ALTRINCHAM: 1. Richard HARRISON, 2. Alex FROST, 3. Adam DOUTHWAITE, 4. Steve McGRATH, 5. Greg BYRNE, 6. Paul GLYNN (capt.), 7. Francis EVANS, 8. John McEVOY, 9. Steve LUNT, 10. Luke KILLEEN, 11. Josh COLLINS. Subs: 12. Chris DAVIES, 14. Michael BAILEY, 15. Joel EKOLENGENI, 16. Anthony POTTS, 18. Barry GEORGE (gk).

Report based on information kindly supplied by George Heslop. Any errors are those of the website.

This was a re-arranged match played on the much improved Wythenshawe Town pitch at Timpson Road, which stood up well to a deluge which started as the game began. It was the Altrincham team's first game since the terrible news last week of the death of their midfielder Mark Pover and the lads were to pay the best possible respects to their former team-mate by putting in an excellent performance. Alty gave a debut to Josh Collins and full-back Mark Griffiths remained sidelined by injury.

Altrincham got off to an excellent start when, after kicking off, they scored after only 45 seconds. The goal came after Alty had strung together 6 or 7 passes, culminating with Alex Frost's ball into the penalty area which found Luke Killeen. Luke turned and, in doing so, beat three men. Although his shot was blocked by the keeper, Steve Lunt was on hand to score from the rebound. Lunt added a second from a goalmouth scramble around the 20 minute mark as Altrincham had the better of the match and played the ball about very well. However, as the half progressed Morecambe came more into the game and after 35 minutes they pulled a goal back when their no.7 cut inside from the right to score from 15 yards. A fine header from Greg Byrne then came back off an upright so, despite an excellent first half, Alty held only a slender lead at the break.

Altrincham were only marginally slower in scoring in the second half than they had been in the first period as they added a third goal just four minutes after the interval. This came when Paul Glynn advanced in right midfield, cut inside, and finished with great skill to make it 3-1 (49 mins). Although Morecambe now enjoyed some possession, Alty keeper Richard Harrison was only troubled twice, but on one of these occasions produced a great tip onto the cross bar from a deflected shot. Altrincham continued to run well for each other and to apply pressure to the visitors. Francis Evans, who had a fine game, then played a ball forward which the keeper got but spilled. Luke Killeen picked up the rebound, rounded the keeper and scored the fourth Alty goal, slotting the ball between two defenders (80 mins). Chris Davies then replaced Luke for the closing stages. All in all this was an excellent performance by Altrincham Youth which will have impressed the watching Alty first-team manager, Graham Heathcote.