Altrincham F.C. Reserves: Match Report.

These sides had met only two days earlier in a 1-1 draw at the Drill Field. The only change to Alty's starting line-up for this return match was the naming of striker Jason Anthony in place of Kevin Duncalf. After heavy rain earlier in the day the game was played for the most part in dry and bright conditions but the pitch was rather bobbly. As in the match on Monday, the sides were fairly evenly matched in the opening stages, with MacDonald and Horton battling well in midfield, whilst Green and Robinson saw off the Vics on the flanks.

Although Northwich perhaps had a little more of the possession, it was Altrincham who won three corners in the opening quarter of an hour or so. However, few chances were emerging for either set of strikers, though Shillito was making some promising advances up the right wing for Alty.

The best chance came when a Northwich defender misjudged a bouncing ball, which cleared his head, and set Anthony running freely at goal. Unfortunately the Alty striker sliced his shot very wide of the target (21 mins). For their part, Northwich had yet to get the better of Claffey and Miller at the heart of the Alty defence but finally, after an unsuccessful appeal for handball against Miller, their number nine was allowed space inside the Alty box.

He got into two successive shots, the first of which was blocked and the second went wide (36 mins). As half time approached Northwich were getting more threatening. From a free-kick on their left Newbrook punched well clear only for a Vics' player to fire in a tremendous shot from 25 yards which Newbrook expertly tipped over the bar (38 mins). However, soon afterwards, a well-taken free-kick by Green from the Alty right found Madew inside the box but his firm header just cleared the crossbar (40 mins). The half ended with two corners to the Vics but the score remained goalless.

The visitors started the second half well and took the lead after 52 minutes when their number eleven drifted inside, along the edge of the Alty penalty area, before feeding the unmarked number four, who sidefooted home from about 15 yards.

Immediately Alty brought on Dutchman Nabim Racidi on the right side of midfield, Paul Robinson being the player to be withdrawn. The Vics continued to have the better of things and Alty had to survive a goalmouth melee after 56 minutes but Newbrook and his defenders kept the ball out. Up-front, Altrincham now replaced Anthony by Steve Lunt (59 mins) but the Vics were still on top as their number seven put in a cross-shot that went narrowly wide (61mins).

However, Lunt soon made his presence felt, winning a free-kick and then putting a difficult chance over the bar after good work from Francis Evans (64 mins). Pat Claffey soon played a fine ball forward for Evans whose well-hit shot went just over the bar from 20 yards out (65 mins), as Alty now got back into the game, having sacrificed a man at the back with Robinson's substitution.

Sam Baker now came on for Stuart Madew (66 mins) which allowed Lee Shillito to get forward to increasing effect. Lee and Steve Lunt began to combine well as Altrincham applied sustained pressure to the Vics' goal. Baker then sent a drive over the bar (74 mins). However, the equaliser finally came when a fine bit of skill by Shillito saw him draw a defender and go past him on the right wing before advancing and crossing the ball into the goalmouth.

The ball ran to the back post from where it was sent back across the face of goal for Lunt to turn into the net for the leveller (76 mins). Unfortunately, just two minutes later, the Vics' no.11 got round Miller on the by-line to the right of the Alty goal and the centre-back brought his man down to concede a penalty. Though Newbrook got close to the spot-kick it entered the net to put the Vics back ahead (78 mins).

Altrincham continued to press, however, and got a deserved equaliser. This came after Lunt had half won the ball with a fine tackle, 20 yards from the Vics goal, and the ball broke for Horton. As the ball came in from the left, Evans bundled it home at the back post (82 mins). Despite plenty of effort from both sides in the closing stages, the game ended in a 2-2 draw. This was a fair result between two well-matched sides although Alty finished the stronger after their second half substitutions.

ALTRINCHAM SQUAD: 1 Dale Newbrook, 2 Mike Green, 3 Paul Robinson, 4 Patrick Claffey, 5 Duncan Miller (capt), 6 Lee MacDonald, 7 Lee Shillito, 8 Francis Evans, 9 Stuart Madew, 10 Jason Anthony, 11 Ian Horton. Subs: 12 Nabim Racidi, 14 Richard Smith, 15. Steve Lunt, 16. Chris Chesters, 20. Sam Baker.