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NEXT MATCH
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS (Away)
Friday, 29 March, 2024, at 3pm
Vanarama National League match


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29 March 2024

THREE IN DOUBLE FIGURES FOR ALTY

For the first time this millennium at National League level, Altrincham have three players into double figures of league goals scored for the club... and there are still five games to play as well as potentially three play-off fixtures.

Chris Conn-Clarke leads the way, though there is some disagreement about how many times he has scored.

Whilst Altrincham FC itself, the excellent FB database, and the Alty Files, amongst others, all agree that CCC has scored 20 goals this season, other sources such as the NL Paper only credit him with 19, having attributed one of his efforts to an opposition own goal.

The last person to score 20 league goals at national level for Alty was Colin Little in 2007-08 season, a season of 46 fixtures like this campaign.

Before that, the most recent scorer of 20+ league goals in the top flight was Ken McKenna, who hit 22 in 1990-91.

Leading scorers so far in 2023-24:


L. to r.:Chris Conn-Clarke, Alex Newby and Regan Linney

Below are recorded previous seasons' National League campaign totals for Altrincham players who have netted ten or more goals in all competitions, since 2005.

TODAY: KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS

The most familiar face to Altrincham supporters in today's opponents' team is likely to be Ashley Hemmings.

Now aged 33, his sixteen-goals last season were a major factor in Harriers' earning promotion last season.

This season he has hit 8 league goals in 30(+8) appearances for the struggling Harriers. As the whole team has only netted 35 league goals, that is almost a quarter of his side's tally this season.

Together with Amari-Smith's ten league goals, the duo have notched more than a half of Kiddy's goals in the National League.

Lewisham-born Ashley had two loan spells at Moss Lane.

On his first stay, Ashley arrived on 4 December 2018 on a one-month loan, which was cut short on 31 December when he was recalled. He had joined Fylde earlier in 2018 after a brief spell with Salford City.

The winger returned for a second loan spell at Altrincham from AFC Fylde on 16 August 2019. His loan initially extended to 5 January 2020 but on 18 October it was announced that he had been released by The Coasters and was leaving to join another full-time club.

Above: In August 2019, Ashley celebrates his goal in a 3-1 win against Farsley Celtic with Yusifu Ceesay (left) and Simon Richman.

In his early career at Wolverhampton Wanderers he spent loan periods at Cheltenham Town (2009), Torquay United (2010/11) and Plymouth Argyle (2011/12).

2012-14 saw him at Walsall, where he made 56 appearances but, after a loan at Burton Albion (2014), he joined Dagenham and Redbridge (2014-16), for whom he played 80 times. Mansfield Town (2016/17) and Boston United (16 goals in 41 appearances in 2017/18) were his next employers before his move to Salford City (2018) and then AFC Fylde.

Overall, Ashley's Altrincham appearances comprised 15(+1) games in which he netted 3 goals.

KIDDY'S PREVIEW

On the eve of the game, Kidderminster Harriers report that "the countdown to the Last Chance Saloon begins at the start of Easter tomorrow with an important home game against Altrincham.

With the Reds still stuck in the relegation zone, even after only losing twice in thirteen games, we must simply win our three remaining home games and hope for the best in the two away games left. On paper the three games at home against Alty, FC Halifax Town and Eastleigh FC are all winnable so we have to make sure that is what we do...

Last Saturday we drew our fourth game in a row at Wealdstone when we really had to get the three points but failed... Wth a better strikeforce, we should have rolled out winners by some margin.

Goals have been our downfall all season with our thirty five goals scored well below most other clubs in the league...

Apart from possibly Alex [Penney] only Shane Byrne will be missing while Nathaniel Knight-Percival has gone out on loan to the National League North champions elect Tamworth.

Latest signing Charlie Weston made his debut at Wealdstone but having a short time on the pitch it was hard to form an opinion of him".

The referee for the game will be Mr Ross Martin of Bridport, who would not seem to have officiated an Altrincham match previously.

GOOD FRIDAY FIXTURES

Good Friday games are available for streaming via the National League.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan reports that CONNOR HAMPSON's Oakleigh Cannons club has progressed in the Australia Cup, drawing 0-0 at Port Melbourne Sharks after extra time, and winning the shootout 8-7. CONNOR HAMPSON started the match but whether he completed the match or was involved in the shoot-out is, as yet, unclear.

In other news, Chorley report "the loan signing of GERALD SITHOLE (right), who joins the club from Bolton Wanderers.

The 21-year old came through Gillingham's youth setup before signing a professional contract with The Gills in April 2021... Gerald was initially signed for Wanderers to be utilised for their B team but unfortunately missed eight months of the 2022/23 season due to injury,

The winger has already played in the National League this season, a one month spell at Altrincham in September and this deal with the Magpies will run through until the end of the National League North season.

Manager Andy Preece had this to say... 'Gez is a player we have tracked for a while and will be a great addition to the squad. Although he’s only 21, he has experience of playing League One football and had a loan at Altrincham earlier in the season.

He's pacey, direct and will excite the fans whilst adding to our attacking options in the run in'".

Footnote: Gerald arrived on a one-month loan at Altrincham on 21 September 2023 as the club experienced major injury problems.

After playing for 82 minutes in the game at Maidenhead on 26 September 2023, he was reported to be injured and was expected to return to Bolton. However, he reappeared as a used substitute in the FA Cup defeat by Oldham Athletic on 14 October 2023.

J. DAVIDSON SCRAP METAL PROCESSORS

Altrincham FC has saluted its major stadium sponsors J.Davidson Scrap Metal Processors.

The Club says that Davidson's are "quite simply, unrivalled for championing the cause of all-inclusive sporting excellence in the Altrincham area.

We are among the beneficiaries, here at Altrincham FC, and we are immensely grateful for a level of backing that embraces all areas of the club, from the men's team and women's section to community activities and, of course, the iconic old stadium itself.

The Broadheath-based scrap metal experts had already enjoyed a couple of seasons as main shirt sponsors when a groundbreaking announcement was made in the summer of 2013 - Moss Lane was to become The J.Davidson Stadium".

Davidson's Harry Gibson said "To see the number of shirts being worn around the town, with our name across the front, and the exposure the club gives to their partners means a lot to us. It gives the company an invaluable exposure, and being allowed to have the naming rights to such an iconic stadium only enhances that....

Following a move into our current purpose built site on Craven Road in 2012, the company became one of the of UK's first Authorized Treatment Facilities for the depollution and disposal of scrap cars and vans. The expertise built over the years allows us to offer a first-rate service and competitive prices, recycling some 75,000 tons of metal per year."

THROUGH THE YEARS: 23 March

Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years records show us that in the most recent game on 23 March, Altrincham beat King's Lynn Town 3-0 at the J. Davidson Stadium in 2021.

ALTY AWARDS NIGHT

Altrincham FC have announced that "It's time to get your tickets for our annual Player Awards Night taking place at the J.Davidson Stadium on Saturday, April 20 from 7pm.

As our regular season comes to an end earlier in the day against Oxford City we're looking forward to celebrating the squad's achievements across 2023/24, with hopefully the promise of more football to come the week after in the Vanarama National League playoffs...

Taking place in the Community Sports Hall the evening will include...

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Bromley report "the signing of centre-forward Will Davies from York City on loan for the remainder of the season..

Our newest recruit has already made 20 National League appearances this season, scoring five goals in the process and last featured for the Minstermen on 12th March against Altrincham.

24-year-old Davies joined York in November 2023 after signing from National League South side Braintree Town.

The forward joined the Irons from Leiston where he netted 33 goals in all competitions during the 2022/23 season".


28 March 2024

PARKY'S VIEW

In his post-match interview with Brian Flynn, on Alty TV manager Phil Parkinson admitted that in the first half "It was as poor as I've seen us... in the first 35 minutes...

Ethan Ross should have got man of the match as he kept us in the game. That's what a top keeper does. That gave us a platform. We got a goal against the run of play. It was a lifeline. And then we found the groove in the second half."

He also praised the official Man of the Match, Elliot Osborne and fellow midfielder George Wilson (above, right).

WEALDSTONE VIEW

After defeat at Altrincham, Wealdstone reported that "David Noble defended his patched-up squad on Tuesday night...

Travelling to high-riding and full-time Altrincham for their seventh game in 24 days and their fourth on the road this month, the Stones were extremely good value for the lead given to them by Charlie Barker and could have been further in front. In fact Alty boss Phil Parkinson felt his keeper Ethan Ross prevented his side from having a mountain to climb.

However, the punishing nature of the schedule, the fourth long trip north in less than a month and the absence of four international players combined to see the Stones overrun in the second half as their three-match unbeaten away run came to an end...

Said Noble 'We went in 1-1 and that was slightly disappointing as that wasn't a fair reflection, but then we had a bit of a collapse after half-time. Yes, we have tried bodies and tired legs but you are not tired a minute into the second half [when we conceded the second]. There were a couple of things I didn't like tonight'"

NEXT: KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS

For the sixth fixture in seven, Altrincham face a club trying to get away from the threat of relegation. This time the opposition is Kidderminster Harriers, who lie 22nd with 43 points from 41 matches.

The reverse fixture at the JDS ended in a 1-1 draw.

It has been a turbulent season for the Harriers who gained an unexpected promotion last season when they won their final six league games in Vanarama National North to qualify for the play-offs.

They then came through three play-off fixtures to earn a place in the National League. Ex-Alty man Ashley Hemmings scored a brace to defeat Brackley Town in the final.

However, the Harriers found themselves bottom of the National League when manager Russell Penn was sacked in January 2024 and the experienced Phil Brown took over.

Results picked up with January producing six wins in seven outings. But since then the Harriers have not won again, though they have drawn four of their five fixtures this month. So they have lost just twice in their last 13 league fixtures.

They are the lowest scorers in the National League with just 35 goals from 41 league matches, Amaari Morgan-Smith's tally of ten making him the leading scorer.

But they are equally parsimonious at the back, conceding just 48 times, ten fewer than Altrincham. Indeed, only Bromley and FC Halifax Town have conceded fewer times this campaign.

So a tight, low-scoring match seems to be beckoning on Friday.

The Harriers face a tough run-in with games away at Chesterfild and Barnet and two home matches against FC Halifax Town and Eastleigh to complete their season after facing Altrincham.

ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS

Alty TV has extended highlights of Alty's 4-1 win over Wealdstone on Tuesday night.

AGGBOROUGH AGONIES

Altrincham travel to Aggborough on Friday seeking a first win at Kidderminster in ten league visits over the past thirty years.

The sad catalogue of results at Aggborough is laid bare below. Following an Altrincham win on 7 May 1994 at Aggborough, 1-0, Alty have failed win a league match there in 16 attempts!

  1. 2-2 19.11.94 DRAW
  2. 0-5 25.3.95 DEFEAT in an FA Trophy QF tie
  3. 1-1 25.3.95 DRAW
  4. 1-1 21.10.95 DRAW
  5. 1-1 15.2.97 DRAW in Altrincham's relegation season
  6. 1-1 11.3.00 DRAW in Harriers' championship-winning season.
  7. 1-1 26.12.05 DRAW "After the supporters' coach suffered a puncture near Hilton Park services on the M6, many Alty fans arrived at Aggborough just as the home side were taking the lead with a dubious penalty awarded against Mark Maddox for handball when a ball was driven against him from close range (23 mins). But, with their vocal support in place, Altrincham enjoyed the better of the second half and deservedly equalised after 80 minutes when Kieran Lugsden was brought down by Jackson in the box and Steve Aspinall, making his first Conference start, drove the resulting penalty home".

