BAD WEEK FOR YOUTH TEAM

Meanwhile, the Chester Chronicle reports that "Chester FC Youth could be just one win away from securing the North West Youth Alliance Premier Division title. The young Blues will be crowned champions if they win at Altrincham on Thursday and second placed Ashton Athletic fail to beat Curzon Ashton.

Calum McIntyre’s side were forced to watch on last season as Altrincham pipped them to the title but they have the chance to right that wrong [sic] this week. Thursday marks the start of a busy fortnight for the Blues, who will be going for glory on three fronts, with a NWYA Premier Division Cup final against AFC Fylde on Sunday and a NWYA Open Cup final at home to Ashton Athletic on Sunday, May 15 (2.30pm) at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.

'It could be a really, really big night for us,' said McIntyre, whose side won 6-0 at home to Salford on Sunday... Altrincham are obviously the reigning champions so it would be an even bigger bonus to go and win the league at their place. We obviously missed out last season on the final day with a really young squad, it is pretty much the same group of players and they are chomping at the bit to put that right.

'We have never even got a point at Altrincham in the league, as things seem to go against us there, so we’re going to need to be at our best to get the job done'".

YOUTH TEAM TRIALS

YOUTH TEAM WINS

NEXT FIXTURE

YOUTH FIXTURE

DEFEAT AT CHORLTON

NARROW CUP DEFEAT

Above: Alty Youth go close in the second half against Skelmersdale United.

Altrincham FC Youth went down 2-3 in the Neil Thomason Cup at home to Skelmersdale United in a match played on the 3G pitch at Partington Sports Village. There is a match report here.

In the NWYA league Chester beat Morecambe 3-1 to extend their lead over Alty to six points. The league table is here.

The next fixture in the league is on Sunday, 13th March away to West Didsbury & Chorlton.

MATCH VENUE

YOUTH GAME ON SUNDAY

SENDING-OFF HITS ALTY HARD

Coery Scarisbrick, Matthew Waters and Joe Savin scored the decisive goals for the hosts who lead the division on goal difference with a game in hand over Altrincham... Altrincham had chances of their own, James Jones twice blocking after the Blues failed to keep possession in their own half after a string of Alty set pieces...

It was to be from a set piece that the Blues edged in front. Nathan Brown’s inswinging corner was met by the head of Coery Scarisbrick, the captain heading into the ground as the ball bounced into the roof of the net to spark celebrations amongst the Blue shirts...

The visitors were reduced to ten men around the hour mark, Altrincham’s cautioned number 6 was dismissed for foul and abusive language after a foul on the left touchline. The numerical advantage gave the Seals the opportunity to dominate possession and a well worked move from the left appeared to be coming to nothing before left back Matthew Waters shifted inside to curl the ball deliciously into the top corner of the net to double Chester’s advantage.

With little over ten minutes remaining, Joe Savin put the game beyond all reasonable doubt, again Nathan Brown’s corner providing the assist as Savin sidefooted the ball high into the net via the underside of the crossbar...

Youth Team Manager Calum McIntyre said, 'Altrincham are obviously the team to beat this season given they won this division last year but we were first class this afternoon. To score three goals against the team at the top of the league is really pleasing but we are far more pleased with today’s clean sheet. We were rarely troubled and I thought we defended very well all round the pitch'".

VENUE CHANGED

BIG WIN

ALTY BOW OUT OF FA YOUTH CUP

Match report here.

FA YOUTH CUP ON WEDNESDAY

It is the team's first home match in the competition after successive, excellent away wins against FC United of Manchester, Workington and Newcastle Benfield.

Also tickets for the first-team's FA Cup match versus Barnsley will be on sale from 7pm at Wednesday's Youth Cup game and also at half time and full time.

YOUTH REPORT

FA YOUTH CUP OPPONENTS

Brandon Smalley opened the scoring for Dale on the stroke of half-time, but the Saddlers converted a 74th minute penalty to grab a share of the points.

Dale XI: Dyche, Mata, Kisimba, Coyne, Schorah, Lenehan, Berry, Smalley, Stewart, Pratt, Gillam. Subs: Price, Evans, Chea, Piggot, Hollins".

