WOODLEY SPORTS (2) 3
ALTRINCHAM (1) 1

Friendly Game
played on Saturday, 1 July 2006, at 1pm.

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SPONSORS:

Match: Clarkes of Cheshire Prestige Cars

Matchball:

Programme:

SUMMARY:

Above: .

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SCORERS

mins (Woodley Sports 1 Altrincham 0)

mins (Woodley Sports 2 Altrincham 0)

mins (Woodley Sports 2 Altrincham 1)

mins (Woodley Sports 3 Altrincham 1)

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REFEREE: Mr.

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ATTENDANCE: est. 150

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BACKGROUND:

Just nine eventful weeks (which included both a relegation and promotion for Altrincham!) after their last league game of 2005/06, the 2006/07 pre-season got under way on a very hot day at Woodley's impressively developing Lambeth Grove stadium, which boasts the only artificial pitch in the district accepted for non-League football. These sides had last played each other in a Cheshire Senior Cup match last September, which Altrincham had won 4-2.

Since then, Woodley had lost out in the promotion play-offs from UniBond One. Their starting eleven today included ten players who either started or were on the bench for the play-off defeat by Gresley Rovers in May.

TEAM NEWS This was Alty's earliest pre-season game for many a year and was played on a baking hot afternoon. Alty's team was a mix of first-teamers, new signings and reserves. The visitors fielded two new signings from Halifax Town, midfielder Steve Bushell and winger Justin Bowler. Alty's other new signings, Joe O'Neill, Robbie Lawton and Peter Thomson were unavailable today but two trialists were, Adie Nevins (a former Manchester United youngster) and a midfielder called Mannion..

Woodley included several former Alty players including David Swanick, Chris Young and Mario Daniel, whilst former trialist Gavin Salmon was on their bench.Woodley also remain under the managership of Ally Pickering, who had a few games for Alty in 1999/2000.

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LINE-UPS

WOODLEY SPORTS (Red & blue striped shirts, white shorts and socks): . 1. Liam HIGGINBOTHAM, 2. Dave SWANICK, 3. Russell HEADLEY, 4. Carlos MEAKIN, 5. Mark PHILLIPS, 6. Chris YOUNG (capt), 7. Mario DANIEL, 8. Chris CURLEY, 9. Danny QUEELEY, 10. Daniel DOUGLAS-PRINGLE, 11. Luke HORROCKS. Subs: Not listed on teamsheet.

ALTRINCHAM (Pale blue shirts and socks, dark blue shorts.) 1. Craig ELLISON, 2. Stephen ROSE, 3. Richard GRESTY, 4. Karl MUNROE, 5. Peter BAND, 6. Steve BUSHELL, 7. Lewis CHALMERS, 8. Warren PEYTON, 9. Colin LITTLE, 10. Kieran LUGSDEN, 11. Justin BOWLER. Subs: 12. Ben DEEGAN, 14. Blake NORTON, 14. Laurence BALL, 15. NEVINS, 16. Pat McFADDEN, 17. Astley MULHOLLAND, 18. MANNION.

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REPORT

Right: Alty's new signing, Justin Bowler.

Alty started slowly and a misplaced pass by Lugsden gave Woodley an early corner. Though this was cleared, Woodley soon took the lead when Daniel volleyed home to complete a neat move initiated by Horrocks (9 mins). Woodley went close again before Alty won two corners, following the first of which Peyton's excellent shot from 20 yards was well saved by former Trafford keeper, Higginbotham at the cost of the second corner. The home side were benefitting from its experience of playing together more regularly than Altrincham's new blend of first-team, reserve and new players.

Woodley made an early substitution (22 mins) and, five minutes later, doubled their lead when Alty allowed Daniel to advance unchallenged before feeding Douglas-Pringle, who fired home (27 mins). Sports went close again soon afterward when Horrocks cut in but the Woodley Sub (no.15) fired over the bar. Then the pacey Horrocks himself advanced 25 yards before feeding Douglas-Pringle who lifted his effort over the bar (30 mins).

But Alty got back into the game with a well worked goal. Chalmers's excellent pass forward found Little to the right of goal in the outer reaches of the penalty area. The Alty top scorer from last season turned Headley inside out twice before planting a shot into the bottom corner, to the keeper's left (34 mins). Meanwhile, Steve Bushell was reinforcing the impression that he would be an excellent acquisition for the coming season whilst former Halifax team mate Justin Bowler made some darting runs showing good pace and control. However, it was Woodley who went the closer to scoring again when they got behind the Alty defence on the Woodley left flank. But, just before the interval, Lugsden almost got on the end of a ball forward only for Higginbotham to race out to kick clear (44 mins). The final action of the half saw Alty survive a corner kick, won for the home team by Mario Daniel.