    Alty's only win at Aggborough in the last twenty years was in the FA Trophy. Here we see Jake Moult (in yellow) in action in that game in 2015.

  8. 2-3 9.12.06 DEFEAT "Altrincham lost their second successive game 3-2 and were still without an away win after this game but it was a very controversial penalty awarded by referee Vaughan which ultimately cost Altrincham the points"
  9. 1-1 5.4.08 DRAW "Kidderminster's goal depended on a refereeing decision as Mr Creighton awarded them a questionable penalty just before the interval from which Christie scored. It was the third successive time that a spot-kick had been won against Alty at Aggborough - and all three have been converted by Christie. Alty had held a deserved lead from the eighth minute "
  10. 0-4 23.8.08 DEFEAT "It was referee Simpson from Middlesex who determined the outcome of this game by adjudging Chris Lane to have deliberately handled the ball on the line after 33 minutes, when the defender had been hit on the body from point blank range by a Harriers shot" Lane was sent off and Richards converted the penalty.
  11. 0-3 29.8.09 DEFEAT "For the second year running, Altrincham had the better of the opening stages only to fall behind after having an early goal disallowed for offside... When Dale Johnson was tripped by last man Riley, the Harriers' man saw a red card. But after 36 mins Densmore was sent off and it got even worse for Alty when Chris Senior was stretchered off with ankle ligament damage".
  12. 1-2 12.2.11 DEFEAT "Altrincham were very unlucky to take nothing from this game which they finished with eight fit players on the pitch.Just before the break Carl Piergianni was controversially sent off when he made a fine covering tackle which the referee judged to be a foul. It seemed that Piergianni had been dismissed for denying a goalscoring opportunity but it later emerged that the reason given by the referee was "foul and abusive language". Dootson made a fine save from the penalty kick, however James Smith then got himself sent off for a petulant spat in injury time, again the reason given was "foul and abusive language". To cap the afternoon Densmore finished the game lame after being fouled, leaving Alty with eight fit men at the final whistle".
  13. 0-4 16.9.14 DEFEAT Simon Richman was sent off after 50 minutes.
  14. 1-1 2.4.16 DRAW Altrincham let in an 89th minute equalizer against bottom of the table Harriers, following a superbly taken tenth-minute goal by Reeves.
  15. 0-1 29.8.16 DEFEAT A late tackle led to Simon Richman hobbling off.
  16. 2-3 29.9.18 DEFEAT Alty conceded three first-half goals.
  17. 0-2 14.9.19 DEFEAT

However, there was a moment of joy for Alty at Aggborough in the above period when Alty won 1-0 in an FA Trophy Round Two match on 10 January, 2015, with Damian Reeves the scorer. However, on 3 January 2024, in the FA Trophy 4th round, Hariers won a penalty shoot-out 4-2 after a goalless ninety minutes.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 29 MARCH

Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years records reveal that Alty last played on next Friday's date, when they face Kidderminster Harriers, was back in 2014 at Colwyn Bay when they won 3-1 at Llanelian Road.

Right: Simon Richman contests the midfield at Colwyn Bay back on 29 March 2014. Looking on is Colwyn Bay's Sean Williams, later to enjoy a period with Altrincham.

ALTY VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Altrincham FC Volunteer of the Month is UA92 student Dylan Barlow who has been acting as kitman Steve Foster's right-hand man at the J. Davidson Stadium and on away trips.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Solihull Moors are erratic this season and on Tuesday they crashed 0-3 at home to Southend United in front o just 1,060 spectators.

In that match, "Solihull Moors’ unbeaten run of six games came to an end with a 0-2 defeat at home to Southend United, with Oliver Coker scoring twice in the first half...

Southend took the lead... with Fonguck sending a cross into the middle of the area. Oliver Coker met the cross and finished into the corner...

After the goal, Southend controlled possession...

On 37 minutes, Southend doubled their lead after a quick counterattack released Marcus Dackers...

Dackers’ cross was met by Coker, whose shot in the corner was enough to make it 0-2...

On 67 minutes, Southend scored their third with Harry Cardwell finishing".


27 March 2024

OLLIE BYRNE JOINS MACC

Following his departure from Altrincham, Macclesfield FC "are pleased to have agreed terms with goalkeeper Ollie Byrne subject to league approval and clearance.

The 6ft 2 shot-stopper joins us following his departure from Altrincham earlier in the month featuring regularly in the National League last season."

ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS

Alty TV has extended highlights of Alty's 4-1 win over Wealdstone on Tuesday night.

ALTRINCHAM 4-1 WEALDSTONE

Altrincham were fortunate to be level at the interval after Wealdstone had been the better side by some margin for the first 30 minutes.

With the hosts repeatedly giving the ball away and failing to get Linney involved, Ross was by far the busier keeper, making four decent saves. After the last of these, a Wealdstone corner was headed in by Cook as the visitors' captain got free from Wilson (34 mins).

But then a fine ball forward from Osborne found Newby near the left bye-line. His ball inside to Conn-Clarke led to the no.10 being upended but, before a decision could be made about a penalty, Newby lashed the ball into the far corner (37 mins).

Having undeservedly got level, Alty then had the better of things before half-time which was reached with the score still level.

Right: Eddy Jones returned from illness to face Wealdstone.

The second half was completely different as Altrincham dominated. They went ahead inside two minutes as Newby and Conn-Clarke exchanged passes up the left before Newby laid the ball off for the incoming Wilson to finish impressively in the centre of the box (47 mins).

On the hour mark it became 3-1 as Osborne's fine ball sent Mooney towards the right bye-line. He pulled the ball back for Banks to finish well.

The fourth goal came when Conn-Clarke fed Linney whose first effort was blocked by the onrushing keeper but the loose ball fell for Linney to covert, justahead of Wilson (72 mins).

Match report here.

NEXT: KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS

On Good Friday, Altrincham travel to play Kidderminster Harriers.

As previously noted here, Altrincham's record at Aggborough over recent years is lamentable. Altrincham have experienced eight defeats and three draws in the last eleven league meetings there!

This time Altrincham visit Kidderminster hoping to keep their play-off quest on track after seven defeats in their last eleven fixtures. Meanwhile, the Harriers are fighting for survival, 21 points and 16 places adrift of the Robins and in 22nd place in the table.

The clubs' last league clash was a 3-2 defeat for Altrincham in National North at Aggborough on Saturday, 29 September 2018.

PLAY-OFF DATES

The National League has announced that "Play-off schedules have also been confirmed for all three divisions...

Vanarama National League

TNT Sports will cover all National division play-off games including the Vanarama National League Promotion Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 5 May, kick-off at 3pm.

(This date has been changed on the advice of Wembley Stadium due to the ASLEF strike on Saturday 4 May)

Vanarama National League North

We are delighted to confirm TNT Sports will again cover the Vanarama National League North Promotion Final on Saturday 4 May, kick-off at 3.30pm.

All other play-off matches in the North and South will be available on National League TV.

Vanarama National League South

TNT Sports will once again cover the Vanarama National League South Promotion Final on Monday 6 May, kick-off at 3pm.

All other play-off matches in the North and South will be available on National League TV.

Promotion Finals in the Vanarama National League North and South will take place at the home ground of the finalist club who finished higher in the league table during the regular season.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Good Friday, 29 March 2024

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan reports that on Tuesday, in the National League : Gateshead had no need of MARCUS DINANGA, and left him on the bench as they came from behind to bury Hartlepool United 7-1.

MARCUS DACKERS played the full game as Southend United enjoyed a comfortable 0-3 victory at Southend United.

NPL : SAM HEATHCOTE put Macclesfield ahead at Ashton United, and, despite going down to ten men after an hour, they won 0-2. A late AARON BENNETT goal gave FC United a 1-2 win at Whitby Town.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Hartlepool Mail reports how "Hartlepool United suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, losing 7-1 at local rivals Gateshead...

Pools made a bright enough start and took the lead thanks to Joe Grey’s 10th goal of the season but lost control after Luke Hannant equalised from the spot and capitulated after the break, with impressive teenage forward Dajaune Brown bagging a brace...

[For the match] Pools boss Kevin Phillips opted to change shape, switching from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 for just the second time since taking over.

Gateshead, who had former Poolie Kenton Richardson in their side, were likewise operating with a 3-5-2, and named former Pools frontman Marcus Dinanga, who failed to score in 15 appearances during a challenging loan spell in 2018, on the bench...

Local bragging rights were also on the line, with more than 1,000 Pools supporters making the trip along the A19".


26 March 2024

MIDWEEK FIXTURES

Tuesday 26 March 2024

MARRIOTT HAS OPERATION

John Edwards, press and media officer at Altrincham FC, reports that "Isaac Marriott has undergone successful surgery on an ankle injury and can now set his sights on working his way back to full fitness.

Altrincham's dynamic midfielder sustained significant damage to an ankle in the very last moments of the Robins' Vanarama National League fixture with Woking at The J.Davidson Stadium earlier this month.

After the extent of the injury was carefully assessed, it was decided an operation was required, and it was carried out yesterday".

Before his injury in game 37 of the season, vice-captain Isaac had started every National League game except two. But he will now be sidelined for the rest of the campaign leaving him marooned on 88(+4) appearances since joining Altrincham just before Christmas 2021.

Isaac assumed the captaincy following the season-ending injury to James Jones which sidelined him after game 21. .

TONIGHT: WEALDSTONE

Following defeat at home to Gateshead at the weekend, manager Phil Parkinson said, "Recently, our home form has been indifferent. That is what the team needs to turn around, we have to find the home form that we enjoyed at the start of the season".

Right: Ryan Colclough and Egli Kaja take on fluids during a break in play against Wealdstone on 1 November 2022

Last season, like this one, this fixture (in November 2022) had been postponed from earlier in the season.

Facing a part-time Wealdstone side which had travelled more than 150 miles to play at Altrincham on a damp Tuesday night, and which had just endured six successive defeats in which they had conceded a shedload of goals, their newly full-time hosts might have expected a comfortable three points tonight.

But the lacklustre Robins were second best in the first half before falling behind very early in the second period.

The Stones' goal came in the 47th minute when Olomola got to a low, near-post ball from the left, just ahead of an Alty defender, to turn the ball into the net.

ALTRINCHAM : 1. Oliver Byrne, 22. Ross Barrows, 23. Jake Cooper, 26. James Jones, 2. Eddy Jones, 10. Elliot Osborne, 8. Josh Lundstram, 11. Ryan Colclough (c), 16. Chris Conn-Clarke, 33. Egli Kaja, 9. Jordan Hulme (c). Subs: 6. Lewis Baines, 17. Brad Jackson, 18. Ben Pringle, 30. Marcus Dinanga, 31. Dan Malone.

SQUAD DEPLOYMENT

Before tonight's midweek games, the Halifax Courier has an interesting piece on how many players each club has used this season in the National League.

In Altrincham's case we can say that 31 players have been named in a league squad, but 3 of those players have not got onto the pitch, (Byrne, German and Tom Jones). So 28 players have made league appearances this campaign.

The player with the most game time (excluding added time in matches) in the league before tonight's match with Wealdstone is Chris Conn-Clarke who is just minutes ahead of Elliot Osborne. They are two of six players to have played more than 3,000 league minutes this season.

The others are Lewis Banks, Jake Cooper, Eddy Jones and Isaac Marriott.

For further details see the Alty Line-Ups data.

100 UP FOR EDDY AND ELLIOT

Eddy Jones missed last Saturday's game through illness, but in the previous match at Boreham Wood the left-back completed his one hundreth appearance for Altrincham.

That game was his 98th start to which can be added two substitute appearances.

