Match Report

The first match of a new season saw Whitby, who finished 17th last season, as guests. In the corresponding game that season, a Steve Finney hat-trick clinched the points for the Robins. Before the match, mascot Rocky Robin made a welcome reappearance after several years absence from the ground, whilst in the Directors' Box the guests included Manchester United's Andy Cole and Juan Verón.

The opening two minutes saw almost as much goal action as in the remaining 88 of the game but after a lively start it was Altrincham rather than Whitby who went off the boil. Altrincham moves stuttered to a halt in midfield, whilst Whitby put together some pleasant passing moves, with Veart and Dawson the main orchestrators, but the Yorkshiremen lacked incision in attack. When it came, the winning goal was a gem; Gallagher's cross from the right being headed expertly home by Furlong who, till then, had had a frustrating afternoon. Altrincham managed to hold on for a win rather than impose themselves for a more emphatic victory. Having said that, they did create more chances than the visitors, whose possession was not converted into many clear chances.

Altrincham were a much changed side from the 14-man squad which opened last season at Moss Lane with a last-gasp win against Gateshead; only Coburn and Gallagher from that team remain at Moss Lane. Of the present squad, Paul Taylor is out injured for several weeks with a damaged right leg, which was operated on last Tuesday. Otherwise, Bernard Taylor had a full squad to choose from. Sertori and Hulme made their UniBond debuts, whilst Adams also made his full league debut for the Robins. On the bench, Illingworth and Poland were also to make their first formal appearances for Altrincham and both can consider themselves unfortunate to be omitted from the starting line-up. Steve Hawes played at right-back in the customary 4-4-2 formation, with Furlong and Thornley constituting the strike-force. Hulme and Craney were the central midfield with Gallagher and Murphy on the flanks. There was no place for Terry Bowker, who presented the sponsors' mementos. Whitby included ex-Blyth keeper Terry Burke and former Spennymoor and Gateshead schemer, Craig Veart. New signing, striker Darren Sankey, had netted quite a few pre-season goals.

Alty took to the field in their new kit, sponsored by Hillcrest Homes; the shirts have more white than red on them but still retain the basic striped layout. (For the record the new away strip this season will be white). The first two minutes of the match were packed with incident. After Alty had kicked off towards the Hale End, Chris Adams missed the ball and despite a clear and prolonged flag-waving by the Assistant Referee, Mr Margetson allowed Whitby to bear down on the home goal. Coburn dropped on the ball to stop the danger (1 min). Then, almost immediately, Jason Gallagher got past Pitts on the Whitby left and crossed from near the by-line but there was no one from Altrincham to turn the ball into the net. Then Alty's shaky start at the back continued when Maddox lost out to Ure who, in turn, lost possession. Still with under two minutes on the clock, Altrincham went close when Thornley's fine ball set up Murphy, whose cross-cum-shot from the left came back off the cross bar. Whitby responded with Logan getting past Gallagher but Ure was unable to convert and a goal-kick resulted. After six minutes Furlong's neat turn set up Murphy for a shot which Burke saved, diving to the right. There was time for three minor fouls by Whitby and one by Thornley before the lively opening period continued. This time Hawes, Gallagher and Furlong combined before Thornley, racing up the right, clipped a cross into the six-yard box where Gallagher met it well on the volley forcing a fine save out of Burke (8 mins). However, it was almost immediately the turn of Burke's opposite number, Coburn to be called into action, Stuart saving well from Veart (9 mins).

A Maddox mis-header continued the trend of Altrincham defensive uncertainty as the game settled down into a less exciting mode. Alty captain Steve Hawes, who went on to have a fine game, played a good ball diagonally into the box where it evaded a defender and struck the unprepared Murphy who should have done better from close range (14 mins). Up front, Thornley chased everything as ever but received relatively little service from midfield. Indeed, the most excitement at this stage was the arrival of Andy Cole and Juan Verón in the Altrincham Directors' Box (24 mins). Curiously, Alty coach Graham Heathcote was not dispensing his usual vocal encouragement to his team. Whitby were passing the ball around neatly whilst Altrincham moves were breaking down in the final third of the pitch. Goodchild needed treatment for a leg injury before Gildear got in a shot at Coburn, which deflected off Maddox. More danger came after 33 minutes when Ure rounded Coburn on the right, after receiving a good through ball, but the Whitby man was only able to knock the ball across the face of goal from a sharp angle. The visitors were now winning the midfield battle and were increasingly camped in the Altrincham half as the half wore on. Furlong's frustration spilled over into a minor spat with Dixon (34 mins) but for all their possession, the best Whitby could manage was a very wide long shot by Williams (36 mins). Craney then lost the ball but Maddox redeemed himself with a good tackle before Furlong exhibited poor control as Altrincham's afternoon seemed to be going wrong. Furlong did better to win a free-kick 22 yards from goal but Hawes's free-kick deflected off the wall for a corner on the Alty right (39 mins). The Alty captain Hawes persisted in trying to prompt his colleagues and his ball in for Murphy resulted in a header by the wing-man which went quickly to Hulme, whose own snap-header went over the bar. Furlong's second bad lapse of ball control epitomised Altrincham's lacklustre display as the half drew to a close. To make things worse, Hawes received a deserved booking for a late challenge on the half-way line which left Ure receiving treatment (41 mins). Furlong then fouled Dixon before Sankey left the fray to be replaced by the interestingly named Guesto Delallio (42 mins) who went up-front in his place. Shortly after Murphy's loss of possession had summed up Altrincham's performance in the latter stages of the first half, Mr Margetson blew the whistle. No doubt Graham Heathcote had a few things to say in the changing room during the interval.

