Match Report

ALTRINCHAM (0) 0 WELLING UNITED (1) 1

Nationwide Conference match

Saturday 12th February 2000

Goals

  • 23 mins: Mark HONE (Altrincham 0 Welling United) 1

The Teams

ALTRINCHAM (4-4-2)

1. Greygoose; 2. Hodson, 4. Maddox, 5. Timons (capt), 3. Adams; 7. Gallagher, 8. Wilson, 6 Hawes, 11 Price; 9 Chambers, 10 Skelton. SUBS: 12. Landon (for Chambers 63); 13 Senior (for Greygoose 46); 14 Lovelock (for Price 54); 15 Kielty, 16 Power.

WELLING UNITED

1 Wilkerson; 2 Watts, 3 Harle, 4 Hone, 5 Budden, 6 Edwards, 7 Standen, 8 Rutherford, 9 Bailey, 10 Side, 11 Harney SUBS: 12 Bellaness (for Standen 90), 13 Taylor, 14 Hogarth, 15 Twin.
Referee: Mr M.C. Clattenberg (Cranlington) had a generally sound game.

Background

After surrendering a record-breaking fourteen-match run unbeaten in Conference at Hednesford, last Saturday, and defeat in the Macmillan Cup to Telford, last Tuesday, compounded by two sendings-off, Altrincham went down 0-1 to bottom- placed Welling in a match in which they had 80% of the possession but just could not score.

Report: What else can go wrong?

Left: Kick-off

In a swirling wind, Altrincham elected to play with it in the first half. Initial pressure gave Chambers a good chance after five minutes which he failed to take. Altrincham succeeded in getting the ball in the net after 10 minutes but the goal was rightly ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper, Paul Wilkerson, who over-dramatically collapsed to make his point.

Welling mounted occasional counter-attacks, including one after an error by Price, which found the side-netting after 16 minutes. Chambers produced an air-shot when presented with a good opportunity after 18 minutes. Disaster struck after 23 minutes when Welling won a corner on their right which was played back for Mark Hone to drive home from outside the penalty box. Further attacking play by Altrincham in which new boys Scott Wilson and Craig Skelton were prominent failed to produce a goal. Gavin Price missed the best chance when he failed to connect cleanly with the goal open before him. Occasional counter-attacks by Welling included a foray in the 43rd minute when uncertainty in the home defence forced Dean Greygoose, in the Altrincham goal, to dive at the feet of a Welling attacker. Both were injured and, although Greygoose hobbled on till the interval, he did not appear thereafter. He joins first-choice keeper, Stuart Coburn, midfielders Brendan Burke, Keith Russell, Kevin Ellison and Shaun Goodwin on the injured list.

Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM 0 WELLING UNITED 1

The keeper's injury brought 42 year-old Ian Senior into the Altrincham goal for the first time in more than a decade. His rustiness showed as he fumbled the first attempt in his direction and also muffed a couple of kicks. However, he saw little action and was only forced to make one serious save, an excellent double-block, throughout the rest of the match. The half consisted of almost constant possession by the home side which broke down time and time again on the edge of the visitors' penalty area. Altrincham quite simply lacked any penetrative threat. After 54 minutes Andy Lovelock replaced Price, who is carrying a hernia injury. As Altrincham pressed forward, Skelton caught the Welling keeper, earning a booking both for himself and for the protesting Jason Gallagher on 61 minutes. Landon joined the fray a minute later but did not get a chance to strike at the Welling goal. Gallagher forced a good save on 64 minutes after good work by Danny Adams and Lovelock blasted over the top on 71 minutes. A scything tackle by Adams earned him a justified yellow card on 73 minutes as Altrincham pressed forward, without really looking threatening. On 75 minutes Senior produced his excellent double-save after good work by John Budden for Welling. Lovelock also entered the ref's book after 78 minutes, though he seemed unlucky to be cautioned. The small, but vocal Welling contingent cheered their team on as they spent the last five minutes trying to keep the ball in the corner-flag area at the Altrincham end. Altrincham's fourth booking came on 87 minutes when the hard- working Hawes was justifiably cautioned near the half-way line. For Welling , Harle and Harney were booked.

Altrincham now face serious problems with impending suspensions for Power, Price and Maddox, in addition to the absences through injury of Coburn, Russell, Goodwin and Burke. In today's match, the defence was well- marshalled by Chris Timons and the new midfielder Scott Wilson as well as Stephen Hawes played well. Up front, however, Leroy Chambers continues to look as if he is not fully committed to the cause following his on-off transfer to Kingstonian and loan period at Kettering. Andy Lovelock is too easily dispossessed. Jason Gallagher, normally so reliable, did not have one of his better days but on the plus side, Danny Adams was his usual dependable self. Altrincham dropped a place to 17th whilst Welling climbed off the bottom on goal difference, leaving Sutton at the foot of the table.

Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM 0 WELLING UNITED 1

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