Altrincham F.C. Reserves: Match Report.

After succeeding Graham Wright as manager, Paul Cuddy the new Reserves' team boss had got off to a winning start with his young Alty Reserves team, winning 2-0 away at Bamber Bridge in the last league fixture played. Tonight, James Wilkinson, Paul Rudd, Richard Smith, Mario Daniel and Lee McDonald were missing from the side which had started at Bamber Bridge. Captain Keith Mairs was also missing having been involved, like Wilkinson, in the previous night's first-team game at Woodley Sports. Patrick Claffey was the new captain and into the side came midfielder Leon Smith, recently signed from Stevenange Borough and formerly at Morecambe, where he had some first team starts under his belt. Altrincham started the game ahead of Lancaster in the table but having played more games.

The visitors started strongly but it was Altrincham who came the nearest to scoring in the opening stages when an impressive Paul Monaghan shot from 35 yards just cleared the bar with the Lancaster keeper seeming to have misjudged its flight (6 mins). Then, the Lancaster keeper had to rush out to clear but only found Melvyn Pampilla on the Alty right with his kicked clearance. The Alty man shot at the vacant goal from 30 yards but the keeper managed to get back to gather the ball (9 mins). Anthony then surged forward in the inside-left channel and got round the keeper wide of goal but his final shot lacked pace and direction and went across the face of goal (13 mins). Next Monaghan and Smith combined for Lee Thompson to fire a shot just over the crossbar (15 mins). With Bullen and Smith doing well in central midfield, Altrincham now began to assert some pressure but they had to make an early change when McMain went off to be replaced by Baker (21 mins), who soon showed his pace down the left flank.

Lancaster now upped their effort and won a corner and a series of free-kicks. However, the goalmouth chances of the early stages had dried up and apart from a good catch by Newbrook, the first serious effort for some time arrived after 42 minutes when the Lancaster no.9 headed a cross from his no.2 narrowly over the bar. Otherwise, Claffey, McGrath, Monaghan and Heathcote kept most of the attacks away from Newbrook.

Then, Pampilla picked up the ball some 35 yards out and struck a fine, low shot at goal which the Lancaster keeper did well to save, diving to his right to parry away (43 mins). The level scores were a fair reflection of the first half but Altrincham had come close to scoring the more often.

Lancaster brought on no.17 for no.3 at half-time. As in the first-half Altrincham's long range shooting was soon in evidence. This time, Monaghan's 35 yarder flew just over the bar from a free-kick. Though the keeper did not seem to touch it, a corner was given to Altrincham. From the corner an Anthony header was cleared off the line (47 mins). Lanacaster replied with a lob from their no.6 which Newbrook did well to keep out, tipping the ball out for a corner (48 mins).

Altrincham continued to press but suffered a setback when Claffey was booked in very odd circumstances. The ball hit his hand but the referee gave deliberate handball. The Altrincham captain spontaneously reacted with the clearly heard words "Oh, ref!" only for the official to book him, presumably for dissent (55 mins). Thompson then got in a 25 yard shot at the Lancaster goal as Altrincham looked the better side at this stage.

However, they soon lost Paul Monaghan who hobbled off injured after a heavy tackle by a Lancaster player (58 mins). Youth team defender Paul Robinson came on in place of Monaghan at right-back. Another Lee Thompson shot soon won a corner but this was cleared. Paul Robinson then got a booking for a foul (68 mins). After a foul on Thompson an Alty free-kick from the edge of the Lancaster box was taken by Smith and dropped by the Lancaster keeper for a corner (69 mins). The visitors somehow scrambled away the corner after a melee.

However, Lancaster were now beginning to come back into the game after Alty had enjoyed the better of the second half to date. Paul Tilley, the Youth team captain replaced Melvyn Pampilla (73 mins) but it was the visitors who were coming into their own. Nevertheless, Bullen and Smith combined well to play in Anthony but the keeper smothered the striker's attempt at goal (75 mins). Lancaster's no.12 then replaced their no.4 (76 mins). Dale Newbrook was called upon to make a fine save at the near post when the Lancaster no.7 got free on the right (76 mins).

Lancaster's nos. 9 and 10 then sprang the offside trap, forcing Newbrook to make an excellent save with his feet as the no.9 closed in on him (78 mins). Lancaster now began to find holes in the Altrincham defence. When Baker lost the ball to the Lancaster no.17, the substitute fed his no.9 whose good shot was tipped over the bar by Newbrook- but a goal-kick was given (79 mins). However, Newbrook's heroics could not keep out Lancaster as they finished the game strongly. The Lancaster no.9 got free, despite the attentions of McGrath, and gave the Alty keeper no chance as he cracked the ball into the net (82 mins).

However, Altrincham had a glorious chance to equalise two minutes later when a Baker cross from the right found Bullen unmarked at the back post. Sadly, the Alty midfielder ballooned his effort high over the bar from close range (84 mins). Lancaster continued to attack and after Baker had conceded a free-kick, Newbrook again had to save smartly (86 mins). Altrincham's last chance came from a snap shot on the turn by Paul Tilley which cleared the bar (90 mins).

Altrincham were unlucky not to get a draw in this entertaining match but Lancaster had undeniably finished the much stronger side and their relentless pressure in the final fifteen minutes eventually paid off.