DATE FOR YOUTH CUP TIE DECIDED

FA YOUTH CUP ROUND TWO DRAW

All ties in this round must be played by Saturday 21 November 2015

• 1 Lincoln City or Port Vale v Wigan Athletic or York City
• 2 Ilkeston or Burton Albion v Shrewsbury Town or AFC Telford United
• 3 Romulus or Stourbridge or Chesterfield v Sheffield United or Bradford City
• 4 Accrington Stanley or Basford United v Hartlepool United or Fleetwood Town
• 5 Oldham Athletic or Chester v North Ferriby United or Morecambe
• 6 Walsall or Coventry City v Blackpool or Crewe Alexandra
• 7 Scunthorpe United or Wrexham v AFC Fylde or Bury
• 8 Northampton Town or Notts County v Altrincham or Rochdale
• 9 Carlisle United or Tranmere Rovers v Doncaster Rovers
• 10 Mansfield Town or Cambridge City v Dereham Town or Peterborough United
• 11 AFC Wimbledon or Woking v Gillingham or Ebbsfleet United
• 12 Bournemouth or Exeter City v Oxford United or Kidlington
• 13 Cheltenham Town or Swindon Town v Boreham Wood or Barnet
• 14 Cambridge United or Hayes & Yeading United v Aveley or Stevenage
• 15 AFC Hornchurch or Leyton Orient v Luton Town or Colchester United
• 16 Yeovil Town or Forest Green Rovers or Hungerford Town v Metropolitan Police or Dulwich Hamlet
• 17 Biggleswade Town or Enfield Town v Sutton United or Worthing
• 18 Sholing or Newport County v Barton Rovers or Southend United
• 9 Millwall or Dover Athletic v Woodbridge Town or Dagenham & Redbridge
• 20 Gloucester City or Cirencester Town or Bristol Rovers v Plymouth Argyle or Portsmouth

THURSDAY'S YOUTH MATCH COVERAGE

Courtesy of Brian Flynn, the Radio Robins commentary from the match can be heard again...

• 1st half
• 2nd half

Images from the game are on Facebook.

ALTY ADVANCE IN FA YOUTH CUP

Early in the second half Leather got to the left byline, beat a defender and drove home an angled shot across the keeper to make it 2-0 (47 mins). But five minutes from the end of normal time, the otherwise dependable Jones misjudged a through ball and left it to run towards goakeeper Havern. The keeper blocked Walker's effort but Blackett was on hand to drive the loose ball into the net.

Two minutes later, when Fisher's challenge left substitute Gladstone on the ground, Alty were relieved to see no penalty awarded and they hung on through three minutes of added time to secure a 2-1 win.

Report to follow.

ALTY GO TOP

Above: Rhain Davis converts his penalty expertly.

Altrincham FC Youth went to the top of the NWYA Premier Division on Sunday afternoon with a 4-2 win over Morecambe. Chester FC lost 1-0 at Prescot Cables enabling Alty to leapfrog them to the top of the table.

A match report is here

Alty are away to Newcastle Benfield on Thursday evening, 7.30pm, in the FA Youth Cup with the prize for the winners being a home tie against Rochdale.

Next Sunday, Alty are at home to Barnton Youth in the NWYA Open Cup k.o. 2pm.

FA YOUTH CUP DATE

FA YOUTH CUP OPPONENTS

Benfield’s Paul Blackett struck four in the rout, with Billy Walker and Ethan Tait also on target for the Walkergate-based outfit. The young Tynesiders found themselves a goal down just seconds into the clash at the International Stadium, with a 4-0 half-time deficit leaving them with a mountain to climb after the break...

Benfield now progress to play Altrincham in the competition’s final qualifying stage, with a home tie against League One outfit Rochdale the prize for the victors.

Gamble was left to rue his side’s nightmarish start in front of 177-strong crowd, but paid tribute to the visitors’ all-round display. He said, 'I’m bitterly disappointed for the lads... They didn’t show anything near what they’re capable of. They seemed to freeze on the night, and they never recovered from conceding in the opening minute...

'We made some poor defensive mistakes, and didn’t create chances at the other end... I have to say all the best to Benfield, because they were better than us in every department. And it’s hard for me to say that. The hardest thing for me to say, though, is that I cannot take any positives whatsoever from the game'".

IT'S NEWCASTLE BENFIELD

BIG WIN

FA YOUTH CUP

RADIO COMMENTARY

Match report here.

A recording of the Radio Robins commentary from the FA Youth Cup, 2nd Round Qualifying tie at Workington has been made available:

• First Half
• Second Half.

