MARRIOTT EXTENDS HIS CONTRACT

Speaking on an Alty TV YouTube Premiere, the 23-year old, whose move from Bradford (Park Avenue) was confirmed on Christmas Eve 2021, said 'It has been a brilliant season, and really it was pretty much a no-brainer to pledge my future to the club. I enjoy playing here and feel my game has grown since I first signed'".

NEXT: FC HALIFAX TOWN

However, as supporters well know, Altrincham have twice won the Trophy, beating Leatherhead 3-1 in 1978 and repeating the feat in 1986 with a 1-0 win over Runcorn.

FC Halifax Town hosted Altrincham in the FA Trophy in 2012 when the Shaymen won 5-2. They have won the competition once, that was in 2016 when they beat Grimsby Town 1-0.

2014 PROMOTION TEAM REUNION DINNER

On Friday, 12 May there will be a reunion dinner to celebrate that memorable 2014 Skrill National League North play-off success.

Above: The Altrincham players celebrate their success.

Altrincham FC Community Sports announces that "We are delighted to welcome the fantastic 2014 National League North Play Off Final Winners back to the J.Davidson Stadium for what will be a fabulous evening looking back at that amazing match.

The evening will include a hot buffet in the Community Sports Hall.

The players will be recalling the build up, actual match and the celebrations that took place after an amazing win for the club".

Tickets, costing just £15, can be purchased here.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 1 APRIL

Historically, 1 April has not been a good date for the club with their last win coming in 1995 against Bath City. Since then six games have been played on that date by Altrincham resulting in five defeats and a draw! A full list of previous Alty games on this date, drawn up Howard Watts and Mike Garnett is on the Through the Years page of the Alty Files.

Right: Joe O'Neill in action against Nantwich in the CSC Final on 1 April 2008, as pictured by Gavin Rathbone.

However, for Phil Parkinson the date has happier memories as on 1 April 2008, he played in Nantwich Town's penalty shoot-out win over Altrincham in the UniBond Cheshire Senior Cup Final, played at Witton Albion FC.

Nantwich Town were three rungs below Altrincham in the non-league pyramid, but they deservedly beat the Robins 5-3 on penalties, after the sides had been level 3-3 at the end of extra time.

A hat-trick from the Dabber's Slovakian ex-Crewe and Stafford substitute, Pawel Suhaj, was the key to their success, after Altrincham had taken the lead in the 33rd minute through Chris Senior, following good work from Colin Little. But Alty were second best for much of the game, with passes frequently misplaced and, though the surface was poor, that was no excuse for their defeat.

The 6ft 4inch Suhaj came off the bench in the 68th minute and within three minutes had levelled the scores, converting a left-sided corner.

Three minutes from the end of normal time he put his side ahead only for Ryan Shotton, pushed up front for the final minutes, to equalize in the first of three added minutes. Alty twice could have snatched the Cup in the remaining minutes before extra time arrived.

Suhaj then was allowed an eternity to turn and score his hat-trick goal three minutes into the first period of extra-time, only for Shotton to grab another late equalizer, chesting down Lawton's cross before scoring, two minutes into the second period of extra-time.

In the penalty shoot-out Nantwich converted all five spot-kicks confidently but Alty's first, by substitute Jake Sedgemore, was saved, allowing the Dabbers to run out 5-3 winners from the penalty spot. Alty can point to the absence of seven of their first-team squad (Lynch, Tansey, Turnbull, Roca and Battersby were ineligible and both King and Owen were injured, though the latter warmed the bench), but their performance was simply not good enough.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Morton originally joined York as assistant manager to previous manager David Webb, who was sacked after just 69 days in charge.

The former Tadcaster Albion manager was then instated as interim manager...

Morton has accumulated 14 points from a possible 33 Vanarama National League matches, seeing the Minstermen currently sit in 17th position with five points separating York from the relegation zone."

According to the Echo News, "Southend United chairman Ron Martin insists he is selling an 'opportunity' at the Shrimpers as he insisted he would never let the club die.

The Blues owner has put the club up for sale but will continue to own the new stadium at Fossetts Farm should it be built or the current Roots Hall ground if they do not move before a sale goes through...

Clearly the hope is that whoever buys the club is willing and able to cover the club’s losses until it becomes “self sufficient”.

Mr Martin said the three-sided stadium will cost around £42 million to build but indicated that he would sell it for less than half of that...

Staff at Roots Hall [are] still waiting for their December salaries... Mr Martin said it would be paid when season ticket money, expected to total in the region of £650,000 to £700,000, starts to come in. He also stated the club budgets for 60 per cent of the season ticket money to come in by April 9...

It is expected that the [transfer] embargo will be lifted once the debt due to HMRC is cleared in around four weeks’ time once the club’s cashflow has been boosted by season card sales.

Mr Martin also insisted he would continue to fund the club until he leaves. He said he had put several tens of thousands of pounds in the past week and won’t let the club die despite rising costs".

POST-NOTTS COUNTY GAME

Altrincham FC has a post-match video interview with Alty manager Phil Parkinson.