Eddy (left) rejoined Altrincham for a second loan spell from Stoke City on 2 September 2022, having signed up the previous season for an earlier loan from The Potters on 3 February 2022.

He went straight into the starting eleven at left-back on his "second coming" to the club and on 10 January 2023 it was announced that Eddy had signed on as an Altrincham player after leaving Stoke City.

Meanwhile, if Elliot Osborne (right) starts tonight it will be his 100th start for Alty, having made 99 starts and 13 appearances from the bench so far.

Like Eddy, Elliot also joined Alty in early 2022, following his release by Stevenage of EFL2.

He is one of Phil Parkinson's many Altrincham signings who had formerly played under him at Nantwich Town. Elliot started out in the youth system at Port Vale.

He played every minute of all but two of his 23 league appearances for Altrincham in 2021-22 and was an ever-present starter in 2022-23 by October 2022 but, in the latter part of the season, he was often a used substitute. However, 2023-24 saw him playing well as a regular starter once again.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Last Saturday's game at Gateshead saw at least two former Altrincham players in attendance. One of the duo was goalkeeper STUART COBURN, who is a regular spectator at the J. Davidson Stadium.

Also attending, in the directors' box, was former Alty striker ROD THORNLEY, pictured, right in conversation with Isaac Marriott and James Jones.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 26 March

As Wealdstone face Altrincham tonight,it is three years to the day since Altrincham played another home game, defeating King's Lynn Town 3-0.

It was only three years ago but it was a different era as the match was played behind closed doors and only started after a minute's silence to mark the anniversary of the first national Covid lockdown.

This was King's Lynn's first ever visit to Moss Lane; it came 364 days after their planned visit, last season, should have been played. In fact, today's game was on the sixth date that had been fixed for the clubs to meet at the J Davidson Stadium since 2020.

Just as last Saturday against Gateshead, Altrincham took a 16th minute lead. Josh Hancock headed home a left wing corner at the near post.

Seven minutes later, a foul on Hardy gave Hancock a freekick from 22 yards which deflected off the wall and past the keeper to make it 2-0. And, within two more minutes, it became a flattering three-nil lead as an interchange between Hardy and Piggott saw the Telford man net a finely worked goal (60 mins).

King's Lynn had furloughed at least half a dozen of their players but strangely they had then been permitted to bring in at least as many new players, mostly loanees from other clubs.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 30. Simon RICHMAN, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 25. Toby MULLARKEY, 24. Joel SENIOR, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 29. Alistair SMITH, 34. Ryan COLCLOUGH, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 32. James HARDY, 9. Joe PIGGOTT. Subs: 8. Sean WILLIAMS, 17. Nyal BELL, 11. Yusifu CEESAY, 23. Tom PEERS.

PLANS FOR ALTRINCHAM WOMEN

Altrincham FC has revealed that "A thorough review of Altrincham FC women's team is underway with the aim of raising its profile and strengthening the pathway towards the senior squad for young homegrown talent...

Changes are being formulated that are aimed at increasing the flow of emerging talent from juniors to seniors and arming the women's squad with the quantity and quality of players required to compete further up the pyramid.

The women's team currently operate under the auspices of Altrincham FC Community Sports, but the intention is that they will return to the ownership of the football club...

The next step is to provide the girls currently playing in the older age groups of our junior teams with an improved and streamlined pathway to senior level that will ensure we have a sustainable and competitive model in place to support our ambitious plans for Altrincham FC Women.

The team are presently in the sixth tier of their pyramid, but it is hoped that, with a new structure in place, they will begin to climb the leagues and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Rochdale have announced that "Following the expiration of a period of exclusivity with World Soccer Holdings LLC, Rochdale AFC is delighted to announce that it has been approached by, and has subsequently confirmed, the Ogden Family as its preferred investor in the Club...

Rochdale AFC Chairman Simon Gauge stated 'This is a different type of football investment, in that it is primarily driven by the recognition of, and motivation to preserve, the significant community value that clubs like ours provide.

'The Ogden Family recognise the history that our Football Club has and are motivated to help us achieve sustainability so that we will be at the heart of our community for another 100 years and beyond.'".

The statement goes on to address wider issues, stating that “A system with only one automatic promotion place available encourages clubs to gamble on promotion and operate in an unsustainable manner. This must be scrapped".

The Ogden Family [said] "We are a family with strong Rochdale roots. Sir Peter Ogden and Lady Ogden were born in Rochdale. Our charitable trust, the Ogden Trust, which primarily supports the teaching and learning of physics in under-represented groups, has various ongoing initiatives in Rochdale schools.

We were made aware of the Club’s difficulties in recent weeks, and we held constructive initial meetings with the Club and the Dale Supporters' Trust...

In our view, the Club (and the Rochdale AFC Community Trust which is so closely associated with it) are community assets of immense value which need to survive. We intend to make an offer to the Club, but we need some time to ensure that our diligence is completed, and our offer can be properly formulated...

To allow us the necessary time, we are making sufficient funds available to the Club to enable it to operate for the next 30 days. By the expiry of that period, we plan to have completed our diligence and formulated and presented our offer such that, assuming it is acceptable to the Club, we can conclude an investment before the end of the season...

Our sole short-term motivation is to ensure that the Club survives its current financial crisis and remains a going concern and a community asset with the interests of the community at heart; In the medium-term, our ambition is to assist the Club to become financially sustainable regardless of football success...

Our offer is not financially motivated. The shares we would acquire will be held in trust for the benefit of the Rochdale AFC Community Trust".


25 March 2024

ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS

Alty TV has video highlights from the Altrincham v Gateshead game.

NEXT: WEALDSTONE

Wealdstone have the biggest fixture backlog in the National League as they visit Altrincham on Tuesday night.

On Saturday, Wealdstone manager "David Noble praised his players for their energy levels and commitment after they put another National League point on the board on Saturday.

Max Kretzschmar's fourth in his last five starts and his seventh for the season put the Stones 1-0 up at The Vale in front of a bumper crowd of 2102 on Non League Day, but Kidderminster fought back to level through Ashley Hemmings to ensure honours ended even.

'We have got a lot of tired bodies in the group and there is no let up in the schedule', said Noble. 'We've got nine games in 27/28 days so it's a lot of football, but I can only praise the boys. They are giving me everything. The pitch is very heavy and I'm proud of the effort they are putting [in]. That's a huge positive as we are having to patch up players like Mason [Barrett]...

'We really dominated the first half. The second half was a slightly different story... Kidderminster came out quick and we looked nervous... We've conceded late so it feels like a defeat, but it's a point and another point on the board'...

Defender Charlie Barker [said]... 'We were just defending and under a lot of pressure at times. We went a bit more direct and perhaps we didn't need to'".

Sports Mole adds that "Since the first weekend of 2024, Altrincham have quirkily not drawn a single game in 15 outings, a run that has its pros and cons.

As many as eight defeats have been posted during that period, including a five-match losing streak during February and into March... The club [is] just three points behind fifth spot but with a significantly better goal difference.

While Altrincham have lost three of their last five matches at Moss Lane, they remain with the sixth-best home record in the division...

[For] Wealdstone... just three victories have been registered in 13 games to leave everyone associated with the club looking over their shoulder.

David Noble's side do have games in hand, though, and they may be required... accumulating seven points from their last three away fixtures...

Noble has been rotating his players in light of the hectic schedule and it would come as no surprise if more alterations came here. Aaron Henry and Manny Duku could return in midfield and attack respectively, with Max Kretzschmar and Sean Adarkwa dropping out...

Given Altrincham's lack of consistency, Wealdstone will sense an opportunity to cause an upset in the North-West. However, we are backing the home side to do what is necessary to collect three points".

ALTY OLD BOYS

In National South, DANNY CASHMAN was named Man of the Match as his WORTHING side twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at home to fellow play-off aspirants Bath City in a televised match on Sunday.

Cashman scored a goal apiece with each foot, as the Sussex side experiences an Alty-like wobble having now won just once in seven outings rendering their play-off hopes less certain than they had been a few weeks ago.


24 March 2024

PP AFTER GATESHEAD DEFEAT

Alty TV has Phil Parkinson's post-match inteview after the defeat at home to Gateshead.

The Alty manager said that he was "really disappointed" and "angry" (after losing the lead twice). He felt it was "a game of two halves... We were on top for the majority of first half".

He felt goalkeeper Ross had no saves to make apart from the goals conceded.

Right: Mitch Hancox made his first appearance for Alty at Moss Lane, coming on from the bench, following his brief debut last week at Boreham Wood, likewise as a used substitute.

ALTRINCHAM 2-3 GATESHEAD

Altrincham slumped to a seventh defeat in ten matches but remain hopeful of a play-off place.

Match report here.

NEXT: WEALDSTONE

Wealdstone finally arrive at the J. Davidson Stadium for a match that should have been played in February but for the Stones' involvement in the FA Trophy.

As a consequence of their Trophy exploits and problems with their pitch, Weadstone have four games in hand on Alty. On Saturday they drew 1-1 at home to Kidderminster which leavs them 17th, jost three points above the relegation spots.

Wealdstone reported that "Spoils were shared at a busy Grosvenor Vale as Wealdstone drew 1-1 with relegation battlers Kidderminster Harriers.

The Stones took the lead during first-half stoppage time through the in-form Max Kretzschmar, but a late goal from Ash Hemmings rescued a point for the Harriers.

Manager David Noble made four changes to the side that were narrowly defeated by Bromley midweek, as Kretzschmar, Sean Adarkwa and Micah Obiero returned to the starting line-up, while Kallum Cesay made his debut.

New signing and former Fulham goalkeeper, Jacob Adams, was named to the bench as Marcus Dewhurst's deputy...

Noble was then forced into an early substitution in the 41st minute as top scorer Adarkwa went down injured and had to be replaced by Manny Duku.

However, one minute into stoppage time, the Stones were finally rewarded for their dominance; man-of-the-moment Kretzschmar clinically despatched past Dibble with a fine strike...

As the second-half progressed, the visitors began find to find rhythm and edge themselves back into the contest...

Phil Brown’s side were eventually rewarded for their persistence, deservedly drawing level in the 82nd minute...

WEALDSTONE: Dewhurst, Cesay, Cook (c), Barker, Mundle-Smith, Young, Bowen, Kretzschmar (Henry 74), Mason, Obiero, Adarkwa (Duku 39 (Barrett 85). Subs not used: Adams, Seaman."

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan's review of Alty Old Boys' activities on Saturday is below...

League One: JOE HUGILL was substituted by Burton Albion after 64 minutes as they lost by the only goal at home to Port Vale

Stevenage's playoff chance receded further as, without injured captain CARL PIERGIANNI, they were held 2-2 at bottom of the table Carlisle United.

League Two: ALISTAIR SMITH played the full game for Colchester United as they earned a creditable 1-1 draw at leaders Mansfield Town, the club where he started his career before joining Altrincham.

Barrow had already scored the only goal of the game against visitors Newport County by the time ELLIOT NEWBY (right) joined the action after 75 minutes.

TOBY MULLARKEY played the full game as his Grimsby Town team went down 1-3 to visitors Wrexham, as did JOEL SENIOR in Morecambe's 2-3 home defeat by Gillingham.

CONNOR JENNINGS was booked, while CHRIS MERRIE came on in the 41st minute, as Tranmere Rovers lost 1-3 to visitors Crawley Town.

National League : DANNY WHITEHEAD played the full match for AFC FYLDE as they came from behind to beat visitors Oxford City 2-1. The result confirmed Oxford's relegation after only one season at this level.

