VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Barnet 1-3 Oldham Athletic
• Boreham Wood 1-0 Dorking Wanderers
• Eastleigh 1-0 York City
• FC Halifax Town 5-0 Wealdstone
• Maidenhead United 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Maidstone United 1-1 Scunthorpe United
• Torquay United 1-2 Bromley
• Wrexham 2-1 Chesterfield
• Yeovil Town 1-1 Altrincham

TONIGHT'S MATCH AT YEOVIL TOWN

Underlining the change in personnel at Moss Lane this season, Alty's line-up on that Saturday in August included just five players who also started last Saturday's game against Solihull Moors. They were James Jones, Lewis Baines, Elliot Osborne, Josh Lundstram, and Jordan Hulme.

Above: Team-mates arrive to congratulate debutant Egli Kaja on his well-taken goal to secure a draw in August 2022.

The match can be followed via Radio Alty and is also being live video-streamed via the National League. Links to both services are given via the Radio Alty and National League Streaming icons at the top of this page.

TONIGHT'S OPPONENTS: YEOVIL TOWN

A second half winner from York City striker Lennell John-Lewis earned our relegation rivals (yes, don’t kid yourself this isn’t a relegation scrap) their first win in six matches and meant the Glovers are five without a win.

That first half performance was a team destined for relegation. Yes, there are a lot reasons (excuses?) which the players have; no physio, uncertainty over the ownership of the club, a crowded fixture list, too few players, the list goes on. But, the body language of too many players was at best disinterested and at worst simply evidence they are not good enough...

There was more effort in the second half. Whatever Mark Cooper said at half-time it got a response, but why does it always take that for us to get a response? There was a lot more effort in the second half, we controlled the game and deserved our equaliser...

It is not a conclusion to say we are sorely lacking up front."

And York Press adds that Yeovil manager Mark Cooper said "I was really pleased with the performance. I thought we played really well and I thought we dominated the game...

"The difference is you look at their attacking forwards compared to ours and that's the difference... We totally controlled the second half and the first time the ball comes into our box they score...

"We looked like scoring. We're too nice, our forwards are too nice. I might go in there and risk getting my head cut or my nose broke[n]. Whereas with theirs I think one went off with a cut mouth in the first half and the other scored the winner. It's clear to see where our problems are."

ALTY OLD BOYS

Former midfield loanee at Alty, Liam King, now plays for Rossington Main in the NE Counties League Division One.

Danny Mitchley is still banging in the goals and he scored one of City of Liverpool's goals in a 2-0 win over Clitheroe on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Cameron Terry helped his Widnes team beat Hanley Town 1-0.

In Saturday's goalless draw between Darlington and Kidderminster Harriers, Alty loanee Jake Cooper played for Darlo and Ashley Hemmings for the Harriers.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Notts twice hit the post and had two efforts cleared off the line as the managerless Daggers came from behind to shock the Magpies at Meadow Lane.

It cut Notts' lead at the National League summit to two points points over Wrexham, who have two games in hand...

Williams said, 'You have to be gutted, but we now have to focus on getting it right. Winning next week is the only option'...

Defeat by Dagenham... was Notts' first home loss this campaign...

'I'm completely crushed,' Williams told BBC Radio Nottingham after Saturday's defeat. 'It's impossible to describe the feeling, it's the most horrific feeling. I have to try remain calm, try and help the team recover'".

27 February 2023

THE SMILES ARE BACK AT ALTY

Above: A run of three good wins in the National League has brought back the smiles to the players and supporters at Altrincham after a previous sequence of four successive league defeats.

Alty TV has extended highlights of the latest victory, Saturday's 4-1 win over Solihull Moors.

NEXT: YEOVIL TOWN

This result sees the Glovers slide into the relegation zone, albeit with games in hand on teams around them...

The hosts scored with their first real chance with just less than 15 played. Found from a corner, Olly Dyson was able to fire home the opening goal...

The Glovers improved in the second half... With 60 played, the Glovers found themselves level. Cooper’s free-kick was diverted by a York player, under pressure from Josh Staunton, to put Town level going into the final half an hour.

After the goal, Cooper’s side looked the more likely to grab the winner, with attacking introductions like Alex Fisher and Andrew Oluwabori added to the mix...

However... Lennell John-Lewis was picked out at the back stick to put the hosts back in front.

The goal proved deflating for Town, as the Green and Whites struggled to create anything of note in the closing stages...

Yeovil Town: Smith; Law, Staunton, Bevan, Williams; Cooper, Owers (Johnson), Worthington, Maguire-Drew (Oluwabori); Young, Palmer-Houlden (Fisher)".

Before the match,Yeovil Town announced "the signing of Josh Owers and Seb Palmer-Houlden on loan from Bristol City.

The two Robins academy graduates sign on loan until the end of the National League season.

Josh Owers is a box-to-box midfielder, who has experience within non-league under his belt having played for Gloucester City earlier this season, along with Bath City last campaign...

Palmer-Houlden arrives to bolster the forward line, having enjoyed a prolific season so far for the Bristol City U23 side...

Despite being just 18 years-old, the striker already has senior minutes under his belt, starring for Chippenham Town at the start of the season".

ALTY LOANEE REVIEW

L. to R. Upper: Aaron Bennett, Danny Cashman, Michael Gyasi, Armando Júnior Quitirna. Lower: Maxi Oyedele, Tyrese Sinclair, Miles Welch-Hayes

Altrincham currently have nine loanees in their first-team squad. Below are details of their appearances to date...

1. Sonny ALJOFREE - on loan from Manchester United. Yet to be named in any matchday squad.
2. Aaron BENNETT - on loan from Preston North End. Just starting his second loan at Altrincham this season. In his first spell he played 6(+4) league games and scored 3 goals. He also netted twice in one start in the Cheshire Senior Cup (CSC). His second loan spell has seen 1 further league appearance from the bench. Total minutes played in National League, 562 minutes.
3. Danny CASHMAN - on loan from Coventry City. He has made 3(+1) league appearances and 1 start in the FA Trophy, totalling 4(+2) appearances, no goals scored. Total minutes played in National League, 230 minutes.
4. Michael GYASI - on loan from Chesterfield. Has made 1(+2) league appearances and a further start in the CSC; no goals scored. Total minutes played in National League, 90 minutes.
5. Joe HUGILL - on loan from Manchester United. Yet to be named in any matchday squad.
6. Maxi OYEDELE - On loan from Manchester United. 2(+2) appearances in the league and 2 goals scored. Also made 1 start in the CSC and 1 appearance from the bench in the FA Trophy. Total minutes played in National League, 230 minutes.
7. Armando Junior QUITIRNA - on loan from Fleetwood Town. He has been named on the bench in the league twice but is yet to make an appearance. He has made one appearance from the bench in the FA Trophy.
8. Tyrese SINCLAIR - on loan from Rochdale. Has made 3(+1) appearances in the league and scored four goals. In addition he has made one start and scored one goal in the FA Trophy. Total minutes played in National League, 215 minutes.
9. Miles WELCH-HAYES - on loan from Harrogate Town. Has made six appearances in the league and two in cups, one each in the CSC and FA Trophy. Total minutes played in National League, 540 minutes.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Latics found themselves with plenty of defending to do after Devarn Green fired them into an early lead with his first goal, in his first start, since signing almost a month ago.

And they had Magnus Norman to thank for a magnificent goalkeeping display to preserve the clean sheet, which condemned the Spireites to their fifth defeat in eight winless games.

'This is probably the worst run of my managerial career, I would suggest', said Cook... 'I came back here to help the club, and I feel they're so close to being a good team, but there's something missing, and we've got to make sure that we find that something...

'We lack goals in the team at the minute, and...t we're probably at the minute going through that spell of different combinations every week. I feel that's not the way forward, I feel we need a combination that we trust and rely on'...

Cook added 'We've had 25-26 attempts at goal, we probably had six clear-cut chances and it's probably a stage where I don't feel the lads are doing anything wrong on the pitch other than the outcome, and the outcome is the most important thing...

'If we keep playing like that we're going to be fine...

'I understand the frustration (of the fans)... I don't know how many goal attempts Oldham have had but they've certainly left here with a very, very fortuitous win, let's have it right.'"

Devon Live reports that "'We are where we are,' said Gary Johnson after Torquay United were beaten by Southend United at Plainmoor on Saturday, with the crisis-club’s winning goal coming dramatically in time-added-on...

Torquay didn’t play well in the first half and went into half time 1-0 down after Callum Powell’s 27th minute goal. At the break Johnson took off defender Jacob Mensah and introduced striker Lewis Collins, moved things around a bit, and the Gulls were better but still not good enough.

However, Collins struck in the 85th minute with a quality shot from the edge of the area.

But with Torquay going for the win, Brett McGavin’s free kick in the 90th minute hit the Southend wall, and so did Aaron Jarvis’ follow-up. The visitors broke and Cavaghn Miley scored the winner after a mad rush forward and a fine strike past Mark Halstead.

For Torquay... the result left them four points away from safety, with 14 games to go...

'We have got a little league down the bottom there, of maybe eight teams,' said Johnson... 'Against the top teams that we are going to play we have got to nick a point or three as we go along... and there will be clubs that implode... and we have got to make sure it is not us'...

'In the second half we got into their penalty area and created chances without scoring the two-stroke-three goals that are required to win football matches sometimes'".

26 February 2023

"OUTSTANDING" SAYS SORVEL

"We've never took [sic] a point off them before today so I'm just delighted with the win.

"It was emphatic and, for 75 minutes, to a man we were outstanding.

"We know they're having a sticky patch but we completely overran them in midfield. That's three massive wins in a row for us now, and we're scoring plenty of goals.

"We just need to find that elusive clean sheet".

In contrast, Moors manager Neal Ardley said, "I'd like to start by apologising to the fans. It's not what people who pay good money expect.

It's really tough to take a performance as lacklustre as that. We know what they're about and we literally played into their hands".

Footnote:Neil's reference to clean sheets alludes to the fact that Altrincham have now gone 18 league games without a clean sheet and they have only recorded three clean sheets in the league all season.

The NL Paper statistics indicate that Altrincham had ten shots on target and five off target, whereas Solihull recorded one on target and four off target.

ALTRINCHAM 4-1 SOLIHULL MOORS

Right: Jordan Hulme celebrates his goal and Altrincham's fourth against Solihull.

Having lost their five top scorers who either left the club or rejoined parent clubs over the months straddling New Year, Altrincham brought in eight loanees, yet in the past eight days they have won three matches on the run against teams above them in the table and netted eleven goals!

Against a Solihull team who were at best disappointing and, at times, woeful, the score did not flatter the Robins.

Match report here

But there was to be no further scoring as Alty moved above the Moors into the top half of the table and just six points off the play-offs.

PARKINSON'S PERSPECTIVE

MOORS' VIEW

The big news ahead of this one was the departure of Ryan Barnett to Wrexham. Josh Kelly got the nod in his place, in one of four changes for Neal Ardley's side.

Left: Tyrese Sinclair enjoyed his two goals against Solihull Moors.

There were also returns for Joe Sbarra, Mark Beck and Mitchell Roberts...

The hosts who opened the scoring through Tyrese Sinclair...

Moors managed to equalise through a moment of brilliance from Roberts. With space on the left touchline, he saw Ollie Byrne off-centre in his goal and tried his luck from the best part of 35/40 yards, his strike took one bounce and cannoned off the post and into the back of the net...

On 35 minutes Sinclair had his second of the afternoon...

Linney was bundled over in the area by Callum Howe, it looked soft, but the referee pointed to the spot. He himself stepped up, and sent Boot the wrong way to give the hosts a two-goal cushion heading into the break...

Altrincham... continued on the front-foot in the second half... Elliot Osborne's corner was flicked-on by Hulme at the front post and into the top corner...

A further handful of efforts... followed in the next 20 minutes but Moors somehow managed to keep the ball out the back of the net".

ALTY OLD BOYS

League 1 : OWEN DALE played the first 85 minutes of Portsmouth's 4-0 home win over Cheltenham Town.

League 2 : JOEL SENIOR opened the scoring for Carlisle United as they romped to a four-goal half time lead at Crawley Town, going on to win 2-5.

Two former Altrincham central defenders featured at Crewe Alexandra, where Rochdale drew 1-1. TOBY MULLARKEY played the full 90 minutes for the visitors, but BILLY SASS-DAVIES (right) only came on in the 94th minute for the hosts.

At Hartlepool, visitors Walsall looked home and hosed with a 1-3 lead at the start of added time, but the home side quickly struck twice with CONNOR JENNINGS scoring the 92nd minute equaliser.

At Newport County, ALISTAIR SMITH, having been credited with the assist for Sutton United's opening goal, later scored the clincher as they won 0-2.

CHRIS MERRIE was substituted in the 67th minute at Stevenage, where his Tranmere Rovers side scored the only goal of the game six minutes later.

National League : REAGAN OGLE was substituted after 83 minutes as Scunthorpe United lost 2-0 at Boreham Wood.

DAN MOONEY was a 69th minute substitute for Southend United in their 1-2 win at Torquay United.

National North : SIMON RICHMAN scored in only the 2nd minute for Bradford PA, but visitors Chester went on to win 1-2.

Northern Premier League : JACK REDSHAW scored 10 man Hyde's equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Matlock Town.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

"The 23-year-old arrives at the Racecourse for an undisclosed fee and has signed a contract up until the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

The former Telford United man started his career at Shrewsbury Town before joining the Bucks in 2018. It was at Solihull where he made his name however...

Barnett told North Wales Live... 'When I found out about the interest it was a no-brainer'...

Barnett said: "I like to take players on, I like to think I've got pace and I work hard for the team. I like to put lots of crosses into the box for the strikers'".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Altrincham 4-1 Solihull Moors
• Barnet 4-1 Aldershot Town
• Boreham Wood 2-0 Scunthorpe United
• Chesterfield 0-1 Oldham Athletic
• Eastleigh 0-0 Bromley
• FC Halifax Town 0-1 Maidenhead United
• Maidstone United 1-1 Gateshead
• Notts County 1-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Torquay United 1-2 Southend United
• Woking 1-1 Wealdstone
• Wrexham 3-1 Dorking Wanderers
• York City 2-1 Yeovil Town

MANAGER GOES AT TENTH-PLACED DAGENHAM

Daryl joined us in January 2020 with high hopes for the future. Unfortunately, his first tenure in charge was brought to an abrupt end after just two months because of the Covid lockdown.

The 2020/21 season was played behind closed doors and under severe restrictions, with the Daggers only managing to finish 12th.

Last season the club, under McMahon, continued to improve but could tantalisingly only just finish outside a play-off spot in 8th position...

This season the Daggers have been dogged by injuries and despite some great performances have failed to shine, but still lie in 10th position...

Nevertheless, following discussions between Daryl & the Board it has been agreed that this is the right time for a change.

The Club would like to thank Daryl for his extreme professionalism throughout his period with us... Steve Gritt and Dave Jupp will take charge of the team... until a replacement is appointed".

TODAY'S MATCH: SOLIHULL MOORS

On the eve of their visit to Altrincham, Solihull Moors "confirm[ed] that defender Ethan Vaughan has joined Stourbridge on an initial 28-day loan.

The 19-year-old signed for Moors in August 2022 and has featured five times in all competitions for the club.

He was previously of Cardiff City's academy from the age of six and is comfortable as either a right or left back".

Manager Neil Ardley explained that "We've got Mitch [Roberts] and Ben Coker who are coming back from injuries. With Mitch back for selection it made the decision for us to let Ethan go and develop."

And the Derby Telegraph reports that "Solihull Moors boss Neal Ardley says Derby County striker Bart Cybulski has been a 'pleasure to work with' and believes he can develop into an effective target man.

The Moors are poised to extend Cybulski's loan deal until the end of the season after the Polish striker initially made the move to the National League club in December.

He has scored two goals in ten appearances for Ardley's side who are hoping Cybulski can propel them to a place in the play-offs... Former Notts County boss Ardley... talking to Derbyshire Live...said 'Bart has been a pleasure to work with and has, with development, a real chance to become an effective target man. He's technically done really well in training...

'As always with young players he still needs to develop his position and his effectiveness'...

Cybulski has played twice for Derby's first team this season in EFL Trophy games against Mansfield and Grimsby...

'I believe target men don't learn their trade until their mid-twenties as they're too eager to try to do stuff that isn't their main role in the team,' Ardley said.

'But what he has learned is that centre-backs are physical in the National League. He needs to look after himself and match that. But ultimately it's about delivering goals and chances for other players whether it's inside the box or build-up play'".

COOPER GOES ON LOAN

Altrincham FC announces that "Jake Cooper has joined Darlington on a month's loan...

Former Rotherham United centre-back Jake has started 11 of Altrincham's 32 National League games this season after turning a loan spell with the Robins into a permanent transfer last summer.

Right: Jake Cooper in action for Alty against Dorking Wanderers in October 2022.

Highly regarded in the Alty camp, it was felt the 22-year old defender, now fully recovered from injury and eager for time in the middle, would benefit from a stint in the fiercely-competitive environment of a National League North promotion battle.

Jake had a loan spell at Darlington in August 2021, making 11 appearances and scoring three goals in a contribution that made a lasting impression on Quakers boss Alun Armstrong".

Footnote: Jake was sidelined by a tendon injury in early November 2022.

KEEPING COUNT OF ALTY'S PLAYERS

Of the eleven who started the season against Maidstone United, only five players (James Jones, Lewis Baines, Elliot Osborne, Josh Lundstram and Jordan Hulme) also started Altrincham's most recent match.

Of those 36, thirty have started a league game this season with the other six only being named as substitutes.

Those six comprise two groups; three who have been used off the bench (Zak Goodson, Byron Harrison and Alex Samizadeh) and three who have not yet gone on the pitch in the National League, who are Ryan Forde, Amaar Hussain and Armando Quitirna

Only Josh Lundstram has started every league game for Altrincham this season and, indeed, he has completed every minute of the league season so far.

In terms of minutes on the pitch in league encounters, the midfielder is followed in descending order by three of the defensive unit in central defender James Jones, goalkeeper Ollie Byrne and left-back Eddy Jones.

THROUGH THE YEARS

ALTY OLD BOYS

In Ireland, both Chris Conn-Clarke and Barry Baggley played the full game as Waterford failed to build on sixth-minute lead, eventually being held 1-1 by visitors Wexford.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Alexander and Christoffer Reedtz completed their purchase of the Magpies back in the summer of 2019 from Alan Hardy, and have since completely transformed the club from top to bottom... Their time at Meadow Lane has seen the club remain financially stable, while also further improving the facilities surrounding the club and producing record attendance numbers for fixtures in the National League...

It is a testament to the Danish Brothers... One key factor to Notts' success has been through their recruitment... with several summer signings hitting the ground running...

A total of 11 players have walked through the Meadow Lane doors this campaign... Whether it is Macaulay Langstaff and his 32 league goals, John Bostock with his worldwide experience, or Sam Austin providing that endless energy and desire sought after by Notts' brilliant manager...

Another statement of intent was made on Thursday afternoon as they bolstered their attacking options, welcoming the talented Connor Lemonheigh-Evans on loan...

'The most important thing to understand is that this is not about backing me and giving me what I want,' explained Williams. 'This is about what they want as well and this is a very new concept... for a lot of people, but believe me, I am not having to go to people in recruitment or to the owners and ask them that I want this and I want that, far from it.

'They are so ambitious that they are telling me that we have a player that we think is perfect for what we need; they watch every minute of every game and see how the players are performing.

'They know after my morning meeting who is struggling with fatigue and other issues, they can also watch training because they have a live stream to that because we have no secrets with each other so they can watch my staff and players at work all the time which I think is amazing.

'You can look at this in a big brother way, which is wrong, or you can look at it like these people are really invested and want to see everything, they are desperate for us to win@".

From Kent Online comes news that "Caretaker boss George Elokobi has added another former Premier League player to his coaching staff at Maidstone.

Craig Fagan, who played in the top flight with Derby and Hull, is on board at the Gallagher Stadium.

He replaces ex-Watford striker Gifton Noel-Williams, who spent a couple of weeks helping Elokobi and Ryan Gordon before accepting a management job in India.

Fagan, 40, knows the National League well, having recently worked as assistant manager at Southend.

'Craig’s on board until someone tells us different,' said Elokobi... 'I’ve known Craig a long time. We were team-mates at Colchester. We won promotions, so we know what it takes as a coaching team to try and help the group out'...

The Stones are 10 points from safety and suffered a blow this week with news midfielder Sam Corne will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury".

Also from Kent Online, we read that "Maidstone United are 10 points from safety and without a National League win since November but winger Roarie Deacon says they will stay up

The Stones haven’t won a National League game since November and are 10 points from safety...

'We’re playing a very good style of football now,' said Deacon. 'The boys are confident in the dressing room, the belief is there... In the dressing room we know we can get out of it... “George is a winner. You can see that from his background and what he’s done in his career...

'We can go on a little run and win three, four, five games and if teams around us lose, you can be out of it that easily... We didn’t give up last year when people said we weren’t going to win the league and we ended up winning it comfortably. It’s the reverse now...

'We don’t want to go back into National South because we’ve conquered that league and the players we’ve got are too good for that league to a certain extent'".

