Match Report

SUMMARY

After a week in which Altrincham almost went out of business, it was a pleasure to be able to concentrate on activities on the pitch this afternoon. Altrincham were looking for a double, having beaten Worksop at Babbage Way, back in September and the visitors brought about 100 vociferous fans who boosted the gate to 718, the second-best league attendance of the season at Moss Lane. The crowd was segregated following a spot of bother at Babbage Way when we visited in September but apart from making a racket by hammering their feet and fists on the Golf Road end wall, there was no trouble today. Both sets of supporters traded songs throughout the match.

Kevin Ellison and Stuart Coburn had been on trial at Leicester City this week but both appeared. Kevin returns to Leicester on Monday but Stuart is now unlikely to move to Filbert Street. With the surprising but economically sensible transfer of captain Gary Talbot to Northwich, Steve Hawes (pictured left),who was returning from suspension, was a popular choice as the new skipper. Another Saturday saw yet another Altrincham defensive formation as this time Scott, Glendenning and Maddox comprised a back three, making it 23 different defensive configurations this season to date. Steve Finney was again a lone front-man with support from the flanks from Ellison and Murphy.

A surprise was the inclusion as a substitute of centre-back Terry Bowker who left the Alty Reserves for Bamber Bridge early this season, played once for them, returned to Moss Lane and played against Ashton in the league cup, left again very recently (reportedly heading for Castleton Gabriels) but mysteriously reappeared for this match. Jason Gallagher was out injured so Altrincham started with just six of the same players who started the match at Worksop in September, whilst eight of the Worksop line-up reappeared today. Holmshaw, Mason and Smith were the new faces to Alty fans but the familiar shape of Chris Waddle was again in the Worksop team today.

Altrincham kicked-off towards the Golf Road end on a bright but cold afternoon, with the pitch in remarkably good condition apart from small, sanded areas in midfield. The teams exchanged tentative attacks before Gary Scott, then Steve Hawes were fouled and Danny Murphy was caught offside (4 mins). Chris Waddle had dropped anchor on the right wing from where, as at Worksop, chasing back did not seem to be part of his job description. Both sides were giving away possession in the early stages, including the former England man. Altrincham's first move of promise started with Glendenning, whose pass to Ellison was intelligently relayed to Murphy on the right flank.

The opposing Worksop defender slipped and appeared to handle the ball but Mr Davies adjudged the offence to be just outside the penalty area. Hawes's free-kick was cleared to Finney and the ball came via a Ward cross from left-centre to the head of Maddox, coming in from the right. Although the centre-back's header was only of half-strength, keeper Holmshaw belatedly decided that it might not be missing the target and made a grab for it which knocked it out of play. Curiously the referee awarded a goal-kick (8 mins). As the two sides continued to misplace their passes during a cagey opening period, the two teams' supporters engaged in vocal jousting; it was good to see the rare sight of some sizeable and vocal support from a visiting side at Moss Lane.

Following a short stoppage for a head injury to the League's leading scorer, Kirk Jackson (16 mins), Townsend was fouled by Glendenning (17 mins). Maddox got the ball clear, not for the first time and this prompted Craney, Ellison, Scott and Hawes, on the right side of the pitch, to put together a promising move which ended in a foul on Danny Murphy 40 yards from goal. Smith headed out Hawes's free-kick to Murphy himself, whose shot was weak and wide of the right upright (18 mins). As the tempo increased, Mason's throw went through Smith and Ludlam to Jackson, on the right. His cross found Townsend, whose header went narrowly over the bar, clipping the back of the net support as Coburn slipped (19 mins). The referee also immediately lost his footing too, to the delight of the crowd. A crude body-check by Maddox on Townsend stopped the Worksop man's advance 35 yards from goal. From the free-kick Mason's shot and two immediate follow-ups were beaten out by Maddox, the last at the expense of a Chris Waddle corner from the right which Coburn punched clear (20 mins).