The Nottingham Post reports that

"With Notts dominating the opening exchanges, the breakthrough at the J. Davidson Stadium came from quick initiative shown by one of their most experienced players. Ruben Rodrigues' driving run at the heart of the Altrincham defence was halted when Ben Pringle (right) tugged back on the onrushing midfielder...

With everyone in the ground expecting a routine free-kick, Bostock caught everyone off guard as the Altrincham players surrounded referee Jacob Miles, he poked the ball into the area to provide Langstaff with the simple finish to place the ball beyond Ollie Byrne.

The hosts were aggrieved with the allowing of the goal, but if the question is asked to the referee as to whether play can continue quickly, it showed great awareness from Bostock to take the initiative and capitalise on the situation - Williams heaping praise on goalkeeper coach Tom Weal for his involvement in the opener... 'He instructed the players to ask the referee if we can the free-kick quickly... the referee said that was fine and allowed us to take it quickly.

'On the receiving end of that, it feels unfair, but that is always the case if you conceded this type of free-kick because you are not privy to the conversation with the referee'... An Altrincham player over on the far side tying his laces quite clearly plays the Notts number nine onside'" the manager concluded.

"ALTY'S GAME TO LOSE" SAY HALIFAX

On Tuesday, the Shaymen beat Aldershot Town.

FC Halifax Town quoted manager Chris Millington...

'We started brightly and were good for the first 20-25 minutes,' Millington said. 'We had some good possession, some good crosses into the box but not enough bodies in there to finish them off. As the half wore on and we got to 35 minutes, then Aldershot had a little spell and had a couple of shots from range. With a very comfortable and controlled first half performance, the disappointment was we didn’t create enough clear-cut chances....

I would say we deserve the win'...

Town opened the scoring just past the hour mark courtesy of Harvey Gilmour’s second goal against Aldershot this season.

'He’s become almost unstoppable at times'... Millington told Shaymen TV... 'It wasn’t long ago he was the man people didn’t want to play... He’ll be one of the players who will be out of contract at the end of the season and I’m desperate to keep hold of him'...

Milli Alli capped off the game with a goal in added time after Aldershot keeper Luca Ashby-Hammond was left stranded at the wrong end of the pitch...

Up next for the Shaymen sees Town compete in the FA Trophy semi-final against Altrincham...

'We stayed focused on today’s game. Now, next up it’s Altrincham. I’ve said it before and I’m not trying to be clever but it’s Altrincham’s to lose. They’re the team who are at the right end of the table, they’re the ones who are in with a shout of pushing for the playoffs, and are having a fantastic season. They’ve had some great results recently as well so it’s theirs to lose. But, we don’t fear anyone, we go into every game expecting to win'".

Monday 3 April

Vanarama National League

• York City v Barnet

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The average National League wage is estimated to be between £1,000 and £1,500 a week. However, there are several players in the fifth tier that earn over £3,000 a week.

National League highest-earning players:

• Paul Mullin (Wrexham) £4,000 per week
• Ben Tozer (Wrexham) £4,000 per week
• James Jones (Wrexham) £3,000 per week
• Aaron Hayden (Wrexham) £4,000 per week

The average weekly wage in the National League is somewhere between £1,000 and £1,500. There's a pretty steep jump up to League Two, which is £2,500.

The average player in League One earns just shy of £5,000, while the average wage in the Championship last season was £7,000. This figure has likely increased in 2022/23 with average player wages for both Football League and National League players jumping by 20% since 2020".

The Grimsby Telegraph tells us that "Scunthorpe United manager Jimmy Dean reflected on his side’s draw away at York City, conceding that the task of staying in the National League is looking increasingly difficult.

The Iron are six points behind Gateshead United [sic] who sit just outside the relegation, but the latter also have three games in hand on Dean’s side...

Scunthorpe created more than enough chances to win the game against York but ultimately came up short, but their manager still came out and praised his side’s efforts despite the result.

Dean said... 'The ball just wouldn’t go in again... In normal circumstances, it would be a really good point and a clean sheet after Saturday’s performance. We were resilient but looking at how results have gone we needed more...

'The last half an hour of the first half we dominated but we didn’t get the goal we deserved'...

Dean added, 'It’s getting difficult now and we know it is. We can only fight while we can. In isolation, it’s a good point away from home, but unfortunately, results have gone against us'".

29 March 2023

THE GOALS FROM TUESDAY NIGHT

ALTRINCHAM 2-0 NOTTS COUNTY

After an entertaining opening quarter of the game, Ben Pringle, making a rare start in an Alty side selected with one eye on Saturday's FA Trophy semi-final, committed a needless foul just outside the penalty area "D". As the freekick was being positioned and the Alty defence was sorting out its defending, Mr Miles allowed Notts to take the freekick without, it seemed, blowing his whistle.

This allowed Langstaff to virtually walk the ball past a static Alty defence to make it 1-0 (26 mins).

