Altrincham F.C. Youth Team: Match Report.

This was a re-run of last year's Final in this competition, which Altrincham won. Today's formation had Drew and Robinson as the full-backs with McGrath and Rowland paired in central defence in front of keeper Broxson. Up front were Lee Shillito and Lee Thompson, whilst Horton, Smith, Tilley and McDonald made up the midfield. Alty started well but their first corner did not arrive until the 13th minute. A minute later Thompson's snap shot went wide but Prestwich were proving to be a well organised and hard-tackling side. Lee Thompson got free again after 19 minutes but his shot, with his right foot, went narrowly wide.

The Robins had the ball in the net when Horton's fine run fed Shillito but Lee's effort was ruled out for offside (20 mins). After Prestwich had won a corner off Rowland, the Alty defender was booked, for apparent dissent. From the corner Broxson made a fine point blank save from the visitors' number eleven. Altrincham however gave away a number of needless free-kicks. The lively Shillito and Thompson then combined for McDonald to win a corner (29 mins) but this was cleared. After Shillito had been fouled 30 yards out, Drew drove his free-kick into the wall to win another corner.

Broxson was troubled little in the Alty goal but his defensive partner Mark Drew became the second Alty player to be booked, in his case for diving into a tackle (39 mins). Three minutes later a fine move by McDonald and Shillito saw Horton put in a flying header which the keeper just tipped over the bar (42 mins). Horton had put in a fine first half performance, popping up all over the pitch. Two more Alty corners followed in quick succession but neither was converted. The half ended with the tireless Shillito breaking up an attack in his own area then racing into the visitors' box after receiving a return pass from the unflappable Robinson.

Early in the second half a superb strike by Drew from 30 yards rattled the upright (49 mins). Alty then had another "goal", by Horton, disallowed for an infringement before Heys made the first of their substitutions, no.15 replacing no.5 (56 mins). The Heys keeper soon made a fine save from Richard Smith after a feed from Drew (58 mins). Drew himself nearly scored following a corner when he stuck out a leg at the back post (59 mins). After this Alty pressure, Rowland gave away a free-kick about 25 yards out to the Prestwich left. The number ten curled in a free-kick and a run across Broxson by a Heys attacker confused the Alty defence and Broxson could only help the ball into his net at the near post (63 mins).

After the restart, the Heys no.2 was booked for a foul on Horton as the game entered a niggly phase. Lee McDonald got past his man only to be tripped just outside the box and the Heys left-back was booked. Heys then replaced their no.9 by no.12 (69 mins). From the free-kick McDonald delivered a fine strike which went inches wide. Heys were then forced into a third change when a player (no.5) was injured and had to go off and no.16 came on.

Altrincham still could not find an equaliser and after 77 minutes, Thompson gave way to Steve Lunt up front. The Alty defence looked solid with Steve McGrath having a good game and Rowland playing some good balls forward. However, Richard Smith became another Alty player whose name went into the ref's book when he was cautioned for a foul (82 mins).

Alty's frustration boiled over into some undisciplined play as McDonald then became the fourth home player to be booked (83 mins). Things got worse when Mark Drew was dismissed for his second cautionable offence (87 mins). Just when it seemed all was lost, Lee Shillito fed Steve Lunt to the left of goal. Lunt's first effort was beaten out by the keeper but the Alty striker innovated well to head the ball home from a virtually seated position, with the keeper stranded on the ground as well (88 mins). The match could then have been decided for Altrincham when Rowland's pass set Shillito into the box where he was fouled by a defender. The referee surprisingly gave an indirect free-kick for obstruction rather than a penalty and as a result the game went into extra time.

Alty were now faced by half an hour with only ten men but Prestwich also started a man short as their no.4 had had to leave the pitch just before the end of normal time with a nose injury. However, he returned after a couple of minutes of extra time to restore the visitors to full strength. Altrincham started extra time strongly with Tilley and Smith active in central midfield and Shillito posing a constant danger with his running. However, Altrincham soon went ahead when a move initiated by Paul Tilley's forward run ended in a cross from the right which Lunt converted cleanly with a firm shot (93 mins).

Altrincham were now well on top and the Heys keeper had to save well from Shillito's header from a McDonald cross (102 mins). At the start of the second period of extra time, Paul Glynn came on for Ian Horton and Lee McDonald, who had been filling in at right back, reverted to midfield before being replaced by Domain Esdale (111 mins). As the game drew towards its end Lee Shillito continued to menace the Heys defence. However, the nearest to another Alty goal came when Rowland fed Lunt and his firm shot came back off the post (117 mins).

Moments later Shillito turned well on the by-line to the right of goal where he was fouled. The referee awarded a penalty - Alty Youth have missed a hatful of spot-kicks this season but Paul Robinson took responsibility and drove the penalty home to make it 3-1. Prestwich had put in a disciplined performance but they seemed to lose some heart after Lunt's late equaliser. By the end Altrincham had clearly earned their prize but their failure to curb their frustration during the second half of normal time had nearly cost them dear.