Then Waddle and Smith got into the box where the ball rebounded dangerously off Scheuber before reaching Coburn. Pressure was relieved when Scheuber was fouled and after being ordered to retake the free-kick, Ward exchanged words with Mr Davies. Worksop were not afraid to use robust tactics, as Craney realised when he was flattened thirty-five yards from goal (25 mins). From Ward's free-kick, Murphy shot wide. Smith and Johnson then combined well before a poor cross from a colleague ended the move. Whitehead and Ward went down in a tangle and appeared to have some difficulty in separating themselves; this moment's silliness near the halfway line seemed to be over when Johnson came steaming in and pushed Ward, earning himself and Ward a booking (27 mins).

The free-kick went to the visitors but soon Altrincham won one back for a foul on Scheuber. Ellison's free-kick, a left-footed inswinger from the by-line to the right of goal struck a Worksop defender who was nearer ten feet than ten yards away but got away with his encroachment. However, the ball was soon back at Craney's feet in a promising forward position but he delayed too long and it was half-cleared to Glendenning. From outside the box the young defender struck a firm shot which rose narrowly over the bar (30 mins).

Altrincham came even closer to scoring a moment later when a bad pass from Davis came to Hawes. The new Alty captain strode forward and drove a tremendous low shot to Holmshaw's right. The ball beat the keeper to his right but cannoned back to safety for Worksop off the inside of the post from some 22 yards (31 mins). Finney, who had been advancing to Hawes's left pulled up lame but eventually ran off his injury. Almost immediately more good work by Hawes set up Craney but for the second time he delayed a shot and gained a corner rather than a goal. Hawes's corner was met by Murphy who for a slightly-built player wins far more than his share of headers due to his excellent timing. As Murphy's header hit the crossbar, Mr Davies blew for an offence by Altrincham (33 mins).

Worksop weathered these torrid few minutes before Townsend got up the left, only for Scott to stand his ground and block the ball, which ran to Coburn. Another fine pass from Hawes set Murphy on the run and he cut inside from the right but a home throw was all that resulted. From this, Finney and Ellison combined well but the outcome was a Worksop goal-kick. Ward was unceremoniously upended in the centre circle and from the free-kick, taken by the victim, a corner resulted. Before this could be taken by Hawes, his manager left the field to be replaced by Mairs (37 mins).

For Worksop, Jackson, Waddle and Smith got Johnson into a position to chip the ball into the box and although no one seemed to touch the misdirected ball, a corner was awarded. A second corner immediately followed after which Waddle left Mairs beaten but his cross from the right merely led to a header well over the bar. Jackson then won another corner for the visitors off Glendenning but Coburn held Waddle's flag-kick (40 mins). After delaying a strike at goal when presented with two earlier chances, Ian Craney next got in a snap shot which Holmshaw held well. As the play became end to end, Waddle played in Whitehead who was challenged by Maddox, who fell but got a touch on the ball. Coburn rushed out to dispossess Whitehead and the Worksop man went down somewhat theatrically. As the Worksop fans behind the goal called for a penalty, Whitehead was treated and play recommenced with a bounce-up in midfield. As half-time approached both sides tried to break the deadlock without success.

Scott soon prompted a good shot from Finney which the keeper held well from 18 yards range. Next, Maddox produced a fine tackle to stop Jackson once more before play was stopped for an off the ball incident involving Glendenning and Ludlam. Glendenning was booked as Ludlam was treated (54 mins), 35 yards from his side's goal. Worksop soon won another free-kick for foot-up by Hawes on Townsend, 25 yards from Alty's goal. Waddle's free-kick curled comfortably over the bar. The match was now opening up and Chris Waddle was belatedly coming to life. Jackson fed the former England man on the right wing. Whilst his pace and work-rate may be questioned, Waddle has not lost the knack of selling a dummy to defenders and getting in telling crosses. This time, he feinted first one way then the other before getting in a low cross from the right which the untended Whitehead put away neatly at the near post (58 mins).

After the restart Scheuber, who did not have a happy match, was on the receiving end of Jackson's studs on the halfway line. Hawes's free-kick came to Murphy who did well to get the ball to Craney, whose excellent left-foot shot came off a defender for a corner on the Alty left (60 mins). This produced no danger but Worksop's counter attack nearly did. Glendenning's half clearance fell to Townsend and a colleague but neither could finish from close range before the ball came out to Mason. His fine shot from outside the box curled just wide of Coburn's left post (62 mins).

