Match Report

BACKGROUND AND TEAM NEWS

Left: Altrincham warm up on the less than smooth Hayes pitch.

This Nationwide Conference league match was played at 3pm on Saturday 18th March 2000 before a poor crowd of only 642- a contrast to the 3,054 who witnessed Altrincham's previous away match at Kidderminster. Altrincham went into the match on a run of three wins and two draws and a record of only two defeats in the preceding 21 Conference matches. The visitors were in eleventh position before the start, whilst Hayes were thirteenth, three points behind but with a game in hand on the visitors.

The referee, Mr Castle, from Wolverhampton had a good game for the most part.

Altrincham were without their captain, Chris Timons, who was suspended following his dismissal against Sutton. Striker, Leroy Chambers was also not fully fit, but was named as a substitute alongside young Paul Hart, who has yet to make his Conference debut. Although he played in Wednesday's reserve fixture, 'keeper Dean Greygoose was also on the bench, leaving Lance Key in goal to defend his record of never finishing on the losing side in his five starts for Altrincham.

The other subs were midfielders Ged Kielty and Andy Lovelock. Mark Maddox, who would have made an ideal replacement for Timons, was still out injured, as were Shaun Goodwin, Brendan Burke, Barry Crowe, Gavin Price and Stuart Coburn. Richard Landon was given a rare start in a 4-4-2 formation that saw Mike Morrell as his striking partner. Simeon Hodson moved from right-back to centre-back to replace Chris Timons, whilst Steve Hawes played at full-back.

TEAMS

HAYES (Red and white striped shirts and black shorts): 1. Gothard; 2. Metcalfe, 3. Flynn, 4. Coppard, 5. Bunce, 6. Goodliffe, 7. Boyce, 8. Charles, 9. Stevens, 10. Moore, 11. Roddis.

Subs: 12. Spencer, 14. Carter, 17. Trebble. Hayes named only three subs.

ALTRINCHAM (Yellow and black shirts and shorts): 1. Key; 2. Hawes, 3. Adams, 4. Hodson, 5. Talbot (capt.); 6. Russell 7. Gallagher, 8. Morrell, 9. Landon, 10. Power, 11. Ellison

Subs: 12. Lovelock, 13. Greygoose, 14. Chambers, 15. Kielty, 16. Hart.

SUMMARY

This was a generally mediocre game, with Hayes having slightly the better of the first half. A reinvigorated Altrincham dominated the second-half and deservedly equalised Hayes's first-half goal to record their sixteenth draw of the season.

THE MATCH

With only one central-defender in their side and their only two fit strikers on the field, Altrincham were not at their strongest. Equally, Hayes were without the suspended Watts and McKimm.

Right: Hayes warm-up before the match

Altrincham kicked off, into the sun, defending the Church Road end. The first few minutes were somewhat scrappy and it rarely got much better before the interval. Roddis had two shots (on 2 and 5 mins respectively), both of which went well over the bar, whilst a free-kick by Goodliffe from near the half-way line was comfortably gathered by Key (8 mins). A minute later, Altrincham's first good move ended with a firm shot by Ellison which went wide of the post. The main threat from Hayes was down the right hand side with Lee Charles looking particularly dangerous at times. On twelve minutes a Hayes corner was immediately followed by a second, which Key punched clear only for a resulting Hayes header to pass narrowly past his post.

At the other end Gothard took the ball off Morrell's head as he rose to meet an Adams freekick. Shortly afterwards there was a bizarre incident as Ellison and a Hayes player tangled by the corner flag at the visitors' end; despite several attempts at replanting it, which included efforts by the referee, the match continued with only three corner flags, until a replacement could be found. Hayes continued to threaten with Charles firing over (19 mins) and Stevens's pursuit of a through ball thwarted by Key (20 mins). A skirmish in the corner of Altrincham's half led to the referee talking to Kevin Ellison who, as usual, was victim of a number of tugs and fouls.