NEXT: SOLIHULL MOORS

A win for Altrincham would take them above the 12th placed Moors.

The Moors last outing was a 1-1 draw at Halifax.

Solihull Moors report on the match saying that "Andrew Dallas's first half opener was cancelled out by Mani Dieseruvwe's strike from [long] range...

Neal Ardley made three changes from the line-up that started against Chesterfield in a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

Joe Sbarra, Justin Donawa and Mark Beck all dropped to the bench and were replaced by Alex Gudger, Tom Whelan and Bartosz Cybulski.

Mitchell Roberts returned to the matchday squad for the first time in two weeks after recovering from a dead leg.

Moors set up in a three-at-the-back formation and looked to control possession of the ball...

It was in the 34th minute that Moors produced the moment of quality to break the deadlock; Barnett floated a delightful ball into the area and Dallas was there to nod an effort over the top of Halifax 'keeper Sam Johnson.

Halifax came out the brighter of the two at the start of the second half... On 63 minutes, after some bright work from Harvey Gilmour to beat a couple of men, he shifted the ball to Mani Dieseruvwe who fired a right-footed effort past the outstretched Ryan Boot...

Full-time: FC Halifax 1-1 Solihull Moors".

UNITED FANS GET HALF-PRICE ENTRY AT ALTY

Oyedele comes as part of a new scheme aimed at benefitting up-and-coming Academy prospects at Old Trafford.

The 18-year old from Salford scored against Woking and Barnet successively which has earned himself a place in the starting line-up on Saturday 25 February.

National League Altrincham will take on Solihull Moors at 3pm on Saturday, and if fans bring their Manchester United shirt to the ground, they will get half price admission when buying tickets.

Manchester United season ticket holders or fans who have a ticket for the Premier League side's Sunday Wembley showdown, will also benefit from this".

ALTY WOMEN'S NEWS

Two goals from Beth Tattersall and Shelby Wolstencroft saw Alty cement their 8th position in the NWWRFL Division 1 South with a top-half position now in their sights.

Their next game is on Sunday 5th March when they travel to Hindley Juniors in the NWWRFL Division 1 South.

Also Nick Pearce has stepped down as coach/manager to go to Burnley Women of the Women's National Premier League. Colin Pickering is now the new manager."

THROUGH THE YEARS: 25 FEBRUARY

However, the most recent Altrincham game on a 25th February date was a more modest home win, a 2-0 triumph over Worcester City in the National League North in 2017.

Right: Alty celebrate the opening goal.

In that dreadful 2016-17 season, at the sixteenth attempt this season, Altrincham secured their first home league win, despite having seven first-teamers out injured. The outcome was determined by a quick-fire start as Alty went a goal up inside ten seconds and scored again as the clock ticked into the thirteenth minute.

The opener was laid on by former Worcester striker Micah Evans, whose low cross was steered home by a man who also played for Alty this season, loanee Elliott Newby. The second goal arrived from a Sam Heathcote freekick from which John Cyrus forced a defensive error and Chris Lynch volleyed home from close range.

Worcester offered little in the first half but after the break, during which they made a double substitution, they were much improved for the opening fifteen minutes or so. But, with the Alty backline playing well, the visitors could not get back into the game before the hosts improved and saw the game out fairly comfortably.

The missing seven first-teamers were Jake Moult and Gary Jones, who joined Shaun Densmore, Sean Miller, Craig Hobson, Tom Hannigan and Andy Owens on the sidelines. Former City player Micah Evans faced his former club as did Simon Richman, another former Worcester player.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tim DEASY, 2. Chris LYNCH (c), 3. Kyle BROWNHILL, 4. Sam HEATHCOTE, 5. John CYRUS 6. Laurence TAYLOR, 7. Elliott NEWBY, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. Micah EVANS, 10. James LAWRIE, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs: 12. Sam PATTERSON, 14. Damian REEVES, 15. Alan GOODALL, 16. Andy McWILLIAMS, 17. Andrew JONES

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Askey replaces Curle who was sacked following Hartlepool’s 1-0 defeat against Newport County, a result which leaves the club one point above the relegation zone in League Two.

Askey becomes Hartlepool’s third permanent manager of the season after Paul Hartley and Curle.

Askey was, surprisingly, released by York City in the National League earlier this season with the 58-year-old having also enjoyed spells at Macclesfield Town, Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale".

league leaders Notts County "have completed the signing of Stockport County’s well-known talent Connor Lemonheigh-Evans on a loan deal until the end of the season...

Head coach Luke Williams, who worked with the Welshman at Bristol City, is delighted the club have added him to the ranks. 'It’s a happy coincidence for me that a player like Connor has been suggested to me by the recruitment team so favourably,' said Williams. 'Although he spent a lot of time out on loan, I obviously got to know Connor very well at Bristol City.

'He was versatile, tough, excellent with the ball and, wherever he played, he could score. I have so many good memories of his performances in training and in games. One of the first conversations I had with him was to tell him I thought he was a League One-quality player... I’d be amazed if he doesn’t go on to do that...

'He could play anywhere in front of the back line for us, and do it well', said Williams...

Lemonheigh-Evans has made 19 appearances in League Two this season...

'We’re on a very good run so he’ll know it would be unrealistic for him to walk straight into the team, but it’s clear that he’ll have lots of opportunities to play here. We don’t have a huge squad, we play ferociously and there are a lot of big games coming up so he’s going to be on the pitch a lot...

'Because I know Connor so well, I suppose from the outside it will look like I have pushed for him to come in,' said Williams. 'But to bypass our recruitment process would be very irresponsible of me. The recruitment team believe in him as much as I do so, for me, it’s a no-brainer for the club'".

According to the informative Gloverscast site, manager "Mark Cooper has admitted Yeovil Town is 'not in a good state' as he seeks to pull them away from the National League relegation places with a six pointer at fellow strugglers York City this weekend.

The Glovers’ boss said the latest takeover saga engulfing the club could give his players 'excuses' for a run of form which sees them without a win in four matches, having lost 2-0 at Maidenhead United in the week.

It is now almost two months since club chairman Scott Priestnall announced he had signed an exclusivity agreement with an unnamed party to become a majority shareholder of the club and, since then, plans to build 250 houses around Huish Park have been revealed.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins ahead of the trip to York, the boss... said 'It was probably not my place to say, but somebody had to say it. It’s not in a good state, is it? Everybody knows that but somehow we have to galvanise a siege mentality as players and staff to get enough points'...

He insisted... 'I am not one to jump ship... I want to make sure the club stays in the league because it would be an absolute crime if this club was not at least in the National League'".

POST-BARNET

The manager's views can be heard on the Altrincham FC website.

GOALS FLOWING

Right: Josh Lundstram and Elliot Osborne are not normally found amongst the club's top scorers!

Loanee Chris Conn-Clarke (9 league goals), winger Ryan Colclough (7) striker Marcus Dinanga (5), loanee midfielder Elliot Newby (4) and defender Toby Mullarkey (3) had netted 28 goals bewteen them this season. That left Altrincham's top scorers as midfielders Josh Lunstram and Elliot Osborne with just two goals apiece.

To cover these departures and other players exiting on loan, Alty brought in eight loanees and a new signing (Regan Linney).

Of those eight loanees, two (Maxi Oyedele, Tyrese Sinclair) have already scored twice, whilst Linney has also found the back of the net on two occasions.

With Lundstram netting a third league goal recently and the recent return of Aaron Bennett, who had netted 3 league goals on his previous loan stay, the leading scorers at Altrincham in the National League are as follows:

• 3 goals: Aaron Bennett (loanee), Josh Lundstram
• 2 goals: Jordan Hulme, Elliot Osborne, Regan Linney, Maxi Oyedele (loanee), Tyrese Sinclair (loanee).

With just three goals leading the scorers chart at the moment, there are positive signs of an improvement with seven goals having been scored in the past seven days.

NEXT: SOLIHULL MOORS

On Tuesday they drew 1-1 at The Shay against FC Halifax Town who report that they "ame from behind to earn a point against midtable Solihull Moors...

Solihull went ahead in the first half through their top goalscorer Andrew Dallas who headed past Sam Johnson, but Town equalised with Mani Dieseruvwe’s 10th goal of the campaign...

The visitors went ahead on 34 minutes, a freekick on the right was cleared, the ball back in from Ryan Barnett was headed by Dallas past Johnson for the opening goal of the game and his 12th of the season...

Town equalised in the 64th minute, Dieseruvwe on the edge of the box with his back to goal, turned and fired past Ryan Boot for his 10th goal of the season... Neither side could find a winner and the points were shared...

Solihull Moors: 1 Ryan Boot, 2 James Clarke, 5 Callum Howe ©, 6 Alex Gudger, 8 Callum Maycock, 9 Andrew Dallas, 10 Jamey Osborne, 11 Ryan Barnett, 18 Tom Whelan, 19 Bartosz Cybulski 32 Jevon Mills. Subs: 7 Joe Sbarra, 15 Mitch Roberts, 14 Josh Kelly, 17 Justin Donawa, 27 Mark Beck,

ALTY OLD BOYS

"The winger, 28, signed from Altrincham in January and links-up with manager Paul Cook again who he worked with at Wigan Athletic.

The Spireites have dropped out of the title race in recent weeks and find themselves fourth after a run of seven games without a win...

He said 'If we knock the silly mistakes on the head then there is no reason why we can’t go on a great run between now and the end of the season'.

On his move to the Blues, he added 'I am delighted with the move, the club has been great with me. It is good to be back with the gaffer and Robbo, and Webby has been great to work with as well. His (Cook) demands are very high and that is something I need to push on'.

Colclough started the 1-1 draw against Wealdstone on Tuesday night...

'In the first-half we knew how they were going to play, they are a good passing team, and I think we just sat off them a little bit too much. In the second-half we pressed them a lot better, we were on the front-foot, and I think we dominated the second-half. But you have got to start the game like that'...

The goals have dried up of late for Town and Colclough, who is awaiting his first in Chesterfield colours".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The defender, 20, was on loan at the Cards, having signed in December 2022.

O'Connell featured eight times for Woking".

He was an unused sub for The Cards last Saturday at Altrincham.

According to the Echo News "Southend United chairman Ron Martin insists Saturday’s match at Torquay United will not be the last in the club’s 117 year history.

Concerned fans fear for the future of the Shrimpers ahead of next Wednesday’s court hearing due to a winding up petition issued by HMRC.

But, in a short statement emailed to Echosport after a request for comment, Martin confirmed... 'I have said previous[ly] last Saturday, next Saturday and the Saturday after, with Tuesdays in between, will not be the club’s last game(s)'.

Martin’s words came during an incredibly tough time for the Shrimpers as players remain unpaid for January and some staff have not received their salaries since November.

Blues have also been in a transfer embargo since September due to the winding up petition...

Despite the seriousness of the off-field issues, Blues are currently sixth in the National League standings".

The Nottingham Post reports that "On Shrove Tuesday, the Magpies putting on a flipping brilliant display and tossed aside the National League's toughest defence with relative ease...

Luke Williams's side showed no sign of giving up their advantage at the top of the standings...

With Williams confirming after the win that the four players missing from the win over Southend would be back soon, the Notts chief was forced into changing the way his side set up with two of his players yet to make five appearances this season in Joel Taylor, and a first league call-up with Norwich loanee, Archie Mair.

With no Aaron Nemane or Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Jodi Jones was named at right-wing back... against the dangerous Jack Bridge, whom he kept quiet for the entirety of the time he was on the pitch...

While Williams was enforced to change his squad yesterday, the Notts boss believes that rotation is key having named the same starting line-up in consecutive matches this season just four times...

To score four goals against a side that had conceded just 26 all season before kick-off just proves how good this current group of players really are...

Macaulay Langstaff continued to write his name into club folklore... taking his tally to 31 for the season as we head into March....

The past three games were earmarked as difficult fixtures during a pivotal point in the campaign, but this Notts County team has quite simply blown each of them out of the water.

While performances against Barnet and Yeovil were not truly reflective of the score-line, a good performance with the score-line to match was largely overdue, with Southend the unfortunate recipient".

From the Maidenhead Advertiser we learn that "Maidenhead United produced arguably the performance of their season so far as they dismantled a deflated looking Yeovil Town at York Road on Tuesday night...

United have been playing well of late, having picked up useful points on the road at York City and Bromley but that momentum was checked by an FA Trophy defeat on penalties to FC Halifax Town and Saturday's 1-0 loss at promotion chasers Eastleigh....

The Magpies dominated this clash from first whistle to last.

The defence was imperious as they kept another clean sheet... They took the lead towards the end of the first half from Sam Barratt's close-range finish from Charlee Adams' magnificent corner, and Reece Smith put the seal on a special night when he volleyed home brilliantly after a barnstorming run down the left from full-back Idris Odutayo. The hosts should really have won the clash more comfortably...

United took a stranglehold on Tuesday's clash from the very first minutes...

The breakthrough the hosts craved arrived in the 40th minute and Adams was the architect, firing in a wonderful curling corner that Barratt deflected in off his hip...

The points were all but cemented in the 65th minute thanks to Smith's sublime volley.... The result lifts them above Oldham Athletic to 16th, however, they remain four points above the bottom four after Gateshead also picked up a win on Tuesday evening".

BARNET 2-4 ALTRINCHAM

But the evening did not start well...

Match report here

NEXT: SOLIHULL MOORS

According to the Birmingham Mail, "If reports were to be believed then Damson Park, the home of Solihull Moors Football Club, had been close to being announced as Wasps' new ground...

But over the weekend, it was claimed the team would play at Sixways, the former home of now-defunct Worcester Warriors... Now Wasps have insisted no deal is in place... The team was thrown out of the Premiership over its financial collapse in October...

The proposed Solihull move...has not gone down well with everyone. In December, we reported Coventry Rugby chief executive Nick Johnston had labelled the idea 'mind-boggling'.... When we heard the rumour we thought "No, they surely can’t move again... But it would appear we were wrong – they’ve been London Wasps, Wycombe Wasps, Coventry Wasps and now it seems Solihull Wasps. Where does it stop?...

'They are now a franchise operating in our league in our backyard. We’ll be chasing the same commercial sponsors, the same fans and the same players in the same community'.

Known as the ARMCO Arena, the Elmdon football ground [home of Solihull Moors] has a capacity of 5,500. That makes it almost six times smaller than Wasps' former home the CBS Arena in Coventry".

ALTY OLD BOYS

League 2 : CONNOR JENNINGS was booked and later substituted as Hartlepool lost 0-1 to visitors Newport County.

BILLY SASS-DAVIES remained on the bench as Crewe Alexandra forced a 0-0 draw at Walsall.

National League : RYAN COLCLOUGH was an 82nd minute substitute as Chesterfield's current poor run continued with a 1-1 draw at home to Wealdstone.

MARCUS DINANGA scored the winner in Gateshead's 2-1 home win over Oldham Athletic.

DAN MOONEY was a 57th minute substitute as Southend United were walloped 4-0 at Notts County.

National North : A TOM PEERS brace helped Curzon Ashton to a 3-0 home victory over Peterborough Sports

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Rick Parry, the Chief Executive of the EFL has... told the BBC 'We are having a lot of discussion about three up, three down. We absolutely recognise the need to look downwards as well as up. We have to be consistent in our approach.

'We haven't put proposals to our clubs yet, but do we envisage that being part of the package we put forward? Yes, 100%.'

The change would mean that two National League sides would go up automatically, along with one through the playoffs. Three League Two sides would be relegated down to the fifth tier as a result".

York Press informs us that "York City interim manager Michael Morton has expressed his disappointment at the 3-1 defeat to Wealdstone, after a dismal trip to the capital.

An underwhelming performance saw York fall to a mediocre defeat at the hands of Wealdstone on Saturday, after goals from Corie Andrews, Tarelle Whittaker and Tarryn Allarakhia meant that Adam Crookes’s late goal was merely a consolation.

City interim boss was understandably not happy at the manner of the result, with five consecutive defeats now in the Vanarama National League... 'It’s obviously disappointing when you lose a game and then have a long trip back', admitted Morton. 'We got stuck in a traffic jam as well so I don’t think I got to bed until about half past one...

'We actually did well with the game plan. When you look at the stats back we created more chances than them, we got the ball into the box and into critical areas more than them, had more attacking chances but ultimately we made two mistakes and got punished for them'".

Eastleigh "announce the signing of Jake Scrimshaw on a short-term deal.

The striker previously played for the Spitfires on loan from Premier League side, AFC Bournemouth, in 2020. He made nine appearances during his time at the club.

Since then, he has been on loan at Walsall, Newport County, and Scunthorpe United.

His most recent club was Yeovil Town...

Scrimshaw said... 'I’ve played here before and my time was cut short due to COVID-19 so it’ll be good to be back. I want to try and help the club get into the playoffs.’"

TUESDAY LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Barnet 2-4 Altrincham
• Chesterfield 1-1 Wealdstone
• Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 Aldershot Town
• Dorking Wanderers 3-2 Torquay United
• FC Halifax Town 1-1 Solihull Moors
• Gateshead 2-1 Oldham Athletic
• Maidenhead United 2-0 Yeovil Town
• Maidstone United 1-3 Eastleigh
• Notts County 4-0 Southend United
• Woking 2-1 Bromley
• Wrexham 2-0 Scunthorpe United
• York City 1-1 Boreham Wood

BEFORE THE GAME AT BARNET

In advance of this game, Altrincham welcomed back loanee Aaron Bennett for a second loan spell from Preston North End last week. In his previous time at Moss Lane, curtailed by injury, he scored five goals in 11 appearances which means he is the club's current top scorer in all competitions this season.

Three of his goals came in the National League from 6(+4) appearances.

Last Saturday he was an unused substitute against Woking and he is shown here (right) during the warm-up for that game. He will be hoping to be employed on the pitch rather than on the bench tonight at The Hive London.

For those unable to get to Barnet tonight, the match is being covered by the National League Streaming service.

PUTTING IN THE MILES

But as the season enters its final third of fixtures, Altrincham will again be putting in the miles.

Today they face a 358 mile round trip to North London to face Barnet.

But following the home game against Solihull Moors next Saturday, Altrincham have another five successive away league games as well as an FA Trophy trip, with return journey mileage of more than 1,700 miles in just eighteen days for the six trips!

If you include the Barnet trip tonight that is seven away trips totalling 2,068 miles in 25 days.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Saturday’s clash was Gateshead’s fifth away game in a row.

And Williamson, who brought himself on at half-time, was frustrated to return home from Roots Hall empty handed...

Williamson told the club’s YouTube channel, 'We’ve done a lot of miles and I think it showed here. It was reflected from the first whistle with our decision making and quality. We were reactive... I felt we handed them the win...

'But when you count up the number of hours we’ve spent on the bus and the minutes we’re asking these boys to play with a thin squad I just think a little bit of tiredness was the overriding factor today.'”

According to the Oldham Chronicle, the "Latics moved up to 16th in the National League table after easing to a 2-0 victory against rock-bottom Maidstone.

The outcome was rarely in doubt...Mark Shelton's first Latics goal helped his side to this latest victory.

Shelton, signed from Hartlepool in January, struck in the first hal... in the 20th minute.

Maidstone, now winless in 11 league games, went close to an equaliser when George Fowler headed over, but Latics made the game safe in stoppage-time as forward Alex Reid scored on the break".

The Maidenhead Advertiser reports that "Having not yet trained with the club, striker Harry Panayiotou was an unused substitute in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Eastleigh, but manager Alan Devonshire will be hoping the new loan signing from Aldershot Town can provide some of the firepower needed...

Panayiotou signed a month's loan deal from the Shots...last week. Harrison - Harry for short is a former Leicester City trainee who made his debut for the Foxes in 2012 and is an international for St Kitts & Nevis. He's also played for Livingston in the Scottish Premiership...

It's likely he'll make his debut, either from the start or as a substitute in Tuesday's crucial clash with Yeovil Town at York Road...

While Panayiotou was putting pen to paper on a short-term deal, Adrian Clifton and Samson Esan were doing likewise on month loan deals to leave the club. Clifton has joined National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough while Esan has joined Potters Bar Town".

Southend's Echo News reports that "Plans for a smaller Southend United stadium at Fossetts Farm are being held up because the club has not supplied enough information, the council has revealed.

Last autumn, Blues chairman Ron Martin unveiled plans for a reduced-sized 16,226-seater stadium at Fossetts Farm, near Waitrose in Southend, a reduction on the proposal for a 21,000 seater stadium, which has full planning consent.

The new application for the smaller stadium came alongside a revised proposal for new homes, both of which are still to be decided by Southend Council.

In the revised proposal, a plan for a hotel was removed from the stadium plan which enabled 42 homes to be added to the scheme, making a total of 224 new homes in this phase. Other homes are also planned at Fossetts Farm.

Speculation has mounted on social media that the club’s dire financial position, which has left players unpaid is putting the new stadium plans in jeopardy.

A statement on the council’s website... said 'We don’t yet have all the information required from the applicant to determine either application... It is important to be clear that the council is not involved in the financing or construction of the stadium'... [but] We also remain supportive of the football club, which we know is so loved by so many.”

The club is also set to build 502 homes at its current site at Roots Hall".

20 February 2022

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS v WOKING

Right: The new Rocky Robin mascot outfit was on parade at the J. Davidson Stadium on Saturday.