The awakened Waddle next got to the by-line and won a corner. Coburn did well to save the resulting low shot from Ludlam. Ellison nearly got in a shot at the other end but was dispossessed; Craney did get a shot in but it was saved. With 56 minutes gone, Hawes fouled Waddle and from the free-kick the lively Townsend got round Maddox in the box. The defender fouled him to concede Altrincham's eighth penalty since October. Ludlam hit the spot-kick soundly to Coburn's right but the keeper made a magnificent save. However, the ball rebounded out to Ludlam who missed a sitter, blasting the ball over the open goal to Altrincham's relief (67 mins). It was to be a short respite for Altrincham.

Worksop were soon pressing again but Craney broke up the move and laid the ball off to Hawes then via Finney and Hawes, once more, to Scheuber who got the ball to Mairs. He unfortunately produced an overhit cross (69 mins). Worksop threatened again when a prodigiously long throw by Mason, from the left, led to a shot which went narrowly wide (70 mins). Another Waddle-inspired move was half checked, the ball coming to Ludlam who twisted past Maddox on the right side of Altrincham's box but was felled by the centre-back inside the area. Another penalty was awarded, though Maddox again escaped punishment in the form of a booking. From a short run-up, Townsend just beat Coburn's fine dive, the ball entering the left-hand corner of the keeper's net (72 mins). Adversity produced a good response from Altrincham and they soon won a corner after Finney had fed Murphy on the right. Maddox rode his luck with another foul before being replaced by Adam Farley (76 mins) to end his torrid second half.

Straightaway a fine flick by Finney to Craney found Murphy racing up the right. He produced a superb shot across the keeper which entered the goal just as a defender arrived to speed it even more quickly into the back of the net (77 mins). This superb move was almost repeated a minute later when Glendenning's ball to Finney was laid off again to Murphy in a similar position on the right from which he had just scored, some 18 yards from goal. This time his well-hit shot beat the keeper but skimmed the top of the bar (78 mins). Worksop ensured that Altrincham were not having it all their own way but the home side now enjoyed their best period of the game. Scheuber had a shot blocked but shortly afterwards, following a foul on Ellison by Smith, he had a better chance from the edge of the box but his attempt to sidestep a defender did not work and the ball was cleared (82 mins).

Then Finney was caught offside as Glendenning was pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Craney next made himself space well but shot well over the target (84 mins) as Altrincham continued to apply pressure. Gary Scott was prompting a lot of forward movement up the right and from one of his probings, Finney fired in a strong shot which Holmshaw could only save with his feet. As this happened, Townsend lay down injured, though not so injured that he couldn't look around to see why play was continuing. After treatment, he limped off to be replaced by Betteny, who appeared to be a friend of Steve Hawes's from Sheffield United, having had conversations with Alty's captain both before the game and at half-time (89 mins). Altrincham's last chance fell to Ian Craney's right foot but he sliced his shot well wide from the edge of the penalty area (90 mins).

Altrincham have now gone four league matches without a win and having played more games than any other team are set to drop a little down the league. Nevertheless, today's result was almost secondary to the near winding-up of the Club on Tuesday. With even Mark Ward now virtually resigned to another season in the Unibond League, Altrincham fans were just happy that they had a Club still in existence. The team was unfortunate not to get some reward from today's game but when two penalties are conceded, it is rare that you go on to win. Defensive stability is still elusive.

Danny Murphy was named Man of the Match for Altrincham, whilst Townsend would have been a candidate for Worksop. Waddle did little for two-thirds of this match but his class told when he laid on the opening goal. Steve Hawes will be disappointed not to have won in his first game as captain in the Unibond Premier League but he set his usual fine example of industriousness. More disappointed will be James Glendenning who had a good game but has still only been on the winning side in three of the fourteen games which he has started. But even his mood will not be as dark as that of Mark Maddox who after an impressive first half, conceded two penalties inside five minutes.

Now that our finances are stable, at least till the end of the season, it is to be hoped that the Club can now concentrate more fully on the playing side of its activities than has been possible this week and finish the remaining third of the season on a high note. With 30 goals being scored in the last eight home league games, fans at Moss Lane have been well entertained even if the results have not always been as we would have wished.