At the other end of the table, Chesterfield duly confirmed their position as champions, beating visitors Boreham Wood, who had BILLY SASS-DAVIES booked, 3-0. JEFF KING returned to their starting lineup for the first time in four matches, while JAMES BERRY was a 71st minute substitute.

LUKE WATERFALL put in a full shift for Hartlepool United as they drew 1-1 at Eastleigh.

KEVIN BERKOE played the full game for Woking as they forced a goalless draw at Southend United, who left MARCUS DACKERS on the bench.

ASHLEY HEMMINGS was the scorer for Kidderminster Harriers as they drew 1-1 at Wealdstone.

National North : HAYDEN CAMPBELL scored Curzon Ashton's second goal in a 4-1 home win over Banbury United.

NPL : DONTAI GABIDON scored the opener for FC United as they beat Basford 2-0 at Broadhurst Park.

JORDAN HULME scored for Radcliffe in the opening minute, but, although JOSH HANCOCK added a penalty in the second half, it wasn't their day as they slumped to a 2-5 home defeat against Ashton United, for whom JAMES HARDY scored twice

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Coincidentally Saturday witnessed the confirmation of both Chesterfield as the champions of the Vanarama National League and the confirmation of Oxford City as the first of the four relegated clubs.

Chesterfield are now 21 points clear with just second-placed Bromley unable to catch them.

At the bottom Oxford City are sixteen points adrift of safety with just five games remaining, so they will return to the regional level after a single season at national level.



23 March 2024

ALTRINCHAM 2-3 GATESHEAD

If Altrincham are going to qualify for the play-offs they are going to have to do it the hard way after this seventh defeat in their last ten league outings.

Without left-back Eddy Jones, presumably injured, and with Isaac Marriott reduced to watching the game on crutches, Alty were further weakened by striker Regan Linney being only fit enough for a cameo from the bench.

However, they started well enough with Newby putting them ahead after 16 minutes, following a misheader by Jobe. And it remained 1-0 at the interval.

Above: Alty celebrate their opening goal

In a mad seven minutes early in the second half the score became 2-2. First Dinanga (inevitably) was on hand to score from close range after good work from Brown and a superb on-the-line clearance by Jake Cooper had dropped for him (50 mins).

Next camne the goal of the match as Wilson set Mooney running inwards from the right wing before launching a superb shot into the far corner of the net to restore the Altrincham lead (53 mins).

But, just after Kosylo had seen an effort cleared off the line at one end, Gateshead levelled at the other through Evans (57 mins).

Gateshead had the better of the second half with Altrincham failing to create much before substitute Adom scored literally seconds after coming on to the pitch (73 mins). Alty never looked like recovering despite the introduction of Linney and they could have no complaint at the final score.

Altrincham dropped to eighth in the league table.

Match report here.

SATURDAY FIXTURES

Saturday 23 March 2024

TODAY: GATESHEAD

Altrincham take on Gateshead today (3pm) at the J. Davidson Stadium, where the Robins hope for a bumper crowd following a Paint The Town Red campaign as well as it being Non-League Day when no Premier League matches will be a rival attraction.

CCC AND ETHAN INTERVIEWED

Alty TV has an interview with Chris Conn-Clarke (left) after the win at Boreham Wood and looking forward to the match against Gateshead.

Brian Flynn also interviewed goalkeeper Ethan Ross (right) for Alty TV.

Ethan explains about his recent spell sidelined by injury and the benefits of his interatction with Matt Gould, as his coach and team-mate.

TNT TO COVER ALTY'S BANK HOLIDAY GAME

TNT Sports is to cover three National League matches live over the Easter weekend, the first being Solihull Moors v BArnet on Good Friday at 3pm.

The second match to be broadcast live is Altrincham v Oldham Athletic on Easter Monday, also at 3pm.

And, finally, on Easter Monday, Kidderminster Harriers v FC Halifax Town will also be shown live.

FINAL DAY KICK-OFFS CHANGED

The National League has announced that all fixtures on Saturday 20 April, the final day of the 2023-24 regular season, will be at 12.30pm.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The BBC reports that "Solihull Moors boss Andy Whing has labelled the National League play-off hopefuls' fixture schedule "ridiculous" at such a key stage of the season.

Having played nine games in 29 days, fourth-placed Moors wanted to move two fixtures to help spread the load.

But they were refused and are down to just 13 fit players as they face four games in 10 days in the lead-up to an FA Trophy semi at Bromley on 6 April.

'In terms of player welfare, we're struggling,' Whing told BBC Radio WM. 'We've just played nine games in 29 days, which is ridiculous. And we've ended up with 13 players from that.

'We wanted to play Ebbsfleet this week as we had a free week before the Aldershot game this Saturday, but we weren't allowed because there was an England C game.

'And we wanted to play Southend in the last week of the season to help out with the player welfare side.

'But we've got to play'...

They head to Bromley for the FA Trophy semi-final on Saturday, 6 April, before returning there for a league game the following Saturday, with a midweek home fixture against Ebbsfleet in between".


22 March 2024

ALTY ON TV

Altrincham FC will be featured on BBC1 tonight (Friday) on NW Tonight when the club's initiatives to mark Non-League Day and "Paint the Town Red" on Saturday will be discussed. The programme starts at 6.30pm.

NEXT: GATESHEAD

Gateshead arrive at Altrincham on Saturday in indifferent form, having won just one of their five most recent league fixtures.

Their leading scorer is, of course, ex-Alty man Marcus Dinanga who has netted 18 times this season. Also in double figures is Stephen Wearne with 11 goals.

ALTY v YORK REIMBURSEMENTS

York City announce that "Following active conversations with Altrincham, York City can now provide the following update to supporters regarding their reimbursement.

Co-Chairs Matthew and Julie-Anne Uggla expressed their immediate desire post-Altrincham to reimburse those supporters who had attended that evening.

With thanks to The Robins, refunds will be executed on behalf of the football club by Altrincham themselves... Supporters will be refunded, in full, via the card they paid with online when purchasing their ticket/s.

York City had initially been looking at potential reimbursement packages to propose to supporters, hence the slight delay, but understands due to legal reasons that Altrincham must execute refunds directly via their system. Those with any further queries regarding their reimbursement should in this instance contact reception@yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 23 March

Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years records show us that in the most recent game on 23 March, Altrincham beat King's Lynn Town 3-0 at the J. Davidson Stadium in 2021.

ALTRINCHAM COLTS

Altrincham FC's youth teams' names and changing league memberships have been confusing in recent years.

For decades there was an Altrincham FC Youth Team (under-18s) playing in the NW Youth Alliance Premier and and an under-17s' side competing in the NWYA First Division.

In summer 2022 the Altrincham FC Youth set-up was completely reorganised, as follows...

From 2022-23 youth players aged over 17 were to compete in the North-West U-21 Development League (see below). The Altrincham FC Under-17 team, which formerly operated in the NWYA First Division, an under-17s' league, was moved up to the NWYA Premier to compete against predominantly under-18 sides. However, in December 2022 the team withdrew from the league.

A new under-16s side was formed to compete from 2022-23 in the North West Youth Alliance Development Division .

However, in December 2022 there were further changes to the leagues in which the youth teams played and by February 2023 there was an Alty team bizarrely labelled as the "TCG (Altrincham FC) Men Regional Team 2" playing in the Association of Colleges (AoC) Sport North West Men's Football Invitational League (1).

That Division no longer hosts an Altrincham team, it seems.

There was also, in early 2023, an Altrincham Under-21 team competing in the North-West U-21 Development League. However, there is apparently now no Altrincham team in any of its three divisions in 2023-24.

An Altrincham FC team, previously weirdly labelled "Altrincham FC U19 A Red", continues to play in the National League U19 Alliance North Division in 2023-24 but now just under the name of "Altrincham". This is referred to in shorthand as the Altrincham FC Academy side, details of which were reported here yesterday.

Altrincham FC also continues to have a team in the North West Youth Alliance League Development Division. In 2022-23 they were labelled as under-16s, but in 2023-24 they have been re-branded as Altrincham FC Colts.

Results for the Colts this season have been as follows. As of March 2024, the team has finished seventh in the completed league season of 24 games.

Results this season:

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

TNT has announced more non-League matches to be covered live on their sports channels.

The schedule for the rest of March is, as follows.

Recent weeks have seen them drop to 22nd in the National League and in midweek, Dorking Wanderers reported on a 2-0 defeat at Southend.

"Marc White made wholesale changes to the side which lost 4-2 at York Road last weekend, opting for a back three of George Francomb, Tony Craig and Bobby-Joe Taylor. Elsewhere, Alfie Rutherford returned to the side to join Jason Prior up front, with Seb Bowerman also coming in for his first start in over month...

Wanderers settled quickly, as they looked to buck the recent trend of slow starts which have led to a combined four goals conceded in the first half an hour of of their last two fixtures.

Despite settling in possession and looking assured at the back, White’s men struggled to create any real chances of note,,,

Scott-Davies stepped up and curled a beautiful effort into the top corner from 25-yards out, ending Southend’s unwanted run of conceding first in each of their last four games...

Southend were the side with the impetus for much of the second 45... As Wanderers’ creativity problems continued, Southend proceeded to push for a second to kill the game...

Southend’s patience eventually paid dividends in the closing stages...Husin was... denied by the shot-stopper, however Cardwell was on hand to sweep in the rebound and put the game to bed".


21 March 2024

ALTY DROP A PLACE

FC Halifax's win over Chesterield on Wednesday evening meant that The Shaymen went above Altrincham in the National League, leaving the Robins now in seventh position.

WEDNESDAY RESULT

Wednesday, 20 March 2024

  • FC Halifax Town 4-2 Chesterfield
  • JAKE COOPER

    According to a match report on the Cymru C v England C match earlier this week, "The armband went to Boreham Wood defender Chris Bush, who was called into the side as a backup initially, after injury to Jake Cooper".

    Whether Jake was injured in training before the international match or was withdrawn from the squad as a precaution is unclear.

    Isaac Marriott was the original Altrincham representative in the England C side but he was injured last week and was presumably replaced by Jake in the squad.

    Hopefully he will be fit to face Gateshead on Saturday.

    ALTY OLD BOYS

    Phil Jordan reports that "With RYAN COLCLOUGH back in their starting XI, Chesterfield led at Halifax, on Wednesday night, but only for one minute as the hosts scored three times in 14 minutes to lead at the break. He was replaced after 59 minutes by JAMES BERRY who scored the last goal of the game as the Spireites did Altrincham no favours by losing 4-2."

    ALTY'S "ERRATIC" ACADEMY SIDE

    The NL Paper has a report on Altrincham's Academy side's 4-1 defeat at York on 13 March, which gave the Minstermen some revenge for their first-team's thrashing at the J. Davidson Stadium the previous day.

    Ironically the York side is managed by Tim Ryan, who briefly played for Altrincham.

    The hosts took the lead early in the game before Harrison Howells (right) levelled for the Robins.

    But three more goals produced a 4-1 win for York.

    The NLP adds that "defeat means the Robins stay winless on the road since November and boss Paul Fay rued his side switching off at key moments...

    He said, 'Our keeper Louie [Fallon] had two saves to make in 90 minutes. However, spells of lack of concentration in the game gave four goals away.

    Results have been erratic for this group. Today there were fourteen first- and second-years and, with a short turnaround before the reverse fixture on Fiday, it leaves limited time to correct basic errors.

    'I am confident they will learn and consistency will come'".

    Paul will have been pleased to see the boys draw the reverse fixture with York before securing a home win over AFC Fylde.

    Since our last update, the Academy side's results in the National League U19 Alliance league and cup competitions have, indeed, been erratic with just six wins, four at home, in 16 matches.