MANAGER'S VIEW

ALTY "A WELL-RUN CLUB"

Regarding his appointment at Altrincham, he said, "When Alty knew I was leaving [Ashton United], they asked if I could do some work for them.

"I told them I needed the weekends off for the kids and family so I went in there during the week, in between my own job, and helped them do a couple of deals, Regan Linney and Tyrese Sinclair.

"And I got a chance to watch them train and see how they operate.

"It was a nice month. Such a well-run club. I have nothing but good words to say about Rob (Estvea), the sporting director, and Phil Parkinson. They've been fantastic with me.

"When this opportunity came up it was kind of them who pushed me to basically say 'you've got a lot to give'".

NEXT: BARNET

Altrincham lost the reverse fixture, which was also a midweek game, 0-2 in November.

After a run of eleven games in the league in which they won nine games and drew twice, the Bees have lost their last two games, 4-1 at Notts County and 2-1 at Torquay.

They lie fifth in the league, fourteen points ahead of Altrincham from one fewer fuxture.

ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES

In the last round match at Coventry Sphinx he said, "I don't think we did ourselves justice with our performance... It certainly helps that we've got a brilliant goalkeeper, Andrew Jones [a former Altrincham Reserves player] and some pretty fearless players".

The manager continued, "The attendances we get at home and away have really put the club on the map and the atmosphere at Brookburn Road against Ascot in the quarters will be absolutely spine-tingling".

Also at West Didsbury & Chorlton Rhain Davis netted in a 3-0 home victory ov er City of Liverpool, whilst Hayden Campbell scored for Curzon Ashton in their 2-0 win at Hereford.

Zak Goodson played seventy minutes for Boston United at Chester but the Pilgrims lost 1-0.

Amongst other "old boys" in action on Saturday were Conor Branson for Alfreton Town, who won 1-0 at home to AFC Telford United. Likewise, a 1-0 home win was experienced by Alty loanee Brad Jackson against Southport.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The left wing-back has been in fine form for the Shrimpers this season.... And Williams – whose table-topping side host Blues on Tuesday night – ... is keen to bring Bridge to Meadow Lane.

'That’s true,' Williams told the club’s YouTube channel. 'We know Jack is a very, very good player and Southend know that as well... There is interest in a lot of players but this one everyone knows about and it’s out there in the public.

'It’s no more than that at the moment and we’re trying to see if there’s anything that can be done'.

Bridge is top scorer for the Shrimpers this season having hit the back of the net eight times."

According to Devon Live, "Torquay United... Manager Gary Johnson knows one swallow doesn't make a summer but he was delighted after the game against the team that knocked the Gulls out of the FA Trophy just seven days before.

Torquay United will go to Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday night with a whiff of the safety zone in their noses. After beating Barnet 2-1 at Plainmoor on Saturday, with the goals coming from two strikers, Aaron Jarvis and Tope Fadahunsi, the Gulls are now 22nd...

It was paramount that they beat Barnet... and they did so really well, defending resolutely after the visitors got back to 2-1...

Manager Gary Johnson... said 'It's not often that managers say you are delighted with the result, delighted with the performance, and delighted to beat the team that beat us just a few days ago. I said to the lads before the game that I believe we can beat these, even though they're on their way to the top three maybe'...

Indeed, having understood that Barnet thrive[d] on lumping the ball forward the previous weekend... Torquay kept the ball on the ground for long periods and worked hard to create space and chances. There could have been more goals to be fair...

Johnson said 'I know that this group has got that. We have just got to get them believing it. We know this group are closer than we were earlier in the season, to the top teams if you like, and it was a very, very good win'".

19 Febuary 2022

AFTER THE WOKING GAME

"And to a man, we were competitive.

"A lot has been said about our record against the top ten, so it's good finally to get the result our performances have deserved".

Cards manager Darren Sarll said, "We were awful. We learned some important lessons today. I made some changes and it didn't quite work so that has to be on the manager...

"We cannot do this again. We failed to keep our energy levels up and failed to drag ourselves back into the game after we went behind... We'll learn from it".

ALTRINCHAM 3-1 WOKING

Match report here

Right: Manchester United loanee Maxi Oyedele opened his Altrincham account with his side's second goal against Woking.

ALTY OLD BOYS

LEAGUE 2: LUKE WATERFALL scored Grimsby Town's equaliser as they came from behind to win 1-2 at Northampton Town.

ALISTAIR SMITH was credited with the assist for the clincher as Sutton United defeated visitors Donacster Rovers 2-0.

NATIONAL LEAGUE: DAN MOONEY was a 78th minute substitute for troubled Southend United in their 1-0 home win over Gateshead,.

NEXT: BARNET

On Saturday The Bees lost 2-1 at lowly Torquay United. Barnet report that "The Bees were defeated 2-1 at Plainmoor. Goals from Aaron Jarvis and Tope Fadahunsi were enough to secure the three points for the hosts despite a late goal from Ryan De Havilland.

Finley Potter started his first professional game and put in a 'man of the match' performance according to manager Dean Brennan. Courtney Senior started the game on the bench but would come on later to make his debut.

Aaron Jarvis opened the scoring after just 18 minutes for The Gulls... The hosts then had two great chances to add a second...

Sam Beard was substituted before the second half began and new signing Courtney Senior came on.

It took just 2 minutes after the restart for Torquay to double their lead. The Bees lost the ball in midfield and Tope Fadahunsi was there to make it 2-0.

Walker made some excellent saves to keep the score at 2-0. Ryan De Havilland gave The Bees hope of a comeback when he scored a spectacular free-kick with 11 minutes left of play but it wasn’t enough and Barnet fell to their second defeat of the week".

Starting XI: Walker, Potter (Moyo 90’), Okimo, Gorman (Armstrong 64’), Kabamba, Kanu, Pritchard, Beard (Senior 46’), Diarra, Smith, De Havilland. Unused substitutes: Azaze, Woods".

SEQUENCES

The last time Alty faced a longer run of league matches, of which all were either at home or away, was in the 2015-16 relegation season from the National League when incredibly the Robins failed to win any of six home games in succession!

1. Tue.9.2.16 H WREXHAM 1-1
2. Sat.13.2.16 H LINCOLN CITY 3-3
3. Tue.16.2.16 H CHESTER FC 0-3
4. Sat.20.2.16 H GUISELEY 1-1
5. Sat.5.3.16 H MACCLESFIELD TOWN 0-0
6. Tue.8.3.16 H GATESHEAD 2-3

Since then, the maximum sequence of consecutive league games home or away has only been three games in succession, apart from the current run of four home games.

Following next Saturday's home match, Altrincham will have thirteen fixtures to play in the Vanarama National League, with just five of those being at home and the remaining eight being on the road.

ALTRINCHAM 3-1 WOKING

However, Altrincham's weak spot with aerial balls came to haunt them again in the 14th minute when Marcus Dackers's unchallenged header from a Hessenthaler cross found the back of the net.

But a needless foul on Lundstram on the right byline gave Altrincham a penalty. Linney, making his full debut, netted the spot-kick confidently to make it 1-1 (27 mins).

Right: Eddy Jones congratulates Regan Linney on his penalty conversion.

Midway through the second half Isaac Marriott won possession and surged forward to feed Linney. In turn, he played the ball to his left to provide substitute Oyedele with a close-range second goal for Altrincham (67 mins).

The icing on the cake was a third goal netted by Josh Lundstram (87 mins). Woking had plenty of possession late in the game but were unable to retrieve anything from the afternoon.

Match report here

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Aldershot Town 3-4 Wrexham
• Altrincham 3-1 Woking
• Boreham Wood 1-1 FC Halifax Town
• Bromley 2-0 Dorking Wanderers
• Eastleigh 1-0 Maidenhead United
• Oldham Athletic 2-0 Maidstone United
• Scunthorpe United 3-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Solihull Moors 0-0 Chesterfield
• Southend United 1-0 Gateshead
• Torquay United 2-1 Barnet
• Wealdstone 3-1 York City
• Yeovil Town 1-4 Notts County

TODAY'S MATCH: WOKING

As only five of those loan players can be named in a matchday squad, at least four will be unemployed today.

Thus far only Danny Cashman, Michael Gyasi, Maxi Oyedele (left), Tyrese Sinclair and Miles Welch-Hayes have made it onto the pitch in the National League for Altrincham, though Oyedele has yet to start a league match, having only been a used substitute so far.

Another loanee, Armando Júnior Quitirna, has been a used sub in the FA Trophy but Manchester United duo Sonny Aljofree and Joe Hugill have yet to be involved in any match squad. In addition, Aaron Bennett rejoined the club on loan in midweek.

New signing Regan Linney can be expected to make his full debut after two appearances from the bench since joining from FC United of Manchester.

ALTY'S PERCENTAGE GAME

Currently, just ten of the club's own players who have made at least one league start this season (i.e. excluding loanees from other clubs and Altrincham players loaned out to other clubs) are available for selection today assuming that injured players who have made starts are discounted (Ross Barrows, Jake Cooper).

The ten are Lewis BAINES (19 league starts), Oliver BYRNE (24), Jordan HULME (12), Eddy JONES (5, previously made 19 appearances as a loanee), James JONES (25), Egli KAJA (4), Josh LUNDSTRAM (30), Isaac MARRIOTT (13), Elliot OSBORNE (20) and Ben PRINGLE (1).

Those players collectively have made 153 starts in total as club employees, or just 46% of the maximum number of starts possible. That means that 54% of the appearances by players in starting elevens this season have either been by players who have now left the club or have been, or remain, loanees.

Josh Lundstram (right) is the only player to have started every VNL game to date and only four of the ten players listed above have started as many as two-thirds of the league fixtures.

OPPONENTS: WOKING LOOKING UP

With... the Cards 14 points clear of Bromley in eighth place, it looks increasingly likely that Darren Sarll’s impressive side will be among those in with a shot at League Two come the end of the campaign...

Becoming the first side not to lose in the league at the Racecourse Ground this season shows just how far Sarll’s dynamic team have come as they took the lead through Padraig Amond, fell behind as Wrexham struck back twice, before sealing a point thanks to a Rhys Browne penalty..

As well as having assembled arguably the best squad they’ve had in years, the Cards continue to sign players of quality too, the latest being Cambridge United’s left-sided midfielder Lewis Simper, 21... on loan until the end of the season to replace the injured Jerome Anderson...

'Lewis is a midfield player who’s played in League One this season so you’d think that is strong enough evidence to support the fact he is a good player,' Sarll told the club’s website... 'He is a left-footer, which is a bit different to the other four [we have]'...

On the Wrexham draw the [Woking] manager said 'I thought... the performance was excellent and the most pleasing thing was the temperament of the team'...

Sarll was loathe to pick out individuals... 'We do everything together and that’s the same scenario when we under-perform too'".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Closer to home in the League of Ireland Division One, Waterford won 0-3 at Wexford. Both CHRIS CONN-CLARKE and BARRY BAGGLEY (who was booked earlier) were substituted in the 68th minute, by which time the scoring was already completed".

And back in the Manchester area, Northenden Golf Club has tweeted that "The family of popular Northenden member JOHN CONNAUGHTON, who sadly passed away in November last year, have planted a tree in his memory.

John began his career at Manchester United and eventually established himself at Port Vale making 218 appearances".

THROUGH THE YEARS: 18 FEBRUARY

It was a Vanarama National League North match played on a Saturday sfternoon following Alty's disappointing CSC exit at Hyde in the preceding midweek. In that disastrous 2016-17 season, Alty started the game in bottom place and were to remain there till the end of the campaign.

Above: Above: Nicky Clee fires at goal against Harrogate Town in 2017.

Against Harrogate, Altrincham produced a much better performance but, overall, the standard of play from both sides was mediocre, with the ball in the air far too much and a lack of fluent play throughout the afternoon. In the end, Altrincham's hard work allowed them to record their first home clean sheet in the league of the season.

Neither keeper was much employed though Tim Deasy was the busier. Altrincham had deployed Clee at left-back, leaving McWilliams on the bench and they were still without the injured forwards Owens, Miller, and Hobson as well as defenders Densmore and Hannigan.

The first half saw a bad clash of heads between John Cyrus and Simon Ainge with both players resuming with bandaged heads. In addition to Ainge being unable to complete the game, Harrogate also lost keeper Crook to injury, with Elliott having to replace him from the bench.

A measure of how life has changed today was that just 782 spectators attended the match.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tim DEASY, 2. Chris LYNCH, 3. Kyle BROWNHILL,4. Jake MOULT (c), 5. John CYRUS 6. Simon RICHMAN, 7. Elliott NEWBY, 8. Gary JONES, 9. Micah EVANS, 10. James LAWRIE, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs 12.Sam PATTERSON, 14. Andy McWILLIAMS, 15. Damian REEVES, 16. Laurence TAYLOR, 17. Alan GOODALL

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

They have made several bids for the 27-year-old and their most recent offer was a significant five-figure sum.

Southend midfielder Cavaghn Miley is meanwhile attracting interest from second-place Wrexham along with Dagenham and Redbridge.

Southend’s reluctance to sell to a play-off rival would not normally be unusual. But the club have so far failed to pay their players or staff their January wages and they have an ongoing case with HMRC, with a further hearing due on March 1, over a debt of £1.4million...

As things stand, Southend would be unable to replace any players sold, due to transfer restrictions that are currently in place because of their financial issues.

A Southend club spokesman said 'We will soon be in much better financial health and we are not selling players'

Southend regard the offer for Bridge as being below his market value and say there have been no official approaches for Miley".

Bromley "announce the signing of full-back Cameron Green who joins us after leaving Hayes & Yeading. The 23-year-old, who began his career as a youngster at Reading and Watford, already has National League experience under his belt, making 14 appearances for Wrexham last season. Green netted on one occasion for the Welsh side, bagging Wrexham’s sixth goal in their 6-2 win at King’s Lynn Town back in November 2021. Last season also saw our new signing spend time on loan at St Albans City where he netted once in 15 appearances in the National League South. Green will wear number three.

Reports in the Oldham Times confirm that "Oldham Athletic have completed the signing of Devarn Green on a deal until the end of the season.

Green spent time at Burton Albion and Blackburn Rovers as a youngster and went on to have stints at Hednesford Town and Stourbridge in non-league.

His performances earned a move to Tranmere Rovers in 2017... The pacy winger then made the move to Southport, making more than 60 appearances...

Green also had a spell at Scunthorpe United...

The 26-year-old joined Telford United in March 2022 but has been out of the reckoning lately".

Elsewhere, Scunthorpe United "boss Jimmy Dean has praised the effort and endeavour shown by his players...

The Iron last took to the field two weeks ago against Barnet at Glanford Park, and have since welcomed a further four new faces through the door.

Aaron Chapman, Danny Elliott, Ben Richards-Everton and Will Smith have all the joined the club...

'Payers are coming out of their shells now we have had a bit more time to input our ideas and sit them down. The players that were already here have had a lot of change and you have to think about that...

'The ones that come in now, rather than give the squad depth, they have to improve the team.'...

Dean added 'We have got Ben in... He is coming towards the end of his contract at Yeovil and wants to make an impact'

With Owen Foster performing well between the sticks in recent weeks, former Gillingham keeper Chapman has been brought in to help provide vital competition for the teenager...

'Danny Elliot, we only had one centre forward and we had to change that...

'I am not going to please everyone, people are going to be upset no matter what I do', he said."

17 February 2023

BENNETT RETURNS - AS INSTANT TOP SCORER

Right: Aaron Bennett, pictured during his first loan spell, with Lewis Baines in the background.

Bennett netted five times in all competitions in a previous loan spell at Altrincham at the start of this season. Three of those goals were scored in the National League.

He made ten appearances in the league in his first loan spell, consisting of six starts and four appearances from the bench, comprising the equivalent in game time of little more than six matches of ninety minutes.

Remarkably, having been away from the JDS for the last seventeen league fixtures, Aaron nevertheless immediately becomes Altrincham's leading National League scorer in the present squad! Before Bennett's return this week the top scorers still employed by Altrincham were midfielders Josh Lundstram and Elliot Osborne with just two league goals apiece.

Five players have scored more than two league goals for Altrincham this season but all of those scorers have since left the club, they were Ryan Colclough, Marcus Dinanga, Toby Mullarkey and departed loanees Elliot Newby and Chris Conn-Clarke.

Aaron's original arrival, on a three-month loan from Preston North End, was announced on 1 August 2022.

He made his first Altrincham debut on 6 August 2022 and was named Man of the Match in that game against Maidstone United.

Unfortunately, a hamstring injury led to his return to Deepdale in mid-October before the scheduled end of his loan.

An attacking midfielder who can also play up front and on the left-wing, Aaron had previously come back from a serious injury to earn his contract at Deepdale.

Commenting on the second loan to Altrincham, Bennett's employers Preston North End added that "Aaron, a Wales youth international, unfortunately ended [his first] loan spell by picking up a hamstring injury which left him sidelined for a few months, but he is now back fit and keen to earn more experience between now and the end of the season".

Altrincham now have nine "loanees" namely:

1. Sonny ALJOFREE - on loan from Manchester United
2. Aaron BENNETT - on loan from Preston North End
3. Danny CASHMAN - on loan from Coventry City
4. Michael GYASI - on loan from Chesterfield
5. Joe HUGILL - on loan from Manchester United
6. Maxi OYEDELE - On loan from Manchester United
7. Armando Junior QUITIRNA - on loan from Fleetwood Town
8. Tyrese SINCLAIR - on loan from Rochdale
9. Miles WELCH-HAYES - on loan from Harrogate Town

NEXT: WOKING

After this Saturday's game, Altrincham play six of their next seven league games away from home.

The Cards have been the surprise package of the season as former Yeovil boss Darren Sarll has led his team to third position, the club almost having been relegated two seasons ago under previous management.

Games against Glenn Chapple's Woking were a feature of Altrincham's history in the 1990s, after The Cards had first reached national level in 1992. As well as lifting the FA Trophy three times in four years (1994/97) Woking finished in the top ten of the Conference in each of seven consecutive seasons.

But, by 2002, the club was in financial trouble, from which it recovered under a new owner. However, league finishes were more patchy after that and, after 17 seasons in the top flight, they were relegated to the National League South in 2009, only returning in 2012. They were relegated again in 2018 but came straight back up in 2019.

In 2020/21 they narrowly avoided the drop as they finished 20th. Their current manager, Darren Sarll, left Yeovil Town, where there were off the field difficulties, and joined the Cards in March 2022. He guided the club to a fifteenth-place finish in the final weeks of last season.

The Cards arrive at Moss Lane in good form and after a blank midweek with no fixture.

They have won five and drawn three of their last nine fixtures. Their only defeat in that sequence was by the only goal of the game at Eastleigh. Their last two away matches produced a 3-1 win at Chesterfield and a 2-2 draw at Wrexham last Saturday.

That was the first time that Wrexham had dropped any league points at the Racecourse this season.

Wrexham's Phil Parkinson told the BBC, "It was a scrappy, horrible game. I didn't enjoy watching that and I'm sure the supporters didn't enjoy watching that.

"Got to give Woking credit, the way they played. They made it difficult, were physical, athletic and we got caught up in a scrap and we didn't play... We didn't impose our system, our shape on to them and made it too easy for them to stop us playing."

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Morton was placed in charge last Wednesday after the sacking of David Webb, and secured an Isuzu FA Trophy fifth round victory over Southend United, thanks to goals from Fraser Kerr and Lenell John-Lewis.

But having grown up as a York fan and previously having a stint as manager at local club Tadcaster Albion, Morton is proud to be helping the club in its current unprecedented position...

'I think the main for me with staying around is making sure that I support the players in listening to their plans..

'We’re just trying to keep it as simple as possible. We’re working hard and making sure we’re hard to beat'...

Morton will remain in charge for the match against Wealdstone this coming Saturday...

'Ultimately it’s just about getting points on the board and sometimes it’s not going to look pretty'" he warned.

At Scunthorpe United "Defender Ben Richards-Everton is looking forward to getting on the pitch with the Iron in the battle for points, in what he describes as a relentless league.

The 31-year-old, who joins us on loan from fellow National League side Yeovil Town until the end of the season, becomes United’s ninth signing under new manager Jimmy Dean and chairman David Hilton...

'It’s difficult circumstances right now for the club and the position it’s in, but I’m here to try and help out to get us out of this position.'

Richards-Everton has played football across the English divisions in his career, with... Accrington Stanley...

The experienced defender had also appeared 62 times for Barnet in the Vanarama National League before his switch to Yeovil Town in the summer...

Ben said 'I’m 31 now so I’m an experienced defender... played with ‘Chappy’ (goalkeeper Aaron Chapman) at Accrington, we won the league there'...

Iron wing-back [ex-Alty man] Reagan Ogle was also around at Accrington... with the defender stating 'Reagan has always been a good player'...

'It’s a tough, relentless league. As we can see, it’s very, very difficult'...

Finishing off by explaining his attributes as a defender, he said 'My size, I’m tall and I’ve got aerial dominance'">

From Yeovil, Gloverscast tells us that "Will Dawes’s one-month loan spell at our Claret and Blue friends [Weymouth] over the Dorset border won’t be extended beyond its inital month.

In his pre-match press conference, the National League South struggler’s manager Bob Wilkinson confirmed, Dawes would return to Huish Park.

