Match Report

SUMMARY

It is not often that three players from the same team score their first ever goals for their Clubs in the same match but this happened today when Ian Craney, Stuart Scheuber and Alex Hay all found the net for the first time against a sad but spirited Spennymoor side. On the statistical side, today was also the first time in sixteen league and cup games this season that any Altrincham player scored more than once in a game, Carl Furlong achieving the feat with a brace between the eleventh and fourteenth minutes. As a spectacle, the game was too one-sided to be thoroughly entertaining but it is never less than satisfying to watch one's own team cruising to a five-goal margin of victory, especially when all five goals were so well executed.

It is only three weeks since these two sides met in County Durham, but whilst Spennymoor fielded only one different player from their starting eleven against Altrincham on 23rd September, Altrincham had only six players who figured in the starting line-ups of both matches, underlining the flux in the home team. However, this was the same starting line-up for Altrincham as against Leek, last Tuesday, except that Phil Power was dropped and Ian Craney started the game.

On the bench Mark Ward selected himself for the first time since his recent cartilage operation. It was good to see Jason Gallagher and Eddie Turkington warming up and, apparently, nearing full fitness once more. Also with them was Otis Thomas, the Reserves' and Youth Team striker who had played in the British Colleges' trial match in midweek. Spennymoor, who have not always been able to field three substitutes this season, this time did so but had no physiotherapist with them and their section of the Directors' Box was empty. Gary Thompson was thus required to minister to the injured of both teams.

Mr Gerrard, the referee, allowed Altrincham to kick off this match three and a half minutes early which was unfortunate for those spectators who arrived late as a result of a Metrolink tram accident in Manchester because they missed an incident-packed opening. Attacking the Golf Road End, the home side were soon in command, though not before the towering Rob Jones had flattened Danny Murphy inside the first thirty seconds. He was not booked for this or for a number of subsequent infringements by a referee who was subsequently to show leniency on a number of challenges. From the free-kick, the ball came to Carl Furlong whose header was well saved but at the cost of a corner. Unfortunately, Hawes put this kick behind the crossbar for a goal-kick (1 min). J

ackson, in the Spennymoor goal, was in action again moments later when he got to a Hawes cross just before the approaching Danny Murphy (2 mins). Another Hawes cross, moments later, was just too high for Scheuber and Jackson once more intercepted as Murphy arrived on the scene. Gary Scott, who is looking as if he will become a fixture at right-back after another assured performance today, initiated a movement through Craney, Hawes and Porter which presented Furlong with what looked like a good chance from close range. Unfortunately, Furlong could not get a touch on the ball as his studs appeared to be stuck to the soft ground (3 mins). He did better in the fourth minute when he got in a good shot from right of goal which the keeper, Jackson, got down to well, pushing the ball out for another corner on the right. Hawes again wasted the corner, however.

The Durham side's first meaningful advance saw Osborne getting the better of Glendenning in the air and feeding Priest. His return to Osborne led to a shot from thirty yards which was very wide of the target. Danny Murphy, in only his second game for Altrincham, got round Andison but was then pushed over by the Moors' player. King, however, won a free-kick, ten yards inside his own half after being fouled by Scheuber but this was easily cleared. After eight minutes, Coburn faced his first mild threat when he had to dribble the ball coolly round a Spennymoor forward to clear potential danger from a loose ball. From this, the ball came to Scheuber who had a shot at goal which was comfortably saved.

Murphy then followed suit but his goal attempt won a corner from which Hay cut inside and planted a firm shot against the inside of Jackson's right-hand post, from where it rebounded to safety (10 mins). This disappointment soon turned to satisfaction after Hawes had played the ball forward to Furlong. The young striker showed composure in bringing the ball under control with his chest before firing past Jackson from twelve yards to open the scoring (11 mins). Hawes was involved in everything at this stage but his promptings ended when Hay, on the left, was shoved off the ball by the combative Jones, though no offence was noted by the referee (13 mins). Hawes and Scheuber soon combined to get the ball to Hay once more, still on the left.

However, his cross was poor and found the foot of Jones. Despite this, Hay kept trying and after some persistent holding by Wheldon, he won a free-kick for Altrincham. From the free-kick the ball was played into the box by Hawes, from the left, and it found Furlong, towards the far post, who headed cleanly home from fairly close range (14 mins). The young striker has now scored five goals in only six league starts.

Danny Murphy was also having a good game and he won a corner to keep up the pressure on the hapless visitors (15 mins). Hawes's corner came to Murphy then back to Hawes, whose cross was behind Carl Furlong and he was therefore only able to head well wide (16 mins). Steve Porter, too, was exhibiting good skill at left-back and trying to get forward at every opportunity. Not to be out-done, his full-back colleague Gary Scott executed a nice turn in midfield before sending Furlong up the right wing. He returned the ball to Scott who won a corner for his efforts (18 mins). This time, Scheuber took the kick but did no better than Hawes had done with his first efforts from corners.

