Altrincham F.C. Reserves: Match Report.

The Altrincham team arrived in Leigh only to find out that due to a misunderstanding they had no keeper! Forward Stuart Madew volunteered to go into the net and what a great game he had in a tough match.

There were no less than nine youth team players in the squad, the average age of the team was no more than eighteen, elder statesman of the team was captain Keith Mairs! It was an even enough start in a very swirling wind and it was Altrincham that had the first shot after six minutes, which was a long ranger from Lee McDonald which drifted wide with the wind, closely followed by a good effort by Mario Daniel.

In the ninth minute Madew in goals pulled off a great save from a snap shot by the Leigh number ten. Things kept even enough until the twenty-sixth minute when the Leigh number five sent in a powerful shot from the edge of the Altrincham box Madew got his finger tips to the ball but was unable to prevent it from entering the net.

Altrincham were still in the game, Lee Thompson had a couple of shots saved, the second in the thirty-fifth minute was a wasted effort when a simple side pass to Mario Daniel was the better option. Three minutes before the break Daniel started a move on the halfway line, a couple of quick passes and he was on hand to tap the ball into the Leigh net to make it 1-1. In first half injury time Leigh then again took the lead when a lack of concentration allowed the Leigh number ten to run through and give Madew no chance.

Keith Mairs was unable to come out for the second half after picking up an ankle injury, in his place was mid-fielder James Marsden, Claffey taking on captain's duties. Altrincham had the very strong wind at their backs for the second half and tried to use it to their advantage. Alty winger Sam Baker ran two thirds of the pitch evading tackle after tackle only to see a weak shot gathered by the keeper, when a pass to the unmarked Daniel could possibly have resulted in the equaliser.

Altrincham were now beginning to take control of the game, Drew, Horton, Rowland and Claffey in the Alty defence held off the Leigh attackers very well, Lee Shillito and Lee McDonald kept things alive in midfield with Marsden slotting in well for the injured Mairs. With twenty minutes to go Drew was replaced by Richard Smith another of his team-mates from the youth team.

Altrincham were still pressing for the equaliser and in the seventy-third minute were rewarded when Lee Thompson who up to then was not quite up to his usual form scored after a mazy run through the Leigh defence. Alty had a few more chances but the game came to an end at 2-2, a credit to Manager Paul Cuddy and his young stalwarts.