Neil Walton, of the Dorset Echo reported that Wilkinson said that Will had “done nothing wrong”.

Dawes has been absent from recent squads due to the Terras having too many loans, and was the sole goal scorer (and for a short time, goalkeeper) for the Glovers in the midweek defeat to Paulton Rovers in the Somerset Men’s Premier Cup.

In total, Dawes played just three times for his temporary side, without scoring".

Bromley "welcome midfielder Ryan Stirk to Hayes Lane, joining from Championship side Birmingham City on loan until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Mansfield Town where he netted twice, has represented Wales at levels up to the U21s where he went on to make seven caps.

Stirk has made three appearances in the Championship for the Blues...

The midfielder becomes Bromley’s fourth signing since the turn of the year".

ALTY v BROMLEY HIGHLIGHTS

POST-MATCH INTERVIEW WITH PHIL PARKINSON

DAGENHAM GAME GETS A NEW DATE

Consequently, the Daggers now face a long midweek trip to the J. Davidson Stadium on Tuesday 18 April 2023.

BROMLEY'S VIEW

It proved to be a strong first half for the Ravens. However, it would be the hosts who had the better of the chances in the early stages...

The Ravens opened the scoring just shy of 20 minutes in when a free-kick was floated into the box and a glancing header from Byron Webster took it past the ‘keeper and into the net.

One quickly became two shortly after when a corner was headed towards goal by Omar Sowunmi, forcing Oliver Byrne into a save before Michael Cheek fired home the rebound...

Tyrese Sinclair pulled one back for the hosts early into the second half before Regan Linney almost equalised just past the hour mark...

The hosts continued to press, but it was Bromley who held on to clinch maximum points."

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Henderson, who first took a 51 per cent stake in the club in July last year, has confirmed that the Trust were due to offer concrete funds... to buy back his shares but nothing has come to fruition.

If the Trust are unable to provide the funds by April 4, Henderson says he will be able to offer his shares to the open market.

The chairman became an unpopular figure at the LNER Community Stadium after the harsh sacking of former manager John Askey...

Henderson said 'I’m very much aware of the recent rumours around the Club, and whilst I appreciate that many fans have made their decisions about me, I feel it is appropriate to remain open about my ongoing involvement, and to ensure that fans are fully aware that I have agreed to sell my shares which I don’t believe has previously been made public...

'I have offered to continue to provide resources to ensure stability, and am not looking to profit in any way, but can confirm this has not been accepted due to the ongoing purchase negotiations, so my hands are tied until April 4'".

At Maidstone United "Christie Pattisson and Hady Ghandour have left the club by mutual consent.

Both players requested to be released from their contracts to pursue new opportunities, which club bosses agreed to.

Pattisson’s departure ends a near two and a half year stay at the Gallagher Stadium, in which he made 83 appearances...

After joining the Stones on loan from Charlton Athletic in October 2021, Ghandour made the move permanent last summer.

During two seasons he clocked up 24 appearances, a figure that surely would have been higher had it not been for a groin injury and subsequent operation...

Club chief executive Bill Williams said 'There were personal and professional reasons involved in their requests and on this occasion it was the right thing for both parties to agree to'".

The Grimsby Telegraph reports that

New Scunthorpe United striker... Gerry McDonagh says he has settled in well at Scunthorpe United and hopes his goal-scoring debut was enough to keep him in the team moving forward.

The Irish centre-forward signed for the Iron after a spell north of the border with Scottish Championship side Cove Rangers. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old’s debut goal for Scunthorpe was not enough to stop Scunthorpe from losing at home to Barnet... [in] Jimmy Dean’s first game as manager of the team...

. McDonagh is just one of a flood of players that have come into the club after the takeover was completed and the transfer embargo lifted, but he already feels as though he is settling into his role in the team, helped by finding the back of the net in his debut...

He said... 'Hopefully, I did myself justice and will get picked again... The lads are really good, I’m settling in well, there’s good facilities here and it’s all really good. I want more goals.'".

We learn from the Halifax Courier that "Town boss Chris Millington accepts The Shaymen are looking nervously over shoulders at the National League relegation zone...

Halifax lost 2-1 at Southend on Tuesday night, meaning they have only won once in their last ten games, excluding penalties.

They visit seventh-placed Boreham Wood on Saturday tea-time, live on BT Sport...

'We're far from out of the woods," Millington told the Courier... 'We looked naïve in the second-half... But the reality is, if we're not careful, then we can easily get dragged into something at the bottom end that we don't want to be involved in...

'The buck stops with me,' he said. 'The players have got to take some responsibility... We're starting to show some level of performance,' he said....

'We gave ourselves a mountain to climb with the first 10 or 12 games of the season and we can't afford to do that with the last, remaining games... There's no team in this league that we're scared of. We're masters of our own downfall on too many occasions'".

15 February 2023

JENNY HESLOP R.I.P.

Right: At the Youth Tesm Presentation Night in 2014, George (right) presented Jenny with a bouquet in recognition of her work in washing the youth team football kit. Also pictured, left, is the late Derek Wilshaw, the former Club Secretary at Altrincham.

Jenny was known to a multitude of Altrincham and other supporters, primarily from her role in providing the club's hospitality over many years.

She was the wife of the late George Heslop, the club's esteemed youth team manager, who was the licensee of the club bar for many years. And it was in that bar that most fans would have encountered Jenny who ran the operation before and after matches. Before the erection of the Community Sports Hall, the bar was located under the main stand.

Jenny also spent many years laundering the football kit of the youth teams managed by her husband!

Both before and after the death of George, Jenny had sadly not been in good health.

The club has indicated that respects will be paid to Jenny at the match on Saturday when Woking are the visitors.

ALTRINCHAM 1-2 BROMLEY

Right: Elliot Osborne was a late inclusion in Altrincham's starting eleven after Regan Linney was reportedly delayed in traffic getting to the ground, whilst Danny Cashman was curiously named Man of the Match despite being subbed after 61 minutes.

Bromley won the match with two goals inside five minutes, midway through the first half and both involved the visitors winning uncontested headers. The first arrived when referee Barlow awarded a debatable freekick against Tyrese Sinclair. Arthur's freekick from about 35 yards out was met by a free downward header from the giant defender Webster, which beat keepe Byrne (20 mins).

The second goal followed a corner on the right which Sowunmi nodded forward and the ball was ultimately swept into the net beyond the back post by Michael Cheek (24 mins).

The second half saw Altrincham get a quick goal back as Lundstram's low cross from the left was guided into the net by Rochdale loanee, Sinclair (50 mins). Altrincham went to dominate proceedings, especially after the introduction of Ben Pringle from the bench, but they created relatively few openings and a well organised Bromley defence held out to take all three points.

Match report here.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS

• Aldershot Town 1-1 Chesterfield
• Altrincham 1-2 Bromley
• Boreham Wood 1-1 Solihull Moors
• Dagenham & Redbridge 0-1 Eastleigh
• Notts County 4-1 Barnet
• Oldham Athletic 2-2 Gateshead
• Southend United 2-1 FC Halifax Town
• Wrexham 2-2 Woking

SEVEN AWAYS IN EIGHT GAMES

When Woking arrive next Saturday it will be Altrincham's fourth successive home league game. However, the next eight games after this Saturday, (seven in the league, one in the FA Trophy), include no fewer than seven away fixtures out of eight! And it includes two trips to York in little more than 72 hours.

1. Tue. 21.2.23 Away Barnet
2. Sat. 25.2.23 Home SOLIHULL MOORS
3. Tue. 28.2.23 Away Yeovil Town
4. Sat. 4.3.23 Away Wealdstone
5. Tue. 7.3.23 Away Scunthorpe United
6. Sat. 11.3.23 Away York City (FA Trophy)
7. Tue. 14.3.23 Away York City
8. Sat. 18.3.23 Away Eastleigh

ALTY'S CHIEF SCOUT MOVES ON

Following his departure from Ashton United at the start of January, Michael joined Alty to support the management team with recruitment during a busy spell. While his plan was to move into recruitment, the job at Warrington Rylands was one too good to refuse.

Director Rob Esteva said 'Mike has only be with us for a short time but he has been a great influence at the club and our recent activity in the transfer market.

'We always knew Mike would be highly sought after and his time with us could be short. This is a great opportunity for him and one he cannot turn down and we wish him all the very best at Rylands'".

Clegg replaces former Altrincham striker Jody Banim who recently resigned from the Rylands managership.

ALTY OLD BOYS

JOEL SENIOR was one of three Carlisle United players substituted at half time as Mansfield Town built up a 0-4 lead - and held on to it for the rest of the game.

CONNOR JENNINGS was a half time substitute for Hartlepool United, and was booked in their 2-0 defeat at Crewe Alexandra.

Another yellow card victim was LUKE WATERFALL as Grimsby Town went down 2-1 at Gillingham.

Stevenage led twice at Newport County, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw. CARL PIERGIANNI was credited with the assist for their second goal.

Sutton United were a goal down at home to Swindon Town until the 80th minute, but an 85th minute strike from ALISTAIR SMITH gave them a 2-1 win.

RYAN COLCLOUGH was a 76th minute substitute for Chesterfield in their 1-1 draw at Aldershot.

MARCUS DINANGA played the full game on his debut as Gateshead came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Oldham Athletic.

DAN MOONEY was a 93rd minute substitute as Southend United won 2-1 at home to FC Halifax Town.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The club was bought nearly 25 years ago by property developer Ron Martin for £4m. He bought the club from the former chairman Vic Johnson via a company called South Eastern Leisure, which was a joint venture between Martin's own development firm, Martin Dawn, and Delancey Estates...

Martin is understood to be seeking bridging funding of about £5m to cover the debt...

The club's accounts are long overdue... About £6.2m was spent on staff costs in 2019...

Glenn Speller, BBC Essex's sports editor, said 'Staff have had to accept for sometime now their end of month wages are not guaranteed to be there on time, if at all. There have been a number of missed payments, with some still awaiting payment from the end of last year. Previously, it has been the players who have had to wait for their money but, up until January this year, they had been receiving regular payments. It has led to many staff taking time away pending receiving their overdue wages.

'Youth players and coaches went on strike following non-payment, which led to games being postponed...

Central to Southend United's future is the chairman's long-standing ambition to develop Roots Hall, a project expected to yield a multi-million pound return... Plans for a 21,000-seat ground at Fossetts Farm were first submitted in 2017...

The club has faced the prospect of winding up hearings on a number of previous occasions. Money has been found and the club has survived...

Mr Speller said... 'There have been 10 winding-up petitions in just under eight years...

'It is a final hearing [on 1 March] and it would be very unusual for there to be any further extensions. I do know that the chairman is working extremely hard to get the money together'".

From the Bristol Post comes news that "Bristol Rovers cult hero Tony Craig has dropped down a division to join National League Dorking Wanderers on loan until the end of the season.

Craig has made the switch from League Two Crawley Town, who he signed for after leaving the Gas in 2020, after making the last of his 16 league appearances this season on Boxing Day.

Dorking become the eighth club of the veteran centre-back’s career with the 37-year-old still held in high regard at the Mem after a staggeringly consistent two-and-a-half years in blue and white in which he made 120 appearances.

'Tony's experience speaks for itself, with over 750 league appearances mainly in the Championship and League One; he is the most experienced player ever to join Dorking Wanderers,' manager Marc White said.

'He is a leader, a proven winner and warrior.. We are flattered to get his signature'...

Craig was a regular in the first half of the season under Kevin Betsy but the managerial churn at Broadfield... has then seen him lose his place under new head coach Scott Lindsey".

14 February 2023

TONIGHT: BROMLEY

Bromley are unbeaten in five outings but that masks the fact that they have only drawn their last four fixtures and have won only twice in their last ten fixtures in the league and FA Trophy.

Following a 4-1 win over Yeovil Town on 14 January they have drawn at home to Aldershot Town, Dagenham & Redbridge and Maidenhead United and secured a point away at Scunthorpe United.

But if the visitors are in indifferent form, so too are Altrincham who, despite two Trophy successes and a recent run of eight league matches undefeated, have lost their last three National League games, firstly away at Chesterfield and then at home to Boreham Wood and Wrexham.

Alty will be encouraged that three new loanees, Miles Welch-Hayes, Tyrese Sinclair and Armando Júnior Quitirna have all scored already since arriving at the club.

Two other new faces, loanee Michael Gyasi and striker Regan Linney were cup-tied last Saturday for the Trophy game at Bracknell Town, so they will come back into contention for a place against Bromley.

Of the recent influx of eight loanees, only Manchester United duo Joe Higill and Sonny Aljofree have yet to make an appearance.

BROMLEY, CONSISTENT OPPONENTS

In complete seasons at that level they have never secured fewer than 60 points and never more than 70 despite the league having varying numbers of participants in those seasons.

Altrincham have also been consistent against Bromley; they have yet to score a goal against Bromley at the J. Davidson Stadium yet, before this season, had scored in each away game!

• 2015-16 Home 0-0 Away 3-1
• 2020-21 Home 0-1 Away 1-3
• 2021-22 Home 0-1 Away 1-1

Bromley drew with Altrincham 0-0 earlier this season.

ALTY AWAY IN FA TROPHY

The draw for Round Six is:

• Aldershot Town v FC Halifax Town
• Gateshead v Farsley Celtic
• Maidstone United v Barnet
• York City v Altrincham

The ties take place on 11 March which means that Dagenham and Redbrisge's scheduled league game at Moss Lane has had to be postponed.

ALTY OLD BOY

"The 28 year-old has endured an unforgiving time with setbacks, notably two anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

"He could have pursued a career in business, building on his degree in economics and business management, but he was determined to continue playing.

"It was good to see him scoring on his full debut for Millwall, away to QPR, after joining from Middlesbrough, with a well-taken left-footed finish...

"Watmore was hugely popular at Middlesbrough and could prove the same at Millwall".

JOHN KING FUNERAL

His family wish it to be known that his funeral will be on Thursday March 2nd at St Oswald's Church, near The Rocket at the Liverpool end of the M62, at 10.30am, and then at Springwood Crematorium in Allerton.

There will then be drinks and food at the Devonshire Hotel on Edge Lane, and the family have told us that 'everybody will be welcome to come', adding 'plus, thank you for all the kind words being sent from all…. regards the King Family'".

TELEVISED MATCHES

• Saturday, February 18: Boreham Wood v FC Halifax Town (5.20pm)
• Saturday, February 25: Notts County v Dagenham & Redbridge (5.20pm)
• Saturday, March 4: Maidenhead United v Wrexham (5.20pm)
• Saturday, March 11: Notts County v Dorking Wanderers (5.20pm)
• Saturday, March 18: Woking v Chesterfield (12.30pm)
• Saturday, March 25: Wealdstone v Barnet (3pm)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 27-year-old was given his marching orders after receiving two yellow cards.

He will now be suspended for the trip to Aldershot Town on Tuesday night...

The full-back’s first yellow card was missed by many in the stadium but King confirmed it was because he kicked an advertising board while celebrating Armando Dobra’s equaliser...

He posted on Twitter 'Can only apologise for getting sent off yesterday! Gotta get through this tough spell and kick on all together'...

To make matters worse, had King only received the one yellow card, he would have been suspended for two games for accumulating 10 this season. But the red card overrides everything which means he remains on nine bookings and only one away from a two-match ban so another suspension in the near future seems inevitable".

According to York Press, "Interim York City assistant manager Scott Barrow was delighted with his team’s 2-0 victory over Southend United on Saturday, despite it coming in the Isuzu FA Trophy and not the Vanarama National League.

Second-half goals from Fraser Kerr and Lenell John-Lewis capped off a much-needed win for York.

Barrow has been placed in interim charge with Michael Morton, Paddy McLaughlin and Joe Stead...

Explained Barrow... 'Whether if it is the trophy or the league, you want to win games... and we haven’t been good enough as a team. .. We’ve put in 45 minute performances here and there but where was the other 45 minutes?'".

13 February 2023

ISUZU FA TROPHY DRAW

Apart from ALtrincham, the other seven teams in contention are Farsley Celtic, FC Halifax Town, York City, Maidstone United, Barnet, Aldershot Town and Gateshead.

NEXT: BROMLEY

Bromley had no game on Saturday, whilst Altrincham were playing their FA Trophy tie down at Sandhurst against Bracknell Town.

Bromley report that they were "delighted to present Kellen Fisher with the Player of the Month award for January after some consistently brilliant performances in a Bromley shirt, clinching 52% of the votes...

The Academy graduate has slotted into his regular full-back role with ease, playing the full 90 five times over the course of January, clinching the Man of the Match award twice.

Fisher has played a key role in our unbeaten home run of 2023 so far and almost netted his first senior goal for the club at home to Yeovil Town mid-way into January.

He was rewarded for his performances with a professional contract at the start of this month".

DAGENHAM MATCH POSTPONED

MANAGER INTERVIEWED

ALTY OLD BOYS

Elsewhere, Dontai Gabidon was on the losing side as FCUM lost 2-0 at the Giant Axe in the NPL.

Ryan Brooke had a happier afternoon as Runcorn Linnets beat Newcastle Town 3-1, with him scoring one of the goals.

Tom Hannigan and John Johnson were booked for Warrington Town and Matlock Town respectively in a goalless draw in Derbyshire.

Clitheroe's Sefton Gonzales netted in his side's 4-2 home win over Widnes. At Mossley, the Lilywhites' Andy Keogh and Nicky Clee were in action in a 1-1 draw against Witton Albion.

Former youth team and reserve Louis Potts struck a hat-trick for NWCFL leaders Avro against Squire's Gate.

And loanee Ryan Morton scored for Nantwich Town in a 3-3 draw at Liversedge.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Torquay were hit by an early goal... when Harry Smith scored with a back-post header in just the third minute. The Gulls hit the woodwork twice before finding an equaliser through Kieron Evans in the 56th minute... but almost immediately Smith scored again with another quality header.

After that Torquay tried hard to get a second goal back, but Barnet, who increasingly wasted time and picked up bookings because of that,were hard to break down. It was, to be honest, pretty cynical at times... but it was a tactic that worked for them, and the players and coaching staff clearly enjoyed being cast as the pantomime villains as they were booed from the pitch at the end.

Johnson said 'They are what they are, they are fourth in the league and fighting for third because of the percentages they play. Of course you can’t moan about an opposition team’s tactics when they are going so well...

'I think the stats will be in our favour, penalty area entries and all that sort of stuff, but that’s the way they do it and we have just got to forget that...

'We need to make sure that we learn from this and the lads, especially our new lads, have seen their tactics and you have to deal with them. And then we have got to rise above it if we can and get the three points next Saturday'...

Johnson said...'We had some opportunities and I felt that we didn’t quite create the easy chance.

'Barnet are a big old team and you have to spend a lot of time in your own half, but I thought we gave it a go at the end '"

12 February 2023

BRACKNELL TOWN 1-3 ALTRINCHAM

Match report here.

After the game Phil Parkinson was disappointed with the performance

ALTY MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS

• £500 cash | #545 | Anita Mottershead
• £75 cash | #197 | John Laidlar
• £25 cash | #11 | P & J Foster
• Hospitality for Two | #498 | Harold Smith
• Bottle of Alty Gin | #266 | Julie Wagstaffe
• Scarf & Team Photo | #291 | Mike Flaherty

Congratulations to all the winners!

ALTY OLD BOYS

Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE put Millwall ahead after 31 minutes at QPR. He was substituted afte r68 minutes as Millwall went on to win 1-2.

League 1 : HARRISON HOLGATE scored the winner as Fleetwood Town won 1-2 at Charlton Athetic.

HARRY PERRITT was an 85th minute substitute for Accrington Stanley as they drew 0-0 at Cheltenham Town.

OWEN DALE was substituted in the 68th minute as Portsmouth lost the "Dockyard Derby" 3-1 at Plymouth.

League 2 : JOEL SENIOR returned to Carlisle United's starting XI after missing the previous two matches, and played the full game as they drew 0-0 at AFC Wimbledon.

LUKE WATERFALL was booked in Grimsby Town's 0-1 home defeat by Colchester United.

ALISTAIR SMITH played the full game for Sutton United as they held on with 10 men for a 2-2 draw at Hartlepool United. For the hosts, CONNOR JENNINGS was substituted after 77 minutes.

TOBY MULLARKEY was another to put in a full shift as Rochdale's 1-1 home draw with Northampton Town was not enough to lift them out of the drop zone.

CARL PIERGIANNI opened the scoring for Stevenage, but visitors Bradford City went on to win 2-3.

CHRIS MERRIE was substituted after 69 minutes as Tranmere Rovers beat Salford City 1-0 at Prenton Park.

National League : JEFF KING was sent off for a second yellow card after64 minutes when Chesterfield were level 1-1 at home to Notts County. The appearance of RYAN COLCLOUGH as a 75th minute substitute came three minutes after Notts County scored the clincher in a 2-1 victory.

National North : DANNY WHITEHEAD rounded off the scoring for AFC Fylde as they cruised to a 0-3 victory at AFC Telford.

TOM PEERS scored Curzon Ashton's last two goals in their 4-3 home win over Gloucester City.

ZAK GOODSON'S penalty opened the scoring for Boston United in their 3-1 home victory over Darlington.

NEXT: BROMLEY

The sides met very early in the season for the reverse fixture with the match ending in a goalless draw.

