ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH TEAM MATCH REPORT

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (0) 2 WREXHAM YOUTH (1) 1

FA Youth Cup, First Round Proper,
Tuesday, 5 November, 2013, 7.45pm, at The J Davidson Stadium, Moss Lane.


LINE-UP

ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks) 1. Josh SAMBERG, 2. David BROWN, 3. Matt GRAETZER, 4. Tom CLARKE, 5. Derek UBAH, 6. Pat CRILLY, 7. Spencer CUNLIFFE (capt), 8. Matt TODD, 9. Max POUNCEY, 10. Louis POTTS, 11. Rob GILROY. Subs: 12. Kane HUGHES, 14. Joe COFFEY, 15. Louis BROWN, 16. Tom WESTALL, 18. Steve BULLEN.

WREXHAM YOUTH (All green) 1. John Hodgin, 2. Aaron Simpson, 3. Jonathan Smith, 4. Jake Doran, 5. Ross White (capt), 6. Iwan Cartwright, 7. Jake Phillips, 8. Ross Weaver, 9. Matthew Hammonds, 10. Daniel Reynolds, 11. Jake Davies. Subs: 12. Richard Harvey-Davies, 13. Adam Whitlock, 14. Rakim Newton, 15. Alex Bains, 16. James Papirnyk.


REPORT

In front of 135 spectators, against a backdrop of exploding fireworks, Altrincham kicked off this Bonfire Night FA Youth Cup match against Conference national club Wrexham's youth team. The game had been in some doubt, after heavy rain, but the pitch was to hold up well, though obviously soft on the surface.

Wrexham forced a save from Samberg in only the second minute, but the flag had gone up in Altrincham's favour. Indeed, it was the visitors who spent most of the opening stages in the Altrincham half before a swift counter-attack, involving an interchange between Potts and Pouncey, ended with Gilroy's shot from left of goal, which Hodgin saved (6 mins).

This prompted a better spell from Alty, with a Potts freekick rising over the bar and, then, a fine ball was played forward from Brown, which Potts almost got to, ahead of the keeper (13 mins).

But a right-wing throw by the Welshmen almost undid Alty as it was back-headed to Cartwright, whose shot forced a smart save from Samberg, at the cost of a corner. Alty’s keeper was in action again soon afterwards when he had to save a 25 yard freekick (17 mins). However, Wrexham now took what, at this stage, was a deserved lead in the 23rd minute. From a Reynolds feed, Hammonds evaded Brown's covering tackle and slotted the ball past the advancing Samberg (23 mins).

At the other end, a Potts cross just failed to find Pouncey but that was the greatest goal threat from Alty at this stage, till a fine dribble forward from Brown won his side a corner in the 37th minute. However, Cunliffe's kick went behind the crossbar.

When another impressive run forward from Brown was halted by the referee, with Alty's right-back still in possession of the ball, it looked as if playing advantage would have benefited Altrincham more than a freekick. But it almost worked out well for Altrincham as Todd's excellent freekick was met well by Pouncey, whose header forced an excellent save from Hodgin, at the cost of a corner (43 mins).

When Simpson tripped Todd just outside the box, deep into added time, the freekick by Todd himself went to the keeper, leaving the visitors with a one-goal lead at the interval.


Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 0 WREXHAM YOUTH 1

Steady rain fell through the interval and into the second half, which witnessed an early corner, after Gilroy had been dispossessed in the opposition half. But another quick Alty counter attack, involving Cunliffe and Todd, led to Hodgin smothering the ball (50 mins).

Altrincham were having the better of the second half before a change was made; midfielder Gilroy giving way to striker Kane Hughes. Hughes was soon impressing as he won a corner, from which Ubah's header was cleared off the line (54 mins). Two more Alty corners followed in succession, as the rain eased off, with Graetzer going close from one of these.

Wrexham wasted a good chance when, from a corner, a free header missed the target (65 mins). When Alty won a throw on the left about 20 yards out there seemed little danger till an interchange of passes led to the ball falling for Hughes. From the edge of the box he sidefooted home a good goal to level the scores (67 mins). It was a goal Alty's second half performance had earned.

Two minutes later Brown was booked for a foul but Alty remained in the ascendant as Hughes won another corner. Taken well by Potts, Ubah headed the corner wide of goal. After 79 minutes Pouncey advanced menacingly but shot wide before another good advance from Brown got him clear in the box but he hit his shot across the face of goal from right of centre (81 mins).

Now Wrexham made a change as Harvey-Davies replaced Davies (82 mins). Next, after Todd had been fouled, Weaver was booked for Wrexham.

With extra time beckoning, Altrincham won a corner on the right, taken by Potts. After a bit of a melee in the goalmouth, Pouncey firmly found the back of the net from very close range to put Altrincham ahead (88 mins).

With the game into added time Samberg ensured Altrincham retained their lead as he saved impressively from Reynolds (90+1 mins). That was enough to see Altrincham home and, after a couple of minutes more of added time, Mr. Hayes blew the whistle on a well-contested match. Wrexham had had the better of the opening 45 minutes but Altrincham, who had always looked potent going forward, improved their tempo in the second half and turned the game around.

Altrincham now travel to the Bescot Stadium to take on Walsall, who had overcome Port Vale earlier in the evening.


Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 2 WREXHAM YOUTH 1