But Altrincham then won a clear penalty, when Linney was put clear and brought down by last man Cameron. A penalty was awarded but the visitors' captain escaped with a yellow card. Up stepped Linney, who had converted three league penalties in the previous six weeks. However, this time, County's loanee keeper Mair made a fine save, to his right.

Mr Miles intervened in proceedings once again in just the third minute of the second half. Nemane cut in from the right and hit a hopeful shot which Mr Miles interpreted as being handled by a hapless Alty defender. Needless to say, Rodrigues converted the spot-kick to make it 0-2.

The game declined into a pretty boring spectacle for most of the remainder of the half as Notts played keep-ball but barely landed more than a shot or two on target, whilst Altrincham's makeshift eleven spent much of the half penned into their own half of the pitch. But Alty raised their game in the closing stages and substitute Burgess, one of five loanees deployed by Alty during the game, saw his shot hit the bar.

Altrincham will be hoping that a first-half withdrawal of the influential Isaac Marriott was precautionary rather than because of an injury that might threaten his involvement in Saturday's semi-final.

Match report here.

With an FA Trophy semi-final four days away, Alty made five changes for the match against Notts County. Harry Perritt and Ben Pringle were two of those coming into the side and they are seen, above before kick-off, with Kyle Ferguson, Ollie Byrne and Josh Lundtsram who captained the side in the absence of Jordan Hulme with a minor foot injury.

Miles Welch-Hayes, James Jones, Aaron Bennett, Jordan Hulme and Joe Hugill dropped out of the starting line-up, as Harry Perritt, Elliot Osborne, Regan Linney, Ben Pringle and Tyrese Sinclair came in.

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks): 1. Oliver Byrne, 30. Harry Perritt, 5. Kyle Ferguson, 6. Lewis Baines, 2. Eddy Jones, 8. Josh Lundstram (c), 4. Isaac Marriott, 10. Elliot Osborne, 18. Ben Pringle, 29. Regan Linney, 35. Tyrese Sinclair. Subs: 11. Luke Burgess, 21. Matt Gould, 26. James Jones, 27. Aaron Bennett, 39. Joe Hugill

NOTTS COUNTY (Lavender shirts and socks, grey shorts): 13. Archie Mair, 4. Kyle Cameron (c), 16. Geraldo Bajrami, 5. Connell Rawlinson, 23. Adam Chicksen, 11. Aaron Nemane, 24. John Bostock, 18. Matt Palmer, 20. Ruben Rodrigues, 8. Sam Austin, 9. Macaulay Langstaff. Subs: 6. Jim O'Brien, 10. Jodi Jones, 17. Frank Vincent, 2. Richard Brindley, 12. Tiernan Brooks

MIDWEEK RESULTS

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

ALTY OLD BOYS

Our loaned-out defender JAKE COOPER was sent off for a second yellow card in the 86th minute for Darlington in their goalless draw at Banbury.

Warrington Town strolled to a 0-4 win at Morpeth, with JOSH AMIS rounding off the scoring.

ALTY SCOREBOARD

It got its first taste of action in the home side's 1-0 victory [last Saturday], with striker Regan Linney the first player to see his name up in lights following his goal from the penalty spot.

The scoreboard sponsorship kicks off a three-and-a-half-year deal between digital marketing agency Add People and the football club, signed this year.

Peter Marshall, chief marketing officer at Altrincham-based Add People, said 'This football club is the hub of the community here in Altrincham, and the work they have done has always had a hugely positive impact on local residents. We ultimately believe this sponsorship will benefit the community and small businesses in Altrincham by opening up new sponsorship formats and we thank Altrincham FC for such a great opportunity.'

The scoreboard (above, right) is expected to be the first of several projects that Add People and Altrincham FC work on together across the next few years...

Director of Partnerships at Altrincham FC, Sam Mackenzie, said, 'This is the first time in our club’s history that we have had an electronic scoreboard, and this will help create new ways for our club to engage with loyal Robins fans, through visual announcements, videos, on-screen messages and more'".

SOUTHEND MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

They lost 4-0 away at promotion chasing Notts County over the weekend and are currently five points from safety. Coventry City stopper Tom Billson has arrived on loan to fill the void left by Chapman’s injury...

Manager Dean told BBC Humberside Sport 'Aaron Chapman is out for the season. He’s got a slipped disc. It’s really disappointing. He came in and wasn’t playing but I think he’s had eight games now where he was starting to get into his rhythm'".

Scunthorpe United add that "Following Saturday's defeat at Meadow Lane, Jimmy spoke about how the mood in the camp has been, 'I don’t think anyone in the league could have kept with them. That’s not the same excuse coming into these seven games though.

'I think that’s the first time since I’ve been here where we’ve been dominated in a game. It’s the first time and it needs to be the last...

'We had won five out of 29 when I came in and we’ve won three out of 10 now, which tells you that the win percentage is a lot higher than it was. That’s also off the back of playing teams predominantly in the top half, but there’s no point doing okay in that period if we’re not going to capitalise when we play teams in and around us.