    Altrincham lie fifth in the thirteen club National League U19 Alliance league but have played more games than all other clubs except one.

    VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

    On Tuesday, Bromley reported that ten-man "Bromley secured their fifth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions after a 1-0 win away at Wealdstone on Wednesday [Tuesday] night with Michael Cheek netting a 74th minute winner.

    Grant Smith received his marching orders with just over a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock which subsequently saw David Aziaya make his league debut, coming on for Corey Whitely...

    After a goalless first period, Micah Obiero couldn’t convert from close range as Wealdstone pressed for an opener on 57 minutes...

    Bromley did put their noses in front. Ben Krauhaus did well to set up Cheek who took a touch before firing into the bottom corner".


    20 March 2024

    NEXT: GATESHEAD

    Gateshead visit Altrincham next Saturday.

    The last time Gateshead visited Altrincham was on Easter Monday 2023 when the Heed emerged 1-0 winners.

    Above: None of the five Altrincham players in this picture from last April's encounter with Gateshead is still at Moss Lane, underlining the changes in personnel since last season. They are from left to right, Kyle Ferguson, Harry Perritt, Miles Welch-Hayes, Joe Hugill and Tyrese Sinclair. And remarkably the starting eleven that day included just one player who had played as an Altrincham employee in the opening game of that 22/23 season in August; that was Josh Lundstram... and he was to leave the club soon afterwards!

    A disappointing display by Altrincham saw Gateshead take all three points at a wet J. Davidson Stadium. Inevitably the goal was scored by Marcus Dinanga who Alty sold to Gateshead after a mixed two years at Moss Lane.

    The goal came after 34 minutes when Wearne was allowed to run up the middle and he fed Dinanga. The striker took a couple of touches before hitting a strong shot across Byrne from left of goal.

    Altrincham had made four changes from their last league outing as the suspended James Jones as well as Jordan Hulme, Elliot Osborne and Lewis Baines dropped out of the starting list. Into the atarting eleven came Sinclair, Oyedele, Hugill and Perritt

    Only four subs were mustered which was partly accounted for by there being the maximum five loanees allowed being named in the starting line-up. So there was no involvement for two loanees in Aaron Bennett and Luke Burgess, but Egli Kaja was also an absentee, presumably injured again.

    ALTRINCHAM : 1. Oliver Byrne, 34. Miles Welch-Hayes, 30. Harry Perritt, 5. Kyle Ferguson, 28. Maxi Oyedele, 2. Eddy Jones, 8. Josh Lundstram (c), 4. Isaac Marriott, 35. Tyrese Sinclair, 29. Regan Linney, 39. Joe Hugill. Subs: 10. Elliot Osborne, 9. Jordan Hulme, 18. Ben Pringle, 21. Matt Gould

    GATESHEAD : 1. Filip Marschall,2. Robbie Tinkler, 6. Louis Storey, 3. Ethan Pye, 17. Connor Pani, 44. Stephen Wearne, 18. Edward Francis, 33. Callum Whelan, 11. Adam Campbell (c), 42. Kamil Conteh, 9. Marcus Dinanga. Subs: 31. James Montgomery, 8. Owen Bailey, 10. Greg Olley, 12. Dan Ward, 15. Aaron Martin

    ALTY OLD BOYS

    Phil Jordan reports that on Tuesday, in the...

    National North : JONNY MARGETTS opened the scoring for King's Lynn at already relegated Bishops Stortford, and, after the hosts were reduced to 10 men, his team won 0-2.

    By the time CONNOR KIRBY scored for visitors Buxton in the 96th minute, it was far too late to affect the result, and Blyth Spartans won 3-2.

    NPL : The Radcliffe starting lineup in their 4-1 home win over Morpeth included no fewer than five players who had previously been at Altrincham : JORDAN HULME, JOSH HANCOCK, BRAD JACKSON, JAMIE MORGAN (above, right), and JUDE OYIBO. They now need just 7 points from their last 6 games to guarantee promotion to National North, and will hope to take another step in the right direction when they host Ashton United on Saturday.

    MIDWEEK VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

    TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2024

    WEDNESDAY 20 MARCH 2024

    ENGLAND "C" DEFEATED

    Despite having their TNS representatives withdrawn from the match, Cymru C's all part-time team defeated England C 1-0 on Tuesday night.

    England C included National League top scorer Paul McCallum in their team and the Spitfires lost at Barnet without him.

    THROUGH THE YEARS: 23 March

    Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's records of past games involving Altrincham on next Saturday's date, 23 March, are on the Through the Years page.

    VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

    Kidderminster Harriers "have added to their midfield options with the signing of youngster Charlie Weston on loan from Blackburn Rovers.

    Charlie, 19, is a product of the Rovers Academy, his tremendous progress at the club seeing him pen professional terms in 2022, having first signed as a 14-year-old...

    This season he’s also featured on the Rovers bench in the Championship on three occasions.

    Charlie will stay with us for the remainder of our season".

    And Shrewsbury Town announce that "A young Shrewsbury Town XI took on Kidderminster Harriers in a friendly at Shrewsbury Sports Village this afternoon (Tuesday).

    The Salop side primarily consisted of under-18s players...

    Kidderminster named a starting XI full of first team players including Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain and former Shrewsbury favourite Nat Knight-Percival.

    Harriers went on to win the game 4-1".

    The rise up the table of Ebbsfleet United has been remarkable in recent weeks and now the club reveals that "Following Myles Kenlock’s call-up for the upcoming England C match against Wales on Tuesday 19th March, two more Fleet players have earned international recognition.

    Omari Sterling-James has been called up to represent Saint Kitts & Nevis... against San Marino on Wednesday 20th March and Sunday 24th March.

    Tommy Fogarty will also be jetting off on international duty, representing Northern Ireland U21s who travel to play Czechia on Thursday 21st March in an international challenge match and then to Serbia on Tuesday 26th March in the UEFA Euro U21 qualifiers.

    As a football club, it is always a proud moment when our players gain international recognition".

    Aldershot Town "announce the signing of promising midfielder Jonathon Page!

    The 22-year-old has signed a deal until the end of the season, having been a free agent since leaving Fulham last summer.

    Page spent the 22/23 season on loan at Farnborough...

    Tommy Widdrington said 'With Dejan (Tetek) looking doubtful for the remainder of the campaign, we felt another option in the central midfield area was a sensible thing to add...

    'Jonathon has... trained with us over the last couple of weeks and impressed us all with his ability on the ball'...

    Head of Recruitment Jamie Hedges added 'Jon (Jonathon Page) is a player who was on our radar in the summer but unfortunately picked up an injury. He’s been training with us for a few weeks now and has looked sharp, he is a competitive but technical midfielder'".


    19 March 2024

    NEXT: GATESHEAD LEARN FROM CHELSEA

    Altrincham welcome Gateshead to the JDS next Saturday.

    Despite losing their manager, Mike Williamson to MK Dons earlier in the season, The Heed have maintained their challenge for a play-off place under Rob Elliott and his assistant Louis Storey,.

    In last Tuesday's matchday prgramme, Gateshead's first-team coach Carl Magnay, who also has a coaching role at Chelsea, spoke of how the Tynesdiers benefit from his contacts.

    He explained that "I get footage of training sessions from when Thomas Tuchel was manager [at Chelsea]. He played a similar system to what we do now".

    He added that he is also "constantly on the phone James Simmonds who is the assistant maager of the under-21s at Cheslea so it's proved a massive helpbeing able to lean on a club at the highest level".

    As for recruitment he added that "Our style at Gaeshead is able to attract top clubs and that continues to be a theme with most players we bring in on loan. We've got a great reputatiom throughout the Football League and even The Premier League"

    PHIL AFTER BOREHAM WOOD WIN

    Following the win at Boreham Wood, Phil Parkinson told the NL Paper, "It was a very good win. We were under pressure early on and came back well. The boys dug in and got the result we wanted" .

    BOREHAM WOOD'S STRUGGLE

    Following Alty's win at Boreham Wood, the Real EFL has a thoughtful report that "The Wood have struggled for form and consistency all year but relegation to the National League South is alarmingly close if Luke Garrard’s team fail to find some form against those around them.

    Having reached the playoff semi-finals last season, Wood have spectacularly collapsed during this campaign...

    In less than nine months, the Meadow Park outfit have gone from being 45 minutes from Wembley to a few games away from playing regional football next year...

    Back in 2018, the side finished fourth, only to survive relegation the following year by finishing one place outside the bottom four. In 2020, they were once again in the playoffs followed by a 14th place final-standing in 2021...

    This year may not come as a surprise given their record in past years... Wood have become very good at shutting up shop... Only once in the last six years have they scored more than 55 goals in a forty-six-game season...

    Boreham Wood are built on a strong backline... You have to go back six years again to find the time a Boreham Wood player hit twenty goals...

    Garrard is into his ninth year as manager at Meadow Park, one of the longest serving in the division but there comes a time when each one has taken a club as far as they can...

    While Wood’s style of play isn’t too easy on the eye, it has shown to be effective... but a relegation this season... might mean a parting of ways".

    VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

    Wealdstone are now as many as five fixtures behind some of their rivals in the National League. The situation has arisen from a good run in the FA Trophy and from pitch problems which have caused several postponements.

    One of those catch-up games is a midweek visit to Altrincham next Tuesday, which has twice beteeen postponed owing to the Stones' Trophy involvement.

    In that context, Wealdstone’s Chairman, Rory Fitzgerald, "has expressed profound discontent with the National League’s decision to force the club to play its rescheduled fixture with Bromley FC this coming Wednesday, 20th March...

    According to Fitzgerald, the rescheduled date was imposed without any input from the Stones, leaving the club in a precarious position.

    'We have already found ourselves in an incredibly challenging situation where due to the well documented issues with the Grosvenor Vale pitch we were expected to play a high volume of games in an extremely short period of time.

    'This situation is now further compounded by a significantly depleted squad due to no less than five international call-ups,' stated Fitzgerald.

    'Despite these circumstances, which are clearly outside of our control, the National League has invoked league rules, compelling us to play another unplanned fixture this Wednesday. These rules apparently allow them to dictate terms that they deem beneficial for the league at large, even if they adversely impact individual clubs.

    'At some point the National League must recognise that we have a duty of care to our players and that we are putting them at risk by expecting them to play so many games in such quick succession'...

    'To avoid the league punishment, we have reluctantly agreed to the game proceeding as planned on Wednesday. We do however feel it is grossly unfair and that we have been let down by the league having previously made every effort to be accommodating'".


    18 March 2024

    ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS

    Alty TV has highlights from Altrincham's 1-0 away win at Boreham Wood last Tuesday".

    SATURDAY FIXTURES

    On Alty TV Laurence Howarth interviewed Phil Parkinson after the win at Boreham Wood.

    ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS

    Phil Jordan tells us that in the Championship on Sunday, at Leeds United, the 62nd minute introduction of DUNCAN WATMORE from the bench was not sufficient for Millwall to prevent a 2-0 defeat


    17 March 2024

    BOREHAM WOOD 0-1 ALTRINCHAM

    On an afternoon when none of the top teams won, Altrincham secured a narrow win against troubled Boreham Wood to strengthen their position in the play-off places.

    A fit again Justin Donawa was restored to their starting eleven but captain Isaac Marriott was again unfit and Regan Linney suspended.

    It was Boreham Wood who started the better. The hosts won several corners and Ross was required to make two important saves in the early stages.

    However, in the second half of the first forty-five minutes, Altrincham got into the game with Newby spurning a good chance and Amaluzor hitting the post before both Wilson and Osborne forced decent saves. Nevertheless the score remained goalless at the interval.