In a rare foray into Altrincham territory, Cook played the ball up the left to Priest but the move ended with Sowden's header over the bar (19 mins). Shortly after this, Jon King dealt with the trouble being caused by the lively Murphy by fouling him and in the process the Moors' number eight needed treatment from Gary Thompson, the Alty physio. When play resumed, Jackson intercepted a ball just before Furlong's arrival for the third time in the game (21 mins). Jackson was next forced to field a low free-kick taken by Porter from the right-side of central midfield as Altrincham rang more changes with their set-pieces than normally. The Altrincham pressure was incessant as Hawes played an excellent ball to Hay in the left-corner of the pitch. His interchange with Furlong ended when Hay lost possession. After a wide header from Murphy, from a Hawes cross, Spennymoor replaced the ailing King with Andy Swalwell (23 mins).

Swalwell soon tried to get forward with Osborne, to no avail, before a Hay foul on Jones gave the visitors a free-kick on half-way (25 mins). The sides then traded offside movements, with decisions first against Swalwell, then twice in quick succession against Furlong (28 mins). After Jones had beaten Talbot, Wheldon's pass for Priest found the striker off-side. Spennymoor's mini-revival continued with Osborne beating Scott but this danger and a subsequent move by Sowden and Swalwell were stifled, Gary Talbot being the saviour on the latter occasion. The two captains were soon in the thick of the action in the Altrincham penalty area when both ended on the floor but the referee gave a free-kick to Talbot rather than Sowden (32 mins). Altrincham's indifferent period of play culminated in Scott going down with an injury which required treatment from the physio (34 mins).

It was Scheuber who upped the tempo with an excellent ball to Hay, whose cross from the right forced Jackson to save at the feet of the approaching Furlong (36 mins). Hawes maintained the impetus by finding Furlong in the centre who played the ball left to Porter whose early cross failed to find Hay, on the right (37 mins). The lively Furlong promptly played in Murphy but, under challenge, Murphy could only poke the ball wide of Jackson's goal. from 18 yards (39 mins). Wheldon then caught Murphy from behind after Furlong and Hawes had relayed the ball to the Altrincham man. Hawes's free-kick found Hay but he was dispossessed and responded by barging Sowden on the centre-line.

Despite having to absorb so much pressure in the early stages of the game, Spennymoor did not cave in completely and this was exemplified by Priest's ball to Sowden which produced a cross from the right, narrowly behind Stuart Coburn's cross-bar (41 mins). However, even when Talbot gave Swalwell the ball, they could not take advantage; Swalwell gave it to Porter, in turn. Altrincham replied with a move put together by Porter, Murphy, Hay and Hawes which ended with a throw on the left. After this, as Spennymoor appeared to be clearing the ball safely, Ian Craney made an excellent tackle just outside the penalty area, on the right-side of goal. Having won the ball, he looked up, saw the keeper off his line and from the edge of the box chipped the ball skilfully over defenders and keeper alike to notch up a fine first goal of his Altrincham career (44 mins) and put the Robins three goals ahead. Following an unproductive free-kick to Altrincham on the half-way line, the whistle went for the half-time break.

Spennymoor replaced Leonard by Lee Bennett at the interval and the tall sub slotted in up front as the second period got off to a quiet start. But the first good move of the half produced Altrincham's fourth goal. Scheuber, Hawes and Hay were all involved in getting the ball to Porter on the left. He played it on to Murphy whose looping cross from the left dropped to Scheuber, just outside the visitors' penalty area. He struck the ball low and firmly just inside Jackson's right-hand post (48 mins) but may have regretted his accuracy as he was forced to the ground under a mountain of congratulatory colleagues.

It almost got worse for the Moors as Murphy and Hawes got the ball to Hay in the centre but his shot, hooked over his shoulder, went wide. Perhaps a little complacency set in as a lapse at the back let in Priest but he shot wide when he should have done better (49 mins). The referee again showed leniency when Jones flattened Hawes on the touchline, 25 yards from goal. Glendenning met Hawes's free-kick but his header looped wide before Scott put a 20-yarder on to the roof of Richman's night-club behind the Hale end.

Once more, however, Spennymoor showed some spirit after Osborne won the ball and Sowden was fouled in the centre-circle. Bennett and Price then combined well before Scott was obliged to stop Swalwell and the hard-working Veart on the left. Cook then intercepted a Scott pass but his cross was poor, although it fell for Sowden and Talbot was required to give away a throw-in (54 mins). Next, a Veart cross went over Coburn who seemed uncharacteristically leaden-footed but may have been obstructed as the cross came over. Altrincham's rocky period continued as Glendenning let in Osborne who jumped in dangerously at Coburn as the keeper saved at his feet.