On 26 mins, some nice work by Landon led to a disappointing cross-cum-shot by Russell which went well wide of the Hayes goal. Charles switched over for a while to the left as the home side continued to hold the upper-hand, without ever appearing really threatening. Alty skipper, Gary Talbot, was booked for a tackle from behind (28 mins), despite his claim to have got the ball. From the resulting free-kick, awarded just outside the Altrincham box, to the left of centre, Barry Moore blasted well over the bar.

The match continued in scrappy vein, epitomised on 33 minutes when Mike Morrell, who was having a quiet match, twisted awkwardly having successfully headed the ball in the air under a challenge from a Hayes defender, whose prime motive seemed to be to hinder the Altrincham forward rather than attempt to get the ball. Although no foul was given, Morrell was injured in the lower back. He managed to carry on till half-time, though in obvious discomfort. Two minutes later, Richard Landon was booked (35 mins) for answering back to the referee.

As half-time approached Hayes were still on top, though posing little real threat. The Hayes defence were uncompromising and Russell was flattened on 42 minutes in the centre-circle. The "3 minutes to go" card was held aloft by the fourth official.

Disaster struck in the 44th minute, when Adams lingered on the ball just outside his own penalty area. He failed to see the approaching figure of Stevens, who dispossessed him, sidestepped a challenge and skilfully beat Key from just inside the box with a firm shot which Key did well to tip onto the underside of the bar, but into the net. There was still time for Hayes to mount the final attack of the half, with indecision between Hodson and Talbot who went for the same ball, leaving a Hayes forward on the ground, appealing for a penalty. The referee diplomatically blew his whistle for half-time.

On 51 minutes, the uncompromising Bunce, who throughout had been giving his fellow defenders a hard-time with his verbal comments, was injured in a challenge with Leroy Chambers. The home crowd felt that an elbow had been used but, if so, it appeared accidental and Bunce's injury was exacerbated by his receiving the ball full in the face as he and Chambers missed it. Bunce went off with a cut eyebrow. He returned on 57 minutes as play continued with Altrincham enjoying most of the possession as they pressed for the equaliser. Hayes's Moore was booked on the hour for dissent. Centre-back Talbot won a ball in the air and as Chambers tried to turn to shoot, the ball was cleared. However on 62 minutes, Ellison was fouled yet again and Hawes's free-kick from the wing was won in the air by Talbot. This time, Leroy Chambers was able to get to the ball and knock it on to the far post where the incoming Keith Russell finished it off neatly from close range (63 minutes).

Ellison then demolished his second corner-flag of the afternoon when, attempting to cross from the left, he kicked the flag as well as the ball (65 mins). Bunce had to have further treatment to his cut eye (66 mins) as Hayes had their best spell of the half. Charles put Moore through and his shot produced a good save by Key who was again called into action from the follow up. Key's few minutes of action ended when he miskicked a clearance (73 mins) but the danger was cleared. On 74 minutes Ellison had a golden opportunity as he was put through the middle but his first touch was bad and Gothard got to the ball first. Ellison's challenge was deemed unfair and he was booked. Almost immediately Talbot was injured as Charles backed into him as he made a headed clearance - again, no booking ensued. Hayes brought on the enormous Neil Trebble for Christian Metcalfe on 75 mins as they sought a winner. Altrincham manager Bernard Taylor could be heard asking Kevin Ellison if he was fit to continue as he made up his mind about a substitution. Finally (79 mins) he brought on Andy Lovelock but called off Landon rather than Ellison. Altrincham continued to dominate but no goal resulted.

For Altrincham, Gary Talbot was man of the match, though it was also pleasing to see Leroy Chambers applying himself with more vigour than has been evident in some of his recent performances. Simeon Hodson played well in the unaccustomed position of centre-back whilst Steve Hawes was again hard-working. Danny Adams's mistake, which led to the Hayes goal was uncharacteristic and he played well in the second half. Lance Key made several good saves and retained his record of being unbeaten in an Altrincham shirt. Jason Gallagher was deployed in a more central position than normal so the crowd were deprived of his characteristically cantering runs up the right wing. Keith Russell was fairly quiet but got onto the scoresheet for the third time in four games. As usual, when he starts a game, Richard Landon was less effective than when used as substitute.