'We will find out how good we are in these seven [remaining] games. If we’re good enough to win the five we need then we will. That’s the truth and there won’t be any excuses'.

Dean then spoke about [ex-Alty trialist] Tom Pugh, who was absent at the weekend... 'He (Pugh) had a hamstring injury, which is why he wasn’t involved. He should be fit to be back in the squad... Carver is back in training'".

NEXT: NOTTS COUNTY

In advance of their important FA Trophy semi-final on Saturday, the last thing Altrincham needed was an enforced Tuesday-night match rearranged by the National League. And the visitors could hardly be a stronger team to face, as title-chasing Notts County come to town tonight (7.45pm).

Alty can be expected to rotate their squad with Saturday's crucial match in mind.

The Magpies arrive with doubts over keeper Sam Slocombe, who had to be substituted early on in Saturday's 4-0 win over Scunthorpe United.

Alty lost the reverse fixture 1-2 at Meadow Lane but won the home fixture last season 1-0 with Marcus Dinanga the Robins' scorer in both of those meetings. In the home meeting in 2020-21 Altrincham drew 1-1 with the Magpies.

Going into this match, Alty lie thirteenth with 52 points, a huge forty-two points fewer than the total amassed, so far, by second-place County. Nevertheless, thirteenth would be Altrincam's highest league finish at this level since 1996 if they maintained that position at the end of this campaign.

The Nottingham Post reported on the eve of the match that "Notts County boss Luke Williams has highlighted the 'good' problem that awaits him ahead of the National League clash at Altrincham".

With goalkeeper Slocombe injured last Saturday and reserve keeper Tiernan Brooks with the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad, Williams introduced "Archie Mair for his league debut after arriving on loan from Norwich City in January. Mair impressed with his composure when the ball was at his feet.

Williams was able to provide an encouraging update... He said 'Sam's in discomfort, but it is not a twist or a tear, it is an impact injury, so we have to feel confident that the muscle is relaxed enough and it can do its job and not stay contracted the whole time.

'We have a bit more time with that so we will see how he goes... We will have to do a fitness test...

'Sam has played consistently well over the course of the season and Tiernan has gone in and done incredibly well, and then I thought Archie also did well at the weekend. It is the perfect problem for me'...

Connell Rawlinson highlighted Mair's display... 'His first action was a big one... and after that, he showed a good range of passing; he dropped some balls into the guys on the outside and on the angles and into the guys in midfield'...

With Richard Brindley returning to the matchday squad for the first time since January, Williams's defensive worries eased slightly... Jodi Jones is expected to miss the trip to Altrincham after featuring in Malta's 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifier defeat to Italy on Sunday, but the Notts boss was able to provide an encouraging update on both Cedwyn Scott and new signing Junior Morias'".

ALTY RESERVES UPDATE

No Altrincham player who has started a National League match this season was involved in any of these matches, albeit several of those matches have unannounced Altrincham line-ups

• 18/03/23 k.o.14:00 GPSO 1-2 Altrincham FC Res.
• 11/03/23 14:00 AFC Knowsley 3--2 Altrincham FC Res.
• 25/02/23 14:00 Altrincham FC Res. 0-0 Whaley Bridge Athletic
• Cup 18/02/23 14:00 Broadheath Central 2-0 Altrincham FC Res.
• 11/02/23 14:00 Altrincham FC Res. 0-0 Egerton FC
• 04/02/23 14:00 Whalley Range 2-1 Altrincham FC Res.
• 28/01/23 14:00 Crewe FC 1-4 Altrincham FC Res.
• Cheshire FA Amateur Cup 14/01/23 14:00 Sandbach United Reserves 1-0 Altrincham FC Reserves

Altrincham Reserves currently lie seventh of sixteen teams in the Cheshire Football League Premier Division. They have played 23 league fixtures, won 10 of them, drawn 6 and lost 7 times, scoring 29 goals and conceding 36 times.

YOUTH AND "ACADEMY" UPDATE

"TCG (Altrincham FC) Men Regional Team 2" play in the AoC Sport North West Men's Football Invitational League (1)

Recent results:

• 22-03-2023 k.o. 14:00 TCG (Altrincham FC) Men Regional Team 2-3 iSPORTS Manchester Football Men Regional Team
• 24-03-2023 k.o. 3:30 TCG (Altrincham FC) Men Regional Team 3-2 Steven Gerrard Academy Football Men Regional Team

ALTRINCHAM FC UNDER-21s

Altrincham under-21s play in the North-West U-21 Development League Premier Division.

Recent results:

• CC 26/03/23 13:30 Altrincham FC U18 5 - 1 Curzon Ashton FC U17 Dev. (Alty scorers: Camara, Jones, Whittle 2 and McGeady)
• PREM 19/03/23 11:00 Steven Gerrard Academy U21 4 - 2 Altrincham FC U21 (Alty scorers: Raftery and Lynch)
• PREM 12/03/23 13:30 Altrincham FC U21 3 - 1 1874 Northwich FC U21 (Alty scorers: Jarrald 2, Monaghan)

Altrincham lie fourth in the eleven-strong division with three or four games in hand on the three teams ahead of them. However, they are 21 points adrift of leaders Bootle with just three games fewer played by Alty.