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Half-Time: WOODLEY SPORTS 2 ALTRINCHAM 1

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At the interval Alty made two changes with Pat McFadden replacing Kieran Lugsden up front and Blake Norton replacing Lewis Chalmers. This latter change led to Bowler moving to the right wing from the left. McFadden soon had a good chance to level the scores when he found himself unmarked in the box but he pulled his right foot shot wide of the target (49 mins). Three minutes later Woodley brought on Salmon for Queeley and then, after 54 minutes, Alty brought on Adie Nevins for Stephen Rose and two minutes later, Richard Norris came on for Richard Gresty, who had played well at left-back. Little then went close with an audacious lob from 40 yards (57 mins). But Woodley themselves went close when they headed narrowly wide.

Alty's passing continued to be less than perfect though Norris was an exception, his distribution proving that he had lost none of his ability after an injury layoff of a full season. The regular changes continued as Alty brought on Astley Mulholland, a member of last season's youth team, for Bowler on the right wing (63 mins). Soon Alty did put together an excellent passing move in which Norris figured three times, but the move ended in McFadden's shot narrowly wide of the far post (67 mins). Yet more changes came after 72 minutes when Reserves' defender Laurence Ball came on for Warren Peyton and Colin Little gave way up front to last season's top scoer in the Youth team, Ben Deegan.

Douglas-Pringle then shot narrowly wide and soon afterwards won a corner. But, after this, a fine ball from Norris found Deegan who cut in but shot over the bar (76 mins). Alty made their eighth substitution of the second half after 77 minutes when Bushell went off and was replaced by a young trialist, called (I think) Mannion (77 mins). After a couple of rash challenges by Chris Young, the Woodley captain was withdrawn by his bench. Soon Deegan nodded over the bar from Norris's freekick but Woodley then made another change as Daniel returned to the match (83 mins). Ellison then had to save well from the Sports' number 12. However, Woodley sealed the game after 89 minutes when Salmon got the better of Band in the outer part of the Alty box and, though his shot was half stopped by Ellison, it found the net to make it 3-1.

Whilst Alty will have been disappointed at the result, the unfamiliar starting line up and the numerous second half changes meant that the exercise was more about preparation for the new season that the result on the day. Perhaps the most promising aspects for Alty were the confirmation of Bushell's ability in midfield, the welcome return of Richard Norris in midfield and some promising flashes from Justin Bowler. Gresty also had a solid game, albeit playing in an unaccustomed left-back position, whilst Nevins also showed some potential when he came on. Apart from Little's excellent goal, the Alty shooting was a disappointment but there is time yet to hone that for the new campaign.

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Full-Time: WOODLEY SPORTS 3 ALTRINCHAM 1

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ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (3) 4
BURSCOUGH RESERVES (1) 1

Lancit Haulage Lancashire League Match
played on Wednesday, 15 February, 2006 at 7.45pm

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LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Craig ELLISON, 2. Lewis CHALMERS, 3. Ashley BROWN, 4. Stephen ROSE (capt)., 5. Gary TALBOT, 6. Warren PEYTON, 7. Colin POTTS, 8. Danny HEFFERNAN, 9. Lee HENDLEY, 10. Kieran LUGSDEN, 11. Pat McFADDEN. Subs: 12. Laurence BALL, 14. John MALONEY, 15. James MARSDEN, 16. Michael BROWN.

BURSCOUGH RESERVES (All green). 1. Chris MOORE, 2. Ray GORE, 3. Martin HUGHES, 4. Anthony DANIELS, 5. Craig CUSHION, 6. Ian JOHNSON, 7. Andrew SHIELDS, 8. Stephen JOHNSON, 9. Ari UBIDO, 10. Clint BURTON, 11. Einar WHITE. Subs: 12. Michael FORD, 14. David DEMBEY, 15. Alex BALDWIN, 16. David ALLEN, 17. Andrew JACKSON.

Referee: Mr B. Shore

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REPORT

After Alty's two prospective trialists, Paul Warhurst and Mark Boyd dropped out, the latter without notice, Altrincham fielded a starting line-up including eight first team squad members and three regular Reserves players. Stephen Rose was appointed captain and he played alongside Gary Talbot, who was making his first appearance for three months after injury. Lee Hendley was also continuing his rehabilitation after injury, whilst Lewis Chalmers, Stephen Rose, Colin Potts, Kieran Lugsden and Pat McFadden were all playing tonight after recent stints on the first-team substitutes' bench. Warren Peyton also played, as he topped up his fitness after a three-match suspension. Lewis was selected in an unaccustomed position at right-back.

