Match Report

Alty arrived at Whitby seeking their first away win in the League since 15th September last year! This was largely to do to a lack of league activity and, indeed, this was Altrincham's first league game of any kind for four weeks. Whitby had enjoyed poor home form this season, gaining only one of their six league victories at home.

An 88th minute winner from Kevin Hulme gained Altrincham their win after they had let an early two-goal lead slip. Firstly, Paul Taylor headed home a Neil Ryan corner after only two minutes and then Ian Craney added a second after 16 minutes. However, Whitby scored through Goodchild from a goalmouth melee after a corner on 26 minutes and the Blues then equalised on the stroke of half-time.

This goal came when a bad back pass from Paul Taylor fell short and Lee Ure nipped in to score. Alty had the better of the last half-hour after a strong start to the second half from Whitby and they finally got their reward when Hulme finished off good work by Ryan and Craney.

Altrincham restored Danny Murphy to the starting line-up after he had started as a sub in the match last Tuesday in the Cheshire Senior Cup; Lee Poland was the man dropped to the bench to accommodate him. For Whitby, Alan Anderson was making his league debut.

Although the day was sunny, Altrincham kicked off into a strong, biting wind. The Robins gained the first corner of the contest when Ryan's shot was deflected well over the target (2 mins). Ryan himself took the corner from the Altrincham right and found Paul Taylor completely unmarked inside the box towards the near post. Taylor's firm header gave Naisbett no chance in the Whitby goal and earned the visitors the lead after just two and a half minutes. Whitby were undeterred, however, and soon Coburn had to be down smartly to his left to save Graham's low shot, after a neat flick on by Robinson (5 mins). Then Maddox got in a good header to concede a corner in the next Whitby attack (7 mins). Play stopped for very early treatment to Key, which seemed to be for cramp (8 mins).

Taylor then conceded another corner as Robinson threatened and from this Graham powered a header over the bar (10 mins). The unfortunate Key than had to be substituted, with Ian Williams replacing him (13 mins). After Taylor had lost the ball Whitby won a further corner, again on the right. From Logan's kick, Hawes got the ball clear. Murphy was then set clear, running into the right corner of the Altrincham attack, and after an interchange with Thornley, Murphy got the ball back from the by-line to the outer fringes of the Whitby area. There, Craney seized on defensive hesitancy and controlled the ball before slotting home a low shot to double Altrincham's lead (16 mins). Though two goals down, Whitby had been enjoying more of the possession.

The sides then conceded free-kicks for minor midfield offences before Maddox got in a fine tackle on Robinson as he threatened to get clear, on the edge of the Altrincham box (22 mins). Next, a relatively minor foul by Murphy on Ure earned the Altrincham man a booking (23 mins). At the other end Taylor found Thornley well but the striker could only deliver a half-hit shot at Naisbett. Whitby kept up the pressure with yet another right-sided corner, won by Ure. This time Coburn seemed to be hindered by weight of numbers in the box from getting off his line to get at the ball, which had been crossed in by Logan. After a scramble, the ball went in at the back post, apparently off Goodchild (26 mins). Following treatment for an injury to Anderson, play resumed and Hulme and Goodchild soon got involved in a minor spat, which ended with the Whitby man being cautioned (27 mins). A penalty appeal by Robinson went unheeded as Altrincham remained on the back foot. Anderson had a shot blocked, then Graeme Williams's low shot went narrowly wide (32 mins).

Anderson soon needed treatment again and he hobbled off the field after this for a couple of minutes, before returning (36 mins). Whitby continued to press but on the breakaway Taylor found Murphy whose volley from the right was very well saved by Naisbett, as he fell backwards (39 mins). Whitby were forced to make their second first-half change when Anderson gave way to Craig Veart (41 mins). Altrincham then got in a shot by Ryan, which was blocked before Maddox found himself stranded in the Whitby half as the Blues advanced down the middle. Maddox got back to make a half clearance before the danger was cleared. Steve Hawes then played a fine ball to Craney whose lob ended in the keeper's arms.