ALTRINCHAM FC UNDER-19s

The "Altrincham FC U19 A Red" team plays in the National League U19 Alliance North Division

Recent results:

• 22/03/23 13:00 Guiseley AFC U19 Academy 3 - 0 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 15/03/23 12:45 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 5 - 3 AFC Fylde U19
• 13/03/23 14:00 Blyth Spartans AFC U19 Academy 3 - 0 Altrincham FC U19 A Red

ALTRINCHAM FC UNDER-16s

Altrincham FC under-16s play in the North West Youth Alliance League Development Division.

Recent results:

• 26/03/23 14:00 Runcorn Town FC 0 - 3 Altrincham AFC Colts (Alty scorers Jarrald 2 and Wood. MacCabe was sent off)
• 19/03/23 14:30 Atherton Laburnum Rovers FC 3 - 2 Altrincham AFC Colts (Alty scorer Whittle 2)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 22 year-old likely envisioned more for his Mariners career when he joined the club in the summer, amassing just 12 appearances in all competitions for Town with a mid-season loan spell at Torquay United not helping him earn a bigger role in Paul Hurst’s team.

Having barely played 20 minutes of football for Grimsby in 2023 with the matchday squad list rarely featuring his name, Wearne was allowed to move to Gateshead...

A recent system change and competition in attacking positions made it difficult for Wearne to breakthrough at Blundell Park...

Said Town first-team coach Ben Davies... 'He wasn’t really getting a look in here and he was desperate to play... so we didn’t want to stand in his way of being able to play games. He’s been a breath of fresh air while he’s been here and trained really well... Sometimes things just don’t work out, he went out on loan to Torquay and then fell down the pecking order in his position'".

Having won the right to leave Southend United because of late payment of his wages, Woking now "announce the signing of Kacper Łopata. The defender, 21, joins on a deal until the end of the season".

However, Southend's Echo News adds that "It is understood Lopata has agreed a deal with League One side Barnsley and will officially join the Tykes at the start of July.

But until then Lopata is free to line up for Woking".

"Kevin Bond, who counts Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City among his former employers, appears to be the new Director of Football at Yeovil Town" reports Gloverscast.

Owner-in-waiting (still not had official confirmation on a takeover) Matt Uggla posted on his Twitter account 'Kevin Bond in the door what a man'. This followed a somewhat more lengthy post on Sunday night where he said 'Tomorrow we have our new director of football coming in'...

One therefore assumes that the post about Bond relates to his appointment in this role, however, assumption can be a dangerous thing...

In his last role, Bond was part of the first-team coaching set up at Bristol Rovers, which he held from August 2021 until last October".

27 March 2023

POST-MATCH PARKINSON

SCOREBOARD AT THE JDS

It is sited near the left hand corner flag of teams attacking the Hale End of the ground.

MOONEY'S RETURN

He came on to the pitch after 74 minutes and, eight minutes later, laid on what should have been an equaliser for team-mate Callum Powell.

NEXT: NOTTS COUNTY

On Saturday, Altrincham's next opponents trounced Scunthorpe United 4-0 with The Iron registering no shots on or off target according to the NL Paper!

Pride of Nottingham reports that the win included "Macaulay Langstaff scoring twice in the match.

The Magpies started strongly, with Adam Chicksen scoring in the eighth minute after a well-placed cross from Ruben Rodrigues. Just three minutes later, Scunthorpe suffered a setback when Ben Richards-Everton scored an own goal, giving Notts County a 2-0 lead.

Langstaff's first goal came in the second half, with a powerful header from a cross by Sam Austin, bringing the score to 3-0 in favour of Notts County. He then added to his tally with a stunning goal in the 76th minute, taking his goal tally to 39 for the season, which equals the club record for most goals scored in a season...

The win was also a milestone for Notts County, as it marked their 101st league goal of the season".

Langstaff netted twice in the reverse fixture against Alty back in October, 2022.

The Nottingham Post adds that "101 goals, 94 points, and 39 goals for the season. Notts County's Community Day certainly delivered as another 16,000+ crowd saw first-hand how Luke Williams's side are at the peak of their powers.

In the past five seasons, this Magpies side would have finished top of the National League with the points currently accumulated, but somehow find themselves three points behind leaders Wrexham.

It just goes to show what a freak season this is turning out to be".

Langstaff now has 39 goals this season, following his ninth double of the season against Scunthorpe.

County keeper Sam Slocombe was injured in a collision during the game and had to be replaced by Norwich City loanee Archie Mair.

UNITED'S LOANEES AT ALTY

Ninety-seven percent of Premier League academy players never make a single top-flight appearance... Manchester United’s professional development phase players, however, are finding out about life away from Carrington...

United’s Head of Academy, Nick Cox, says, 'It is about showing the boys the realities of senior football'...

Left: Joe Hugill; right, Maxi Oyedele.

