Match Report

Alty captain Rod Thornley had dropped out during the warm-up after suffering a thigh strain which left him limping heavily as he took his seat in the stand to watch the game. The match was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of the former Altrincham manager Bernard Taylor's mother, who died this week.

When play started it was fairly uninspiring in the opening stages as Alty attacked the 20/20 Hale End. Tony Sullivan started up front, supported by Ian Craney and it was the latter who got in the first shot of note, albeit one that went very wide (4 mins). Lunt then shot even more wildly at the other end a minute later but things improved when Craney's good work led to Sullivan being allowed time and space to turn and shoot narrowly past McMillan's right upright (6 mins). Alty came even closer when, from Rose's free-kick, the ball came out of the Runcorn defence to Gardner, who unleashed a superb volley from 30 yards which was well saved, at the second attempt, by McMillan (9 mins). Meanwhile, Mark Maddox was playing a captain's role at the back, sweeping up after Gardner had been dispossessed and giving the tall McNeil as good as he got in the early physical encounters. When McNeil then sprawled all over Maddox, he earned a lecture from Mr Pardoe (12 mins).

Gardner was proving a threat to Runcorn and a fine cross from him on the right helped Altrincham to maintain some pressure. Gardner also executed a fine back-flick to prompt the next attack but, over all, play was disappointing in the early stages. Then, from Rose's clearing header, Carragher fired in a long-distance volley which just cleared the angle of bar and upright, to Acton's left (18 mins). The game's first corner came when Rose headed out Gamble's free-kick for a foul by Maddox on McNeil (19 mins). From this, Gamble sent in a fine shot which Acton did well to beat out and then gather, to his right (19 mins). Altrincham then came close when Sullivan played the ball forward to the quick-thinking Craney who, without hesitation, chipped the ball just over the keeper and the bar (22 mins).

Alty's first corner came after Smith fed Craney, who got the ball to Gardner on the right. Gardner won the corner off Carragher. His corner then found Adams, coming into the box from the left, and he sent in a low shot which almost crept in at the foot of the post before McMillan saved it (27 mins). Craney continued to impress in midfield as he and Band supported Sullivan. After Craney had fed Sullivan a Runcorn player seemed to concede a clear corner and almost an own goal, but Mr Pardoe surprisingly gave a goal-kick. Another Alty corner on the right, was won by Gardner who got past Lunt to the by-line. His corner found Band but his firm header just cleared the bar (33 mins). Altrincham were creating most of the chances but Runcorn were far from out of it and a neat passing move saw the ball run off Kinney's head from McNeil's pass for a goal-kick.

Indeed, Runcorn almost scored soon afterwards when McNeil won possession and Kinney got in on Acton, who bravely blocked the Runcorn man's goal attempt on the edge of the box, picking up an injury in the process. A foul on Gardner gave Alty a free-kick 25 yards out not long after this. After a lecture for Craney and Parle, Gardner's free-kick found Rose, who headed wide (39 mins). As half-time approached, Burke lost possession and Runcorn moved forward via Morley and McNeil and then through several passes before Parle found himself arriving in the right side of the box, where Rose ended on the floor as the Runcorn man advanced to drive the ball home from 10 yards or so (44 mins). Half-time arrived with Alty rueing their missed first-half chances.

Altrincham won an early corner when Smith got behind the Runcorn defence on the left from an Adams pass but McMillan caught Gardner's well-struck corner in the air. A late tackle by Whalley on Smith then earned the Runcorn assistant manager a yellow card (48 mins). Following the free-kick, Adams's shot came out to Sullivan whose mishit effort was cleared (51 mins). Gardner continued to torment the Runcorn defence before a poor kick out by McMillan led Band to try a speculative lob which he unfortunately skied into the crowd (53 mins). After Gardner had been fouled again, a free-kick came out to Maddox, who lifted his effort over the bar (54 mins).

On the break, Gamble got into a good position only for Scott to make an excellent block. A good move by Alty then ended with Gardner driving in a firm low cross, from the right, which Band volleyed well wide from near the penalty spot (56 mins). Band soon won a corner from a punt forward but needed treatment to his right ankle afterwards. Gardner's corner was poorly struck from the right. Following this, Adams fouled McNeil but the same Alty defender cleared the ensuing free-kick.

Craney then won possession and, via Band, the ball came to Gardner, this time running towards the left. He produced a fine shot which McMillan did well to tip round the post for a corner (60 mins). Gardner then won the ball off Tomlinson and advanced to the right of goal, drawing the keeper, but sliding the ball across the face of goal where Sullivan was unable to get onto it at the back post (62 mins). Alty now withdrew Sullivan and brought on Danny Murphy, where he now partnered Peter Band up front. Another foul on Gardner, by Carragher, led to Gardner driving the free-kick over the bar (64 mins). After an exaggerated fall in the box by McNeil had failed to convince Mr Pardoe of an offence, play returned to midfield where Craney picked up the ball, sold a defender a dummy and drove the ball superbly into the upper part of the net to the keeper's left, from 20 yards or more (65 mins). The Altrincham pressure had got its reward.

Soon after this Murphy headed a good cross from the right by Scott narrowly wide (67 mins). A fine Adams tackle cut short any Runcorn response before an ambitious Gardner shot went well wide at the other end (71 mins). Alty were now well on top but a good turn by Craney ended in a disappointing shot as the home side failed to capitalise on their openings. More good work by Gardner saw Murphy rise well to head for goal and prompt a good save, only for a free-kick to be awarded against him for pushing. Ness now replaced Parle for Runcorn (77 mins). Alty's next effort came after Craney brought the ball down well and forced a save, low down, from McMillan (81 mins).

Craney then prompted Gardner to advance again on the right and, for the second time in the half, having drawn the keeper, he drove a shot across the face of goal, narrowly missing the far post (83 mins). Alty's star player was then needlessly booked either for not retreating or protesting about a Runcorn free-kick (83 mins). A foul by Carragher on Adams then earned a yellow card (84 mins), yet when Burke made a far more obvious trip on Whalley soon after this, the Alty midfielder escaped without a caution (88 mins). A late Adams cross from the left was next caught by McMillan (89 mins) and Kinney headed wide at the other end before Gamble's skied shot, well over the bar, marked the last effort on goal of the match.

Altrincham created enough openings to have won this match but failed to capitalise on their chances. Dave Gardner gave an excellent performance, as did Ian Craney and Peter Band. At the back, Maddox and Rose dealt with the strong physical presence of McNeil, and they were ably supported by Scott and Adams at the back. Though the dropping of two points and the consequent fall of two league places were disappointing, Alty can take heart from the fact that they have now lost just once in nine league outings.