Bromley now lie ninth after they had a blank weekend. They have five points more than Altrincham from the same number of fixtures.

ISUZU FA TROPHY SCORES

Saturday 7 February 2023

• Aldershot Town 1-0 Dorking Wanderers
• Banbury United 0-1 Gateshead
• Bracknell Town 1-3 Altrincham
• Eastleigh 0-4 Maidstone United
• Hungerford Town 2-3 Farsley Celtic
• Maidenhead United 0-0 FC Halifax Town (FC Halifax Town won 5-4 on pens)
• Southend United 0-2 York City
• Torquay United 1-2 Barnet

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 21 year-old midfielder joins the Cardinals' promotion charge, with the Club currently third in the National League table. He reunites with Manager Darren Sarll after the two worked together at Yeovil Town last season".

Woking currently lie third in the National League, having finished fifteenth last season and narrowly avoided relegation in 2020/21.

And last week Woking also announced "the signing of Will Jaaskelainen.

The goalkeeper, 24, joins having most recently been at AFC Wimbledon.

Jaaskelainen featured over 80 times for Crewe Alexandra in Leagues One and Two.

[Fellow goalkeeper] Ethan Wady has returned to Chelsea from his loan spell at the Cards".

The BBC informs us that "A Conservative MP said she was optimistic that cash-strapped Southend United would not face liquidation.

The National League club owes £1.4m in unpaid tax to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and is applying for a £5m bridging loan.

A[nother] winding-up petition from HMRC will be heard at the High Court on 1 March.

Southend West MP Anna Firth said... 'I have been working behind the scenes for months making sure that HMRC are completely aware of just how important this club is to the community here in Southend'...

Staff at Southend, including players, have been owed wages in recent months. The club has been subject to repeated winding-up hearings at the High Court in recent year... but the date in March has been marked as 'final'.

Ms Firth said she attended the last hearing 'to make sure the voice of the fans was filtered through to the barrister and the judge. I do think that has made a difference,' said Ms Firth, who called in the House of Commons on Thursday for a debate about the financing of lower league clubs".

Later, the BBC added that "chairman Ron Martin says finding the money to clear debts owed to HM Revenue & Customs by the start of next month 'will be close' but he 'will not let the club be wound-up'...

In an email to BBC Essex, Martin said 'the future for the club is bright' when they can move to a new ground...

Martin said their 'legacy debt' was made up entirely of PAYE for player wages when they were in League One and League Two... 'Combined with double relegation [in 2020 and 2021] and a large reduction of central income, this proved to be the perfect storm...

'We will not let the club be wound-up. And there are reasonable prospects in train to meet the club's cash needs in time but it will be close,' said Martin". Maidstone United confirm that "George Elokobi has signed winger Josh Shonibare.

The 24-year-old, who spent time at Derby County and was most recently at Cheshunt, has been training with the team for the past few weeks and the Stones’ caretaker boss has rewarded his efforts in training with a place in his squad.".

The Southern League reports that "Ilkeston Town have added no less than SIX new players to their squad...

Two players have arrived on loan from Scunthorpe United, 24-year-old midfielder Jordan Hallam and 21-year-old left-back Mason O’Malley. Hallam is an attacking midfielder

who signed for Scunthorpe from Championship side Sheffield United in January 2019... He has enjoyed loan spells at Southport in the National League North and Norwegian second tier team Viking FK. He also signed for Chesterfield on loan in the National League in 2018 and... appeared 5 times for the Spireites in all competitions...

During the 2020/21 season, he netted twice in 15 firs... The left-back joined following his departure from Huddersfield Town....

Season 2019/20 saw him captain and perform well for the Iron’s under-23s before his breakthrough campaign into the first team the following season, making 31 appearances and earning a call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad".

According to the York Press "York City interim assistant manager Scott Barrow was left feeling delighted at their cup victory... thanks to goals from Fraser Kerr and Lenell John-Lewis.

Barrow was left delighted, with a winning start to a new look interim lineup on the sidelines of Michael Morton, Paddy McLaughlin, Jon Stead and Barrow...

'Today I thought it was the York City I know... I thought they were superb, especially for the first 45 minutes. For the first time in a long time we were solid and super for the whole 90 minutes'".

The Derbyshire Times tells us that "Ten-man Chesterfield suffered their fourth straight defeat as they lost 2-1 at home to leaders Notts County.

Macaulay Langstaff brilliantly controlled a long ball by Sam Slocombe before slotting in on 25 minutes to put the visitors ahead.

The Spireites equalised in first-half added time when Armando Dobra finished at the far post following Jeff King’s corner.

But King was given his marching orders on 63 minutes after receiving his second yellow card and Adam Chicksen turned in Aaron Nemane’s low cross eight minutes later.

This was Chesterfield’s fourth sucessive defeat but it was a much-improved performance compared to their display against Woking in midweek...

Paul Cook made three changes from Tuesday night with Ross Fitzsimons, Mike Jones and Tim Akinola replacing Lucas Covolan, Darren Oldaker and Ryan Colclough. New signing Paul McCallum was on the bench".

BRACKNELL TOWN 1-3 ALTRINCHAM

However Altrincham did not capitalise and Bracknell responded well. Indeed the hosts almost levelled after 28 minutes when a superb shot from English came back off the underside of the bar. Later, photographic evidence indicated that the ball had crossed the line....

Match report here.

ISUZU FA TROPHY FIXTURES

Saturday 11 February 2023

• Aldershot Town 1-0 Dorking Wanderers
• Banbury United 0-1 Gateshead
• Bracknell Town 1-3 Altrincham
• Eastleigh 0-4 Maidstone United
• Hungerford Town 2-3 Farsley Celtic
• Maidenhead United 0-0 FC Halifax Town (FC Halifax Town won 5-4 on pens)
• Southend United 0-2 York City
• Torquay United 1-2 Barnet

SATURDAY LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Chesterfield 1-2 Notts County
• Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 Solihull Moors
• Woking 2-2 Boreham Wood
• Wrexham 3-1 Wealdstone

BEFORE TODAY'S MATCH: BRACKNELL TOWN

The Berkshire Robins take a rest from chasing a play-off place when they welcome Vanarama National League side Altrincham...

[The match] promises to be a tough test against a side who have won 10 of their last 12 games in all competitions.

Bracknell head into the game off the back of a 2-1 victory over Tiverton Town in the league on Tuesday night.

So far, it's been a successful campaign for the Berkshire side, who qualified for the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup for just the second time in the club's history, before losing 3-0 at home to Ipswich Town.

And all this just a season after winning promotion from the Isthmian League South Central Division as runaway champions and then being switched to the Southern League by the FA in the summer.

To reach this stage of the Trophy, Bracknell, who had to get over losing highly successful manager Bobby Wilkinson to Weymouth in September, replacing him with Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers, beat Isthmian Premier side Canvey Island 4-1 in the Third Qualifying Round, struggling league rivals North Leigh 3-2 in the First Round, National League South side Tonbridge Angels 4-2 away from home, Angels` league rivals Eastbourne Borough 2-1, also away, and then yet another National League South outfit, Bath City, 1-0 at home in round four...

As for Bracknell, they first entered the competition in 1986/87 but after three campaigns in which the furthest they achieved was a Second Qualifying Round defeat at home by Basingstoke Town, they were forced to play in the FA Vase until 2002/03".

ALTY OLD BOY

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The National League club owes £1.4m in unpaid tax to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and is applying for a £5m bridging loan.

St John Ambulance has not been paid for recent home matches... The club has said its FA Trophy match at Roots Hall on Saturday... will still go ahead.

FA Trophy rules stipulate that home teams must lay on first aid provision.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said 'The charity has worked closely with the football club to come to an agreement regarding payment but, to date, despite many attempts, that has not been possible'.

The club has been asked who will be providing the first aid cover for the match on Saturday".

The Derbyshire Times reports that "Chesterfield have signed striker Paul McCallum on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old has scored five goals in 23 league games this season... McCallum is a regular goalscorer at National League level, having scored 18 goals in 36 appearances last season and 16 in 27 the year before...

McCallum leaves the Daggers after they signed Inih Effiong from Aldershot Town.

The Spireites have been searching for a striker following the departure of Kabongo Tshimanga to Peterborough United. As well as Tshimanga, Town have not been able to call upon fellow forwards Danny Rowe and Akwasi Asante...

McCallum joined Dagenham on a three-year deal in 2020 from Solihull Moors.

Earlier, Dagenham & Redbridge told us that "David Longe-King spoke to Daggers media recently...

About Tuesday's defeat at Oldham... Kingy said 'We were gutted, the first half we did well to get the goal and defended the lead well, but in the second half we let them get on top and let in some sloppy goals...

Longe-King arrived in the Summer following his release from Grimsby Town. The defender has had a tough time with injuries since arriving in east London...

The 28-year-old said... 'I feel like I’m fit now and I'm getting a run of games, so hopefully I can help the team pick up some more clean sheets and wins'...

The Daggers are without a win in five".

Wealdstone "have completed the loan signing of Swansea City winger Tarrelle Whittaker on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 20-year old can play on both wings and has been at the Swans for the past two years having initially played in the Tottenham Hotspur Academy, where he featured in the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League.

Whittaker is born in London and is also eligible to represent Jamaica at international level".

10 February 2023

ENTERTAINING ALTY

But, behind the scenes, there was a buzz of excitement among Alty bosses at the sight of almost 5,000 fans packed into the ground, most of them roaring the Robins on and cheering at the end in recognition of their sterling efforts.

Record receipts were generated by the biggest crowd Alty have had for a league game since 1968, when they hosted a Cheshire League title decider against the now defunct Macclesfield Town... with no fewer than 3,215 home fans amongst a remarkable attendance of 4,865...

Director Rob Esteva said 'To see the town of Altrincham turn out in such numbers and get behind the team meant everything to us.

'We are constantly striving to create the best product we can on and off the pitch, and hopefully everyone at the Wrexham match will want to get along to the Bromley and Woking games [next week], because they promise to be just as entertaining.

'Phil and Neil Sorvel have a style of play that is exciting to watch. It’s a question we ask ourselves when looking to recruit a player; would we pay to watch him? We want to entertain'".

ALTY'S REBUILT WALL

Above: The Golf Road end at the J. Davidson Stadium.

The whole of the external wall has been replaced with a brand new structure, and the space between the wall and the Golf Road terrace has been cleared, including the removal of tree stumps and root systems.

Altrincham FC Co-Chair, Bill Waterson explains, 'The exterior wall had been in place for perhaps fifty years. It is quite likely that it is the original wall from the building of the Golf Road stand in the mid-sixties...

Fellow Co-Chair, Lawrence Looney, worked with the Premier League Stadium Fund to identify and apply for relevant grant funding, which was achieved for this project. The project cost was around £25,000, of which grant money covered roughly 50%.

Stadium Director, Mark Luby, identified a contractor to complete the works over five days at the end of January 2023. Mark has taken on the stadium-focused role following the recent departure of Chris Hamlett from our Board of Directors.

With this work complete, we are now able to reopen... the turnstiles at the bottom of the Golf Road end.,,

We are looking at a programme of further improvements for 2023 and beyond, recognising that we need to improve the ground and the facilities across the board'".

NEXT: BRACKNELL TOWN

The BBC reported this week that Bracknell Town "has submitted a new plan to transform its former stadium into housing.

Bracknell Town FC had already been given approval to build 117 flats at the Larges Lane site last year.

But its latest proposal includes 64 flats and 24 houses, something the club said it hoped would be 'more sympathetic' to its neighbours.

The club wants to use the proceeds of the ground's sale to fund courses at its academy for young footballers.

Club owner SB Group had faced difficulty getting its initial plan approved, reducing the number of proposed flats before it was given the go-ahead by Bracknell Forest Council... Chairman Kayne Steinborn-Busse said... 'We worked closely with the immediate neighbours to refine the previous scheme to ensure their thoughts and feelings could be considered and implemented in this new scheme'".

Bracknell Town, nicknamed the Robins and currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division South, left the ground in 2021 after 88 years".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Town won the game 1-0 thanks to Mani Dieseruvwe’s rebound goal when his penalty was saved, while former Halifax striker Mike Fondop was sent-off in the match.

Watson provoked the ire of the home fans several times during the match, as well as Unsworth, who was booked, although Halifax boss Chris Millington praised Watson’s performance afterwards, telling the Courier, "I thought the referee did very well'...

It was the first time Watson had officiated at National League level, having been promoted by Rochdale Referees’ Association just last month, and The Latics feel he should not have taken charge of an important match in-front of 7,00 fans.

'There was a lot of stuff going on. There was a loss of control within the game' Unsworth told the Oldham Times...

'It is a big game and there was all sorts going on. There were fouls, time wasting, decisions for them and for us, the fourth official was everywhere but nowhere, getting involved, not getting involved. It felt like a bizarre 95 minutes in that respect'.

Unsworth did not dispute the red card shown to Fondop early in the second half, but questioned the penalty awarded to Halifax and other incidents".

Footnote

Mr Watson has reffed Altrincham a few times with his actions both helping and hindering Alty in equal measure which sigguests he did his job! He seems to specialise in cup ties at the J. Davidson Stadium...

One such match was an Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round replay which Alty won 1-0 against Chester FC in September 2019, when the visitors though they had taken the lead but, as we wrote at the time, the "intervention of the linesman persuaded referee Watson to overturn the award of a goal".

Alty won the match 1-0 "despite Mr Watson somehow allowing the game to extend into its 98th minute" as "Altrincham deservedly earned a tie at Halesowen Town in the next round".

Later that year he versaw another match at Moss LAne but this time Alty lost 1-2 at home to Farsley Celtic in a Buildbase FA Trophy First Round replay match.

"There was drama in the final stages when Elliot Wynne inexplicably picked up the ball having already gathered it into his hands before rolling it along the ground (115 mins). The freekick from the six-yard line had to be retaken when Wynne encroached and Alty then put the ball in the net before the referee had signalled for a retake. When the freekick was retaken, Farsley blocked the Alty shot".

Mr Watson had also overseen an earlier knockout match at Altrincham when the Robins beat BPA 4-2 in October 2018.

Despite repeatedly not paying backroom staff and failing to pay their debts all season, a manager of the week award has gone to the Shrimpers' manager whose resources would have been diminished had they been living within their means. Alty supporters know this only too well, having lost star man Dan Mooney to a tempting wage offer from the over-reaching Essex club this season.

Nevertheless, Southend United report that manager "Kevin Maher says a 'team effort” earned him the title of Vanarama Manager of the Week.

The Blues' Head Coach was given the social media award following the wins over York City and Maidenhead United this week, and spoke to the press ahead of the Minstermen’s second visit in as many weeks, this time in the Isuzu FA Trophy.

He said 'The players deserve all the credit really'...

Looking back at the last-gasp victory over the Magpies, Maher re-emphasised the point that his team deserved all three points after coming back strongly from conceding early. “The games are coming thick and fast, so it’s important to keep picking up points...

Harry Cardwell got the winner, making it five goals in five games for the forward, and Maher was full of praise for the 26-year-old...

Maher was also asked whether he may be able to bring a couple of players back from injury, or rotate to a degree, particularly with this [FA Trophy] competition allowing seven substitutes.

He said... 'Whatever team plays is expected to perform and get a result'".

Inside Futbol reports that "Stevenage boss Steve Evans feels it would be 'horrific' if Scunthorpe United are relegated out of the National League...

Stevenage have just strengthened Scunthorpe though by allowing experienced goalkeeper Aaron Chapman to make the move to Glanford Park...

'I knew as soon as I mentioned it to Aaron, the chance to get a longer contract, probably 18 months, be at home every day, every night, 30 minutes from his door, it made sense for us to allow that to happen', Evans told Stevenage’s in-house media.

'He’ll hopefully play a massive part in keeping Scunthorpe United in the National League, because the thought of them being down below that is horrific'".

NEXT: BRACKNELL TOWN

They have got this far by winning the following ties, the last three of which have been against higher-league opponents from National League South

• 3Q: Canvey Island 1-4 Bracknell Town
• 1: Bracknell Town 3-2 North Leigh
• 2: Tonbridge Angels 2-4 Bracknell Town
• 3: Eastbourne Borough 1-2 Bracknell Town
• 4: Bracknell Town 1-0 Bath City

Bath City reported on that last round tie.

"A stoppage time opportunist’s strike from Bracknell’s Jack Dean sent Bath City tumbling out of the FA Trophy.

The Southern Premier South side benefitted when Dan Greenslade made a hash of attempting to clear Ashley Lodge’s mishit corner and Dean curled home from 10 yards to spark scenes of delirium.

The tie looked destined for penalties as defences excelled throughout on a heavy surface in Sandhurst... as the lower leaguers knocked a National League South side out of the competition for a third round in succession to progress to the last 16, a record-breaking run for Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers’ side.

Bracknell were without three cup tied players in their fifth trophy match of the campaign but gave City issues...

The game opened up in the closing stages with neither seeming keen to settle for penalties... Bracknell pressed City back keeping the defence busy with Jack Batten in outstanding form, though he was powerless to prevent a winner to deflate the visitors... For the 20th time in their history, City’s FA Trophy journey ended to a lower division side".

JOHN KING R.I.P.

ALTY OLD BOYS

RYAN COLCLOUGH (left) was withdrawn after 67 minutes as Chesterfield crashed 1-3 to visitors Woking.

Behind after 2 minutes at Alfreton, a TOM PEERS goal pulled Curzon Ashton level, and they went on to win 1-2.

DYLAN MOTTLEY-HENRY struck twice as South Shields won their home game against Liversedge 5-2.

TOM HANNIGAN scored for the second successive game as Warrington Town beat Lancaster City 2-0 at home.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Webb, who only took over in December, has put the price for a poor run of form with the Minstermen having lost their last four league matches.

A club statement read 'York City FC can confirm that first-team manager David Webb has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect... The club has commenced its search for a new manager'...

Matters came to a head in Tuesday's 3-2 home reverse to Solihull Moors which saw the Ministermen drop to 18th in the table and fans make their feelings known towards Webb and majority owner Glen Henderson, with chants for the pair to leave the club.

Speaking after the game, Webb said 'I understand their frustrations because... We were just disappointed we couldn’t get a win tonight because we felt coming into the first half we could do it'".

The BBC adds that Webb, "the former Huddersfield Town head of football operations was appointed as John Askey's successor on 2 December...

Webb was in his first role in management having previously held positions at Southampton, Bournemouth and Tottenham...

BBC Radio York sports reporter Sharon Shortle [added] 'Illness meant he didn't sit in the York City dug out until Boxing Day, when they lost 3-0 at home to struggling Gateshead.

Since then, City have picked up just four points, and they've lost their past four games in the National League and fallen to just four points above the relegation zone. His reign as manager is the shortest in the club's 101-year history'".

And new from another troubled club comes in the Derbyshire Times which tells us that "Captain Jamie Grimes apologised to the Spireites fans after a ‘dreadful’ performance against Woking.

Chesterfield conceded twice after eight minutes and were three behind at half-time. Liam Mandeville pulled a goal back after the break but it was too little too late.

'We were dreadfully poor tonight and I just did not see it coming to be honest,' Grimes told BBC Radio Sheffield. 'It was just dreadful and I will apologise to all of the fans and we have got to try and put it right on Saturday. It was two errors, one from me and one from Ash (Palmer) and, all of a sudden, you are two-nil down and chasing a game.

'We have got to do our jobs better, I think we were caught in two minds about whether to play or not to play. We have just got to be confident and go and play. Sometimes when you lose a couple of games you start to get a bit negative and you start overthinking a pass'...

The defeat was Chesterfield’s third in a row, the second time that has happened this season".

A club that is a little happier is Oldham Athletic from where the Oldham Chronicle reports that "Latics eased themselves three points clear of the National League drop zone as they saw off Dagenham & Redbridge 4-2 at Boundary Park...

David Unsworth's side made it three wins in the last five games as they bounced back from conceding an 84th-minute equaliser to score twice through Nuttall and Chapman.

Junior Morias had given the visitors the lead on the half-hour when he tucked a shot inside the post, but Nathan Sheron and defender Josef Yarney's second goal in four games turned things around early in the second half.

Latics should have been further ahead, but Nuttall's 64th-minute penalty was saved by goalkeeper Elliot Justham and that allowed Matt Robinson to level things up with six minutes remaining.

However, a second penalty of the night saw Nuttall rectify his earlier mistake and Chapman ensured there was no further late drama with a goal five minutes into added time to extend the Daggers' run to just one win in six.

Boss Unsworth said... 'When the confidence is there we're a good team'".

We learn from the Echo News that "Sputhend United have confirmed banners will not be allowed into Roots Hall...

A Shrimpers spokesman has confirmed the decision has been made due to safety concerns after what happened against Chesterfield last season when supporters worked their way onto the pitch.

He said 'We recognise supporters’ right to peacefully protest, however, supporter and staff safety is of paramount importance to us... Last season, we allowed banners into the stadium and, it resulted in safety issues and substantial disorder.

'Supporters left their seats, climbed over the wall on to the perimeter of the pitch... and on another occasion supporters entered the pitch using the banner as a barrier to push our staff out of the way, assaulting our staff in the process...

'We are not going to do anything to compromise supporter and staff safety. No banners will be permitted in the stadium'.

