Altrincham F.C. Reserves: Match Report.

This Page 10 January, 2002

The Alty squad, playing in the first team's all-white away kit, contained five of this year's Youth team (Horton, Thompson, Esdale, Lunt, Daniel), four of last year's Youth team (Newbrook, Claffey, Howe, Daniel) and five players who have figured in first-team action this season (Swannick, Hargreaves, Wills, Mairs and Newbrook). The match was watched by a larger than normal crowd, including a fair number from the visitors' side, whilst the Altrincham management duo of Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote were in the home contingent.

Altrincham had the first shot of the game when Hargreaves shot wide from a Baker feed (1 min) and they went on to enjoy the better of the opening stages of the game. Southport were confined at this stage to attempted breakways but first Claffey and then Swannick cut off counter-attacks well in the first ten minutes.

Southport posed greater danger when their number ten got in one-on-one on keeper Dale Newbrook, but Dale made a fine save (13 mins). Then David Wills got a booking for a late tackle (14 mins) before Newbrook was in action again, making an alert advance from goal to smother the ball from a back-header by Rudd as an attacker latched onto it (16 mins). Otutu and Thompson then combined well at the other end only for the former's shot to be blocked. Altrincham won their first corner when Hargreaves's neat feed to Thompson resulted in a shot which was deflected out of play. From Keith Mairs's well-flighted corner from the left, Claffey met the ball firmly. Mairs then came off worse in a clash of heads and had to leave the field for a couple of minutes (20 mins).

Southport were now beginning to have more influence on the game as their number seven shot wide of goal (22 mins). However, Anthony Hargreaves soon surged into the Southport box only for the referee to award him a free-kick when "advantage" would have been a better decision (26 mins). After a good saving tackle at the back by Dave Swannick, Sam Baker then played the ball upfield for Thompson to advance on the keeper. However, Lee steered the ball wide as the whistle belatedly went, apparently for offside (27 mins).

The entertaining end to end play continued as Otutu made a fine run up the right only to be shepherded off the ball in the 'Port penalty area. However, Alty soon won another corner. From this, Hargreaves returned Mairs's right-sided corner kick hard across the goal where an instinctive header by Claffey sent the ball flashing wide of goal (32 mins). Southport continued to look threatening on the break and the half ended with their number ten shooting wide from a lay-off by the number nine.

Southport brought on one sub (no.18) but otherwise the personnel remained as they were for the second half. However, Alty soon went behind when a ball through the middle was neatly converted by the number ten, giving Newbrook no chance (48 mins). Lee Thompson nearly equalised when he got free into the box but from a difficult angle, his shot was saved (52 mins).

Striker Mario Daniel now came on in place of left-back Ian Horton and this led to Baker dropping back and Hargreaves moving into midfield as Mario joined Thompson up front (53 mins). Another change soon followed when Domain Esdale replaced Otutu (57 mins) in midfield. Newbrook made another good save from the number ten as the hour mark approached. Then, Southport brought on their no.15 for the number nine.(62 mins). The changes continued as Steve Howe now replaced Paul Rudd (64 mins).

The game turned on two incidents in the 69th and 70th minutes. Firstly Lee Thompson did very well to get past the defence and the goalkeeper, only to run out of space and be unable to steer the ball home from a very acute angle to the left of goal. Immediately, Southport went to the other end and one of their players got behind the Alty backline on the right before passing inside where the burly number 18 converted his chance well with a low shot (70 mins). Thompson then again nearly scored but a defender just took the ball off his toes and the ball struck the defender's own post to give Alty a corner.

This was followed by a second corner and then a third, following a fine surge forward by Keith Mairs from midfield (75 mins). Altrincham continued to press but a goal would not come. Even the defence got in on the act with Dave Swannick's effort from 25 yards going wide (83 mins). Then, after Swannick had been fouled, the no.18 was booked for Southport. Altrincham continued to press, with Wills getting some joy up the right flank but Southport rode out the final stages without too many alarms.

Although the result was disappointing, the Alty side was again one which included players who were not all accustomed to playing alongside each other. They created at least as many openings as their opponents but it was the visitors who put theirs away to take the points.