Altrincham... have had a strong relationship with United over many years, hosting matches for their age groups and women’s development side. Since going full-time it has allowed them to take young players into a professional environment. Colin Little, an Altrincham stalwart, works at United’s academy and helped facilitate a move for Dermot Mee, a 20-year-old goalkeeper.

'United were down at every game, coming to Egerton where we train, and I think they realised that our level is better than they expected,' Altrincham’s director of football, Rob Esteva, says... Altrincham... signed three on loan in January, two of whom were not allowed to play immediately as United managed their weekly schedule.

Sonny Aljofree was originally brought in on 'pro experience' but proved he was worthy of signing and awaits his debut. Maxi Oyedele and Joe Hugill are part of the squad that is a game away from Wembley with an FA Trophy semi-final in their schedule".

ALTY OLD BOYS

DAVE PARTON was interviewed in Sunday's NL Paper about his club Congleton Town who face Newport Pagnell in the FA Vase semi-finals next week. The Bears unfortunately lost in the league on Saturday, 1-0 at Litherland REMYCA in the NW Counties Premier.

The third custodian in the news is ADAM REID (left) who kept goal for Irlam, but they also lost, 1-0 at Vauxhall Motors.

Other Alty old boys in action were RYAN SHOTTON who still combines playing and management at Hanley Town. They were at Trafford on Saturday and emerged with a 2-0 win at Shawe View.

Veteran KEVIN ELLISON is still scoring goals; he netted one of City of Liverpool's six in a 1-6 win at Newcastle Town.

Also on the mark was SAM HEATHCOTE who scored for Alty's Cheshire Senior Cup opponents, Runcorn Linnets. But Sam's team lost 1-2 to Clitheroe.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 22-year-old will link up with the side for a second spell after initially joining on loan during the 2021/22 season. However, his stint was cut short due to injury...

At Coventry meanwhile, Billson [has] made one appearance so far for the side. His debut came in the League Cup tie at Gillingham in September 2020".

On Sunday, Glovers Cast reported that "A new Director of Football will join the Yeovil Town set-up on Monday as the club comes under the ownership of SU Glovers, according to Matt Uggla.

The owner-in-waiting has also apologised for any offence he caused during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Bromley...

Uggla said he would learn from mistakes and said he was 'fully behind' Cooper...

He said... 'I’m young and new to this so will make mistakes which I will learn from and maybe should learn to not speak so much in the heat of the moment and in pure frustration... Tomorrow we have our new director of football coming in and I’m excited by working with both him and Mark'....

In his post-match interview, Cooper... said... 'Matt has made it clear he is going to recruit the players he is going to recruit and that’s fair enough; it’s his money and it’s his club.'

[Captain, Josh] Staunton, called for unity in the dressing room and admitted the integration of a number of new arrivals during the heat of a relegation battle had not been easy".

26 March 2022

POST-MATCH VIEWS

"Along with the performance of Josh Lundstram, he and Isaac Marriott are really effective in the middle of the park.

"It was scrappy at times but we did enough. I thought we controlled the game early on but then they started to put it on us and we had to deal with a lot of direct balls".

The match statistics showed Alty recorded no shots on target other than their spot-kick, whilst the Shrimpers produced five shots on target.

Above: Josh Lundstram, left, pointed to potential danger as Alty defended their goal on Saturday.

Their manager Kevin Maher said, "We were on top throughout the game with the chances we created but, let's take luck out of it, if you don't score goals you're susceptible to this happening.

"We knew coming here would be tough, with the conditions. We know what they are about and we made attacking changes but nothing seemed to work".

ALTRINCHAM 1-0 SOUTHEND UNITED

Above: Loanees Luke Burgess (from Oldham Athletic) and Joe Hugill (from Manchester United) both made their home debuts for Altrincham against Southend United on Saturday.

Following a run of six successive away games, Altrincham started a run of three home fixtures on the run on Saturday against Southend United.

Right: James Jones and (foreground) Lewis Baines were at the heart of an Altrincham defence which kept a first league clean sheet in 24 games on Saturday.

In what proved to be a tight game with few real chances, Altrincham secured a 1-0 win thanks to an 80th-minute penalty converted by substitute Regan Linney. Linney had been brought down on the right by-line after good work from fellow substitute, debutant Luke Burgess from Oldham Athletic, who fed the striker.

Powell wasted a good chance to equalise minutes later when Southend substitute and ex-Alty man Dan Mooney presented him with a clear opening. But he dragged his shot wide.

For Southend it was a sixth straight league defeat whilst for Altrincham it was a first league clean sheet in 24 outings.

Match report here.

SOUTHEND VIEW

Prior to Linney’s winner, Blues had hit the post through Ralph and had a great chance for Jack Bridge blocked on the line in the first half, before sub Callum Powell had a great chance to grab a point late on only to drag his effort wide as Southend fell to another defeat.