As Coburn received treatment, the Moors' player was fortunate not to be booked (55 mins). The keeper fortunately recovered well for he had to make a superb save, point blank, from Priest shortly afterwards. After Talbot had put the ball out for a corner, Veart lashed a shot well over the bar from 20 yards. Altrincham, it seemed, had taken their foot off the pedal as Spennymoor enjoyed perhaps their best spell of the game.

Ian Craney fired off a response by first winning possession and then firing in a low shot which beat Jackson but also went wide of the post (61 mins). However, Alty were still not firing on all cylinders as Glendenning lost out in the air to Priest but the ball ran through to Coburn. At the Hale end Hay clearly fouled his defender but nevertheless finished well to score a "goal" that was immediately disallowed (62 mins). Osborne won a rare Spennymoor corner as he went up the right wing but Coburn caught the kick well. For the home side, Hay was set up by Porter and Craney and though his first attempt was blocked his second led to a sustained passing movement involving Hawes, Porter and Scheuber before Murphy was robbed of the ball.

Mark Ward then made a double substitution, bringing on himself and Adam Farley for Scheuber and Talbot respectively (64 mins). Farley went to centre-back and Ward into midfield. Spennymoor were not finished yet but Osborne and Bennett's good work foundered when the ball was lost by Priest. Jones yet again escaped a booking when he fouled Furlong and the young striker showed his displeasure and soon he clashed with Matty Sowden, giving a way a free-kick. From this, Osborne's overhead kick was blocked by Glendenning. Altrincham put an end to this resistance from the visitors by scoring a fifth goal. Hawes played the ball forward through the centre and Furlong either deliberately or accidentally allowed it to run through his legs; this set up Hay who finished well from about twelve yards (67 mins).

Following a brief stoppage for treatment to Furlong, injured in a clash with the keeper, Hawes received a ball from Scott and his well-hit shot skimmed the upright (70 mins). After Scott had been flattened, the resulting free-kick by Hawes eventually came to Furlong who once again was fouled by Jones. As Murphy received treatment for an injury, Paul Barton replaced Priest for the visitors (74 mins). Heavy rain now started to fall on what had been a dull afternoon as Mark Ward began to show some of his experience, passing the ball well from midfield.

From one such move Murphy got in a header, wide of goal, then from a Ward free-kick Hay fired in a strong left-foot shot which Jackson held well (76 mins). Altrincham were now once again in control and Ian Craney was the next to take a pot shot but his effort hit Furlong, who was off-side. Ward next spread the play out to Hay, who beat Cook and curled a twenty-yarder just over the bar (78 mins). The one-way traffic continued with a blocked Hawes shot and a great turn by Furlong in the middle of a long passing movement which eventually ended in an uncharacteristically poor ball from Ward to the visitors' keeper. Spennymoor did gain a free-kick, 30 yards out, after Glendenning held Bennett, but Veart's kick went out for a goal-kick (80 mins).

Hay, Hawes and Murphy combined for the last-named to head wide before Osborne, the visitors' main threat, beat Scott, leading Porter to foul Bennett. Veart again wasted the kick, putting it wide of goal (82 mins). However, Bennett won Spennymoor a corner which led to a second one immediately. This was well caught by Coburn who initiated a move which ended in a poor cross from Hawes. Bennett, a useful substitute, set up Veart for a shot but this was straight at Coburn.

A scrappy few minutes followed, with Furlong being offside and Ward giving the ball away to Cook, before a loud bang rent the air as the match-ball dramatically burst, just three minutes from the end of the game! At this moment of farce, the Man of Match was announced as being Steve Hawes. Altrincham's last chance of the game was Hay's weak left foot shot wide of the post after he had beaten his marker (89 mins). The win was not enough to lift Altrincham in the table but, combined with Worksop's defeat, it served to more than halve Worksop's advantageous goal difference.

This may have been a one-sided game against a team who have suffered a number of crushing defeats this season, but Spennymoor did not surrender completely. Although they very rarely threatened the Altrincham goal, they did not resort to packing their defence or over-physical tactics. For Altrincham, there were many positive signs. Not only did three new players get on to the score-sheet, but the defence did not concede a goal and now look a fairly solid unit, with its newest member, right-back Gary Scott, consolidating the favourable impression that he gave against Leek last Tuesday. Danny Murphy also played well and is fast becoming a Golf Road favourite.

It was also good to see Mark Ward back on the pitch and Jason Gallagher and Eddie Turkington nearing fitness. Stuart Coburn had relatively little to do but again was impressive when he had to be. Alex Hay had a much better game than on Tuesday and Carl Furlong was hard-working throughout. In midfield, Steve Hawes merited the Man of the Match award, especially for his first-half performance and Ian Craney and Stuart Scheuber also had solid games.