Altrincham F.C. Reserves: Match Report.

The Reserves appeared in the first team's orange change-kit, which had only previously been worn, to disastrous effect, in the UniBond Premier match at Frickley earlier this season. The starting line-up included five of this year's Youth team (Robinson, McGrath, Tilley, Thompson, Daniel), with two more (Horton and Smith) on the bench.

The other starters included two of last year's Youth team (Newbrook and Claffey). Also in the side was Barry Guildford who had sat on the first-team bench on Tuesday against Runcorn. A newcomer, on the bench, was Chris Chesters. Daniel and Thompson were thr front pairing, with Rudd and Robinson the full-backs and Claffey and McGrath the central defenders. Mairs and Guildford operated in central midfield with Tilley and Baker outside them.

An early Altrincham free-kick from the left was almost converted at the back post as the home side started well (2 mins). However, keeper Dale Newbrook soon had to be alert to head clear a through-ball from outside his area (4 mins). The Marine no.11 then shot narrowly wide on the break (7 mins) as the game settled into a balanced pattern. Keith Mairs was much in evidence in midfield as the game continued at a fast pace.

Daniel and Guildford then combined well before an offside flag stopped any progress, whilst a minute later Daniel took off past the Marine no.4 only to be blocked off 20 yards further up the pitch by a defensive pincer movement (19 mins). Altrincham were looking to have the upper hand when the Marine no.9 got past Steve McGrath to the right of goal and fired a low shot past Dale Newbrook to give Marine the lead against the run of play (24 mins).

An excellent tackle by Claffey on the no.9 stopped the next attack from the visitors (26 mins). Although both sides traded attacks, the openings on goal were few and far between and the home defence looked fairly comfortable.

For Altrincham, Thompson and Daniel were well shackled by the Marine defence. However, after the Marine keeper had cleared the ball to Baker, the Alty flanker drove the ball back from 25 yards but his shot was just wide of the target (39 mins). Half-time came with Marine leading from arguably their only clear chance of the half.

Five minutes into the second half, Alty brought on Chesters for Paul Tilley, who had already played a match for Merseyside F.A. earlier in the day. Marine also replaced their no.11 by their no.12. Marine's no.8 shot over the bar after a breakaway (56 mins) before their keeper had to smother the ball at the feet of Chesters after a cross from the Alty left. Both the keeper and the no.6 for Marine needed treatment after this incident. Daniel and Guildford then got the ball for Lee Thompson to have a shot but the keeper saved this (60 mins).

A harsh tackle on Thompson as he threatened to get into the box left the Alty striker limping but the offender unpunished other than by a free-kick which Keith Mairs drove into the defensive wall (65 mins). Lee continued to hobble after this foul and had to give way to Ian Horton a few minutes later (70 mins).

Just before this, however, Alty "scored" when Mairs and Daniel combined well but the effort was ruled out for offside. The Marine no.7 was then booked for dissent (71 mins) and continued to argue with the referee even after the yellow card had been shown. Moments later the same player clattered Keith Mairs and was deservedly dismissed by the referee (73 mins).

After the sending off things got a bit heated on the pitch. Melvyn Pampila soon came on for Steve McGrath (75 mins) but shortly afterwards Marine doubled their lead when the no.9 was left unmarked and headed home a good cross from the left wing (79 mins). Alty almost got one back when a Keith Mairs free-kick was tipped onto the crossbar by the Marine keeper (81 mins).

Alty soon won another freekick when Mario Daniel was fouled on the edge of the box but this was cleared. Marine put a flattering three-goal margin onto the scoreline when the no.9 lobbed the ball into the empty net after Newbrook's kicked clearance span to him (88 mins). There was time for the Marine scorer to be replaced by their no.16 before the proceedings ended.

The sending-off gave Alty hope of taking something from this game but sadly its actual effect was to galvanise the visitors into scoring two more goals. This was Alty's sixth defeat in their last seven league games and the fact that they have scored only four goals in those matches points to one of the main factors in that run of results.