Match Report

Leek went into this match with just one win in their last thirteen League games, whilst Altrincham were seeking three points to remain in contention for promotion. Neither side got their wished-for three points on a very damp pitch to which rain added more moisture for most of the ninety minutes. Leek and Altrincham had passed each other in recent years; Leek's two years in the Conference coinciding with our previous spell in the Unibond and then our promotion to the Conference coincided with their relegation.

So, for many Alty fans this was a first visit to Harrison Park, which is compact on three sides but has an elevated main stand along the fourth side. The souvenir shop is particularly noteworthy for its excellent range of merchandise.

After the initial shock of reading the programme where the team sheet showed that Leek were apparently playing Eastwood Town, it became clear that Altrincham were, in fact, the visitors. Only Ian Craney and Adam Farley of the recently injured players were fit to start the game, with Jason Gallagher and captain, Gary Talbot, as well as Phil Power still sidelined. It was encouraging to see Kevin Ellison, who has not played since 8th October, fit enough to be involved in the pre-match warm-up.

Leroy Chambers and Barry Crowe were restored as subs, with Eric Seekie also occupying the bench. Dickie Landon was absent, having gone to Droylsden on loan whilst Steve Porter was nowhere to be seen, despite the absence through suspension of his successor, left-back Steve Morgan. Also suspended was player-manager, Mark Ward. Farley played at right-back, whilst Scott switched to the left side. Leek surprisingly welcomed back injured keeper, Mark Statham whilst Andy Mason played what may have been his last match on loan from Leigh RMI. Another familiar face to Alty fans was that of Colin Rose, recently at Northwich Victoria.

With the rain coming down onto an already heavy pitch, the gloom was such that the floodlights were on from the kick-off. The routine claim of a through ball by Coburn and an off-side decision against Marrow were the only events of note in the first few minutes after Leek had kicked-off this game. However, after a promising Altrincham passing-movement broke down in midfield, thanks to a misunderstanding between Hawes and Farley, a fine through ball set Mason running up the right, where his attempted cross was blocked for the first corner of the match (5 mins). The corner, taken after a delay for treatment to Rose, was half-cleared and Callan got the ball to Marrow, whose attempt was blocked.

With two Alty players, Scheuber and Farley, injured in the resulting melee Dodd got in a spinning shot which Coburn did magnificently to save as he dived towards his right upright (6 mins), albeit at the cost of a corner. There was then some delay for treatment to Farley before the corner allowed Marrow an alarmingly free header which hit a defender. The Altrincham defence was once more showing itself to be not at its best in the opening minutes of a game. Gary Scott became the third Alty player and the fourth of the match to need treatment when he suffered an accidental head injury in the eighth minute. Although Farley had hobbled on after his knock, he had to be replaced by Barry Crowe after just 12 minutes. This was the young full-back's first league game since 12 September (v Colwyn Bay).

The game continued in an unassuming fashion as the players fought to come to terms with the slippery surface and the uneven run of the ball. Altrincham began to settle down when a move involving Hay, Scott and Scheuber ended with a cross from Hawes, which was too high (14 mins). Hawes, Murphy and Finney than combined but again the final cross was cleared. Much better was to come two minutes later when Hawes set up Scheuber but the young midfielder had trouble digging out his shot as the ball stuck in the mud and a follow-up shot from the half-clearance of his attempt was also got away by the home defence (16 mins). Steve Finney was beginning to make his presence known with some good control and careful distribution of the ball. After Finney had won the ball well, Murphy, Hawes and Crowe were all instrumental in Gary Scott getting in a 25-yard shot but this rose well over the bar (17 mins) as the visitors began to assert themselves.

Danny Murphy, too, was coming into the game with some fine headers and ball control. Leek were also finding their own pitch treacherous and an attempted cross by the lively Mason ended in a mis-kick when he slipped in the mud (20 mins). However, Altrincham were enjoying the majority of the possession by this stage, attempting to play their passing game in spite of the uneven surface. However, it was Leek who showed more incision as Sandeman got the ball through to Mason on the right side of the pitch, fifteen yards out. He got the ball past Maddox to Rose whose low cross was converted from close range by the incoming Marrow, at the far post. However, Marrow was clearly offside and the effort was ruled out (23 mins). Altrincham responded with a fine ball from Finney to Hay who paused too long before putting in an inaccurate low ball for Murphy, who was in the centre of the box. In stretching for the ball, Murphy did himself an injury but resumed after treatment (24 mins).

Scheuber, Maddox and Murphy then moved the ball up the left but a neat back-flick by Finney was intercepted as the visitors neared the penalty area and the game went through an uninspiring few minutes. However, Crowe and Scott soon combined to feed Hay who won a corner on the left (30 mins). Statham held Hawes's corner but the referee had spotted an infringement in any case. A move by Whittaker, Rose and Sandeman ended in an Alty goal-kick before Gary Scott beat his man on the left and Finney passed to Murphy, who won a free-kick, which was cleared (32 mins). Although Leek were winners of last month's fair play award, Hawtin was not above committing a crude foul on Hay as the striker went past him on the left touchline. Surprisingly, the Leek defender got away with a lecture. From Hawes's well-taken free-kick, Steve Finney got in a fine glancing header which Statham saved very well (37 mins). Mr Short's decision to show leniency to Hawtin was not repeated when Hay was marginally late for a 50-50 ball on the touchline, which he contested with Beeby.