The game kicked off a couple of minutes late but Altrincham wasted no time in taking the lead. From the kick off, the ball went to Potts on the right and his low cross found Hendley unmarked in the centre of the box. The striker fired the ball past Moore to put Altrincham ahead after just 14 seconds (a time ratified from the sidelines by Alty's Phil Taylor, a qualified referee). Soon afterwards another testing cross from Potts caused danger but Burscough were awarded a free kick for a foul on Shields in their box and a Burscough man needed treatment as a result (2 mins). Burscough then won the game's first two corners, in quick succession, before some neat passing from Alty led to Hendley feeding McFadden on the left but his effort was cleared off the goal line (9 mins). Then McFadden turned provider with an excellent low cross from the left, which just evaded the unmarked Lugsden in front of goal. Soon afterwards, Hendley did well to get along the by-line left of goal but his shot hit the keeper at the near post (11 mins).

Burscough had to replace Shields, who had been injured in the opening minutes, and the pony-tailed Baldwin replaced him on the right (14 mins). Burscough then had a good chance to level the score when Burton did well on the right but Ubido executed an air shot near the penalty spot when the ball was laid inside to him. However, an incoming Burscough player fired a superb shot towards the keeper's top left corner. However, Ellison made an excellent save, tipping the ball out for a corner on the Burscough right. A second corner immediately followed but nothing came of it (19 mins). Then at the other end, an excellent freekick from the right by Potts located the unmarked Lugsden but his header dropped just wide of the keeper's left post (20 mins). Soon another good cross from the left by McFadden tested the defence before a superb cross from the right by Potts was met on the volley by Lugsden but he shot wide of the target (21 mins).

Play was open and entertaining and soon Burscough's Daniels fired narrowly over from 30 yards at the other end. But Alty continued to miss chances, the next such event arriving when Chalmers and Hendley got the ball to Lugsden who shot high and wide from an unmarked position in the box (25 mins). Alty now had three at back as Chalmers moved forward but soon Burscough were back on level terms. A good move set Baldwin behind the Alty defence inside the right of the box and his low cross found Johnson whose well-hit shot took a slight deflection as it arrowed into the net (30 mins).

Alty responded by winning a corner and a few minutes later Heffernan did well but McFadden's right-foot shot only found the roof of the net. Then Heffernan shot over the bar before Lugsden got free in the right of the box, only for the Burscough keeper to rush out and smother the ball well. Then Peyton's ambitious lob from 35 yards just cleared the bar before McFadden's cross arrived in the box just ahead of the incoming Lugsden. When McFadden could only find the side netting left of goal from Hendley's pass, it looked as if Alty would have no half-time lead to show for all their shots at goal. However, out of nothing they scored when Lugsden's low shot from 19 yards squirmed out of the keeper's hands and into the net (39 mins). It got even better two minutes later when Peyton, Chalmers, Brown and Heffernan combined to feed Hendley who hit an exquisite shot from just outside the box which curled over the keeper and entered the net off the underside of the crossbar (41 mins).

At the back Alty continued to play well with Ashley Brown having a good game as was Stephen Rose, captain for the night. Half -time arrived with Alty deservedly ahead but grateful for two late goals to save their blushes after a series of misses in front of goal.

Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 3 BURSCOUGH RESERVES 1

Early in the second half Potts got into the box and went down under a challenge but his appeal for a penalty fell on deaf ears. However his resulting seeingly mild complaint was obviously heard as the referee produced a yellow card, his sixth of the season (48 mins). After Burscough had given Peyton the ball, the Alty man's shot from 35 yards just cleared the bar. Burscough now had a good shot at goal from Burton but Ellison saved this well. At the other end Lugsden's shot hit a defender to win a corner. Following this a Lugsden shot came off the inside of the post and rolled just in front of the goal line before being cleared (55 mins). Alty next made a double swap as Talbot and Potts gave way to Ball and Maloney (56 mins).

Rose now made a timely interception at the back for Alty before his side won three successive throws, all taken by Chalmers. When Hendley went down off the ball just after this, play nevertheless continued for some time before the referee belatedly stopped proceedings. After treatment to his left ankle, Hendley hobbled off for further attention from Alan Ainslie (62 mins). Maloney was soon getting stuck in and from a move started by him, Alty won a corner. Hendley now returned to the pitch as both sides now made substitutions. Alty brought on James Marsden in midfield as Kieran Lugsden came off. In turn, Pat McFadden moved up front from the left flank. At the same time, Burscough brought on Allen and Jackson for Hughes and Johnson (67 mins).

