won a corner inside two minutes when Fallon had to tip an effort over the bar. The visitors then forced Fallon to make another save, from a Beswick shot (6 mins).

Heavy rain was falling as Alty remained on the back foot and Alty's first shot of note did not arrive till the 17th minute, from Whittle. As Alty settled, Chester were still a therat with Lawson again forcing Fallon to tip the ball over his bar as he remianed the busier keeper (27 mins).

After a Chester freekick had hit the wall (31 mins) the visitors continued to press, winning two corners in the next five mionutes or so.

But Altrincham finished the half well and snatched a half-time lead in the 45th minute when a Raymond cross from the right was met by a downward header from Howells, one of Alty's shorter players embarrassing the visitors' defence.

After the break Chester were again the first to threaten as Rosenblatt forced Fallon into a save, at the second attempt, as Murphy closed in. A Chester corner also soon followed (53 mins).

A double change saw Atherton repace Davies for the visitors and Jerrold came on for Howells for Altrincham (61 mins).

Following another Chester corner, Denise replaced Wood for Altrincham (66 mins). The chsnges continued to interrupt the flow of the match as, now, Lawrence replaced Murphy for the visitors.

Alty weathered a series of long throws from Jameson before Duff was booked for a foul on Denise (76 mins)>

More heavy rain fell as Altrincham remained fairly comfortable with their lead, without looking like adding to their advantage.

Yet more changes brought Corbett on for Rosenblatt (85 mins) before Lawson was subbed by Chester's no.12 (89 mins).

Shythlian got himself booked, just before added time of four minutes commenced, which ALty saw out to confirm their place in Round One Proper.

They had shown good character to hold their lead without serious alarms in the second half.