But the Southend Fan Update group... said 'If the club staff are happy to gleefully carry out the orders of a man who refuses to pay them their hard earned fair wage, we certainly won’t be going out of our way to change that.

'The staff need to choose a side. We would love that to be us supporters who are trying to gain them fair treatment.'".

8 February 2023

JOHN KING R.I.P.

Right: John King (left), with Graham Barrow at the Graham Heathcote testimonial match, 2001. Picture by Terry Rowley.

John passed away this morning, 7th February 2023".

John, who was 73 (or 74) years of age, first played for Altrincham in late 1977 under manager Tony Sanders. Amongst his claims to fame at Moss Lane were his captaincy of the side which won the Alliance (nowadays the National League) twice, and his subsequent management of the club.

He also scored in the FA Trophy final in 1978, as well as battling memorably with Tottenham Hotspur and Ossie Ardiles in the FA Cup, a competition in which he led Altrincham, to four successive appearances in Round Three.

His playing career was ended in 1982 by an injury in the FA Trophy Final. After a spell managing South Liverpool, he returned to Moss Lane in 1984 following which he oversaw the memorable FA Cup win away at top-flight Birmingham City in 1986.

Having just won the FA Trophy for a second time in 1986, he left for two years to manage at Runcorn before returning to Alty in 1988. He moved on again in 1991, to Barrow and Bury, but returned once more in 1994 to help the club as it flirted with a first ever relegation, which eventually came in 1997.

As a player John made 214(+1) appearances for Altrincham and scored 28 goals.

For a further appreciation of John, see Terry Rowley's Alty Legends profile.

GOULD GOES ON LOAN AGAIN

Altrincham's experienced New Zealand international keeper has already had loan spells at Nantwich Town and Ashton United in recent times, and he was happy to answer the call from Chorley to help them out and also get valuable minutes of match action under his belt" reports Altrincham FC.

Footnote: Matt becomes the eleventh player who has been named in an Altrincham squad this season to be out on loan currently.

As indicated above this is not the goalkeeper's first loan away from Altrincham. On 24 September 2021, it was announced that Matt was going to Nantwich Town, on dual registration, to regain match fitness. Owing to injury to Tony Thompson, Matt was recalled from Nantwich on 13 October 2021, having made five appearances in which just three goals were conceded.

But Matt then returned to Nantwich Town and, whilst there in January 2022, he was called up to the New Zealand international squad for matches in the Middle East. It was also announced, in early February, that Matt would remain on loan at Nantwich till the end of the season but on his return in May 2022, it was announced that he would be remaining at Alty for 2022-23.

Having started the 2022-23 season in goal for the first-team, as Ollie Byrne was sidelined by registration issues, Matty suffered a bad facial injury in the second fixture, at Bromley. Having not played any National League after that, it was announced on Boxing Day 2022 that he would go on loan for a month to Ashton United but by 10 January he had been recalled.

So, this season he has made two starts in the National League and two in cup competitions. Altrincham will presumably be taking alternative goalkeeping cover to Bracknell on Saturday.

ALTY OLD BOYS

TUESDAY RESULTS

• Chesterfield 1-3 Woking
• FC Halifax Town 1-3 Barnet
• Maidenhead United 1-2 Southend United
• Oldham Athletic 4-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
• York City 2-3 Solihull Moors

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Smith made his first team debut for Alan Devonshire's Magpies back on March 9, 2021... and, after a couple of seasons on the periphery of the first team, he has really forced his way into Alan Devonshire's plans with some scintillating displays. As one of Maidenhead's most saleable assets, tying him down to a longer-term deal also makes good financial sense for the club...

Smith is a product of Maidenhead's and BCA's Academy system... He played for the youth team which made history by reaching the third round of the FA Youth Cup two seasons in a row before signing his first contract with the club back in October 2020.

After making his debut he's gone on to make 80 senior appearances across all competitions and has found the net on four occasions, including a strike in the recent 3-2 defeat at Altrincham."

From the Echo News we learn that "Southend United star Jack Bridge scored twice in Saturday’s 2-0 win against York City to take his season’s tally to seven...

'With everything around the club at the moment it was good for us as a group and a club to get three points on Saturday and some positivity around the place too,' said Bridge.

Bridge is currently enjoying his best ever goalscoring season having already hit the back of the net seven times.... Before this year [he] had never scored more than three goals in the same campaign...

'I'm really happy with the return I've got at the moment because I wanted to get my numbers up this season with goals especially and assists,' said Bridge... 'But I want to keep it going.'"

FA TROPHY PROGRESS OVERDUE

The two sides had never met before, despite each having more than 100 years of history apiece. Grays, a full-time side from Essex, arrived at Moss Lane 12 points clear in Nationwide South with a game in hand whilst Alty were on a run which had totalled fifteen games without defeat in Nationwide North and cup matches.

The game went ahead despite plenty of rain at the back end of the week but the pitch, though soft and sanded, played well. Grays brought with them a sizeable contingent of good natured supporters and no segregation was applied.

Alty were without left-back Chris Adams, who has a recurring groin problem, so Gary Scott switched to that position. Richard Norris started in left midfield but otherwise the Altrincham side was unchanged. Despite signing for Woodley Sports recently, Richard Acton was on the Alty bench as sub-goalkeeper. Grays were without the suspended Brennan and Stuart but included Cole and Thurgood, who had both been in the England squad in the recent non-league international against Holland, though illness had prevented Cole from playing in that game.

Above: Colin Little (farthest away Alty player) scores Alty's second, from the spot. The ball is in the net near the right post).

After a nervous start, Alty were just getting into their stride when Grays went ahead through the unmarked Hooper's close range effort from a cross from the left by the impressive teenager, Mitchell Cole (17 mins).

Grays went 2-0 up when captain Stuart Thurgood's under-hit effort somehow beat Coburn after Oli's cross was nodded down to the Grays' captain by Battersby (33 mins).

Alty had not done themselves justice in the first half but then dominated most of the second half and Alty Man of the Match Rod Thornley pulled one back on the hour when he twisted well to score from Scott's cross from the left.

But, from virtually their first chance of the second half, Grays again finished clinically when Martin scored after a slick move (72 mins). Alty then made it 3-2 from the spot, through Colin Little, after a handball by Nutter (79 mins).

However, another sharp movement, yet again on the left, saw Griffiths's shot make it 4-2 (84 mins). Alty had given Grays a fight but it would be difficult to argue with the outcome

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks) 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Steve ASPINALL, 3. Gary SCOTT, 4. Mark MADDOX, 5. Gary TALBOT, 6. Eddie HUSSIN (capt), 7. Colin POTTS, 8. Val OWEN, 9. Colin LITTLE, 10. Rod THORNLEY, 11. Richard NORRIS. Subs: 12. Kirk HILTON, 13. Richard ACTON (gk), 14. Marcus HALLOWS, 15. Kieran LUGSDEN, 16. George MELLING.

Since they last lifted the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1986, Altrincham have only got as far as the quarter-finals (last eight), or beyond, on four occasions, the last time being nearly twenty years ago in 1995.

GRAHAME'S HONOUR

Right: Grahame Rowley and goalkeeper Stuart Coburn are seen here with Sir Alex Ferguson when the former Manchester United manager formally opened the Community Sports Hall in 2015.

Now, Altrincham FC's Joe Ward quotes the former chairman of Altrincham FC from 2010-20 as saying that "This award isn't just for me, it's for all the people that have helped me throughout my involvement with Altrincham and the community. You are a part of this because, without all the people around me, I wouldn't be able to do the work that I do'.

Born less than a mile away from the ground, Grahame has been involved at Alty, in one way or another, for his entire adult life.

In 1998, Grahame became an editor for the club's programme. Just three years later, he joined the board for a short while before leaving and re-joining in 2002.

Throughout the two decades that followed, Grahame moved from vice-chairman to chairman of Altrincham and, in the early years of his directorship, helped steer the club through one of the most financially troublesome periods in their history...

'When I joined the board, we were all very busy at the time running full-time business' outside of the club, but you just make more hours in the day for what you love; it gets in your blood. Towards the end, I was working six days a week at the club and I think that killed me off. I felt we needed a change, but I loved every minute of it, and I still do today'...

Of all the unstinting contributions Grahame has made to the club over the years, the one he is most likely to be remembered for is the creation of the Community Sports Hall at The J.Davidson Stadium. Opened in December 2014, the venue has become a cornerstone of the community".

ALTY "ADD PEOPLE"

Looking ahead, Add People will sponsor Altrincham FC 'for the foreseeable future' in an effort to enhance opportunities to support the local community and contribute to the club’s footballing ambitions on the pitch.

Add People chief marketing officer, Peter Marshall, said... 'Altrincham FC are a pillar in our community and the work they have done, particularly through the opening of their Community Sports Hall, has had a hugely positive impact on local residents. We’re excited to collaborate on future community projects, as well as support their on-field efforts of being promoted to the English Football League.'

Sam Mackenzie, director of partnerships at Altrincham FC, added... 'Their extensive experience in digital marketing will be a huge asset to the club and we look forward to working with them on future projects'".

Footnote: Add People state that "We’re Add People – a group of down-to-earth digital marketing experts specialising in budget-friendly campaigns that help small to medium-sized businesses grow.

Since we started out in 2002, we’ve grown considerably ourselves. Today our 221-strong team help drive traffic online to thousands of businesses, all over the world.

We’ve got partnerships with all the biggest names, from Google and Facebook to Microsoft and American Express, so we know exactly how to help you connect with customers online and grow your business".

ALTY OLD BOY

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Cawley made his first Stones appearance since the start of October in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Yeovil.

With Joe Ellul leaving for Sittingbourne, the former Bromley man saw his hard work rewarded with a start in United’s back three. He’d spent a couple of months on loan at Braintree...

Said Elokobi, 'Since we’ve come in as a management team, Jack has been exceptional in terms of his attitude and his character. He’s a leader and he’s giving absolutely 150% in training every day.... He does extras after training and as a management team you can only respect that and acknowledge what the player is trying to do...

'We have to make sure everyone is 150% every single day when we go out to work but I must commemorate [sic] Jack. He’s passionate and he’s a leader and it’s fantastic to see him get the minutes he’s got.'

Cawley was taken off immediately after Yeovil’s 67th-minute equaliser and took his frustration out on the perimeter fencing...

'We knew as a management team he probably wasn’t going to last the 90 minutes after so long out,' said Elokobi... 'Frustration, yes, it’s good to see that, as long as it’s not frustration with me because we’ll have it behind the scenes, me and him!...

'It was good to see Hady Ghandour get some minutes, too... As long as we’re in charge, we’ll give everyone a fair crack, based on their performances in training'".

They signed six players last week but the influx of players at Scunthorpe United continues with "the arrival of forward Danny Elliott as the club's latest signing, for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old arrives at the Iron from Boreham Wood after a prolific loan spell at fellow National League side Gateshead earlier this season where he scored six goals in nine appearances in all competitions...

Elliott signed for National League North side Chester in 2019, spending two years at the Deva Stadium scoring 11 goals in 44 appearances... Hartlepool United acquired his services for the 2020-21 season, with one goal netted in eight appearances at Victoria Park before he made the switch to Boston United...

It was Boreham Wood who won the race to sign Elliott ahead of the current campaign, with the six-foot striker making 17 appearances (four of which were starts) during his time there, scoring three goals. It was during that time he would go out on loan to Gateshead, where he netted five goals in seven league games".

And Scunthorpe United have also signed experienced goalkeeper Aaron Chapman who "is looking forward to contesting for the starting jersey, with his aim to get back playing during his time with the Iron.

The 32-year-old signed for Steve Evans for a third time in the summer, this time joining Stevenage, but hasn’t been able to force his way into the team over the course of the campaign so far...

'It’s not been ideal, my time at Stevenage, but hopefully I can come here, play games and get us higher up the league' [he said] 'There’s been a lot (of positivity) with the takeover and the new manager, and I’m just happy to be part of the project'...

The eighth signing of the new era, Chapman brings confidence and positivity, and feels the side can do what it takes to get out of the drop zone".

6 February 2023

NEXT: THE ROBINS DERBY

Whilst Alty will arrive looking to end a run of three successive league defeats, their hosts won 3-2 last Saturday at Hanwell Town to lift themselves to fourth in the table.

Bracknell Town these days play away from their home town in nearby Sandhurst.

Originally founded as Bracknell Wanderers, the club dates back to 1896.

By 2002 they were in Division One of the Southern League but were relegated in 2011 to the Hellenic League Premier and relegated again the next season to its First Division. However, by 2018 they had won a place in the South Central Division of the Isthmian League, and last season (2021/22) they won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division South.

They came to national prominence this season when they faced Ipswich Town in Round One of the FA Cup, a tie they lost 0-3.

MILES WELCH-HAYES INTERVIEWED

ALTY v WREXHAM HIGHLIGHTS

ALTY DEBUTS

An indicator of that is that just five Altrincham players remain on the club's payroll who were also employees of the club at the end of last season.

The five are Matt Gould, Isaac Marriott (right), Elliot Osborne, Brad Jackson and Matty Kosylo. Jackson is currently away on loan at Buxton, whilst Kosylo has been out injured all this season.

Of the five, only Osborne and Marriott have made more than five league starts this season.

Last Saturday, three players, Tyrese Sinclair, Danny Cashman and substitute Regan Linney, made their Altrincham debuts and so joined the list of players making their league bows for the club this season...

The list of league debutants this season comprises "first-time" debutants and those making their "second debuts" for the club this season. This latter group are people who had played for the club prior to 2022/23 season but had not been employees of the club at the end of last season (2021/22).

1. Lewis Baines
2. Ross Barrows
3. Aaron Bennett (loanee)
4. Liam Brockbank
5. Oliver Byrne
6. Danny Cashman (loanee)
7. Chris Conn-Clarke (second debut, loanee)
8. Jake Cooper (loanee for first debut, employee for second debut)
9. Zak Goodson
10. Michael Gyasi (loanee) - pictured right
11. Byron Harrison (second debut)
12. Jordan Hulme (third debut; first as employee in 2017, second as loanee in January 2022, third as employee
13. Connor Jennings (loanee)
14. Eddy Jones (second debut as loanee, now an employee)
15. James Jones
16. Egli Kaja
17. Regan Linney
18. Josh Lundstram (loanee for first debut 2020, employee for second debut)
19. Dan Malone (loanee)
20. Dermot Mee (loanee)
21. Elliot Newby (second debut, loanee)
22. Maxi Oyedele (loanee)
23. Ben Pringle
24. Alex Samizadeh
25. Tyrese Sinclair
26. Miles Welch-Hayes (loanee)

ALTY OLD BOYS

Although his side lost 3-1 at league leaders AFC Fylde, Hayden Campbell netted for Curzon Ashton.

After Jody Banim's resignation, the caretaker managers at Warrington Rylands are Dean Furman and Sam Egerton.

The prolific James Berry scored again for Macclesfield FC as they won at Bootle for whom Josh Ollerenshaw was in goal.

When, as reported yesterday, Joe Piggott scored from the spot as Radcliffe drew with Marine, the penalty was won by Jude Oyibo.

On his debut Osebi Abadaki scored for Guiseley as they won 4-2 at Marske United.

At Nantwich Town, loanee Ryan Morton hit the post for the Dabbers as they beat Atherton Collieries 2-1. And Sefton Gonzales netted the goal for Clitheroe in a 1-1 draw against Ryan Shotton's Hanley Town.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

However, when Reuben Rodrigues picked up a second yellow card in the 65th minute, Johnson thought the opportunity was there to take the game by the scruff of the neck...

'It was tough and we were in it for an hour,' said Johnson... 'We needed to compete with them, and we absolutely did that.

'Then they get a penalty just after half time and score, and we get a bit of luck when they get somebody sent off, and it was the last 20 minutes I was disappointed with...

'We had to do a lot more. More people had to affect the game and that’s what we didn’t do. We are still a youngish team and we have got to teach them'...

Johnson named the same team that started the 1-1 draw at Woking, but made an early change with Tope Fadanunsi making way for new loan striker Lewis Collins after County had opened the scoring through Macaulay Langstaff in the 34th minute...

It was Collins, on loan from Newport County, who made a brilliant run down the right to set up Tom Lapslie’s volleyed goal...

Rodrigues walked after inexplicably trying to pull the ball back into play with a hand as it went out for a goal kick. After consulting with an assistant, the referee Paul Johhnson showed him a second yellow card...

'I am not going to lose faith in the team'... said Johnson."

The Derbyshire Times reports that "Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard admitted that they ‘rode their luck’ in their 1-0 win against Chesterfield.

Substitute Josh Rees scored the winner just after the hour and the hosts had goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore to thank for several excellent saves...

Garrard said his goalkeeper’s performance was of the highest level. He said... 'I said to him afterwards that if that is on a World Cup stage or a Champions League stage everybody is talking about it over and over again'...

Chesterfield played as well as they have done away from home for some time as they dominated large periods of the game but they could not find a way past Ashmore.

Garrard added... 'They are a good team, coached unbelievably, managed superbly, got great key personnel and they caused us huge problems. They locked you in unbelievably. We rode our luck.'”

new "boss Jimmy Dean spoke following our 3-1 defeat against Barnet...

Despite there being 5,000 home fans in attendance, a brace from Dale Gorman and a further strike from David Moyo handed the Bees victory. Gerry McDonagh netted the Iron’s only goal on his debut.

The 40-year-old Dean reflected... 'I thought the players showed they are up for a fight and I thought they showed spirit...

'We made mistakes and we have to do better as one has come straight from a free-kick... The second... we had a chance to clear our lines and we didnt.

'The third, Fozzy [Owen Foster] will know that he has to save it... Offensively, we had six or seven half chances'...

After signing for the Iron just days prior to tonight’s clash, our new no.9 McDonagh found the net in the second half...

'I thought he was outstanding,' he said... 'I am asking us to be intense... but it goes back to the cliche that in both boxes they were better than us'".

Out of form Solihull Moors "were defeated 2-0 by Gateshead on Saturday afternoon.

Moors came into the contest in good spirits but were undone by a first half Dan Ward goal just before half-time and a late Will Harris strike.

The result means the hosts slip into the bottom half of the National League standings.

Joe Sbarra replaced goalscorer Callum Maycock, as he made his first start since December 3...

It was the visitors who eventually took the lead in the 39th minute through Ward...

Around the hour mark Moors began to really turn the screw... However, in six minutes of added time Gateshead added the killer blow; a shift counter-attack ended up with Harris who rolled home into the bottom left corner".

From York City we learn that "A 2-0 defeat away to... Southend United saw York City’s run of defeats extend to three games...

David Webb named four changes to the side that slipped to a narrow defeat against Maidenhead last time out, with Ethan Ross, Max Kouogun, Alex Whittle, and Alex Hurst coming into the starting line-up...

The game started to have an end-to-end feel but with neither side really testing the other’s ‘keeper...

Bridge on the left wing... broke into the box and was brought down by Pybus... and it was Bridge who stepped up and finished coolly down the middle from 12 yards...

City’s frustration was compounded when Bridge broke down the left wing before cutting onto his right foot and releasing a curling effort which caught Ross out as it dropped inside the far post... The Minstermen failed to find a way back into the game".

5 February 2022

"NEW SHAPE WORKED WELL" SAYS SORVEL

"It was a great strike [by Miles Welch-Hayes, pictured right] to equalise but they've got form for late wins.

"That's three defeats in a row but I thought our new lads did well and our new shape, with two makeshift number tens, worked well too".

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson added, "First half, we were off it and didn't do the basics right but, second half, we were loads better".

ALTRINCHAM 1-2 WREXHAM

Alty rarely threatened until Harrogate loanee right-back, Welch-Hayes, scored with a fine low shot from the edge of the box (81 mins).

But Wrexham responded with a second goal soon afterwards, following a corner. Byrne beat out a Dalby effort but it fell for O'Connell to rifle home from close range (85 mins).

Match report here

INS AND OUTS

But things really took off in January...

Dates shown are those of announcements rather than dates of registrations.

1. 17/11/22 IN Eden Bailey signed, formerly at Port Vale
2. 17/11/22 OUT Eden Bailey to Hanley Town
3. 21/12/22 OUT Elliot Newby recalled from loan from Stockport County
4. 26/12/22 OUT Matt Gould loaned to Ashton United
5. 31/12/22 OUT Dan Malone loan from Stoke City completed
6. 10/01/23 IN Matt Gould loan to Ashton United curtailed
7. 10/01/23 OUT Brad Jackson loaned to Buxton
8. 12/01/23 OUT Ryan Colclough transferred to Chesterfield
9. 16/01/23 IN Michael Gyasi loaned from Chesterfield
10. 17/01/23 IN Maxi Oyedele loaned from Manchester United
11. 21/01/23 OUT Connor Jennings recalled from loan from Stockport County
12. 21/01/23 OUT Zak Goodson loaned to Boston United
13. 23/01/23 IN Miles Welch-Hayes loaned from Harrogate Town
14. 28/01/23 OUT Chris Conn-Clarke loan from Fleetwood Town completed
15. 31/01/23 OUT Toby Mullarkey transferred to Rochdale
16. 31/01/23 IN Armando Junior Quitirna loaned from Fleetwood Town
17. 31/01/23 IN Danny Cashman loaned from Coventry City
18. 01/02/23 IN Joe Hugill loaned from Manchester United
19. 01/02/23 IN Sonny Aljofree loaned from Manchester United
20. 02/02/23 IN Tyrese Sinclair loaned from Rochdale
21. 03/02/23 IN Regan Linney signed from FC United of Manchester
22. 04/02/23 OUT Marcus Dinanga transferred to Gateshead

Spare a thought for club secretary Paul Carter who has had to register or de-register all these players! In addition a number of reserves have gone out or come back from loans.