When Daniels's crude challenge on Peyton gave Alty a freekick, 30 yards out in a central position, Peyton took the kick quickly but a re-take was ordered. However, the referee first booked Peyton, presumbaly for taking the kick too quickly. Chalmers eventually hit the freekick well, but narrowly wide of the post. Alty continued to have the better of the game and their fourth goal arrived after Ball moved the ball forward and McFadden turned well, on the edge of the box before planting a fierce first-time shot into the net (77 mins). It was his 28th goal of the season. But Burscough responded positively as Allen forced a good block from Ellison at the cost of a corner. Soon the Alty keeper was in action again, punching a shot from Johnson (79 mins). As full time beckoned, McFadden sliced a right-foot shot wide (88 mins) and after an unexpectedly long period of added time, the referee finally blew the whistle for the end of game, soon after McFadden had fired over with another right-footed shot.

Burscough deserved credit for contributing a lot to an open, flowing game but Altrincham merited their win which keeps them at the top of the table. The watching Graham Heathcote and Dalton Steele will also have been pleased to see Gary Talbot come through almost an hour of action after his injury and for the other first teamers to have produced good performances. Meanwhile the Reserves' management of Neil Brown and Carlos Marsden will take credit for yet again coaxing a good performance from an almost completely changed team from the previous fixture.

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Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 4 BURSCOUGH RESERVES 1

 

ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (0) 1
LEIGH RMI RESERVES (0) 0

Lancit Haulage Lancashire League Match
played on Wednesday, 1 February, 2006 at 7.45pm

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LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (Red & white striped shirt, black shorts): 1. Craig ELLISON, 2. James MARSDEN (capt), 3. Paul MONAGHAN, 4. Richard GRESTY, 5. Danny HEFFERNAN, 6. Lewis CHALMERS, 7. Colin POTTS, 8. John MALONEY, 9. Callum FLANAGAN, 10. Lee HENDLEY, 11. Pat McFADDEN. Subs: 12. Michael BROWN, 14. Kwame BARNETT, 15. Rico RICHARDS.

LEIGH RMI (All yellow with red trim). Their team included ex-Altrincham Youth players: 4. Paul LEWIS, 7. Adam GIRDLESTONE, 10. Wes WILKINSON, 11. Ian TAYLOR. Subs: Ian HORTON

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REPORT

Before the match Ian Senior's Sensports Ltd presented Altrincham Fc with a complete new set of kit, bearing the Sensports logo. This was a very generous gesture by former Alty keeper, Ian, and very much appreciated by the club but especially by Neil Brown the Reserves' manager, his assistant Carlos Marsden and physio Alan Ainslie - not to mention the players.

Altrincham displayed five changes from the starting line-up which lost 5-4 at Morecambe last Friday. Paul Monaghan came in at left-back for Ashley Brown. Colin McAllister had to be withdrawn shortly before kick off with an injury and was replaced at centre-back by Youth team captain, Richard Gresty. Alty's other centre-back against Morecambe, Laurence Ball had been concussed in that match and tonight was replaced by Danny Heffernan who moved from midfield. First teamer Colin Potts continued in the Reserves tonight and Lewis Chalmers also came in from the first team. John Maloney joined the starting line-up, replacing Matthew Platt and Lee Hendley also moved up from the bench as he continued to regain fitness after his long lay-off. Hendley and Flanagan started up front with McFadden on the left but McFadden and Hendley were to swap roles more than once during the evening.

Leigh took to the field with their goalkeeper wearing a shirt emblasoned with "Coburn 1" - obviously one of Stuart's cast offs from his time at RMI. But whilst the keeper may not have had Alty connections, several of his Leigh team-mates were nevertheless very familiar faces to Alty Youth manager George Heslop who was present at the game. The ex-Alty youth players involved for Leigh were Wes Wilkinson, Adam Girdlestone, Paul Lewis, Ian Taylor and Ian Horton.

Alty started well and went close twice in the opening minutes. The first attempt at goal came when Potts's raking, low cross from the right almost reached Lee Hendley in the goalmouth but the keeper got to the ball just ahead of the Alty striker. Then, moments later, a fine pass by Marsden did find Hendley in a similar position, but he could only half-hit his shot to the keeper (2 mins). Soon Hendley was threatening again as he dribbled into the box, but his progress was stopped before he could shoot (6 mins). Alty's next threat on goal came when McFadden was fouled. Potts took the freekick on the Alty left, quickly and short to McFadden, who turned well, inside the box. He was seemingly brought down as he was about to shoot but the referee did not give a penalty. However, Alty soon won two corners in succession, and after the second, another great turn by McFadden set him up for a fierce shot at goal which the keeper beat out well (16 mins).

