Altrincham F.C. Reserves: Match Report.

Paul Cuddy the new Reserves' team manager got off to a winning start with his young Alty Reserves team winning 2-0 away at Bamber Bridge. In the starting line-up there were only four members of last week's team that lost at Ossett Town; Newbrook, Monaghan, Pampila and Anthony. Claffey and McMain were on the original team sheet but due to traffic congestion on the M6 they and Madew only arrived at the ground fifteen minutes before kick off and had to be relegated to the subs bench.

It was a lively start with both teams testing each other out. The first shot of the game did not come until the seventh minute when Bamber Bridge went close. One minute later Altrincham took the lead, Melvin Pampila received a good ball out on the right and headed straight for goal. His fierce shot was parried by the Bamber keeper but Trinidad international Mario Daniel was on hand to tuck the ball in at the far post.

Four minutes later things got a little out of hand, Alty striker Jason Anthony and the Bamber number 4 were both yellow carded by the ref after an altercation in the centre circle. Anthony had been racially abused a number of times by the number 4, obviously to wind him up, and was plainly heard by myself and others. Seven minutes later things boiled over. Another tussle between Jason Anthony and the Bamber Bridge number 4 resulted in Jason receiving a red card from the inept referee who seemingly had missed the racial abuse and spitting of the number 4.

The Alty team were holding the Bamber forwards quite comfortably and springing the offside trap very well. Newcomers Wilkinson, McGrath and Bullen were playing well together in the defence alongside Monaghan and Rudd. It was twenty five minutes before Bamber Bridge had a serious shot on goal and that was tipped onto the post by in form keeper Newbrook. On the half hour a second Altrincham player was booked, this time it was forward Lee McDonald who received a yellow card for an off-ball incident. Just before half time Bamber Bridge had a couple of goal chances, their number 9 headed two chances over the bar and once again Newbrook made another good save from the Bamber number 10.

At half time the Bamber Bridge number 4, who had been dishing out the racial abuse was substituted, and I'm told was seen leaving the ground immediately with his father. You may make your own mind up why.

Ten minutes into the second half Bamber had the ball in the net but, much to their dismay, it was ruled out for offside. Mario Daniel was running his heart out up front for Altrincham, relishing his first Reserve game for a long time and enjoying every minute of it. McDonald had to come off on the hour when he received a cut head and slight concussion. He was replaced by forward Simon McMain who was soon in the thick of the action.

Soon after, Pampila who had played very well came off to be replaced by another forward Danny Smith. Bamber Bridge were now getting frustrated by the resilient play of the ten-man Altrincham team and were reduced to tame long range shots. Altrincham went 2-0 up with fifteen minutes to go, man of the match Mario Daniel robbed the Bamber number 3 with a great tackle half way into the Bamber half, he ran a few yards, centred the ball past the keeper and there was Danny Smith to tap the ball in.

Paul Monaghan was then just off target with a wicked free kick that Beckham would have been proud of! With five minutes to go, Pat Claffey came on for Mario Daniel and went into his usual role in defence to make sure of a clean sheet. In the final minute McMain nearly made it 3-0 with a lob over the goalkeeper only to see his effort miss by inches.