WELSH PERSPECTIVE

There was an early chance when Palmer tried to force the ball home after Ben Tozer's throw-in was flicked on...

Altrincham responded with Jordan Hulme's header finding the roof of the net from Miles Welch-Hayes' cross, and the home side had an even better opportunity in the 17th minute.

Hulme got in between two defenders after racing onto a flick-on and his lob over Mark Howard struck the crossbar.

Wrexham were off the pace and losing possession too easily with Altrincham having the upper hand...

Altrincham had been the better side and ... had a good chance at the start of the second half but Tyrese Sinclair fired narrowly wide from a good position after being picked out by Cashman.

But Wrexham started to impose themselves on the game...

It had been all Wrexham since the interval and the Reds took the lead after 61 minutes...

However, Altrincham scored an 80th minute equaliser. Welch-Hayes was given space and the right-back's found the net with a low drive from just outside the area.

But Wrexham were back in the lead five minutes from time."

ALTY OLD BOYS

Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE made his Millwall debut at the start of the second half, as his old team, Sunderland, forced a 1-1 draw at the New Den.

Scottish Premiership : JOSH GINNELLY picked up two simultaneous yellow card to get himself dismissed in the 96th minute. It wasn't too late for Hearts to score again without him, as they won 3-1 against visitors Dundee United.

League 1 : HARRY PERRITT came on as a 43rd minute substitute for Accrington Stanley in their home fixture against Lincoln City. Unfortunately he was sent off in the 56th minute as his side crashed 0-3.

League 2 : CONNOR JENNINGS played the whole game as Hartlepool United won 0-1 at Doncaster to lift themselves out of the relegation spots.

TOBY MULLARKEY also put in a full shift for his new club, but couldn't prevent Rochdale losing 2-1 at Salford City, leaving them in bottom place.

CHRIS MERRIE was substituted in the 59th minute as Tranmere Rovers lost 3-2 to Stockport County at Edgeley Park.

ALISTAIR SMITH featured for Sutton United, and CARL PIERGIANNI for visitors Stevenage. The match ended goalless.

National League: In Chesterfield's 1-0 defeat at Boreham Wood, RYAN COLCLOUGH was substituted after 82 minutes, while JEFF KING came on as a substitute in the 87th minute.

MARCUS DINANGA made his Gateshead debut as a 42nd minute substitute in their 0-2 win at Solihull Moors.

National North : MONTEL GIBSON put AFC Telford ahead at Darlington, but, already down to ten men at the time, they eventually lost 3-1.

KENNEDY DIGIE scored Gloucester City's second goal as they walloped visitors Bradford PA 5-1.

NPL : JOHN JOHNSTON was the scorer in Matlock Town's 1-0 home win over FC United of Manchester.

JOE PIGGOTT equalised from the penalty spot as Radcliffe were held 1-1 at home by Marine.

And finally, TOM HANNIGAN scored the clincher in Warrington Town's 2-0 home win against Stafford.

NEXT: BRACKNELL TOWN

This Saturday, Bracknell won 3-2 at Hanwell Town

Before this Saturday's match the Bracknell lay seventh in the Southern League Premier, with games in hand.

In the league the record before Saturday was P21-W11-D6-L4-F51-A31-PTS39

And the website listed the club's leading scorers as ESPRIT (16), GRANT (12), SANDERS (8), PLATT (8), ABISOGUN (8), KNIGHT (6), ENGLISH (5), BOWERMAN (4), FERDINAND (4), BAYLISS (4), RICHARDS (3), HARRIS (3), DEAN (2), COOK (2), LODGE (1), HERBERT (1), CHESHIRE (1), HOLLIS (1), OG (1)

The Bracknell squad comprises

• 01 MICHAEL EACOTT, Goalkeeper
• 02 JACK DEAN, Defender
• 03 ETHAN BURDEN, Defender
• 04 ANTHONY CHESHIRE, Defender
• 05 DANIEL BAYLISS, Defender
• 07 MAX HERBERT, Midfielder
• 08 ASHLEY LODGE, Midfielder
• 09 JORDAN ESPRIT, Forward
• 10 MICKEL PLATT, Forward
• 11 BEN HARRIS, Forward
• 12 SIMON GRANT, Goalkeeper
• 14 JACK PENTON, Midfielder
• 15 ELLIOT LEGG, Defender
• 16 DARRYL SANDERS, Midfielder
• 17 GARY ABISOGUN, Forward
• 18 JOSE SANI, Forward
• 20 ADAM RICHARDS, Defender
• 21 GUY HOLLIS, Defender
• 22 LIAM TACK, Midfielder
• 23 KAMARON ENGLISH, Midfielder
• 24 JOE GRANT, Forward
• 25 GEORGE KNIGHT, Midfielder
• 26 SEAN FRASER, Defender
• 27 KJ OSU.

NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS

• Scunthorpe United 1-3 Barnet

Saturday, 4 February 2023

• Aldershot Town 2-0 Dorking Wanderers
• Altrincham 1-2 Wrexham
• Boreham Wood 1-0 Chesterfield
• Bromley 1-1 Maidenhead United
• Eastleigh 1-0 Woking
• Oldham Athletic 0-1 FC Halifax Town
• Solihull Moors 0-2 Gateshead
• Southend United 2-0 York City
• Torquay United 1-2 Notts County
• Wealdstone 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Yeovil Town 2-2 Maidstone United

DINANGA JOINS GATESHEAD

In view of the new signings made in attacking positions over the past week, it was felt that accepting Gateshead's offer would be in the best interests of Marcus and the club".

Gateshead assistant manager Ian Watson said "He's a proven goalscorer, he's caused us real problems when we've played against him".

MARCUS DINANGA

His signing by Altrincham was announced on 11 June 2021, on a two-year contract, after he had most recently been on loan at Chesterfield, from Stevenage.

His early career was with Burton Albion, from where he went on loan to Mickleover Sports. 2016–17 season saw him playing for Matlock Town on loan, followed by a loan at AFC Telford United from the start of the 2017-18 season and he concluded that season as the Bucks' top scorer.

He started 2018-19 with what was intended to be a season-long loan at Hartlepool United but, in December 2018, he left and signed for Telford, netting 14 times, before moving on to Stevenage in August 2020 where he made six appearances, scoring once.

At Alty it started well as Marcus scored on his league debut at Torquay but, after just three goals from eighteen appearances, on Christmas Eve 2021 it was announced that he was going on a month's loan to Kidderminster Harriers.

On 1 February he moved on another month's loan, this time to Dartford, where he actually remained till the end of the Kent club's season before making a start for Alty in their final fixture of the season in May 2022.

At Dartford he was a prolific goalscorer in National League South but, back at Altrincham, after failing to score until October in 2022-23 season, he then netted a single goal in six successive matches in all competitions.

However, his scoring run dried up and his subsequent appearances were often from the bench. He leaves Alty having made 18(+9) appearances this season and having scored seven times in all competitions.

In the National League he made 14(+9) appearances this season, scoring five times.

His departure leaves midfielders Josh Lundstram and Elliot Osborne as joint top scorers in the National League for Alty with just two goals apiece! Former loanee Aaron Bennett did net three during his loan from Preston NE but he is not longer at the club.

JUNIOR QUITIRNA INTERVIEWED

Born in Guine-Bissau, he came to Britain at the age of eight and progressed initially via Charlton Athletic. A left-footed winger he scored 14 goals with ten assists for Waterford in their last season which runs from February to November, so he arrives at Altrincham fully fit.

At Waterford he played with centre-half Kyle Ferguson who, of course, had some time at Altrincham last season.

WHO WILL START FOR ALTY?

Their opponents, second-placed Wrexham arrive top of the form guide in the Vanarama National League with a run behind them of fifteen games undefeated in the league. For their part, Altrincham had gone eight league games unbeaten before recent defeats by Chesterfield and Boreham Wood.

The bookies' odds will be greatly in favour of the visitors as, in eleven National League games so far this season against teams in the top nine, Altrincham have yet to win once and have taken just four points out of the 33 available.

And as they go into this fixture against the second-placed Welshmen, who have 29 points more than Alty from one fewer game, supporters can be forgiven for likening the match to those pre-season games in which many of their own team's players are unfamiliar new signings or trialists.

Indeed, Alty currently have nine players on their books who have only arrived in the past three weeks, eight of them loanees. And, between them all, the nine can boast just three league starts for Altrincham.

When Altrincham announced that eight of its stalwarts were leaving at the end of last season, as the club converted to a full-time model, five new players started the opening game of the season who had not been the club's employees at the end of the preceding season. Yet, in mid-season, that degree of upheaval could well be exceded today at the J. Davidson Stadium.

That is because, as well as the nine new players arriving at the club, over two months or so straddling Christmas there have also been five departures of established players and loanees, comprising all five of the club's leading scorers this season (Newby, Colclough, Conn-Clarke, Mullarkey and Dinanga). In addition, several other Altrincham players have gone out on loan, including Brad Jackson and Zak Goodson.

Above: Newby (4 goals), Colclough (7 goals), Conn-Clarke (9 goals) and Mullarkey (3 goals) had scored 23 of Altrincham's 40 league goals this season before leaving the club recently.

All those arrivals and departures mean that it has never been more difficult to predict Altrincham's starting eleven ahead of a league game. Eight of the nine new arrivals are loanees but no more than five loanees can be named in the squad but it would be a surprise if four or five are not in today's squad.

Otherwise, unless any of the trio of injured (Kosylo, Cooper and Barrows) have suddenly recovered, the only Altrincham employees available for selection would seem to be:

1. Lewis BAINES (defender) 17 appearances in the National League
2. Jordan HULME (forward) 10(+5), 1 goal
3. Edward JONES (defender) 22
4. James JONES (defender) 23(+1)
5. Egli KAJA (winger) 4(+8), 1 goal
6. Josh LUNDSTRAM (midfielder) 28, 2 goals
7. Isaac MARRIOTT (midfielder) 11
8. Elliot OSBORNE (midfielder) 18(+5), 2 goals
9. Ben PRINGLE (midfielder) 1(+16)

And two goalkeepers...

1. Oliver BYRNE (gk) 22 NL appearances
2. Matthew GOULD (gk) 2

In contrast to the uncertain selection situation at Altrincham, Wrexham have an embarrassment of riches to which they added in midweek with the capture of experienced EFL centre-back Eoghan O’Connell from Charlton Athletic of League One. However, they do have some injury concerns, as detailed below..,

CASHMAN INTERVIEW

ALTY OLD BOY

Ex-Robins' loanee Reagan Ogle sufffered the familiar losing feeling as The Iron fell to a 1-3 defeat, which left them next to bottom of the National League, six points from safety and having played at least two games more than the next eight clubs above them in the table.

TODAY'S OPPONENTS: WREXHAM

Whilst Altrincham will be an unknown quantity given the involvement of at least some of their nine new signings (eight of whom are loanees), the visitors's line up will be more predictable but, nevertheless, affected by injuries as the Daily Post confirms.

The Dragons' version of "Phil Parkinson has spoken of his delight at securing the services of centre back Eoghan O'Connell but also revealed that injuries to fellow defenders Aaron Hayden and Jordan Tunnicliffe could keep them out 'longer term'...

Defensive duo Hayden and Tunnicliffe picked up injuries during the Dragons' 3-3 FA Cup draw against Sheffield United at the Racecourse last Sunday. Parkinson has now said that those knocks could keep the pair out for several weeks rather than days..

'The key part is when you get injuries you've got to deal with the situation. I'm very pleased with how we've responded with an excellent signing'".

Meanwhile, Wrexham announce that "The Soccer Tournament, the $1 million, winner-take-all, 7v7 world championship, today announced the acceptance of Wrexham AFC in their 32-team field. Wrexham, who is coming to the United States for the first time in Club history to compete in TST, will be a part of the inaugural 32-team event in Cary, NC from June 1-4, 2023.

Wrexham becomes the ninth publicly announced team in TST’s 32-team field, joining former U.S. Men’s National Team star Clint Dempsey’s Team Dempsey, popular British football and esports club Hashtag United [from Essex], historic Liga MX side Club Necaxa, and US Women, a group of former United States Women’s National Team players organized by Heather O’Reilly, among others.

Wrexham’s TST team will feature club legends, including personalities seen in 'Welcome to Wrexham'...

'We look forward to debuting in the US with a legends team and the ambition of winning the tournament,' said Shaun Harvey, Advisor to the Board at Wrexham AFC. 'Should we be successful, $500,000 of the prize money will be used to enhance the Club’s work in the local community'...

Featuring an unprecedented, million dollar, winner-take-all prize, TST has become the defining world championship for 7v7 soccer, attracting the most competitive soccer players in the world to an annual, highly intense format that follows the World Cup structure, pinning 32 teams against each other in group play before moving into the knockout stages. All but one slot in the tournament is filled. The final slot will be auctioned off in March".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Francombe was released from his Crawley Town contract by mutual consent on deadline day.

The 31-year-old spent six seasons at Wimbledon, making 221 appearances in all competitions, scoring 13 goals, and picking up 29 assists...

Wanderers' boss Marc White said 'For the club, this is typical of the type of signing we would always look to attract post-promotion; we look to add players to the existing group who are better than the league we are in.

'Having been promoted in tantamount[?] in June last year, we had really limited ability to do so. The signing of George signifies the re-building we are renowned for.

‘George has played over 400 football league games... He is a leader, has captained a number of the sides he has played for... The long-term deal we have given him really does staple [?state] our intentions for the next era of our project.'”

From the BBC we learn that "Southend United manager Kevin Maher is adamant that the club are not looking to sell players, despite their ongoing financial difficulties.

Last month, the club was given more time to pay a debt to HM Revenue and Customs that was described as 'large'.

'I'm not surprised people are looking at our players,' said Maher. 'But they're our players, they're staying... Take the [financial] situation away, the assets we've got around the place tells you that the footballing side is adding good value, good players,' he told BBC Essex Sport.

Chief Executive Tom Lawrence has described their ageing stadium, Roots Hall, as 'a money pit' and has estimated the club's funding gap at around £2m per season...

There have recent been reports of late payments to staff and rumours of a possible "phoenix club" being organised by Shrimpers' fans to restart the club if it is wound up...

'We've got a chance of achieving something brilliant this season,' said Maher...,

Southend play at home to York City on the next two Saturdays, first in the National League and then in the FA Trophy fifth round in a week's time".

Aldershot Town "announce the signing of Morgan Roberts on a loan deal until the end of the season from Swindon Town!

Roberts moved to the League Two side at the start of this season having impressed at Banbury in their Southern League Premier Division Central title-winning campaign last season and kicked off this campaign in the same form.

The 22 year-old started his career at Northampton Town where he made appearances in League One and League Two.

Roberts is an attack-minded midfielder capable of playing on the wings and with an eye for goal, scored 25 goals in 63 appearances for Banbury".

3 February 2023

NUMBER NINE IS NINTH ARRIVAL

The number nine has made 133 appearances for FCUM and netted 61 goals. He now steps up two levels to join Altrincham, who have lost firepower recently with the departures of Ryan Colclough and loanees Elliot Newby and Connor Jennings.

Whereas the previous eight arrivals at the JDS were all loanees, this is a permanent signing as Altrincham FC states.

Press officer John Edwards confirms the signing of "free-scoring striker Regan Linney from FC United of Manchester for an undisclosed fee...

Alty bosses have been monitoring the 25-year old centre-forward's unstoppable form on a regular basis and are delighted to have secured the signature of a player who has been consistently lethal in his four seasons at Broadhurst Park...

[He] has never been more prolific than in the current campaign, hitting the target 25 times in 33 games."

ALTY PLAYERS THIN ON THE GROUND

As of Thursday night, there were just ten of Altrincham's own (signed) outfield players likely to be available to play on Saturday (i.e. excluding injured players, loanees, reserves/academy players and club employees away on loan). The ten players in question have a total of just 148 starts and 11 goals between them.

Right: Josh Lundstram is this season's most experienced player at Alty in terms of National League appearances.

The ten are listed below, with their National League appearances and league goals totals (only) this season for Altrincham...

1. Lewis BAINES (defender) 17 appearances in the National League
2. Marcus DINANGA (forward) 14(+9), 5 goals
3. Jordan HULME (forward) 10(+5), 1 goal
4. Edward JONES (defender) 22
5. James JONES (defender) 23(+1)
6. Egli KAJA (winger) 4(+8), 1 goal
7. Josh LUNDSTRAM (midfielder) 28, 2 goals
8. Isaac MARRIOTT (midfielder) 11
9. Elliot OSBORNE (midfielder) 18(+5), 2 goals
10. Ben PRINGLE (midfielder) 1(+16)

In addition, there are two goalkeepers...

1. Oliver BYRNE (gk) 22 appearances
2. Matthew GOULD (gk) 2

The following Altrincham players remained injured as of last Tuesday...

1. Ross BARROWS (defender) 13 appearances
2. Jake COOPER (defender) 11 (+2), 1 goal
3. Matty KOSYLO (winger) 0

Other than the above, there are no other signed players at the club who have started a league game this season. However, there are more than half a dozen reserves/academy players who have reportedly signed first-team forms and nine of them have been in cup squads this season, with two reserves having been named in National League matchday squads.

In addition, as of 2 February, there are a further eight players who are loanees at the club but these have, collectively, just three starts and one more appearance from the bench in the National League. All eight have arrived at the club inside the last three weeks. They are...

1. Sonny ALJOFREE (defender, on loan from Manchester United) 0 appearances
2. Danny CASHMAN (forward, on loan from Coventry City) 0 appearances
3. Michael GYASI (winger, on loan from Chesterfield) 1 start of 73 minutes duration
4. Joe HUGILL (forward, on loan from Manchester United) 0 appearances
5. Maxi OYEDELE (midfielder, on loan from Manchester United) 0(+1) appearance, of 17 minutes' duration
6. Armando Junior QUITIRNA (forward, on loan from Fleetwood Town) 0 appearances
7. Tyrese SINCLAIR (winger, on loan from Rochdale) 0 appearances
8. Miles WELCH-HAYES (defender on loan from Harrogate Town) 2 appearances, of 180 minutes' duration

15 LOANEES SO FAR THIS SEASON

The seven are listed below with their National League statistics (only) alongside.

1. Aaron BENNETT (loanee from Preston North End) 6(+4), 3 goals
2. Chris CONN-CLARKE (loanee from Fleetwood Town, now on loan at Waterford) 27(+1), 9 goals
3. Connor JENNINGS (loanee from Stockport County, now at Hartlepool United) 8(+1), 1 goal
4. Eddy JONES (loanee from Stoke City who later signed for Altrincham) 22
5. Dan MALONE (loanee from Stoke City) 4(+2)
6. Dermot MEE (loanee from Manchester United) 4
7. Elliot NEWBY (loanee from Stockport County, now at Barrow) 8, 4 goals

Although eight loanees are currently at the club, they cannot all appear together in the National League according to the Rules of the National League 2022/23 which state...

"Rule 6.4.8:

A Club may name up to a maximum of five (5) players on a Team Sheet who are either Short Term Loan, Long Term, Youth Loan or Work Experience. Any Club in breach of this Rule which results in more than 5 of such players entering the field of play during the course of any one fixture will be deemed to have played an ineligible player(s) and will be dealt with in accordance with Rule 6.9."

Rule 6.9 includes a maximum punishment of a twelve-point deduction for breaching the above Rule.

ALTY OLD BOY

NEXT OPPONENTS: WREXHAM

On Saturday, Altrincham welcome Wrexham for a 5.20pm kick-off in a televised National League match.

The Evening Leader reports that in the words of Mark Griffiths, "When we signed him last season, I thought we’d pulled off quite a coup. After all, this was a player whose statistics stacked up brilliantly well in League One [for Burton Albion], both in terms of attacking and defensive data...

Injuries disrupted his bedding-in period at the club, and he suffered from a lack of continuity which extended deep into this season... He looked good in pre-season, but picked up a minor knock which robbed him of the last part of his summer preparation...

When he did get his opportunity, though, he took it with both hands. His recent form has been outstanding... His passing was a delight... He was put under intense pressure in midfield, with the situation meaning that we’d be left wide open if he lost the ball, but responded by keeping his cool...

Since arriving at The Racecourse, Parkinson’s signings have been very precise responses to the needs of his squad... He’s got a terrifically high success rate for us in the transfer market...

We return to Altrincham looking to make amends for our FA Trophy exit there on penalties last month.

However, it should be said that we fielded a completely changed side for that match, and it still took a deflected last minute strike to deny us.

We’ve enjoyed some impressive wins at Alty in recent seasons: last season Aaron Hayden and Bryce Hosannah scored in a 2-0 win, and the previous campaign, Kwame Thomas’s double secured a 2-1 win in a game played at FC United’s ground as the Moss Lane pitch was proving problematic".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Iron started their spree by bringing in young Nottingham Forest midfielder Billy Fewster on loan until the end of the season, followed up by Peterborough Sports winger Dion Sembie-Ferris who is entering back into professional football.