    Just before the hour-mark, Chris Bush's foul on Donawa earned him a red card (59 mins). Altrincham took the lead after 72 minutes when Osborne fed Conn-Clarke. From the edge of the box his low shot somehow left the keeper flat-footed as it found the net to his right.

    Report to follow.

    NEXT: GATESHEAD

    Gateshead visit Altrincham next Saturday. And last Saturday a sending off aided Altrincham at Boreham Wood, whilst a dismissal in Kent hindered the Heed at Ebbsfleet United.

    This Saturday Gateshead lost ground in their play-off quest with a 4-2 defeat at Ebbsfleet United.

    Ebbsfleet United reported that "Rakish Bingham’s first Fleet hat-trick, scored in 40 second-half minutes, brought Fleet three more points and a rise to 15th in the table in a dramatic match against 10-man Gateshead.

    Danny Searle made two changes... Dominic Samuel returning to the starting line up and Tommy Fogarty earning his first league start in place of Dominic Poleon and Hayden White...

    The game-changing moment came quickly with just four minutes on the clock when Louis Storey was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge that brought Dominic Samuel down outside the area...

    The Fleet took advantage of the extra man by opening the scoring in the eighth minute. A quick run from the Fleet forward [Bingham] positioned him for a shot and the ball edged past Montgomery for Samuel to meet it in the six-yard box.

    Gateshead made a tactical change, withdrawing Kieron Evans for defender Robbie Tinkler.. It was the Fleet who were in full control of the opening stages... The visitors equalised on 40 minutes... Callum Whelan... took a shot from range that took a deflection as it flew in with Gateshead’s first shot on target.

    Whelan was celebrating again just before the half-time whistle...

    A strong start to the second half saw the Fleet level... A penalty was awarded on 52 minutes when Samuel’s shot struck the hand of Mamadou Jobe and Bingham stepped up to thunder it into the roof of the net...

    Toby Edser was the provider with a cross to the far post where Bingham arrived to connect with his head for 3-2... Gateshead were down to nine men for a period after Luke Hannant sustained a self-inflicted injury... but he came back into play after lengthy treatment...

    With nine minutes time added, Bingham would complete his hat-trick...

    GFC: Montgomery, Whelan, Richardson, Storey, Francis, Worman (Dinanga 68), Evans (Tinkler 9), Brown, Hannant, Adom (Booty 53), Jobe. Subs: Grayson, McBride.

    ALTY OLD BOYS

    Phil Jordan's Saturday round-up follows...

    League One : JOE HUGILL was withdrawn after 67 minutes as Burton Albion lost by the only goal at Exeter City. The hosts played the whole of the second half with ten men.

    HARRISON HOLGATE returned from suspension but was left on the bench by Fleetwood, who came from behind to draw 1-1 with visitors Charlton Athletic.

    OWEN DALE was withdrawn in the 90th minute by Oxford United, who triumphed 0-2 at Port Vale.

    Stevenage captain CARL PIERGIANNI was missing today as his side went down at home to the only goal against Leyton Orient.

    League Two : Elliot Newby was withdrawn after 65 minutes, as Barrow, having missed a first half penalty, were held to a goalless draw by visitors Harrogate Town.

    ALISTAIR SMITH was a 68th minute substitute for Colchester United, who similarly missed from the spot and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with visitors Walsall. It was the same score line at Gillingham, where visitors Grimsby Town withdrew TOBY MULLARKEY after 81 minutes.

    Although CHRIS MERRIE stayed on the bench, CONNOR JENNINGS played the full game, and captained Tranmere Rovers to a 0-1 win at Wrexham.

    National League : After missing the last four matches, JOSH LUNDSTRAM returned to Oldham Athletic's starting XI, and it was from his through ball that Andrew Dallas was brought down in the box to earn the penalty that put them ahead.

    However, despite building a 2-0 lead midway through the first half, they eventually had to settle for a 2-2 draw with champions elect Chesterfield, who brought RYAN COLCLOUGH off the bench in the 52nd minute.

    The Spireites need just one point from their last 7 matches to be confirmed as champions, although as they are 27 goals better off than Barnet, the only side who can catch them, that point would seem to be academic.

    Barnet's defeat at Woking was occasioned by the only goal of the game scored by KEVIN BERKOE.

    A full shift from DANNY WHITEHEAD couldn't prevent AFC Fylde from losing 1-2 at home to Wealdstone.

    ASHLEY HEMMINGS played the full game for Kidderminster Harriers in their unexpected goalless draw at Bromley.

    Despite being reduced to ten men after only 5 minutes, Gateshead led 1-2 at half time at Ebbsfleet United, but by the time MARCUS DINANGA came off the bench in the 68th minute they were trailing, and went on to lose 4-2.

    LUKE WATERFALL picked up an early yellow card in Hartlepool United's goalless draw at home to Southend United, for whom MARCUS DACKERS was a 77th minute substitute.

    NPL : After trailing at the break at Atherton Collieries, FC United fought back to win 1-2 with goals from DONTAI GABIDON and AARON BENNETT.

    A second half strike from JACK REDSHAW earned Hyde United a 1-1 draw at Ilkeston Town.

    Southern Central : MONTEL GIBSON scored both goals for AFC Telford as they beat visitors Stamford 2-1.

    16 March 2024

    WEEKEND FIXTURES

    Saturday, 16 March 2024

    Saturday, 16 March 2024

    HANCOX JOINS

    Just three days after relegation threatened York City were trounced 6-1 at the J. Davidson Stadium, one of the club's players has joined Altrincham.

    Altrincham FC announced in the words of John Edwards that "Phil Parkinson has added experience and pedigree to Altrincham's engine room after snapping up... midfielder Mitch Hancox from York City in a move that is subject to FA and National League approval.

    The 30-year old, who operates in central midfield but can also play left-back, has a wealth of experience in the Football League as well as the Vanarama National League...

    Solihull-born, Mitch, who will wear number 26 for Alty, came through Birmingham's youth system... where he made 40 first-team appearances for the Championship club before signing for Macclesfield Town in... 2016...

    The left-footed 5ft 10in midfielder rejected the offer of a new deal in favour of a contract with newly-relegated League Two side MK Dons in June 2018, and he then joined his home club Solihull Moors 11 months later...

    He moved on to Hereford and was loaned out to York... After the temporary stay at York became a permanent transfer the following month, Mitch had another successful loan spell at Hartlepool United last November".

    Hancox has only made three league appearances this season, totalling 59 minutes of game time.

    BYRNE DEPARTS

    Altrincham have also "announced that keeper Ollie Byrne has left the club, and we would like to thank him for his contribution during his time with us and wish him all the best for the future."

    26 year-old Byrne was signed as the replacement for keeper Tony Thompson on 26 June 2022. Although he was born locally and attended Wellington Road school, he actually joined Alty from Welsh club Connah's Quay Nomads "for an undisclosed fee".

    From 2014-16 Oliver was in the Manchester United youth structure and was in their under-18s' cohort with Marcus Rashford. In 2016, he moved on to Cardiff City, after completing his scholarship at United. In November 2017, Byrne arrived at Chorley on loan from the Bluebirds' under-23 set-up.

    From Cardiff's Academy Byrne joined Blackburn Rovers under-23s early in 2018. In September 2018, he spent a month's loan period from the Welsh club at Bamber Bridge in the Northern Premier League.

    In January 2019 he joined Stevenage in EFL2 on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers, though he did not make a League appearance for the Borough. After he had been released by Stevenage in July 2019, he spent two months at Atherton Collieries, where he played ten games.

    He then went on trial at Connah's Quay in November 2019 and in January 2020 he signed for the Nomads. In February 2020 he went on loan to Airbus UK till the end of May 2020.

    His competitive debut for Altrincham was delayed by a lengthy process of international clearance following his move from Wales but he then established himself as the regular first-choice keeper for 2022-23.

    Having appeared regularly in pre-season, on 27 July 2023, in the wake of Ethan Ross's arrival, it was announced that Ollie was going on loan to Cork City and he remained there until their season ended in November 2023. However, he did not appear in subsequent matchday squads for the Robins until he started a CSC tie in late January 2024.

    His Altrincham appearances totalled 44.

    TODAY: BOREHAM WOOD

    Altrincham face Boreham Wood today, their fourth successive opponent fighting to stay in the National League.

    The Wood lie 18th but are only three points from the relegation places. In the reverse fixture, the clubs drew, one each, in a match which Alty could equally well have won or lost.

    Altrincham had the better of the first half against an uncharacteristically error-prone Boreham Wood. They took the lead in the 32nd minute through one of those errors by the visitors as a promising link up between Amaluzor and Conn-Clarke seemed to have faltered with the latter's poor touch.

    But the Wood gifted possession back to Linney who drove a fine, low shot past Ashmore.

    Above: Linney nets Altrincham's goal back in August.

    There was a further double-blow for the Wood in first-half added time as they substituted the injured Owens, himself a post-warm-up replacement, just as Mo Sagaf looked to suffer a bad injury, the player having to be helped off the field, supported under both shoulders.

    But the second half saw Altrincham barely threaten the Wood goal and the visitors deservedly levelled after 61 minutes. An impressive run up the left to the byline by Ilesanmi resulted in his laying on a virtual tap-in for Ndlovu.

    After that it was the Wood who created the greater pressure but the afternoon ended level

    Alty's back line for this match was unexpected as Baines and Banks dropped to the bench, along with midfielder Joey Jones. Cooper, Kosylo and Amaluzor started in place of the trio.

    ALTRINCHAM : 29. Ethan Ross, 3. Eddy Jones, 8. Isaac Marriott, 5. James Jones (c), 7. Matty Kosylo, 6. Elliot Osborne, 9. Regan Linney, 10. Chris Conn-Clarke, 11. Justin Amaluzor, 15. Jake Cooper, 16. Sam Roscoe. Subs: 2. Lewis Banks, 6. Lewis Baines, 14. Dior Angus, 19. George Wilson, 22. Joey Jones.

    BOREHAM WOOD: 1 Nathan Ashmore, 3 Femi Ilesanmi, 5 Chris Bush, 7 Tom Whelan, 8 Mo Sagaf, 9 Lee Ndlovu, 12 Jamal Fyfield, 15 David Agbontohoma, 16 Charlie Owens, 19 Erico Sousa, 21 Kwesi Appiah. Subs: 2 Cameron Coxe, 6 David Stephens, 10 Tyrone Marsh, 13 Koju Abayomi (GK), 20. Liam Miller

    ALTY OLD BOYS

    From Phil Jordan we learn that in Australia "With CONNOR HAMPSON on the bench after missing the last two matches, Oakleigh Cannons maintained their unbeaten start to the season (W3, D2) with a convincing 4-1 home win against Green Gully.

    In the Scottish Championship, MILES WELCH-HAYES played the full game for Dunfermline Athletic as they dented the title hopes of visitors Dundee United, winning 3-1.

    Over in the Irish Premier Division, BARRY BAGGLEY was substituted after 75 minutes as Waterford earned a goalless draw at Dundalk."


    15 March 2024

    NEXT: BOREHAM WOOD

    Altrincham face Boreham Wood in Hertfordshire on Saturday, with the hosts in an unaccustomed league position of eighteenth, with the club in nineteenth, Wealdstone, having four games in hand but only a one point deficit to make up.

    In his matchday notes the Wood's chairman Danny Hunter, who has sunk millions into the club's rise up the non-League pyramid, has penned a heartfelt three-page rallying call to pull together to fight a potential relegation.

