Altrincham F.C. Reserves: Match Report.

Swirling rain, which lasted for most of the match, greeted the teams onto the pitch. The game was fairly even until the 11th minute, when Altrincham's Swannick attempted a high back-pass to Newbrook in the Alty goal.

It was held up in the swirling wind and the Lancaster number 11 was able to nip in and put the ball into the net. Within a minute it was 2-0 to Lancaster, the Altrincham defence not being prepared for a quick attack after the first goal. Altrincham almost pulled a goal back in the 21st minute when Hargreaves latched onto a Mairs's free-kick only to see his fine shot rebound off the upright.

Hargreaves was the provider of another great cross in the 28th minute, this time Altrincham's Steve Howe sneaked in at the far post to plant an unstoppable header into the Lancaster net. In the 32nd minute Alty went further behind when some slack marking let in Lancaster's number 9 to score their third goal. In the 35th minute it was the turn of Lancaster to blunder in front of their own goal enabling Jason Anthony to lob the hapless goalkeeper to make the score 3-2. Two minutes later Lancaster scored their fourth goal when their number 3 had a free header from a Lancaster corner.

The second half started off with the Lancaster team, once again, taking the game to Altrincham. In the 50th minute Dale Newbrook in the Altrincham goal saved with his feet when it looked as if number five was on its way for Lancaster. This is about the time that the Altrincham team decided it was time that they took the initiative in this match and stepped up a gear.

Phil Burton and Paul Monaghan, (who had an especially fine game), were replaced by Paul Rudd and Simon McMain. Altrincham were now in the driving seat and taking control of the game, keeping up the pressure on the Lancaster defence. Newbrook in goal was replaced by Tom Peckett on 70 minutes. On 75 minutes Altrincham pulled another goal back when yet another great cross by Hargreaves was met by substitute Simon McMain to bullet a header past the Lancaster defence.

Now the pressure was really on. Two corners in quick succession by Mairs were met by Claffey and then Swannick, only for them to see their fine efforts saved by the Lancaster goalkeeper. In the 87th minute Altrincham equalised. It was almost a carbon copy of Altrincham's third goal when Hargreaves once again swept the ball in to be met again by McMain to beat the Lancaster defence for his second goal of the night and Altrincham's fourth.

Altrincham Team:-
1.Dale Newbrook, 2.Steve Howe, 3.Paul Johnson, 4.Patrick Claffey, 5.Phil Burton, 6.Dave Swannick, 7.Keith Mairs, 8.Paul Monaghan, 9.Jason Anthony, 10.Anthony Hargreaves, 11.James Jennings. Subs. Simon McMain, Paul Rudd, Stuart Madew, Tom Peckett, Steve Mukolo.