But at the other end, Taylor set his big number nine free but he sent a wild shot well over the bar. In a fast, end to end period of play, Potts delivered another good cross to Hendley but he could only turn his shot across, rather than at, goal. (21 mins). Chalmers then left two opponents for dead but was blocked off before capitalising on this. Maloney soon won the ball well for Alty and found Hendley but his advance was half checked by a defender and Hendley ended up lifting his shot well over the bar (31 mins). Hendley was now operating on the left with McFadden up front alongside Flanagan but it was Leigh who now won two corners in as many minutes. There then followed a flowing Alty move involving Maloney, Hendley and McFadden but there was no goal at the end of it. Soon afterwards Alty won two successive corners but, despite their pressure, there was no goal to show for it. Another corner followed before the break, taking Alty's tally to six but the score remained goalless at the interval.

Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 0 LEIGH RMI RESERVES 0

Leigh brought on their no.14 at the interval but Alty resumed where they had left off, winning two more corners in the opening two minutes of the half. From the second, taken on the right by Potts, the ball took a deflection to McFadden beyond the back post, inside the box. Alty's top scorer lashed the ball home for his 25th strike of the season (48 mins). But Leigh almost levelled shortly afterwards when the visitors' no.8 got to an aerial ball ahead of Ellison but headed wide and was injured by the Alty keeper's arrival. Alty now brought on Kwame Barnett up front for Flanagan (56 mins) and five minutes later Potts gave way to Michael Brown on the Alty right (61 mins).

Leigh now won a corner, from which one of their players should have found the target with a header, which went wide. Wes Wilkinson was then replaced by a Leigh sub whilst Alty again switched things round with McFadden going out left and Hendley up front. Almost immediately Hendley got clear but poor control allowed the ball to run ahead of him to the keeper (69 mins). Barnett now fired in a fierce shot which the keeper did well to punch over for a corner and after this Rico Richards came on in midfield as James Marsden was withdrawn (71 mins). Leigh brought on Ian Horton instead of their no.3 (76 mins) and it was RMI who now pressed forward but without getting a clear opening. Nine minutes from the end of normal time, Heffernan had to limp off with a leg injury leaving Alty to play out the game with ten men. This they did and even won a corner in added time but Leigh had the last chance when their no.8 fired wide after a good advance by Taylor.

Though not one of their customary high-scoring affairs, Alty Reserves will be pleased to have consolidated their position at the top of the table. At the back the changes of personnel were overcome and Gresty can be proud of his solid display after his step up from the youth team.

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Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 1 LEIGH RMI RESERVES 0

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MORECAMBE RESERVES (2) 5
ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (2) 4

Lancit Haulage Lancashire League Match
played on Friday, 27 January, 2006 at 7.45pm

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LINE-UP

MORECAMBE RESERVES Whiteside, Leigh (Wilkes 87), Hodder, Finlay (Meeks 75), Wharf, Halliwell, Helm (Ogley 63), West, Carlton, Randell, Jarvis. Unused Subs: Storey and Doherty.

ALTRINCHAM RESERVES : Numbers may be inaccurate. 1. Craig ELLISON, 2. James MARSDEN (capt), 3. Ashley BROWN, 4. Laurence BALL, 5. Colin McALLISTER, 6. Michael BROWN, 7. Colin POTTS, 8. Matthew PLATT, 9. Callum FLANAGAN, 10. Pat McFADDEN, 11. Danny HEFFERNAN. Subs: Paul MONAGHAN, John MALONEY, Lee HENDLEY.

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REPORT

Altrincham included first-team squad members Colin Potts and Pat McFadden, whilst Lee Hendley was on the bench as he returned from a longstanding injury. Morecambe had first-teamer Danny Carlton up front.

Alty were two up inside a quarter of an hour thanks to two strikes from Pat McFadden, as they faced a young Morecambe side which included Conference striker Danny Carlton. But Alty let thngs slip as the interval approached and Carlton netted twice (37 and 44 mins) to level things up at the break.

