Match Report
2 May 2001
ALTRINCHAM YOUTH (3) 5 RUNCORN YOUTH (0) 1
League Match, played on Wednesday, 2 May, 2001, at 7p.m.In a match delayed by half an hour and then reduced to 40 minutes each way because of the late arrival of the visitors, Alty Youth returned to their early-season goal-scoring ways with this clear victory over Runcorn. The opening goal came after a corner from the left by Drew found Pat Claffey at the back post and the centre-back neatly played the ball back in to the centre to Daniel who scored from close range. Mario has recently been in the Caribbean and South America playing for the Trinidad and Tobago Youth team but showed that he had lost none of his pace on his return to England.
Mark Drew also had a hand in the second goal for it was his fine through ball which set up Rico Richards to score (18 mins). Dale Newbrook in the Alty goal had to make two fine tips over the crossbar in as many minutes midway through the first half but the Runcorn defence gifted Alty a third before half-time. The Runcorn left-back tried to dribble out of defence only to be dispossessed by Richards who then drew the goalkeeper before scoring (37 mins).
Runcorn started the second half well but were undone by an Altrincham breakaway after 46 minutes. Richards and Lee McDonald were involved before the ball came to Drew on the left. From outside the box Drew curled in a superb shot which entered the net off the crossbar. Daniel netted the fifth from close range (51 mins) before Altrincham took their foot off the pedal.
Wes Wilkinson replaced Richards, who had fallen heavily slightly earlier, and then Paul Monaghan came on for Drew (61 mins). Runcorn's number 12 scored a fine goal from the edge of the box (73 mins) before the game began to peter out with bookings for Wilkinson and the Runcorn number five (75 mins). Finally, Paul Tilley replaced Lee McDonald (77 mins). Depending on results elsewhere this week, Altrincham may have returned to the top of the table with this win.
ALTRINCHAM TEAM 1- Dale Newbrook, 2- Vernum Rowland, 3- Paul Robinson, 4- Steve Howe (capt.), 5- Pat Claffey, 6- Danny Leahey, 7- Lee McDonald, 8- Levi Kennedy, 9- Mario Daniel, 10- Rico Richards, 11- Mark Drew, Subs used- Wesley Wilkinson, Paul Monaghan, Paul Tilley, Subs unused- Lee Shillito, Otis Thomas