Early in the second half Hulme was penalised near half-way but it was Veart, nowhere near the ball, who lay rolling in agony and needing treatment; after sustained treatment he recovered. Furlong had the ball in the net a minute later but the referee had clearly blown for offside and Carl received a brief word from a tolerant Mr Margetson. Then, amidst the mediocrity came a goal to savour. Furlong, Craney, Gallagher and Hawes combined and the captain's ball into the box found Hulme whose header went wide but was retrieved near the by-line, to the right of goal, by Thornley. He played it back for Gallagher, whose fine cross from the right was met by a flashing header from Furlong which planted the ball in the back of the net, to the keeper's right (51 mins). Shortly afterwards Furlong needed treatment for a knock but immediately he won a free-kick which Hawes launched towards Sertori, whose header ran to the keeper, as rain now fell steadily (54 mins). The goal briefly lifted Altrincham but Danny Murphy, in particular, was looking out of sorts, twice failing to go for balls which normally he would have attacked. Presumably, he is carrying a knock. Murphy did briefly improve when he got on the end of a Hawes cross but his volley, under difficult circumstances, went well wide (61 mins).

However, Illingworth replaced Murphy soon after this (64 mins) but the sub was immediately pulled up for a push. The impressive Hawes next advanced 30 yards to prompt a move which ended with a free-kick for Illingworth (66 mins). Twice in as many minutes Mark Sertori broke up attacks; few players get the better of him for strength on the ball. For Whitby, Craig Veart continued to prompt his side, but Dawson's shot went wide (67 mins). At the other end Adams's pass put Hulme in for a shot which went close. Hulme had a much better second half than first and was soon involved again when another Adams feed was laid off by him for Illingworth. But Whitby perhaps should have equalised when Williams caught Adams out of position and advanced for a shot on Coburn which missed the upright by a couple of feet (70 mins). Furlong and Goodchild then clashed in a fairly minor way on the edge of the Whitby box but the Whitby man went down dramatically enough to earn Furlong a booking (72 mins). Gallagher and Sertori then prompted forward movements and Maddox weighed in with a fine defensive tackle as, at this stage, Altrincham looked reasonably comfortable. Indeed, Sertori blazed a golden opportunity to settle the match over the bar from 12 yards after a nice set-up by Furlong (75 mins).

However, Whitby continued to threaten in the closing stages and Graham Heathcote grew increasingly animated on the bench. Thornley responded, setting up Gallagher for a chip, which the keeper held. Then, after Furlong fell slightly dubiously in the box, Thornley had a shot beaten out by a defender, with the possible use of his hand, only to follow up with a second attempt which the striker put well wide (79 mins). Williams became the next in a succession of Whitby players to need treatment in the second half and as he was treated, Poland came on for Furlong (81 mins). Gallagher soon set off on a run through the centre of the pitch only to be hacked down from behind by Gildear who did not even receive a lecture from Mr Margetson, though he awarded a free-kick. Ian Williams replaced his namesake Graham for Whitby (82 mins). Burke had to push a curling free-kick from 25 yards by Hawes around his post as Altrincham belatedly rallied. From Hawes's right-wing corner, he won a second, on the left, which Burke caught easily. But Whitby kept pressing as Altrincham defended in depth. However, Poland managed to get the ball to Gallagher on the edge of the Whitby box and Jason's powerful snap-shot was beaten over the bar by Burke (87 mins). Poland then executed a great turn in the box and fired in a low shot which Burke beat out as the referee allowed a generous six minutes of added time for stoppages. the last threat of the game came when Veart and Ure combined but the wholehearted Gallagher had tracked back to left-back position to stop the danger.

Anyone expecting an easy game against a team which finished in a lowly position last season would have been disappointed. Altrincham did not play as well as they had in some of the friendlies in the pre-season. Murphy seems to be carrying a knock. Craney had one of his quieter games but Hulme improved greatly in the second half after a slow start. Sertori was strong at the back and Maddox made some timely interceptions. Hawes had an excellent game and Gallagher, too, showed his customary effort and pace. Thornley and Furlong were starved of the ball for long periods but Furlong took his goal well and Thornley chased the ball persistently. The result was what Altrincham wanted but they will need to improve on Tuesday, away at Worksop. Although far from their best, the majority of goal-scoring threats had come from the Robins and for this alone they deserved their narrow victory.