Just as it looked as if Alty would hold a half-time lead, Paul Taylor played a mis-hit back pass from the edge of the area which was too short. Ure got onto it and, though driven left by Coburn's advance, he managed to score, although the ball was almost cleared off the line by Taylor who had rushed back to the goal-line after his error (45 mins). On the balance of play in the first half, Whitby would have been unfortunate to have gone in trailing at the half way point.

Mis-hit passes from both Maddox and Sertori in quick succession after the restart set the pattern for Whitby to dominate the opening period of the second half. Then, when Alty did advance, Hulme lost possession after the ball bobbled badly on the pitch (46 mins). Whitby were putting together some nice passing movements but, as in the first half, seemed to lack punch in the final third of the pitch. A good move by Whitby ended with Scott conceding a corner to Robinson. Throughout the game, Logan's free-kicks and corners promised danger to Altrincham but this time Coburn punched the flag-kick clear (52 mins). Shortly after this, a long punt by Coburn set Thornley in on the Keeper, but Naisbett came out to smother the ball well.

Then, after Craney had been fouled near half-way, Taylor's free-kick was relayed by Craney to Ryan who knocked the ball across the face of goal where Thornley was just unable to touch it home (53 mins). Ure then got the better of Scott but his shot from the left, as he fell, was well stopped by Coburn (56 mins). Altrincham now replaced the hobbling Murphy by Lee Poland (58 mins) but this had no immediate effect as Whitby continued to press forward. However, a fine ball from Hulme found Thornley, who despite not controlling the ball cleanly, won a corner on the Alty left to relieve the pressure (61 mins). From the corner, by Ryan, Thornley had a free header at the back post but put the ball over the bar (61 mins). Altrincham were now beginning to get the upper hand. Nevertheless, a defensive lapse let in Ure but, as he advanced into the box, he knocked the ball a little too far forward and Coburn saved smartly.

After an Ian Craney tackle in midfield there was something of a set-to, with a Whitby player at one point seeming to have the Alty midfielder in a neck-hold. Mr Lomas chose to take no action against anyone and play resumed with a Whitby free-kick (67 mins).

Via two successive throw-ins on the right, Alty won a corner on the right, which Poland took. Though the corner was overhit it produced another corner, this time on the left. From Ryan's flag-kick, Taylor rose at the near post but his effort went over the bar (70 mins). Alty continued to press and even Mark Sertori was pressing forward to win a corner on the right (72 mins). Naisbett missed the corner completely but it was cleared by his defence. Whitby did threaten to break away after this but a superb tackle by Maddox halted their progress. However, Altrincham were soon back pressing at the Whitby goal and when Thornley got round Graham, only to be brought down, the Blues' player was booked (74 mins). Whitby were now confined to breakaways, mainly involving Ure but the visitors continued to dominate the game at this stage.

Although Poland was fouled the referee allowed advantage and the ball came to Hawes, whose low shot was deflected for a corner. This came to nothing but Craney soon fed Thornley, who contrived to win another corner, on the right. From Poland's kick, the keeper tipped the ball out for a left-side corner (77 mins). This, in turn, led to a right-sided corner which was again cleared.

Coburn was then called into action to stop Robinson, making a fine save at the cost of a corner to Whitby. This was played deeply to Veart whose sliced effort was miles off target (80 mins). Maddox then played Poland in with a fine, long ball but Naisbett was out smartly to save, conceding yet another corner on Alty's left. Next, Logan's whipped-on cross from the left forced Coburn to punch out at the other end but by now the Whitby goalkeeper was playing for a draw, taking inordinate time to set up his goalkick (82 mins).

Poland had a chance to wrap things up when played in by Thornley but he dallied too long and the chance was gone but another Alty corner resulted (86 mins). This led to another goalkick which Naisbett took some time to take. However, as the minutes ticked away, an Alty throw on the right led to some good work on the right touchline by Ryan who, in turn fed Craney. The midfielder got the ball forward to Hulme who hooked it home from inside the box, to the right of goal (88 mins). The whistle soon went to record Altrincham's first league win in four games since the end of October and their first win in the league in Yorkshire since season 1998-99.

Altrincham's strong second half showing earned them this win against a Whitby side who looked better than their poor home record suggested. Defensive lapses made it difficult for Altrincham but determination saw them through. Once more Kevin Hulme proved his value to the side, particularly in the first half.