Brian Flynn writes, "I'm afraid the microphone was switched off for the first 8 minutes of the second half".

The Altrincham supporters who made the trip to Workington may be interested to know that Friday's West Cumbria News & Star reported that Workington's first team manager, Derek Townsley, told the paper that "his depleted squad represents ample opportunity for youngsters to force their way into his thinking. He said 'Liam Studholme (no.8 against Alty Youth) comes into the group; he's one that we know is doing well'".

HOME TIE FOR WINNERS

ALTY YOUTH PROGRESS IN FA YOUTH CUP

The hosts took the lead against the run of play when centre-back Ellis Short headed home at the back post after a corner had been only half cleared. It remained 1-0 until the 68th minute when a Jude Oyibo advance into the box ended with a handball decision against a Workington player. Rhain Davis converted the resulting penalty to level the scores.

Two goals in a minute by Ashley Leather gave Alty the upper hand, both resulting from balls up the middle. So by the 79th minute, Alty led 3-1. Substitute Dominic O'Gara scored a fourth, again from a ball up the middle, in the 85th minute.

In added time Workington were awarded a penalty after goalkeeper Havern came out to get a freekick and Hebson scored from the spot to make the final score 4-2 to Altrincham.

Match report here.

Altrincham now have another away tie at either Gateshead or Newcastle Benfield who meet on Monday night.

ALTY IN FA YOUTH CUP

Workington say to their fans "Come and support Reds’ talented youngsters and help them cause a cup upset [in the] FA Youth Cup... Admission: Adult - £3, Junior - £1"

The winners of Thursday's FA Youth Cup 2QR clash between Workington and Altrincham meet the winners of the Gateshead v Newcastle Benfield tie in the next round. However, Gateshead announced on Wednesday that "Tonight's FA Youth Cup Second Qualifying Round tie between Gateshead and Newcastle Benfield has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at the International Stadium." It will now be played on Monday 12 October 2015

FA YOUTH CUP

On Sunday, Alty won 2-1 away in the league at Morecambe. The league table is here.

YOUTH NEWS

• HYDE FC 1 - 3 CHESTER YOUTH
• PRESCOT CABLES 4 - 1 MORECAMBE
• SALFORD CITY 0 - 4 CURZON ASHTON
• WARRINGTON TOWN YOUTH 4 - 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED YOUTH

Alty's next game is away to Morecambe (4th October).

ALTY'S FA YOUTH CUP CAMPAIGN

Alty Youth's scheduled league game this Sunday against AFC Fylde has been postponed because of the opposition's involvement in a cup competition which takes precedence.

ALTY YOUTH TO FACE WORKINGTON

GEORGE DELIGHTED

His side had turned around a 1-0 deficit to FC United of Manchester at half time, to go on and win their FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round tie 3-2 following a thrilling second half fightback.

Heslop spoke about how a frank talk with his players at half time led to a brilliant second half showing:

'In the first half certain sections of the squad weren’t performing to the level that I know they are capable of performing. We had a talk with them at half time and everything we said to them they did in the second half, so they can take all the credit. They reacted the proper way and gave it everything they had. We knew how dangerous FCUM are after watching them against Southport in the previous round. The players didn’t deliver our instructions properly in the first half. But they more than made up for it in the second half and I was delighted with their attitude!'

Heslop reserved praise for Dominic Newton after his stunning individual effort to bring the game to 1-1 and his cross, which led to an own goal that ultimately decided the match:

'He is a quality player! He knows what I think about him. Sometimes he doesn’t match his individual quality with the same effort. But when he does, he could go a long way because he’s such a clever player. He needs to learn to do the hard work required on a consistent basis, but tonight he did that and if he keeps it up on a regular basis then people will take note of him.'

Winger Jude Oyibo scored the second Alty goal of the night. His second half performance, along with the Robins’ defence holding firm towards the end of the game also drew credit from Heslop. 'In the second half Jude went hunting for the ball rather than waiting for it, like he did in the first half, and got his reward. It was a great finish and he caused havoc in that second period.

'The defenders all lifted each other towards the end as they tired and pushed themselves to the final whistle. Our goalkeeper (Daniel Havern) made a quality save right at the end of normal time and he was thrilled when I told him what a great save it was at full time. It was a vital stop as I didn’t fancy the idea of extra time!'”

