Altrincham F.C. Reserves: Match Report.

The game started 25 minutes late due to the late arrival of the visitors. In front of keeper Dale Newbrook, Pat Claffey started once more at right-back, whilst the centre-backs were Steve McGrath and the versatile Ian Horton. Paul Robinson occupied his customary left-back berth. From the start Altrincham dominated the proceedings but their opponents, though bottom of the league, were much more formidable opposition than Bamber Bridge Reserves who conceded nine to the Robins' Reserves a fortnight ago.

Indeed, the Bay had beaten Northwich Vics last week to signal their recent improvement. Up front Mario Daniel, partnered by Jason Anthony, was closely marked by the Bay defence after his four-goal performance in the Bamber Bridge game.

It took Altrincham 28 minutes to open their account despite good work in midfield from Tilley, Mairs, McDonald and Baker. However, when it arrived the opening goal was a well worked one. Baker's well directed cross from the left was nodded on by Anthony for Tilley to volley home expertly at the back post. Alty's second goal was just as good when it followed just two minutes later.

From a Lee McDonald pass, captain Keith Mairs lobbed the goalkeeper (30 mins) from outside the penalty area. Just before the interval a rare Colwyn Bay raid saw the number eight denied by a goal-line clearance from Altrincham (41 mins).

At half-time Dale Newbrook gave way to Gary Nixon in goal; Gary is related to Eric Nixon, the former Manchester City and Tranmere Rovers keeper. Altrincham continued to dominate in the second half, with Lee McDonald's lob just wide of goal being the best early effort. Jason Anthony then shot wide before Keith Mairs was substituted by Lee Shillito, with Pat Claffey assuming the captain's role. Lee slotted in on the right side of midfield.

The one-way traffic continued with McDonald shooting narrowly wide (60 mins) before a fine 50 yard surge forward by Horton was closed down by the Bay. Colwyn Bay won a rare corner on the left (62 mins) but two minutes later Pat Claffey was caught by a late tackle near the centre spot and went down clearly injured.

Alty Youth coach Neil Thomason came on to assist Keith Mairs and others to strap the unfortunate Pat's legs as an ambulance was called. In the absence of a stretcher, Pat was manually carried off the pitch and taken to the subs' bench to await an ambulance. Chris Chesters came on to replace him and Paul Tilley took over as captain.

Mario Daniel's deflected shot won Alty a corner (66 mins) and following this Tilley got the ball to Sam Baker who shot firmly home from the edge of the penalty area to make it 3-0 (67 mins). At the other end Horton did well to block a Bay attack though he conceded a corner as the ambulance arrived to take Pat Claffey to hospital (72 mins).

In the closing stages Paul Robinson made a number of forays into the Bay defence, with one of his shots going only narrowly over the bar (79 mins). Anthony then won a corner before Baker's shot from 22 yards also just cleared the crossbar (81 mins).

A Chesters header went narrowly wide as the game neared its conclusion but the final act was a Colwyn Bay corner, which came to nothing. After the match it emerged that Pat Claffey had not, as feared, broken his leg, but is suffering from ligament damage.

The Altrincham defence will be pleased to have recorded another clean sheet with two current Youth players, Steve McGrath and Ian Horton, at its heart alongside last season's Youth team graduates Paul Robinson and Pat Claffey. These were just four of the eleven players in the Reserves' squad tonight who have come through George Heslop and Neil Thomason's productive youth set-up. It is only to be hoped that the skill and enthusiasm of at least some of these players, most of whom have also proved themselves at County representative level, can be made good use of next season in the first team squad when cash-strapped Alty will need more than ever to maximise its use of home-produced talent.

ALTRINCHAM SQUAD: 1 Dale Newbrook, 2 Patrick Claffey, 3 Paul Robinson, 4 Ian Horton, 5 Steve McGrath, 6 Lee McDonald, 7 Keith Mairs (capt.), 8 Paul Tilley, 9 Jason Anthony, 10 Mario Daniel, 11 Sam Baker, 12 Lee Shillito, 14 Stuart Madew, 15 Richard Smith, 16 Chris Chesters, 17 Gary Nixon (gk)