Match Report

This match had been postponed from 29 December 2001. Alty arrived looking for a first-ever league win over the Bishops, whilst the hosts were also desperate to win after a four month run without a league victory. The game was played in dry weather on a good surface for the time of year. The Bishops are still coming to terms with the loss of manager Tony Lee to Spennymoor United over the Christmas period.

An injury ravaged Alty side gave a good account of themselves despite losing this game. Trailing by two goals at the interval Alty could only pull one goal back through Furlong, early in the second half despite having a lot of possession and playing down the slope.

With injuries to Kevin Hulme and Gary Scott and with captain Steve Hawes suffering from a cold, Alty's already much weakened squad was supplemented tonight by three Youth players, Mario Daniel, Lee Thompson and Vernum Rowland all of whom started on the bench. All were involved in a league match for the first time this season. In all, eight first-teamers were missing: Scott, Adams, Gallagher, Murphy, Shuttleworth, Hawes, Hulme and Taylor. As the Reserves also had a game last night that, too, must have restricted selection. Bishops' Carl Chillingsworth was injured in the warm up and replaced by Neil Robinson.

After two early free-kicks had been conceded by Craney, the game then got off to a lively start. First of all, an early ball forward from Swanick found Thornley but he was unable to capitalise on it (3 mins). Middleton then got in a good run for Bishops but ended his advance with a poor shot (4 mins). Next, Ryan got the ball to Poland but his shot was overhit (7 mins). Alty's promising start continued as Thornley set off on a threatening run but he was eventually closed down. Thornley then won a free-kick after being wrestled down by Foster (14 mins) but Ryan's kick was cleared. Ryan and Furlong soon combined well but Carl was judged to be offside. However, at the other end, the Bishops won a corner following a fine block by Maddox on Shoulder. Smoke then descended on the pitch and a fire engine was sighted nearby!

An Altrincham corner soon followed but Campbell held Poland's kick well. After a poor shot by Rowe, his team-mate Skedd then hit the bar but the flag was already up for offside (20 mins). Furlong soon went close at the other end when his header beat the keeper but Salmon cleared off the line. Then Craney had a long range effort which was just too high. However, Alty's good start was undone following a free-kick conceded by Guildford on the Alty right touchline, 30 yards from goal. Guildford had dived in on a Bishops' player and received a booking for his offence. Middleton struck a fine free-kick which Shaw headed back across goal, wide of Coburn, and into the corner of the net (25 mins).

After Ryan had escaped with caution when he caught an opponent from behind, it was Salmon who became the second player to be booked, for a bad foul on Thornley (30 mins). Good work by Furlong and Poland was then stopped by the intervention of Salmon for Bishops (33 mins). After treatment to Shaw, a Bishops' passing move culminated in a shot by Rowe, in the centre, which doubled the lead with Coburn a little out of position (36 mins). A free-kick, taken by Poland, following a push on Furlong went for a goal-kick. Dave Swanick then needed treatment before another Alty player, Furlong, was victim of a foul tackle. Bishops next won a corner off Guildford on their left but Hutt headed over the bar from it. The injury stoppages continued as Wills now needed treatment. In the four minutes of added time Maddox made a fine clearing tackle on the edge of the Alty box. The sides then swapped corners, with Thornley winning the Alty flag-kick when he looked to be in position for a shot at goal. Half-time saw Bishops holding a flattering two-goal lead.

An early foul on Furlong gave Ryan a free-kick which a defender headed out for a corner on the right. From this, Maddox's header was saved by Campbell (47 mins). Alty's bright start continued with a free-kick awarded for a foul on Guildford. However, the Bishops then won a corner off Maddox but Coburn eventually stopped any danger from this with a save. Lee Poland then got in a shot at goal but from 20 yards he hit his shot over the bar (51 mins).

The free-kicks continued to come with Ryan taking two in quick succession after Coburn had been obliged to race out to kick clear a breakaway. Swanick then gained a free-kick for Alty but Campbell got the ball from this (54 mins). Then, Alty Youth player Vernum Rowland came on to make his league debut, replacing Wills in midfield (55 mins). Following a Guildford foul, Mario Daniel than replaced Lee Poland (57 mins). There was some confusion when the number six card was held up upside down to identify the player being substituted but eventually it was realised that Poland not Furlong was to be withdrawn!

After treatment for an injury, Thornley returned to the fray to win a corner. From Ryan's flag-kick, Sertori nodded the ball on for Furlong to head over the keeper and into the net to make the score 2-1 (61 mins). Swanick then broke up a breakaway by Bishops at the cost of a corner which Salmon headed wide. Furlong next prompted a good save from Campbell (64 mins) before a foul on Maddox enabled Alty to keep up the pressure with a free-kick by Swanick. Rowland was then fouled before Furlong got a booking for an alleged elbow on Salmon (72 mins). Following this the home side hit the cross bar and shortly afterwards Ryan was cautioned for a foul (75 mins). Both Hutt and Shoulder then needed treatment for the Bishops. Rowland was doing well on the flank and from his cross Daniel headed very narrowly wide (88 mins). Rowland then got in a good shot before Bishops replaced Proudlock by Quinn. Alty had time to win another free-kick through Thornley and a corner, both of which were taken by Ryan but did not produce the desired equaliser.

With so many injuries, this was very much a makeshift Altrincham side but they gave a good account of themselves and were unlucky not to take anything from the game. The Bishops remain Alty's bogey side having never lost to us in the League in eight games. Alty have now taken just one point from the last four league games.