Barnet frontman Sean Shields was the next to arrive at Glanford Park, with towering striker Gerry McDonagh the fourth player announced after he joined from senior Scottish side Cove Rangers.

Forest Green Rovers midfielder Harvey Bunker was then bought in on loan to bolster up new manager Jimmy Dean's ranks...

Scunthorpe then announced a sixth player later on Thursday afternoon when young Hull City full-back Jake Leake was confirmed on a three-month loan deal until the end of the season.

The signings are seen as the first wave of new investment following the club's takeover by Sir David Hilton White last month... [and] following two relegations over the past four seasons".

However, The Iron's activity has upset a league rival as the Echo News reports that Southend United "boss Kevin Maher has been angered by Scunthorpe United’s public pursuit of Rhys Murphy.

The Iron’s owner David Hilton took to social media to reveal Blues would not let the forward leave. And Maher feels transfer talks should not be made so open.

'The way they’ve been handling it has been poor,' said the Shrimpers' head coach. 'I understand that things do get out but to go on Twitter and post it like that it seems like they’re trying to unsettle our player. It’s especially disappointing coming from a club who have had their own problems so recently, like ourselves.'

Murphy... has been with Blues since the summer of 2021...

'They made a derisory offer,' said Maher".

Eastleigh "announce the loan signing of striker, Kairo Mitchell, from Notts County.*

The 25-year-old has joined the Spitfires on a loan until the rest of the season after being at Notts County since August 2021.

Mitchell started his career after coming through the academy at Leicester City but began making a name for himself at Coalville Town where he scored 21 goals in 57 appearances.

The Grenadian international joined King’s Lynn Town in October 2020, going on to score seven goals in 20 games for the Norfolk side.

Six months later, he moved to Chesterfield where he scored once in eight games. Just over four months after his spell with the Derbyshire side, he signed for Notts County where he has scored three goals in 39 games...

'This season has been frustrating in terms of minutes and playing so I’m looking forward to trying to hit the ground running'" the player said.

From Boreham Wood we learn of "the permanent signing of David Agbontohoma from Sheffield Wednesday having previously been on loan at Meadow Park from the Owls.

David, 21-years-old, arrived from Hillsborough at the turn of the year amidst an injury plagued backline...

Agbontohoma has made an immediate impression... for his athleticism and no-nonsense defensive style. His contributions have seen Wood begin the new year unbeaten (in 90 minutes at least) whilst keeping back-to-back clean sheets in victories over Altrincham and Aldershot Town in the past week...

Manager Luke Garrard said... 'Having David on a longer term deal will provide us with the depth we need in our defensive unit... He has not only shown great maturity for a young player, but he has been a very dominant and powerful centre half, who loves to defend.

'We know there’s room for improvement but that excites me. He’s a great lad and has totally brought into our environment and work ethic.'"

The York Press claims that "York City manager David Webb has admitted he will show no sympathy towards Southend United on Saturday...

Southend are a club in even more turmoil than York however, with the club rumoured to be potentially going out of business in a matter of weeks with a HMRC winding up petition, unpaid staff wages and plans of a phoenix club already in the works...

'Hopefully we can use what is going on around Southend at the moment to our advantage', Webb said. 'Anything we can use to our advantage going into games we will and we have to start the game strong.

'If their crowd are at a stage where they are frustrated with things and with stuff going on off of the field, we can add to that fuel on the fire by having a strong start and getting ahead. [It will] get the opponent’s heads down, and get the crowd a little bit hostile towards them...

'They are a threat from set pieces and they are a threat from other areas of the pitch as well... We will use anything we can... I don’t really know Kevin [Maher] that much...

'We’ve studied how Southend are going to play for the past week so we’re well aware of the threats that they are going to pose'...

It was a disappointing two defeats for York last week...

'It’s two frustrating games I think... a win away at Southend would be amazing'...

Webb also addressed the supporters... 'Try and be patient with everything that’s going on around the club. It’s going to resolve itself pretty soon, it needs to'".

2 February 2023

SINCLAIR BECOMES EIGHTH LOANEE IN A FORTNIGHT (OR SO)

The latest arrival has been revealed by Altrincham FC press and media officer, John Edwards, who tells us that the club has announced the arrival of "exciting winger Tyrese Sinclair on [a season-long] loan.

The 21-year old can operate in any of the attacking positions behind the main striker but is primarily a specialist winger with an eye for goal

Hailing from Kingston-Upon-Thames, Tyrese, who turns 22 on Saturday, came through the Academy ranks at Blackburn Rovers before joining Mansfield Town in 2017... and went on to make 33 appearances for the Stags, scoring three times, before signing a two-year deal with Rochdale last summer... and he has made 12 competitive starts so far this season, with three goals to his name".

Tyrese's father is former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair who has, coincidentally, played against the Robins for their opponents on Saturday, Wrexham, as well as managing Colwyn Bay against the Robins.

The other loanees to arrive since mid-January are:

1. Sonny ALJOFREE - on loan from Manchester United
2. Danny CASHMAN - on loan from Coventry City
3. Michael GYASI - on loan from Chesterfield
4. Joe HUGILL - On loan from Manchester United
5. Maxi OYEDELE - on loan from Manchester United
6. Armando Junior QUITIRNA - on loan from Fleetwood Town
7. Miles WELCH-HAYES - on loan from Harrogate Town

GREENER GRASS?

In short, has the grass always been greener for those players after leaving Altrincham?

Unlike Chris Conn-Clarke, who was a loanee whose options were dictated by his employers, we consider seven players who were actually Altrincham employees who, over the last two and a half years, all chose to move on to further their careers.

However, the reality of their experiences since leaving Moss Lane has been mixed...

Six who moved away and haven't returned: (l. to r.) Toby Mullarkey, Ryan Colclough, Dan Mooney, Kyle Ferguson, Alistair Smith and Joel Senior. A seventh, James Jones, has returned to the club.

The seven players in question are...

• Toby Mullarkey who has just left Altrincham, thirteenth in the Vanarama National League for Rochdale, the bottom club in the EFL 2 Division. It remains to be seen whether the Spotland club can turn their season around or, at the other extreme, whether they will face relegation to the National League and, possibly, a season of struggle such as that being experienced by last season's relegated clubs, Oldham Athletic and Scunthorpe United.

  For Toby's sake we hope that Rochdale do perk up and that he enjoys a successful career in the EFL.

  The two other most recent players to leave Altrincham at their own insistence have not actually moved up a rung of the pyramid but have opted for sideways moves within the National League which, presumably, have brought increased remuneration and/or the hope of a better chance of promotion to the EFL than they felt was the case at Altrincham.

  Those two are:

• Ryan Colclough, who recently opted to depart to join fellow NL club Chesterfield, who lie fourth in the division and aspire at least to a promotion play-off position. And...
• Dan Mooney, who chose to move sideways to Southend United who are ninth currently, just two points better off than the Robins, albeit with two games in hand on them.

  Since joining Southend in May 2022, Mooney has completed ninety minutes for the Shrimpers just six times in all competitions and missed nine games completely through injury or otherwise. Off the field Southend have a longstanding transfer embargo and have repeatedly failed to pay non-playing staff on time, have faced winding-up orders and many supporters want their current owner to leave.

  Previously, four other Altrincham players have elected to leave and have joined EFL clubs between 2020 and 2022...

• Kyle Ferguson has completed only five games of ninety mintes for Harrogate Town and played parts in two other matches since moving on in summer 2022. Otherwise, he has been on the bench, unused, in eight games and not in the squad at all fourteen times this season
• Alistair Smith has made 8(+9) appearances for Sutton United this season since signing in summer 2021 but has not been involved at all in thirteen fixtures through injury or otherwise.
• Joel Senior suffered a bad injury at Carlisle United soon after joining in summer 2021 but has recently completed ninety minutes in four games. Otherwise he has not been in the squad at all this season apart from one unused sub appearance.
• James Jones left Altrincham in summer 2020 for EFL2 Barrow and made more than fifty appearances for the Cumbrians across two seasons. But he then opted to return to Altrincham in the National League, where he remains. He has made 30 appearances this season for The Robins.

Two of the seven named above have only just been signed by their new clubs, and one has returned to Altrincham, but none of the other four has started games consistently for his new club this season, either through injury or selection criteria.

NEXT: WREXHAM

Former Celtic academy graduate O’Connell, 27, has signed a permanent deal at the Racecourse Ground... Subject to international clearance, O’Connell will be available to make his debut against Altrincham on Saturday.

On signing for Wrexham, he said 'It’s a Club on the up. It’s an exciting part of the season to come in, and the lads have done well to get us to this point'...

O’Connell graduated from Celtic’s Academy and made his debut in the Scottish Premiership in 2014. He made 13 appearances for Celtic in all competitions, including four in the Champions League, and spent time on loan at Oldham, Cork City and Walsall.

He made the permanent move to England in 2017, playing for first at Bury and then Rochdale in Leagues One and Two... to earn a move to Charlton last summer.

This season, he has made 22 appearances for the Addicks in all competitions".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 21-year-old started the Exiles’ last game in League Two at Carlisle as an attacking midfielder... Collins, who is out of contract this summer, [has fallen] down the pecking order and [is] making the decision to drop down a tier in a bid to kickstart his career...

'We’ve gone in for him a couple of times, but he was a regular participant in their matchday squad at Newport', said Torquay boss Gary Johnson... 'Me and Downesy [assistant Aaron Downes] talked with the lad at the services before we were picked up for Woking, an agreement was made.

'He’s a player that’s quick, and can play one of either position of striker or wide player'...

But Collins... was a fringe figure last season. He made just four starts and came off the bench 13 times in League Two... Only eight of his 27 appearances this season were as a starter...

Arguably, he has suffered from not settling into a position, not prolific enough to be a striker but not able to be a winger in the formations of James Rowberry".

FC Halifax Town confirm the "signing of Fidel O’Rourke from Premier League side Liverpool on loan until the end of the season.

The forward joined the Reds’ academy at Under 14 level after impressing in his school team and in Sunday league. O’Rourke became Under 18 Captain as well as featuring for the Under 19s in the UEFA Youth League. The striker was also a part of the Liverpool squad that won the FA Youth Cup in 2019. O’Rourke spent time earlier this season on loan at Caernarfon Town in the Welsh Premier League and scored seven goals in ten appearances.

TWO MORE UNITED YOUNGSTERS JOIN ALTY

Press and media officer John Edwards writes on the Altrincham FC website that "Altrincham have completed a notable hat-trick of loan signings from Manchester United after welcoming Joe Hugill, Sonny Aljofree and Maxi Oyedele to The J.Davidson Stadium for the rest of the season.

Defensive midfielder Oyedele arrived at the club a couple of weeks ago... and striker Hugill and centre-back Aljofree have now joined him at Alty.

Hugill... brings with him a growing reputation as a strong, forceful centre-forward who leads the line confidently and competently and has a keen eye for goal, as underlined by his... signing for United in a £300,000 deal from Sunderland in the summer of 2020, amid serious interest from Arsenal and Tottenham... The 19-year old [is a] 6ft 2in frontrunner... After shaking off an injury and returning to spearhead United's PL2 Division One attack... they have won every game he has featured in and he has scored in each one.

Hugill's tally now stands at six goals from five appearances this season...

Plymouth-born Aljofree, 18, is a highly-rated central defender who trained with the first team last August".

Manchester United described the trio's move as "part of an innovative loan scheme designed by United’s Academy coaches... The club would like to place on record its thanks to the staff at Altrincham FC for their support in this process and collaboration across a number of recent projects.'"

EX-LOANEE JENNINGS JOINS HARTLEPOOL

A former youth player at Stalybridge Celtic, Jennings appeared for the Celts' senior side between 2009 and 2012 before joining League One Scunthorpe United. While under contract with the Iron, Jennings enjoyed loan spells at Stockport, Grimsby, and Macclesfield scoring 14 goals in 16 games for the Silkmen.

Permanent moves to Wrexham and Tranmere followed in 2014 and 2016 respectively, and he joined Stockport permanently in 2020. He's been on loan with Altrincham since November 2022, but now joins Keith Curle's side...

[Manager] Keith Curle added... 'His pace will be an asset, but his all-round play is what we've been looking for in advanced areas.'"

MULLARKEY DEPARTS AS OTHERS ARRIVE

Then two loanees arrived, Danny Cashman from Coventry City and Junior Quitirna from Fleetwood Town who had been playing for Waterford in Ireland, the club to which Conn-Clarke has now been sent. Waterford were taken over by the Fleetwood owner so Quitirna technically joined Fleetwood and was immediately loaned to Altrincham to avoid visa issues in the Republic of Ireland.

And then the Manchester Evening News reported that two more Manchester United youngsters, Joe Hugill and Sonny Aljofree, were on their way to Altrincham.

Finally, and most disappointingly, vice captain Toby Mullarkey (right) opted to join a club currently just thirteen places higher than the Robins in the Football Pyramid, Rochdale, who are bottom of EFL2.

For more on these stories see below or follow the links...

• Chris Conn-Clarke returns to Fleetwood... more here
• Chris Conn-Clarke move to Ireland... more here
• Danny Cashman joins on loan... more here
• Junior Quitirna joins on loan... more here
• Joe Hugill and Sonny Aljofree to join... more here
• Toby Mullarkey leaves for Rochdale... more here

ALTRINCHAM 1-1 VAUXHALL MOTORS: Alty win on penalties

Matty Gould (right) saved two penalties as Alty won a penalty shoot-out.

For this home tie, which was switched to Rivacre Park at Altrincham's request, Alty fielded a team largely of players who had little recent game time and reserves.

Alty led from the 25th minute through an own goal before Bobbie McDonnell equalised (84 mins), which sent the game into a penalty shoot-out.

In a woeful shoot-out, eight penalties were taken but only two were scored, both by Altrincham. Eddy Jones and Ben Pringle scored but Elliot Osborne and Miles Welch-Hayes saw their spot-kicks saved. So Alty progress to the semi-finals.

Match report here.

MORE LOANEES ON THE WAY

Manchester United youngsters Joe Hugill and Sonny Aljofree are set to join National League side Altrincham in innovative loan moves.

It is understood the FA Youth Cup winners will continue to train with United and be available to play for the Under-21s as well as Altrincham.

Sources say the legislation allows them to gain non-league experience whilst remaining involved in the day-to-day environment at United. Hugill and Aljofree's academy teammate Maxi Oyedele joined Altrincham on loan earlier this month.

Hugill, 19, arrived at United from Sunderland in the summer of 2020 for £300,000 amid interest from Arsenal and Tottenham.

Aljofree, 18, was born in Plymouth and has captained the youth team this season. Salford-born Oyedele, also 18, is a Poland youth international. Oyedele and Hugill travelled to Spain for the United first team's training camp in December."

ALTY OLD BOYS

Jody Banim has resigned as manager of Warrington Rylands.

And Jude Oyibo scored Radcliffe's second goal as they won 1-2 at Bower Fold against Stalybridge Celtic.

NEXT: WREXHAM

Last time out Wrexham played a thrilling 3-3 draw against Sheffield United in the FA Cup and they face a replay against The Blades next week so an Altrincham squad depleted by recent player departures will be hoping that the Red Dragons have half an eye on that matc. However, with promotion to the EFL their top priority it is unlikely that the Welsh club's Phil Parkinson will select a much weakened side against his namesake and counterpart at Moss Lane.

As well as two PPs on opposite side on the touchline, there are two JJs who may face each other on the pitch; James Jones (right) and James Jones.

From the Leader Live the Wrexham version of JJ "was delighted to score a crucial goal in Sunday's FA Cup thriller against Sheffield United and the midfielder felt Wrexham deserved to win the fourth round tie...

Just over 60 seconds were on the clock when the Blades took the lead and Wrexham saw centre-backs Jordan Tunnicliffe and Aaron Hayden go off injured in the opening 10 minutes.

But Wrexham turned things around to lead 2-1 in the second half thanks to substitute Jones and Tom O'Connor and although United levelled, Paul Mullin put the Reds back ahead with four minutes to go. The Blades secured a draw in injury time...

Said Jones, 'We have shown good character. To concede early doors and lose two key players, we could quite easily have gone on to lose 5-0. I thought we deserved to win...

'I am sure we will take the positives out of it'.

Jones made it 1-1 in the 50th minute when he bundled the ball home from close range after Ben Tozer's throw-in was flicked on. It was his fourth goal of the season and it meant a lot to the 26-year-old...

The Reds, who are top of the table, head to Altrincham on Saturday and Jones wants to get over the disappointment of conceding the late equaliser against United by picking up another important league win...

He added... 'We have got a league game which is still the most important thing. We have not lost sight of that. The FA Cup is a nice bonus on top.

'We have just got to regroup and get ready for Altrincham'".

MIDWEEK RESULTS

Vanarama NAtional Leaue

• Aldershot Town 0-1 Boreham Wood
• Eastleigh 0-2 Barnet
• Solihull Moors 1-2 Notts County
• Woking 1-1 Torquay United
• Yeovil Town 0-0 Wealdstone

FA Trophy Replays

• Harrow Borough 2-2 FC Halifax Town Halifax won 6-5 on penalties
• Banbury United 3-2 Coalville Town

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Danny arrived at Meadow Park in the summer of 2022 from Boston United having scored 31 goals in all competitions last season for the Pilgrims. However, Danny left to join Gateshead on loan at the beginning of December and in the two-months Danny spent in the North-East, he has been in fine form, scoring six goals in nine appearances for the Heed.

Upon the return of Danny from his loan at Gateshead, Wood Manager Luke Garrard said, 'Danny has done fantastic [sic] on his loan at Gateshead, scoring six goals in eight matches during his time in the North-East.

'We always had an agreement that he needed to go out and get game time, confidence and goals, and he has definitely stuck to his side of the bargain. Danny now returns fully fit and firing, ready to push us up the table'">

At Scunthorpe United "Midfielder Tom Pugh reflected on a hard-earned point at home to high-flying Bromley on Saturday.

Elliott Whitehouse grabbed the deserved late equaliser for the Iron after dominating large parts of the game in front of an inflated crowd at Glanford Park. The point registered made it four points in three days and seven points from the last four games...

Right: Tom Pugh was an Alty trialist last summer.

Pugh said 'I thought the lads played really well. Obviously, from the game against Halifax, I thought we did great to carry on that performance against Bromley'...

Pugh drew [alluded?] to a number of factors, including the home crowd, which aided their momentum...

He stated, 'The buzz around the club, with the new owner coming in, pushed us through to put that performance in.. We could have gone 1-0 up, but we deserved the point, if not three points'...

The 22-year-old has been a mainstay in the heart of the Scunthorpe midfield in recent weeks and had developed a strong partnership with Fin Shrimpton prior to his injury. Mason O’Malley and Elliott Whitehouse have since come into the side, with Pugh adapting to the new system and teammates seamlessly...

He continued... 'We need the fans to come back on Friday night, under the lights, and hopefully this time we can get three points for them,' he said... 'They’ve stuck behind us through the tough period, but now we move onto bigger and better things hopefully'".

Forest Green Rovers confirm that "David Davis has joined National League side Solihull Moors on loan until the end of the season.

Davis has made 17 appearances across all competitions for Rovers this season".

And Solihull Moors add that "The former Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder joins on loan... The 31-year-old holding midfielder is well-known in the Midlands, most notably for his spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City.

Davis began his career at Molineux, making 53 league appearances for Wolves, with seven of those coming in the Premier League.

He then made thew switch across the Midlands to St Andrew's where he remained for six-and-a-half-years becoming a cult hero at Blues. In his time at the club he totalled 194 appearances, scoring eleven goals in all competitions...

After his release from Blues in 2021, the tough-tackler joined League One side Shrewsbury Town where he remained for 18 months, before joining Forest Green Rovers in the summer of 2022.

This season he's featured 17 times across all competitions, including 12 in League One. His season has been hampered by injury between October and December...

Davis added 'As soon as I came here I was impressed by everything, it's really, really high end. I think the club deserves to be a lot higher and if we can make a play-off push, then great!'...

'He's a winner and everything I've felt that we've needed for a while," said [manager Neil] Ardley. 'We've got a lot of box-to-box midfielders and with Davis he wants to do the ugly side of the game, I think he'll compliment all of those players very well... and he's a great character to have around the place as well.'"

Peterborough United "announce the signing of Kabongo Tshimanga from Chesterfield with the 25-year-old agreeing a loan deal until the end of the season ahead of a permanent transfer in the summer.

Tshimanga, who has been attracting the attention of a host of other clubs, completed the paperwork... on Monday after passing a medical. Tshimanga has scored goals consistently at non-league level after coming through the ranks within the Milton Keynes Dons Academy.

Manager Darren Ferguson said...'He is someone I have known about for quite a while now, quite a few years to be honest. He had an injury, which curtailed his progress a little, but he has been available for 21 games since and I really like him as a player'...

Tshimanga was delighted to agree the deal... 'I felt the time was right. When I heard a few days ago that Peterborough were interested, it was something that really excited me because everyone knows what they do for players... [The manager] just wants me to be myself and carry on what I have been doing".