    Altrincham first met Boreham Wood in 2015/16 and above we see Michael Rankine's penalty which won the away fixture that season.

    In the worst case, he concludes, if the club is relegated, "I must accept that my huge personal investment, 25 years of good governance and 18 years of consistent progress will have been wasted, while my loyalty and belief in some people would [will] have perhaps been misguided and, as such, relegation will be my fault and my fault alone".

    Assuming that he gets the response from the team and supporters that he seeks on Saturday, Altrincham will be in for a tough afternoon.

    Altrincham will again be without Isaac Marriott whose seemingly bad injury at the very end of last Saturday's game is reportedly awaiting a scan. He joins Joey and James Jones as well as Ollie Crankshaw on the sidelines

    THROUGH THE YEARS: 16 March

    Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years records show us that in the most recent game on 16 March, Altrincham played out a 1-1 draw against Woking at Kingfield.

    In a match playd behind closed doors, Alty fell behind, after eighteen minutes, and it was a poorly conceded goal from an unnecessary corner. The inswinging corner-ball was allowed to sail across the goalmouth and come back off the inside of the back post where it was bundled narrowly over the line by Lofthouse. Thompson was on the deck as the ball hit the post and clearly felt he had been fouled.

    Just before half-time Kosylo picked up his eleventh yellow of the season and his tenth in the league.

    In a decidedly uninspiring second-half spectacle Altrincham failed to trouble the Woking keeper at all, until the 92nd minute. At that point, Thompson's punt upfield found Moult who was wrestled down by Gerring and a penalty was awarded, which Hancock converted to give Alty wan unlikely draw.

    ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony THOMPSON (c), 24. Joel SENIOR, 35. Yoan ZOUMA, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 19. Reagan OGLE, 25. Toby MULLARKEY, 8. Sean WILLIAMS, (c), 15. Matty KOSYLO, 34. Ryan COLCLOUGH, 10.Josh HANCOCK, 9. Joe PIGGOTT. Subs: 6. Jake MOULT, 17. Nyal BELL, 32. James HARDY, 11. Yusifu CEESAY, 23. Tom PEERS.

    YORK REFLECT ON DEFEAT AT ALTY

    The York Press says that "Adam Hinshelwood reflected on Tuesday night’s 6-1 hammering at Altrincham and admitted that York City’s performance was ‘nowhere near acceptable’...

    Hinshelwood’s wait for a first win as York manager stretches on, with City now sitting second from bottom of the Vanarama National League table...

    Hinshelwood admitted... 'It was a sleepless night on Tuesday night. I got home and reflected, watched it back... All we can do is work even harder and keep showing the players what we want...

    It has to be our motivation to work as tirelessly as we can so that we don’t feel that again'".

    VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

    TNT has announced more non-League matches to be covered live on their sports channels.

    The schedule for the rest of March is, as follows.

    Recent weeks have seen them drop to 22nd in the National League and in midweek, Dorking Wanderers reported on a 2-0 defeat at Southend.

    "Marc White made wholesale changes to the side which lost 4-2 at York Road last weekend, opting for a back three of George Francomb, Tony Craig and Bobby-Joe Taylor. Elsewhere, Alfie Rutherford returned to the side to join Jason Prior up front, with Seb Bowerman also coming in for his first start in over month...

    Wanderers settled quickly, as they looked to buck the recent trend of slow starts which have led to a combined four goals conceded in the first half an hour of of their last two fixtures.

    Despite settling in possession and looking assured at the back, White’s men struggled to create any real chances of note,,,

    Scott-Davies [sic] stepped up and curled a beautiful effort into the top corner from 25-yards out, ending Southend’s unwanted run of conceding first in each of their last four games...

    Southend were the side with the impetus for much of the second 45... As Wanderers’ creativity problems continued, Southend proceeded to push for a second to kill the game...

    Southend’s patience eventually paid dividends in the closing stages...Husin was... denied by the shot-stopper, however Cardwell was on hand to sweep in the rebound and put the game to bed".


    14 March 2024

    ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS

    Alty TV has "highlights from [the] 6-1 win over York City at the J.Davidson Stadium".

    NEXT: BOREHAM WOOD

    On Saturday, for the third game in a row, Altrincham face a club fighting to get away from the relegation zone, an unaccustomd position for The Wood, who normally boast a tight defence... but not this season.

    On Tuesday Boreham Wood lost 2-0 at Solihull Moors, leaving them eighteenth in the National League, just three points above the relegation places.

    Boreham Wood report that "they lost on the road for the second time in four days against play off chasing Solihull Moors... following second half goals by Callum Maycock and Tahvon Campbell.

    Luke Garrard made two changes from the starting line up from Saturday’s defeat at Halifax Town with David Agbontohoma replacing [ex-Alty loanee] Billy Sass-Davies at the back and Mo Sagaf coming in for Angelo Balanta in midfield.

    It was a positive opening for Boreham Wood... The home side then started to apply some pressure... Wood would have been happy to go in level at the break.

    Boreham Wood came out for the second half with renewed purpose and most of the second period was played in the Moors half... Just when Wood were in the ascendancy, Solihull took the lead on seventy-three minutes...

    Unfortunately, that goal knocked the stuffing out of Luke Garrard’s men and Moors immediately looked like adding to their lead. They did just that on eighty-five minutes...

    It was another disappointing result for Boreham Wood in their attempt to beat the drop. Fortunately, other results went Boreham Wood’s way and Luke Garrard’s men even managed to climb one place in the table to eighteenth with Ebbsfleet getting thrashed at Aldershot Town. Saturday’s game at home against Altrincham is now massive and Wood will be desperate for a positive result.

    Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe (Clayden 84), Ilesamni, Bush, Fyfield, Agbontohoma, Payne, Robinson (Balanta 78), Sagaf, Ndlovu (Marsh 72), Tshimanga. Subs not used: Whelan, Sass-Davies".

    NON-LEAGUE DAY

    Altrincham FC are "gearing up for two huge games at the J.Davidson Stadium in the coming weeks.

    Before we get to Oldham Athletic on Easter Monday, we've another massive clash with playoff implications as Non-League Day 2024 sends Gateshead to the J.Davidson Stadium on Saturday, March 23rd (3pm kick-off).

    Started in 2010, the initiative is enthusiastically celebrated up and down the country, while also promoting good causes such as Prostate Cancer UK - who the Robins have partner[ed] with as one of 10 Non-League Day Showpiece games this season...

    Altrincham FC Director John Coyne said 'Paint The Town Red is an initiative aimed at bringing the wider Altrincham community together for a one-off fixture and to showcase Altrincham Football Club on what is a huge day for non-league football clubs up and down the country.

    'We're calling on local people and businesses to get involved and Paint The Town Red over the next 10 days and to come and join us on March 23rd, enjoy an afternoon at the J.Davidson Stadium and cheer the lads on in what we hope will be another high-energy, entertaining spectacle."

    If you are coming to the stadium next Saturday, we are aiming for a sea of red colour on the terraces".

    OLD BOYS

    From Phil Jordan we learn that in League 1, League One, Stevenage skipper CARL PIERGIANNI (right) and his colleagues were on the wrong end of a 3-1 result at Peterborough United on Wednesday evening.

    OLD FOES

    The BBC reports that "The National League has docked National League South side Torquay United 10 points after the club announced its plans to go into administration.

    The financially-troubled Gulls now have 41 points, three points above the relegation zone, and drop from 12th to 17th place in the table.

    League rules say intending to appoint administrators is seen as an insolvency event, liable to a 10-point penalty.

    Owner Clarke Osborne said last month he could no longer fund the Devon club... On the field the former Football League side have won just one of their last 11 league games and are in their lowest position since they were first elected to the league in 1927".

    VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

    The Barnet & Potters Bar Times reports that "Barnet boss Dean Brennan gave an honest assessment of his side’s lack of intensity as they crashed out of the FA Trophy with a 2-0 quarter-final loss at Bromley.

    Michael Cheek’s first-minute strike got Brennan’s men off to the worst possible start before the home side doubled their advantage just after the hour mark to end the Bees’ Wembley dream.

    'You can’t start a game of football the way we started and expect to win here,' Brennan said. 'They’re a good side, Bromley. They’re up in the top end of the division for a reason, and they deserved to win first and foremost as they were the better team.

    'But some of our lads have to take a look at themselves. I thought our performance levels were really low.

    'You have to look at our injury situation. There's not one fit centre-half at our club this afternoon, so we’re having to play full-backs at centre-half. It’s frustrating... To pick up 12 points from our last six league games has been a miracle. It’s been a miraculous effort from our lads, as we’ve had so many key players injured'".


    13 March 2024

    ALTRINCHAM 6-1 YORK CITY

    Altrincham recorded their third 6-1 home win of the season, aided by three goalkeeping errors from the unfortunate George Sykes-Kenworthy.

    At kick-off York had had one of the better defences at the wrong end of the table, but that was not in evidence at all in this game.

    Match report here .

    MINSTERMEN REIMBURSE THEIR FANS

    The co-chairs of York City have stated "We are beyond disappointed with tonight’s result [at Altrincham] and will be reimbursing the away fans for their tickets.

    We have genuinely tried to put all the tools needed to build a successful team, from recruitment, to housing, nutrition, and better training facilities.

    We have obviously got something wrong and will not stop trying until we it get right.

    Matthew & Julie Anne"

    York City's match report includes..

    "Adam Hinshelwood made two changes to the side which took a point in Kidderminster, with Lenell John-Lewis and Alex Hunt coming into the side in place of Billy Chadwick and Dan Batty".

    3-0 down at the break "City had a somewhat positive opening 15 minutes in the second half, winning several corners following attacking phases...

    Substitute Maz Kouhyar converted for City in the 65th minute, thumping a shot from outside the area past Ethan Ross.

    Newby eventually got the Robins’ fourth of the night in the 71st minute, hitting a long-distance shot.

    Chris Conn-Clarke, who looked a threat all night long, put up Altrincham’s fifth in the 81st minute when he rolled a lay-off into the far side of the net.

    A sixth goal saw Newby convert from a close range, [with a] tight angled shot in the 87th minute, to round off an unacceptable evening for York".

    ALTY'S NEW MAN

    Just before Tuesday's game against York City, Altrincham FC reported that "Midfielder Max Haygarth has increased Altrincham's attacking options by joining the Robins on a short-term deal.

    The 22-year old, a creative midfielder who has had spells at Manchester United, Brentford and Linfield, has been training with Alty".

    Haygarth made his debut as a second-half substitute against York City on Tuesday night.

    NEXT: BOREHAM WOOD

    Altrincham travel to Borehamwood on Saturday. The home club, Boreham Wood are having an unexpectedly indifferent season and lost again on Tuesday night.

    Normally a byword for a top-half team with a parsimonious defence, this campaign Boreham Wood have neither been pushing for the play-offs nor keeping a tight ship at the back.

    Indeed, with eight more games still to play The Wood have conceded far more goals than is their norm.

    They are currently 18th and have let in 61 goals, compared with completing the whole of last season season with only 40 goals conceded, when they finished sixth and qualified for the play-offs.

    Indeed in the previous two seasons they only let in 40 (in 22/23) and 48 goals (in 21/22) throughout the whole campaigns.

    ALTY OLD BOYS

    From Phil Jordan comes news of alty old boys and loanees who were involved in midweek games...

    League One : After substituting JOE HUGILL (right) in the 68th minute, Burton Albion reduced the arrears at Portsmouth but still lost 2-1

    OWEN DALE was booked, and when Oxford United substituted him after 79 minutes hosts Bolton Wanderers had finished scoring and won 5-0

    League Two : TOBY MULLARKEY was booked but his Grimsby Town side beat visitors MK Dons by the only goal.