Altrincham Youth will now travel to either Hebburn Town or Workington in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup".

You can listen to the Radio Robins' match commentary here.

ALTY ADVANCE IN FA YOUTH CUP

Alty leave the pitch at the end of the game.

Altrincham FC Youth beat FC United of Manchester Youth 3-2, away, in the FA Youth Cup on Monday night. In a very entertaining game, Alty fell behind when they conceded a penalty which Tinning converted (17 mins). But two goals in three minutes around the hour mark put Alty ahead. Firstly, Dominic Newton scored from left of goal following a freekick. Then, from the impressive Knowles's knock down, Oyibo made it 2-1 (63 mins). With Alty on top, United levelled when substitute Ward scored with his first kick after coming on (74 mins). But an own goal by another FCUM substitute, Shawcross, from a Newton cross settled the outcome in the 79th minute.

Alty are away again in the next round, to either Workington or Hebburn.

Match report here

Right: Alty celebrate their opening goal.

RADIO COVERAGE

FA YOUTH CUP TIE CONFIRMED

• £5 Adults
• £3 Concessions (Over 60s, students with a valid NUS card)
• £1 Under 18s

The function room bar will be open before the match, at half time and after the match with full facilities; alcoholic refreshments, teas and coffees, soft drinks and hot food. On sale will be a chicken curry and a vegetarian curry option from Kabana, as last week against Southport Youth."

DISAPPOINTMENT FOR YOUTH TEAM

Above: Alty Youth's Callum Fisher (3) clears as Harry Dulson (5) and keeper Daniel Havern look on.

Altrincham FC Youth surrendered three points on Sunday as they lost 1-3 at home to Ashton Athletic, who have now gone to the top of the table. There is a report here. Other results today were..

• PRESCOT CABLES 1 - 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED YOUTH
• WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON 2 - 0 CURZON ASHTON

ALTY YOUTH WIN AGAIN

FA YOUTH CUP

This is only the second time that the youth team has competed in the FA Youth Cup and this match will be our first ever home tie in the competition... The match offers a great chance to see the progress of the FC United Youth team and manager Rhodri Giggs is keen for FC supporters to turn up in numbers to support his side. 'The FA Youth Cup is the premier cup competition for youth teams and we’re really looking forward to taking part this year, even more so now that our opening match will be played in front of our own supporters on the Broadhurst Park pitch...

Admission details for the match are as follows: -

• Adults: £5
• Concessions £3
• Under 18s £1

Admission to the match is by cash payment and you are reminded that season tickets cannot be used for this game."

RHAIN SIGNS NATIONAL LEAGUE FORMS

WEAKENED YOUTH SIDE WINS THROUGH

YOUTH NEWS

Match report here.

Other results in the NWYA Premier Division were:

• AFC Fylde 1 - 1 Chester FC
• Ashton A. 3 - 2 W. Didsbury & Chorlton
• Warrington T. 2 - 1 Prescot C.
• Curzon Ashton 2 - 2 Skelmersdale U.
• Morecambe 7-1 Hyde FC

CHANGE OF VENUE FOR YOUTH GAMES

YOUTH TEAM LEAGUE & CUP DATES

• 16/08/15 @ 14:30 ALTRINCHAM FC v SALFORD CITY at HALE COUNTRY CLUB & SPA
• 23/08/15 @ 14:30 PRESCOT CABLES v ALTRINCHAM FC at SUTTON SPORTS ACADEMY
• 30/08/15 @ 14:30 ALTRINCHAM FC v WARRINGTON TOWN YOUTH at HALE COUNTRY CLUB & SPA

Cup draws, with unspecified dates, as yet are:

• ALTRINCHAM FC v SKELMERSDALE UNITED YOUTH at HALE COUNTRY CLUB & SPA - NEIL THOMASON CUP (PREMIER DIVISION)2015-16
• ALTRINCHAM FC v BARNTON YOUTH at HALE COUNTRY CLUB & SPA - OPEN CUP
• SALFORD CITY v ALTRINCHAM YOUTH (U-17) at ECCLES SIXTH FORM CENTRE - OPEN CUP

The dates for the Cheshire County FA District Youth Cup are

• Sunday 06th/ 27th September 2015
• Sunday 11th / 25th October 2015
• Sunday 8th November 2015
• Final, March / April 2016, Provisional

YOUTH CUP DRAW