Blues had been looking to end a miserable run of form which had seen Kevin Maher’s side lose their last five in a row prior to today and the Southend boss made one change from last weekend’s defeat to Aldershot with Harry Taylor coming in for former Altrincham player Dan Mooney.

In a scrappy opening 45 minutes, chances for either side were few and far between in a first half short on quality...

Altrincham looked threatening early after the restart...

Southend then had a couple of opportunities as the ball fell to Gus Scott-Morriss in the area but his effort was charged down before Fonguck snatched at the rebound. Altrincham goalkeeper Ollie Byrne was then required to push away Bridge’s long-range effort as Blues pushed for an opener.

Despite the visitors looking the most likely to score, the game swung the way of Altrincham as they were awarded a penalty with 10 minutes left...

It was a bitter blow for Southend who were staring down the barrel of a sixth defeat in a row by a single goal, but they had a glorious chance to equalise almost instantly as sub Dan Mooney cut the ball back to fellow sub Callum Powell who somehow failed to find the target from close range."

ALTY OLD BOYS

In Australia, CONNOR HAMPSON's Oakleigh Cannons beat Hume City 2-1.

League 2 : TOBY MULLARKEY was substituted with an injury after 74 minutes as Rochdale lost 2-0 at Crawley Town; however JOEL SENIOR's 78th minute withdrawal for Carlisle United in their 1-0 defeat at Gillingham was tactical.

National League : MARCUS DINANGA netted the last two goals, before being substituted late on as Gateshead won 2-3 at Aldershot.

CONNOR JENNINGS equalised for Hartlepool United after 81 minutes to earn a valuable point in a 1-1 home draw against leaders Leyton Orient.

National North : AFC Telford trailed at the interval at Banbury, but LEWIS SALMON equalised and they went on to win 1-2.

CONNOR KIRBY and loanee BRAD JACKSON both found the net as Buxton won 1-4 at Bradford PA.

TOM PEERS and HAYDEN CAMPBELL put Curzon Ashton two goals ahead against visitors Chorley, and they held on to win 2-1.

Finally, in the Northern Premier League, TOM HANNIGAN put through his own goal to give visitors Liversedge United the lead at Warrington Town, but the Wire came back to win 3-1, with JOSH AMIS claiming the second.

NEXT: NOTTS COUNTY

County thumped Scunthorpe United 4-0 on Saturday as they try to chase down leaders Wrexham.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Hunter said, 'I’m honestly aghast at some of the proposals put forward to us by the FA, but particularly the proposal that looks to penalise an injured player and allows clubs to terminate a player’s contract if he receives a long-term injury...

'I simply could not, in good conscience, expect my Manager to ask our players to put their bodies on the line for our Football Club and when their bodies are broken through no fault of their own, then look for loopholes to cancel their contracts... If that’s what the world of football has come to, then I want no part of it. However, I am part of it and someone has to stand with the players and insist that clubs do the right thing and simply say NO to these proposals as a collective.

'In the meantime I have spoken with my players personally and I’ve assured them that while I’m Chairman here they are looked after... We cannot get suitable insurance from people to cover [many] eventualities and the player insurance that we are forced to take from the National League is beyond a joke and is not fit for purpose.

'I’ve met with the league’s hierarchy a number of times over the years, but I gave up in the end, as I got no support from anyone in power to find or create an insurance policy that gave all players at our level decent health cover.

'As such I went and created our own in house player insurance, but that does mean my players have to trust me to always do the honourable thing by them and trust me to look after them when they get long term injuries. I’m more than happy to do that but there are players at other clubs who are not that fortunate and when they really need a club's help, some do not get their operations paid for, x-rays covered, their MRIs dealt with and their consultancy fees paid for, even though they put their bodies on the line for their clubs.

'I feel the FA have misjudged the feeling in this particular room and these talented lads are simply trying to earn an honest living and deserve to be respected within their own industry as they are the entertainment...

'We need to take time out, get round the table and find a sensible solution that we can all sign off on, but if we don’t and the players decide to take action, then I can only support their solidarity', Hunter concluded".

Before Saturday's matches, the Yorkshire Post reported that "York City's trip to Wrexham is a reminder of the rude health the non-league game is in.

The Racecourse Ground is sold out for today’s Conference match, par for the course this season. Their 9,953 average gate is within 500 of the League One figure, and just below Bournemouth's in the Premier League...

In November, 16,511 saw Notts County draw with Yeovil Town and York's 4,692 average only puts them sixth in the division. Eleven Conference North clubs, including Scarborough Athletic, and six in the south average over 1,000.

It shows what York are up against to re-establish themselves in the fifth tier after five seasons out.

'It's probably one of the strongest seasons in this division,' argues manager Michael Morton. 'Two or three are Football League clubs if not League One clubs in terms of the money they're spending and the managers they've got... We've got enough players who've been around the Football League to use their experience and the younger players who want to play at a higher level have got to learn and kick on...

'We're getting big crowds and looking at how it's competing with League Two, it's good for football.'"

One club unlikely to stay in the top-flight of non-League football is the subject of a report from Kent Online which informs us that "Maidstone United manager George Elokobi completed two loan signings on transfer deadline day...

