Match Report

A fixture quirk meant that Altrincham's home and away league matches with Vauxhall Motors were the last two games of the season. However, the sides had already met in the UniBond cup competition, when Alty won at Moss Lane. Since then Vauxhall had improved and confirmed themselves as league runners-up. Before the match the runners-up trophy was presented by Duncan Bayley to the Motormen.

Without Kevin Hulme and Barry Shuttleworth from last Saturday's line-up, Alty just failed to hold on to a point, losing to a fine goal from Lynch just as the three minutes of added time began. Alty had started well and went ahead through a superb goal by 17 year-old Mario Daniel who outpaced two defenders before scoring neatly (16 mins). Vauxhall came back into the game and Haddrell drilled home an equaliser from the edge of the box (33 mins) before they went on to have the better of the second half of an entertaining game. Alty had several second-half chances but were unable to convert them.

There was a surprise return to the starting line-up for Mark Maddox, who had been thought to be sidelined for the rest of the season with a rib injury. However, Kevin Hulme and Barry Shuttleworth were both missing from the side which played last Saturday. Hulme had work commitments which kept him out. Youth players Mario Daniel and Vernum Rowland started the game, with a third Youth team member, Lee Thompson on the bench. Ryan started at right-back with Rowland in right-midfield.

Vauxhall also had injury problems with 36-goal striker Terry Fearns out with a broken arm, whilst Paul Cumiskey was also out. Ex-Alty front man Paul Hart started for the Wirral side and another former Moss Laner, Steve Cross, was on the bench. The pitch was in excellent condition and Alty fans making their first visit to Rivacre Park were also impressed by the extensive and modern social facilities adjacent to the ground. Amongst the spectators were reported to be two Conference managers, Phil Wilson (Southport) and Mark Wright (Chester), both presumably on scouting missions.

It was the Robins' keeper Stuart Coburn who was the first to earn his money with a superb close range save from a firm Paul Hart shot, following a pass from the right (6 mins). This came after Vauxhall had won the first corner of the contest, taken by Wright. However, Alty soon settled down and won themselves a corner on the left. Though Murphy won Ryan's flag-kick the ball ran to keeper Hilton, from Thornley. Altrincham were now looking the better side with Scott and Craney doing well in midfield. The two midfielders combined well for Craney to get in a good, low shot which Hilton turned round his left post for a corner. From this, Sertori headed wide (12 mins). Hart then won a corner for his side off Sertori's tackle. This was cleared by Sertori to Thornley, in the left channel. He played the ball on accurately to Daniel whose sheer pace took him through and past both Nesbitt and Rigby and into the box. The young striker kept his composure and finished very well to give Alty the lead (16 mins).

Vauxhall won a corner after 20 minutes but Wright's kick was cleared before a fine tackle by Craney on Nesbitt set Rowland running at pace through two midfield challenges. His advance came to halt on the edge of the box. After a stoppage for simultaneous treatment to Haddrell and to another Vauxhall man, Alty won a free-kick for a foul on Thornley. Vauxhall, however, were now beginning to get the upper hand and they soon won a corner off Ryan (28 mins). Lawton took the kick and, following this, a cross came in which Haddrell headed in a loop to Coburn (32 mins).

Ryan then did well, interchanging passes with Rowland on the right and feeding Daniel but the ball ran through to Hilton. However, soon afterwards, the ex-Trafford right-back Rigby played a ball forward to Haddrell who had time to compose himself and drive a firm, low shot just inside Coburn's right-hand post from a central position on the edge of the box (33 mins). The tall and impressive Haddrell had another shot well saved by Coburn not long afterwards. Again Rigby initiated the move, getting the ball, via Hart, to Haddrell. Coburn went to ground early but the Vauxhall man failed to lift it over the prone goalkeeper, who made a good save (36 mins).

Play now switched from end to end as Altrincham responded well with Thornley setting Daniel in on Vauxhall's goal. Mario got past his man well but his snap-shot struck the advancing keeper (36 mins). Maddox and Sertori continued to see off danger at the other end before Wright got past Ryan but was forced to check back. Vauxhall were now showing why they were the league runners-up, passing the ball well and advancing with pace at the Alty goal. The Robins were not to be outdone, however, and just before the break put together a 14-pass move which ended with a good, low shot from Craney which Hilton saved well (44 mins). For an end of season game the players of both sides were providing excellent entertainment to an unfortunately sparse crowd.

An even more timely tackle came in from Maddox as Haddrell drew back his foot to shoot at Coburn. However, Alty then broke away and Daniel and Thornley combined to win a corner on the left (58 mins). After this, as a Vauxhall man was treated, Mark Maddox went off to be replaced by Paul Taylor at the back of the Alty defence (58 mins). The Alty corner, finally taken by Ryan, was cleared before Vauxhall had an over high shot at Coburn's goal. Murphy and the impressive Craney then combined well but the ball ran safely to Hilton (61mins).

The game continued at a high pace and Craney fed Thornley for a shot which the Alty striker underhit out of play for a goal-kick. Vauxhall now replaced Rigby at right-back by Steve Cross (66 mins) and after Craney had again shown great composure in midfield, Paul Taylor cleared the next Vauxhall attack with a header back to his keeper (67 mins). With Vauxhall now on top, Alty took off Scott and brought on Poland, who slotted in on the left of midfield and Ryan moved to central midfield (70 mins). A perceptive ball from Craney found Daniel but he was given offside - a decision which did not please the visitors. Lynch then did well to advance up the Alty left but the ball came to Coburn from his effort. Lawton then ran 30 yards towards goal before Swanick stopped his advance (74 mins). Alty were now penned back and Rowland was the next defender in action, stopping Wright on the Vauxhall left.

On the break, Poland beat a man in centre-field and advanced but he put in a misdirected shot from 25 yards (75 mins). Nesbitt then set up Haddrell for a dipping 25 yarder which Coburn held well at the second attempt as it bounced in front of him (76 mins). It was Craney, once more, who relieved the pressure with a fine ball forward to Poland, who sliced his shot well wide (79 mins). Hart and Lawton then won a corner on the right for Vauxhall but Nesbitt's kick was cleared. Next, Hart beat Taylor which led to a low cross from Wright which Taylor then did well to turn out for a corner on the Vauxhall left (84 mins). Altrincham were on the back foot but were preventing Vauxhall from getting many clear openings.

Indeed, Alty had a chance to take the points when Poland did well to win the ball and via Thornley the ball came to Ryan. But Ryan lent back and drove the ball well over the bar from the outer part of the penalty area (85 mins). A Vauxhall corner was then cleared before another Alty move broke down. Almost immediately Haddrell was allowed to advance down the centre into the Alty half, where he fed Lynch. Lynch also advanced unchallenged and drove a fine shot into Coburn's net just as the "3 minutes to go" board was being displayed. It almost got worse in the 88th minute when Haddrell fed Hart, who got past Swanick, and from a shot from the right of goal Coburn made a good save (88 mins). A third goal would have been unfair on Alty who contributed a lot to a very entertaining game. However, it could not be denied that Vauxhall's strong second half performance earned them a deserved victory. There is a swift chance for revenge when Vauxhall come to Moss Lane this Friday. Though no formal man of the match was announced, for Altrincham Craney was excellent throughout.