Half-Time: MORECAMBE RESERVES 2 ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 2

At the interval it was discovered that Ball had been concussed at the end of the half and as manager Neil Brown and physio Alan Ainslie dealt with the injury in the dressing room, Morecambe scored two more goals to take a grip of the game. The scorers were Rendell (50 mins) and Carlton completed his hat-trick (60 mins). But Alty responded and got back on level terms through goals by Marsden and Hendley. James Marsden described his goal afterwards as "a rocket shot"! Morecambe took the points when they scored again five minutes from the end, Carlton notching his fourth of the night.

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Full-Time: MORECAMBE RESERVES 5 ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 4

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  Altrincham FC Match Reports

ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (0) 1
MORECAMBE RESERVES (2) 2

Lancit Haulage Lancashire League Match
played on Wednesday, 12 December, 2005

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LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM RESERVES: 1. Craig ELLISON, 2. James MARSDEN, 3. Ashley BROWN, 4. Colin McALLISTER, 5. Laurence BALL, 6. Byron JENKINS, 7. Michael BROWN, 8. Kieran KILACKY, 9. Pat McFADDEN, 10. Kwame BARNETT, 11. John MALONEY . Subs: 12. Paul MONAGHAN, 14.Alex TIESSE, 15. Michael RISK.

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REPORT

This report is based on information kindly supplied by Neil Brown

With no first-team Altrincham regulars in the side tonight, manager Neil Brown had to make five changes from the side which did so well to win at Bradford last week. Craig Ellison replaced Richard Acton in goal, James Marsden returned in place of Steve Aspinall at right-back, the Reserves' captain being fresh from his debut for the first team the previous night in a friendly at Witton. Colin McAllister returned in place of Stephen Rose in defence, whilst trialist Byron Jenkins moved into midfield for Paul Monaghan. Pat McFadden moved to a central striking position from the left, and tonight played alongside Kwame Barnett who moved up from the bench to replace Rod Thornley. Likewise John Maloney was promoted from the bench to start on the left. A newcomer on the Alty bench was England U-18 player Alex Tiesse (now aged 20), from the Ivory Coast, who had been at Millwall as a youngster and was then released by manager Dennis Wise before joining Woking from August 2004, where he made 1(+2) Conference appearances last season. On the bench, Tiesse was joined by Michael Risk, the Alty youth team defender.

Watching the match was Morecambe's caretaker manager Sammy McIlroy and he must have been pleased with the start made by his team, at least some of who were members of last season's successful Morecambe A youth side. The visitors made the early running with some confident inter-passing reflecting a side used to playing together. For their part the altered Alty line-up was taking some time to gel but Alty had an early chance when a Morecambe misheader back towards their own goal went to McFadden who lashed in a left foot shot from the edge of the box which the keeper saved well (9 mins). But Alty were generally on the back foot and had a lucky escape when keeper Ellison raced out of his box to halt the Morecambe no.9 and collided with the striker, bringing him down. Though the referee awarded Morecambe a freekick in the edge of the D, he took no action against Ellison. But Morecambe will feel that justice was done when the resulting freekick was blasted against an Alty defender and diverted past Ellison to give Morecambe a deserved lead after 14 minutes.

Alty's Kilacky was then booked for a foul after a promising Alty move had ended when Barnett was dispossessed (16 mins). Morecambe went 2-0 ahead after 17 minutes when a cross from the left skimmed off an Alty head neatly into the path of the Morecambe no. 9 just inside the box who drove the ball efficiently into the right, bottom corner of Ellison's net with the keeper flat-footed. Alty then went close when neat build-up play by Brown, Maloney and McFadden led to a shot by Barnett which went narrowly wide (23 mins). Soon aftewards Barnett did well again, getting on to a well directed freekick by Mike Brown for an effort which the keeper only parried but the Morecambe no.1 recovered to get the ball into this hands. After a header by the visitors' no.9 had flashed across goal, Alty's Ball was booked for a foul. Morecambe remained on top as they won a corner (38 mins) but just before the break Alty gave their fans something to cheer about. With two defenders in close attendance, McFadden executed as neat a turn as has been seen at Moss Lane in years to leave his two markers flat-footed and find himself free to find Ashley Brown on the left. The left-back's cross was fielded by the keeper. But Morecambe finished the half by winning another corner and at the break it looked an uphill task for Alty to retrieve anything from this game.

Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 0 MORECAMBE RESERVES 2

Fog began to descend on Moss Lane at the interval with the 20/20 End the worse affected. Alty came out for the second half and immediately showed more purpose. Indeed, from a Marsden cross from the right, the ball was nodded on by Kilacky to the incoming Ashley Brown whose fierce volley was goalbound but struck a defender (47 mins). Morecambe won a corner soon after however, but following this their no.8 shot wildly over the bar, continuing a pattern of wayward shooting by the visitors in this match. Alty went close again after 52 minutes when McFadden's close control in the box got the ball past a defender to Jenkins who advanced towards the keeper's left post but could only find the side netting with his close-range shot. Alty's improvement continued as Barnett did well to hold off a defender but the keeper came out smartly to smother the ball (54 mins). However, Ellison was soon called to make a good save from the Morecambe no.10 at the other end.

Alty now made a double switch with Barnett and Jenkins being withdrawn in faviour of Tiesse and Monaghan. McFadden continued to impress for Alty, getting to the by-line, showing great close control in the process. But Morecambe again got in a shot on target from their no.8 which Ellison saved (59 mins). The game was now much more even than the first half had been and after good work by Monaghan, Alty won a corner. The keeper missed Mike Brown's corner but the ball was cleared. Alty now made their final change, Michael Risk replacing James Marsden at right-back (64 mins). Two Alty corners followed, sandwiched by two Morecambe flag-kicks. Before the first of Alty's corners, Kilacky, already booked, was lectured sternly for a foul. Tiesse won the first corner and Monaghan's deflected shot earned the second (74 mins). Next, from a long ball, Tiesse's first time shot was saved but shortly afterwards a ball up the left channel saw the Morecambe keeper handle the ball outside his box as Tiesse chased him down. The Morecambe no.1 received a yellow card but, as with Ellison's first half foul, the offending Morecambe keeper was likewise immediately punished as Brown's freekick from left of goal went through the crowded goalmouth and straight into the net to cement the Alty revival (78 mins).

Tiesse continued to impress with McFadden up front before the latter started to suffer with what looked like cramp. Alty were now on top and pressing for an equaliser and Morecambe's anxiety was seen in the booking of their no.8 for kicking the ball away at a throw in (82 mins). Alty then created an opening but Ashley Brown elected not to shoot immediately and the chance disappeared. But then a good cross from the left by Ashley Brown just evaded Tiesse in the goalmouth before Morecambe made a switch, as no.14 replaced no.11 (86 mins). With the fog now thickening Alty continued to press but McFadden had to receive treatment for his cramp and leave the field briefly. Morecambe wound down the clock with another substitution after 90 minutes and, in added time,the no.12 was booked for kicking the ball away at a freekick. Brown struck the freekick well but the keeper made a fine save at the foot of his right post and the follow up from Alty missed the target. An equaliser would not come and ultimately Alty were unlucky not to get a point from the game. But the damage had been done in the first half.

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Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 1 MORECAMBE RESERVES 2

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MARINE RESERVES 3
ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 0

Lancit Haulage Lancashire League Match
played on Friday, 9 December, 2005

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LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM RESERVES: 1. Craig ELLISON, 2. James MARSDEN (capt), 3. Ashley BROWN, 4. Colin McALLISTER, 5. Laurence BALL, 6. Steve ASPINALL, 7. Michael BROWN, 8. John MALONEY, 9. Pat McFADDEN, 10. Ben DEEGAN, 11. Kieran KILACKY. Subs: Kwame BARNETT, Byron JENKINS, Adam DOCKER.

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REPORT

This report is based on information kindly supplied by Neil Brown

This was Altrincham Reserves' first game for almost four weeks but they went into the match top of the table on the back of a run of 13 undefeated games including 11 wins and they had scored 69 goals in their 17 matches to date.A change from the last game, back in November against Ossett Albion, was that Steve Aspinall continued his rehabilitation in midfield rather than at right-back, where captain James Marsden played tonight. Youth teamer Ben Deegan continued up front whilst Kieran Kilacky came into the starting line-up for Danny Heffernan. Kwame Barnett returned, on the bench, alongside newcomers Byron Jenkins and Adam Docker. Jenkins is an under-13s' coach at Macclesfield Town whilst Docker is a 6ft 3inch former Bury man.

Having been so prolific this season, Altrincham surprisingly failed to land a decent shot on goal in the whole 90 minutes tonight. Although they started the game as the better team for 10 or 15 minutes, and they had some good spells later in the game, overall the passion of former displays was missing after the long lay-off enforced by the weather. For their part Marine closed down Alty very well and adopted a fluid formation which saw them switch from 4-5-1 to a more attacking 3-5-2 when in possession. Despite their good start, Alty fell behind to a badly conceded goal. The ball was played from the Marine right to the left where three of the home side players were left unattended and with time for one of them to gather the ball and score with ease into the top corner from five yards out.