The Altrincham man could feel himself to be unfortunate to be booked (38 mins). The sides traded forward movements, with Murphy prominent for Altrincham and Mason for the hosts. After Gary Scott lost the ball, Dodd passed to Rose, who got past Craney but Barry Crowe came rushing across from the right to put the ball out on the left side of Alty's goal. Wrongly, the ref gave a goal-kick to Coburn (42 mins). Crowe did well again moments later when he held off a challenge to get the ball to Craney. He fired in by far the best shot of the half, a low left-footer which whistled past Statham's left post (44 mins).

There were just ten seconds of the half left when Rose lunged badly at Scheuber and was rightly booked (45 mins). Altrincham had had the larger share of possession in the first half but it was not difficult to see why Leek had conceded so few goals this season, with their solid defence well guarded, today, by a tenacious midfield. The interval brought entertainment from a nine-piece local band, stationed on the terraces, whose repertoire included Christmas carols.

Altrincham's best effort of this period was a long shot from Scheuber which only became dangerous when it bounced unpredictably and caught the stooping Statham on the chin as he caught it. Callan was then fouled by Hawes, 20 yards out on the Leek left. Following the half-clearance of Sandeman's kick, Rose got past the defence and fired in a fierce, but over-long, cross. Even more dangerously for Altrincham, Beeby got the ball to Marrow who raced one-on-one towards Coburn. The keeper dived at his feet as the ball ran on and Marrow dived to the ground inside the box. Coburn immediately vented his anger at Marrow's dive and the referee promptly booked the offending Leek man (56 mins) for the dive. Clearly Leek will not be winning December's Fair-Play award.

Altrincham went to the other end and Murphy's ball to Craney set up the midfielder for his second superb, long-range shot of the game. This time Statham was sent the wrong way but contrived a fine save with his legs to prevent a goal (58 mins). Play was now end to end, with Mason caught just offside as he got behind the defence and then Coburn had to clear from the combined efforts of Whittaker and Sandeman to breach the defence. Craney then fed Murphy, who won a corner on the Alty right off Dodd. This came to nothing before a Crowe interception and back-pass to Coburn halted Mason at the other end. The entertainment continued as good work from Murphy and Hawes won Altrincham a corner off Hawtin's head (65 mins).

After Hawes's in-swinging corner had been half-cleared, Finney did well to get the ball to Murphy, who, with only the keeper to beat from six yards, chose to blast high towards the near post when a cross shot seemed a better option. His effort went high and wide (66 mins). Altrincham's pressure increased when Hawes and Crowe got the ball to Hay, via Finney. The on-loan striker from Tranmere calmly beat his defender before measuring a firm, low left-foot shot which beat Statham, only to strike the foot of the keeper's right-hand post (66 mins).

A minute later Hay tried with his right foot but was wide from 20 yards. Hawes and Murphy almost got Hay in again but he was offside (69 mins) as Leek were forced to defend. However, Whittaker got past the Alty defence courtesy of two lucky rebounds and shot at Coburn, who saved superbly (73 mins). Having hit the post, Hay's successive efforts seemed to get further from the target and his third shot inside a seven minute period was so badly hit that it almost struck the right corner flag from 22 yards out to the left of goal (73 mins).

However, Hay was the conduit between Hawes and Finney which resulted in the on-loan Chester City man firing in a superb left-foot shot which Statham brilliantly tipped over the bar (74 mins). Although the resulting corner came through to the same player, Finney shot weakly this time from 10 yards. Craney was then blocked in the box as he was about to shoot before the physio came on to treat Beeby. Scheuber, Hawes, Glendenning, Crowe and Finney all combined to feed Murphy, whose cross was cut out by Statham. Mark Ward then surprisingly replaced Hay with Leroy Chambers (79 mins) as his side pushed for a decisive goal, having dominated the previous twenty minutes. The goal almost came when Scheuber passed to Finney and his carefully measured, but firmly struck shot hit the base of the right-hand post, with Statham beaten (82 mins). Then, as Hawes put in a free-kick from 25 yards, the Leek defence rushed out but their offside trap failed. Unfortunately, Murphy's control let him down and he could not capitalise on the space he had (83 mins). Leek, by now, were time-wasting at every opportunity as they hung on to their point. Marrow was replaced by Williams with two minutes left, just before a surging run by Hawes came to nothing as four defenders converged on him on the edge of the box. Leek's last flicker of a threat was a run up the left by Williams but his cross was cleared to McDermott whose own cross went behind the goal.

Altrincham deserved to win this match after dominating the last quarter of the game. However, failure to beat Leek means that they fall even further behind the leaders, Emley and Stalybridge, who both won. Bishop Auckland also climbed above them today. It is increasingly looking like Altrincham will still be in the Unibond next season but, with the season only half gone, there is still a glimmer of hope. Steve Hawes and Steve Finney both had fine matches and Stuart Coburn made a couple of excellent saves. Danny Murphy also had some good moments, especially in the first half, whilst Alex Hay was unlucky not to score. Gary Scott, Stuart Scheuber and Ian Craney also performed capably whilst Barry Crowe will have been happy to get back into the first team.