    Missing the injured JOEL SENIOR, Morecambe went down 5-3 at Newport County.

    CONNOR JENNINGS played the whole game as Tranmere Rovers shocked visiting league leaders Mansfield Town 2-1

    Barrow substituted ELLIOT NEWBY after 81 minutes as they drew 1-1 at Walsall.

    National League : Chesterfield brought on both JAMES BERRY and RYAN COLCLOUGH (who was booked inside 2 minutes) in the 73rd minute as they saw out a 2-0 home win against Oxford City.

    Gateshead substituted MARCUS DINANGA after 70 minutes with their home game against Dagenham and Redbridge goalless, and went on to win by the only goal of the match.

    ASHLEY HEMMINGS played the full game for Kidderminster Harriers in their 1-1 home draw against AFC Fylde, while the visitors introduced DANNY WHITEHEAD just after the hour. Both players were booked.

    Boreham Wood dropped BILLY SASS-DAVIES to the bench at Solihull Moors where they lost 2-0, and left him there.

    Southend United had already wrapped up a 2-0 win against visitors Dorking Wanderers by the time MARCUS DACKERS entered the fray after 86 minutes.

    National North : KENNEDY DIGIE (above right> put Alfreton Town 1-3 up at Hereford, but the hosts fought back to draw 3-3.

    After Buxton had gone behind at Peterborough Sports, a double from DYLAN MOTTLEY-HENRY helped them to win 1-3.

    CRAIG MAHON scored the opener for Curzon Ashton in their 0-2 win at Scarborough Athletic.

    JUSTIN DONOWA played the full game as Chorley went down 2-1 to 94th.minute winner at South Shields.

    THROUGH THE YEARS: 16 March

    Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's records of past games involving Altrincham on next Saturday's date, 16 March, are on the Through the Years page.

    This year on that day, Altrincham travel to Boreham Wood.

    VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

    Woking "announce the signing of Finn Delap.

    The 18-year-old centre back joins on loan until the end of the season from League One side Burton Albion...

    Delap spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Ilkeston Town... He then joined Mickleover Sports in the same division for the 2023/24 season...

    Recalled by the Brewers in February, Delap made his league debut off the bench in a 2-1 win at Bristol Rovers, and in doing so, replicated his dad, Rory Delap, in playing for Burton Albion".


    12 March 2024]

    TUESDAY FIXTURES

    Tuesday 12 March 2024

    TONIGHT: YORK CITY

    Tonight, for Altrincham, sees a third home game in eight days and also a third successive match against a relegation-threatened side, when York City are the guests at the J. Davidson Stadium.

    The Minstermen, like Alty are out of form, the sides being joint second-bottom of the form guide having only won 3 points over their last six games.

    As with Woking at the weekend, the visitors have a better away record than home one and also a better away record than Altrincham's on the road. Despite having lost fewer away games than all but seven other National League members, their goals tally away games is just one per game.

    On the eve of last Saturday's game York City announced "the signing of winger Leone Gravata from Eastbourne Borough on a permanent deal.

    The 22 year-old winger joins us from National League South side Eastbourne, a club he has spent his full career with up from U18 level.

    Gravata made his Eastbourne debut in the curtailed 2020/21 season.. He also briefly spent time on loan at Hendon during the following season...

    Since then, he has gone on to play just over 100 games for Borough, establishing himself as a fans’ favourite.

    The youngster’s big breakthrough campaign came in 2022/23, totalling 46 league appearances and chipping in with nine goals... This term, Gravata has managed three goals across 31 games...

    Gravata is naturally a left winger, but can also play on the right or as an attacking midfielder".

    YORK'S BORE DRAW

    York Press reports that "Kidderminster Harriers boss Phil Brown admitted that he was 'completely confused' by York City's tactical set-up in Saturday's 0-0 draw... as Adam Hinshelwood claimed his first point as City boss...

    'I don't think that they showed enough ambition as far as we were concerned,' Brown told the Kidderminster media team.

    'They've got their own way of playing and it completely confused me, because in the previous two games you watched York on a video and you think that they're going to be playing the same way, surely they were coming to Aggborough and they are going to try and impress the new manager.

    'He's had a couple of games and a couple of defeats, but... I think that their philosophy went out of the window in today's game.

    'He showed a way of playing a bit of grit and determination, they have come here and frustrated us, there is no doubt about it'...

    Brown also confessed that the match wasn't an entertaining one".

    YORK AT ALTY LAST TIME

    When tonight's visitors visted Altrincham last season, it was a televised match on BT Sport, which Alty won 2-1.

    Altrincham fell behind following defensive frailties after fifteen minutes when Duckworth was left in space at the back post from a right-wing corner and his header back across goal was nodded home by Kouogun with goalkeeper Byrne only able to help it into the upper reaches of the net.

    When Ethan Ross (above, right) returned from injury on Saturday, Alty's keeper also went up the other end for a freekick in the closing stages in the hope of securing an equaliser against Woking.

    Nevertheless, Alty did equalise nine minutes after the interval when Colcough got free of a defender, who was holding him. He fed the overlapping Eddy Jones whose looping cross was impressively volleyed home by Elliot Newby from a central position.

    It was another impressive move which won the game as Alty headed clear a York punt upfield by none other than Ethan Ross in the York goal. Jennings executed an excellent flick on to Newby, to his right. His first-time pass was slid in to Colclough who finished conclusively past Ross to make it 2-1 (74 mins).

    ALTRINCHAM: 1. Oliver Byrne, 5. Toby Mullarkey (c), 26. James Jones, 6. Lewis Baines, 2. Eddy Jones, 8. Josh Lundstram, 4. Isaac Marriott, 28. Elliot Newby, 11. Ryan Colclough, 16. Chris Conn-Clarke, 35.Connor Jennings. Subs: 9. Jordan Hulme, 10. Elliot Osborne, 23. Jake Cooper, 30. Marcus Dinanga, 33. Egli Kaja.

    YORK CITY: 1. Ethan Ross, 4. Maxim Kouogun, 28. Michael Duckworth, 17. Sam Sanders, 12. Alex Whittle; 19. Dan Pybus, 21. Gus Mafuta, 8. Olly Dyson, 11. Maziar Kouhyar, 7. Alex Hurst, 14. Lenell John-Lewis (c). Subs: 5. Fraser Kerr, 18. Ryan Whitley, 16. Mitch Hancox, 23. Luke James, 27. Manny Duku

    THROUGH THE YEARS

    Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years records for today's date, 12 March, remind us that Alty beat Eastleigh 4-0 at Moss Lane two years ago exactly.

    ISUZU FA TROPHY DRAW

    FA Trophy Semi-Final draw:

    VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

    Aldershot Town"are delighted to be hosting a historic and groundbreaking international fixture at the EBB Stadium as England C will be taking on Nepal on Bank Holiday Monday 6 May....

    We are very excited to be welcoming the Nepal national football team to Aldershot for the match in what will be the first full international fixture hosted at our home..

    Aldershot Town Football Club have been working closely with the large Nepalese community that live in our town over the last decade. The football club raised funds of over £30,000 to help build two schools in Nepal after the devastating earthquake in 2015. We have also seen an Academy team travel to Nepal alongside Club Director John Leppard to take part in the Everest Cup...

    Aldershot Town Football Club Chairman Shahid Azeem said... 'The town is widely known as the home of the British Army and where the Gurkha Regiment has been stationed for over 100 years".


    10 March 2024

    ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS

    Alty TV has highlights of Saturday's game against Woking.

    Above: It was a scrappy spectacle at the J. Davidson Stadium on Saturday. Here Matty Kosylo hits the deck and Dior Angus resists arrest in the match against Woking.

    CCC LAUDED

    According to the Real EFL "Chris Conn-Clarke has been one of the real stars for promotion hopefuls Altrincham FC after a brilliant season, but will he look to move on with such high potential?...

    Right: Chris Conn-Clarke in action on Saturday against Woking.

    Goal involvements have been at an all-time high for the playmaker, with 15 goals and three assists showing the effect of his captivating performances. These stats are peculiar for a player in his role but he has been given a great amount of freedom from Parkinson...

    [He] primarily plays in the middle of the park... Drifting to the wing and in and out of the channels are specialist traits of the Northern Irishman...

    At a young age, the chance to enjoy his football is crucial and he loves his football at Altrincham. It will be intriguing to see if he moves this summer".

    DEJA VU

    Altrincham started the current season with games against Dagenham & Redbridge, Woking, York City and Boreham Wood. And the Robins were unbeaten in those four games.

    And what is the current sequence of opponents for The Robins? If the rearranged match against Dorking Wanderers is discounted it is....

    Dagenham & Redbridge, Woking, York City and Boreham Wood in exactly the same order as last August! Sadly the four-game unbeaten sequence in spring 2024 has so far brought the opposite outcomes to the reverse fixtures, with defeats in both of the return fixtures played so far.

    GOALLESS AT HOME

    Saturtday's 0-1 defeat to woking was the first time Altrincham had failed to score in a home league match this season; they have drawn blanks in five away fixtures this season.

    Before the defeat against Woking, Altrincham's last blank league game at home was on 10 April 2023 against Gateshead, one of five games at the JDS las season in which Alty failed to net a goal.

    NEXT: YORK CITY

    Altrincham's second successive home game in a sequence of five in six fixtures, brings another relegation threatened side to the J Davidson Stadium in the form of York City. Altrincham's reverse fixture with the Minstermen this season ended in a 2-2 draw.

    On Saturday, York (22nd) travelled to Kidderminster Harriers (23rd) with clubs having identical points and goal difference. The outcome was a goalless draw which changed nothing.

    Like Alty, the Minstermen drew a blank at Aggborough in front of goal as York City report.

    "Neither side could apply a finish to take three points off of each other, in what was a pretty end-to-end occasion that lacked a final shot for both sides.

    Adam Hinshelwood made one change to his side... with Quevin Castro returning to City in place of Fin Barnes...

    Neither side looked to piece together a clear-cut opening in the first half, with the game staying in deadlock at the interval.

    Kidderminster fluffed their most clear-cut chance in the 88th minute...

    YORK CITY: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, McLaughlin, Davies, Akinyemi, Castro (79’ John-Lewis), Howe ©, Batty (86’ Duckworth), Chadwick (68’ Gravata), Woodyard, Smith. Unused subs: Watson, Hunt.

    York remain 20th with 15 points fewer than Altrincham, having played an extra game.

    Only FC Halifax Town and the bottom two have scored fewer than their 46 goals, whilst only six teams have conceded more often.

    MIDWEEK FIXTURES

    Tuesday 12 March 2024

    CHESHIRE NEWS

    For many years Northwich Victoria and Altrincham enjoyed a rivalry at the highest level of non-League football.

    But after the Vics left their historic Drill Field stadium, the club went into decline with a rival club set up by supporters under the name of 1874 Northwich.

    Northwich Victoria now play in the Midlands League Premier, at step five of the non-League pyramid and their manager has just departed.

    Meanwhile 1874 Northwich have fared little better, currently lying 14 points from safety in the Northern Premier League West Division.

    Whatever the mood may be at the J. Davidson Stadium after six defeats in the club's last seven matches, there is every reason to appreciate the club's status in the national level of non-League football given the example of what has happened in nearby Northwich.




    Click here for EARLIER NEWS


    Alty Files Website Index

    The following pages, which initially replicate those pages with the same web addresses which formed part of the official Club website, will be re-branded from 2018 as part of this new unofficial Alty Files site.

    A/Z Site Index to The Alty Files at www.altrinchamfc.co.uk