The second goal for Marine came when Ashley Brown's firm clearance unluckily rebounded from the chest of an opponent and dropped conveniently for the Marine man to go on and score. Alty felt that the third goal was offside but no flag came and, by then, the damage had already been done. All three Alty subs were used but were unable to turn around a disappointing team performance from which, neverthless, keeper Craig Ellison emerged with credit for several excellent saves.

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Full-Time: MARINE RESERVES 3 ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 0

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OSSETT ALBION RESERVES (1) 1
ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (0) 1

Lancit Haulage Lancashire League Match
played on Saturday, 12 November, 2005

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LINE-UP

OSSETT ALBION: 1. WRIGHT, 2. SYERS, 3. STAPLETON, 4. HAZELDENE, 5. HADLEY, 6. TOWNSEND, 7. NEARSWINSKI, 8. JACKSON (capt), 9. DUNNE, 10.KENNIFICK, 11. CUTTER. Subs: 12. BERRY, 14. HOWISON, 15. MURPHY, 16. KEMP, 17. POOLE.

ALTRINCHAM RESERVES: 1. Craig ELLISON, 2. Steve ASPINALL, 3. Ashley BROWN, 4. Colin McALLISTER, 5. Laurence BALL, 6. James MARSDEN, 7. Michael BROWN, 8. John MALONEY, 9. Pat McFADDEN, 10. Ben DEEGAN, 11. Danny HEFFERNAN. Subs: 12. Kieran KILACKY, 14, Ryan STEWART, 15. Kerin ALAN.

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REPORT

This report is based on information kindly supplied by Neil Brown

Altrincham showed numerous changes from the last game at Clitheroe. Into goal came Craig Ellison, Colin McAllister returned to the defence, James Marsden came into midfield and youth team striker Ben Deegan joined Pat McFadden up front. Both Lewis Chalmers and Kieran Lugsden who played the Clitheroe game were on first-team duty whilst another starter in the Clitheroe game, Rod Thornley, was expected to be playing for Radcliffe at the same time as this game but that game was postponed. On the bench were three players who had not been involved in the last game including a Turkish player, Kerin Alan.

The match was played on a small, sloping pitch with long grass and, at times, the game threatened to boil over as tackles flew in. Indeed, Altrincham came away with four players injured. Ossett worked hard to close down Altrincham at every opportunity and the ball was in the air quite a lot making it a less than exciting spectacle.

Ossett took the lead with a very good goal after 12 minutes. A ball came into the Alty box where both McAllister and Ball were unable to make clean clearances .A needless corner resulted from this and, in turn, the first flag-kick immediately led to a second corner for Ossett. From this, the ball came out nearly 30 yards from goal along the deck from which distance a home player hit it powerfully from slightly left of centre into the top right hand corner past Craig Ellison, who had no chance of stopping it. But this excellent goal stood out amidst an otherwise physical first half in which Alty's Ashley Brown was booked after a challenge which the referee judged to be late. Later in the game Laurence Ball was also cautioned when a player cut across him and went down. Curiously, though Laurence was Alty's last man he was only given a yellow as the referee judged the collision unintentional.

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Half-Time: OSSETT ALBION RESERVES 1 ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 0

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After 58 minutes Kilacky came on for John Maloney but the new man was soon booked by the referee. The second half was an improvement on the first but was still not a classic. Further Alty changes occurred after 62 minutes when, first, Ben Deegan was replaced by Ryan Stewart, which meant that Danny Heffernan now went up front as Stewart settled on the left, and then Kerin Alan came on for James Marsden in centre-midfield. After the changes Alty improved and for the last fifteen minutes were on top and pressing forward.

Alty almost levelled when McFadden received the ball on the edge of the six-yard box, with his back to goal. He flicked the ball up and hit it over his head but the keeper made a good save plucking the ball out of the top corner. However, despite this and a couple of other chances, it was not until two minutes from the end that Altrincham got their equaliser and like Ossett's, it was a well taken goal. Mike "Baywatch" Brown (he has recently qualified as a lifeguard!), received the ball from McAllister. He flicked the ball successively over two opponents and darted for the 18 yard box. Mike feinted left and right before crossing to the back post where McFadden headed a fine goal. It was Pat's 21st goal of the season - 20 of these being scored in the last ten matches, in all of which he has scored.

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Full-Time: OSSETT ALBION RESERVES 1 ALTRINCHAM RESERVES 1

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CHORLEY RESERVES (2) 2
ALTRINCHAM RESERVES (4) 6

Lancit Haulage Lancashire League Match
played on Saturday, 22 October, 2005