PoultonVictoria 1 Altrincham 6
July 22 2000
by Alan Johnson
Originally it wasannounced that that first team players would mainly be used here with thereserves making up the team for the second game this afternoon against AbbeyHey. However this was changed and the cynics say Liverpool based player's playedhere and Manchester based at Abbey Hey. Incidentally this is the first time I can remember that Altrincham havefaced two away oppositions at the same time. Possibly a reflection of thecurrent size of the squad Mark Ward is testing. Tony Murphy his offsiderwill be be in charge at Abbey Hey. Having two games allows more players tobe tested over the full 90 minutes.
Poulton Victoriahave a very fine sports club where we were made most welcome. inside the Club isa fine array of cups, perhaps Alty should consider doing this rather thankeeping them out of sight in the board room. The Club is some 10 minutes awayfrom the ground which was in good condition, with plenty of parking, is verybasic but serves cheap and good pies and drinks, has no program for sale anddoes not charge for admission, surprising as there were no more than a 100 atthe game.
Mark Ward was due toplay but was unfit due to blistered feet caused by his efforts for Everton in atelevised 6 a side game on Thursday. The team was a mixture of establishedplayers and triallists
Poulton Victoriaplay in the Carlsberg West Cheshire League. Last season (1999-2000) they werechampions , winning 23 of their 30 matches and losing only one. They finishedwith 75 points and a goal difference of 48! (F84 A36). Unfortunately either theydid not or were not allowed to show that form as they were outclassed byAltrincham. This was such a one sided affair one wonders how muchinformation Mark Ward gained about the football skills of his players. He wouldhave learned about their fitness and endurance as the players had to contendwith very warm and sunny conditions, admittedly from the spectators point ofview tempered by a pleasant sea breeze.
This was a difficultmatch to report on with so many new faces. All of Alty players did well but thethe outstanding players were Scott Wilson, who also scored, EddieTurkington, Stuart Quinn and Mark Maddox. Paul Hart had a mini cameo role as asub, played at his usual frenetic pace and culminated a great performance late in the game sending a blistering shot just wide of the post only to make amendsin the 89 minute by sheer grit and determination forcing his way past twodefenders to ram a ball in the net for the Alty's 6th goal.
Alty's first goalwas scored after 7 minutes by Richard Landon after a Chris Furlong's shot atgoal was was diverted by the keeper to his feet. The second shortlyafterwards by Scott Wilson (on loan from Rochdale last season) with a curvingshot from the edge of the area. The third came on 21 min came from Carl Furlongafter a good passing movement between the forwards. 3- 0.
Just before thebreak Stuart Quinn scored Alty's 4th with a great solo effort, a long run then agood shot giving the keeper no chance 4-0.
Mark Ward is tryingto establish the passing game as Alty's style and he seems to be moving towardsthat aim.
This was a mostimpressive display in the first half, not quite matched in the second
There was a majorchange at half time with essentially all the subs coming on.
Just after half timePoulton pulled one back, after a rather dubious "no offside" decisionby the linesman 4-1
The mobiles weretelling us it was 5-1 in Alt's favor at Abbey Hey (the advantages of modern technology)
On 81 min KevinEllison who was having a great game as a sub playing on the right, the left andin the centre beat his man on the left sent a great ball from just inside theline across the goal mouth to be picked up by Paul Hart who beat a man and senta perfect pass to Ian Crane who scored. 5-1
Paul Harts 89mingoal made it 6-1 to Alty and completed a good afternoon out.
Altrincham 1 Mark O'Connor,2 Paul Walsham, 3 Steve Porter, 4 Mark Maddox Captain), 5 Eddie Turkington, 6Scott Wilson, 7 Stuart Quinn, 8 Stuart Schubert, 9 Carl Furlong, 10 RichardLandon, 11 Phil Makie
Substitutes 12Jason Gallagher, 13 Michael Harris, 14 Kevin Ellison, 15 Ian Crane, 16 PaulHart. 17 Carl Robinson, 18 Gavin Ellison (No relation)