Forwards Ryan Viggars and Ezio Touray arrived at the Gallagher Stadium from Charlton and Watford respectively...

Viggars is in his second season with the Addicks and has represented Wales at under-17, 18 and 19 levels. He... started this season on loan at Needham Market, Maidstone's FA Cup conquerors.

Touray joined Watford from Basingstoke in January and has been a regular in the under-21s at Vicarage Road...

'They’re going to give us a different dimension to our attacking options and hopefully we’ll bed them into the squad as the days go by,' said Elokobi... 'Again, it shows you how hard the backroom staff are working to identify the right talents... When there’s competition, it raises everyone’s game...

' I’m thankful to the board yet again for making this happen because there was no hesitation when the two additions were brought before them. They didn’t blink, it was a straight yes.'"

ALTRINCHAM 1-0 SOUTHEND UNITED

Above: Regan Linney is congratulated by Kyle Ferguson (no.5) and other team-mates on his decisive penalty.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

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

BEFORE TODAY'S MATCH: SOUTHEND UNITED

Alty are likely to include new loan signing, winger Luke Burgess from Oldham Athletic, in their squad for the game. Both teams are in poor league form as Alty have won only one of their last five National League games and the Shrimpers have not won a point at all in the same number of league games.

On the contrary, Southend United "begin a week on the road with a trip to Altrincham...

A recent run of difficult fixtures has taken its toll, and after good performances against Wrexham and Boreham Wood went unrewarded, Aldershot Town took three points away from Roots Hall last time out.

That’s left us facing an uphill task to extend our season beyond the regular 46 matches... After the journey north on Saturday, we go to relegation-threatened Dorking Wanderers and Yeovil Town...

Altrincham continue to go from strength to strength and punch above their weight... They’ve given themselves a great chance of improving on their final position again, as they currently sit in 13th...

Phil Parkinson’s men have only won one in five in the league... They’ve lost a couple of key players in recent months, such as Ryan Colclough and Chris Conn-Clarke, but Tyrese Sinclair (left) has come in from Rochdale and made a good start. Other key Altrincham players include James Jones, Josh Lundstram and Elliot Osborne...

We are yet to lose to the Robins. We picked up a crucial win at the J Davidson Stadium last season... in a 2-1 victory. In Essex, it was another Southend win, this one by two goals to nil... Back in December, it was a 2-2 draw at Roots Hall...

Head coach Kevin Maher [said] 'We had a behind-closed-doors game to get minutes into some lads... We’ve managed to get a good bit of training into them as well and boost their confidence...

'We had a decent draw with Altrincham at our place, so we know the strengths they bring. It’s always a tough place to go'...

Noor Husin is out with the ankle injury that he suffered... at Boreham Wood. Jake Hyde played and scored twice in the behind-closed-doors game on Tuesday and is in contention to be selected, while Collin Andeng Ndi also played in that fixture as he works his way back.

Steven Copeland is the man in the middle for this one...

Blues fans unable to attend The J Davidson Stadium can stream the match live".

The BBC adds that "Kevin Maher believes they can still achieve success this season despite being unable to sign any new players...

'We go into Saturday full throttle and see if we can pick something up there to take us on to Tuesday... Yes, we can still achieve something this year.'"

50 UP TODAY?

The recent record for the number of players used by Alty came in the 2016/17 season when 53 players were named in matches across all competitions, with 50 appearing in league squads.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 25 MARCH

ALTY WOMEN'S NEWS

This Sunday 26th March sees Altrincham host the NWWRFL Division 1 South leaders Bury AFC at Mersey Valley FC".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

We received the news shortly after the passing of the player registration deadline and, on the subject of transfers, Luke Williams and our board of directors have issued the following message to supporters.

It reads... 'While the timing of this news means it would have been impossible for us to replace him, it’s unlikely we would have done due to the positive progress of Cedwyn Scott, who is nearing a return to action, along with Junior Morias’s improving condition.

'When you also consider that Sam Slocombe and Richard Brindley are available to us once again, and that Aden Baldwin and Jodi Jones will be back with us soon, we have no concerns as we head into this crucial run of matches...

'While the departure of Connor is of course disappointing, with only Tobi Adebayo-Rowling expected to be out for a significant period we feel we are well equipped to attack the remaining games'".

Maidstone United report that "George Elokobi is Maidstone United’s new manager. After a spell as caretaker boss, he’s been entrusted to lead the team for the remainder of this season and the 2023/24 campaign.

The 37-year-old... [has] been at the Gallagher Stadium since the summer of 2019, where he captained the team for three seasons. He brought a distinguished 20-year playing career to an end last May...

Alongside his first-team commitments, he worked at the club’s football academy for three years....

Club chief executive Bill Williams said 'I know I speak on behalf of the board in saying how delighted we are to appoint George as our first-team manager. It goes without saying that this season has not panned out in the way we’d hoped and there has been a lot of soul-searching behind the scenes. As caretaker-manager the performances under George have been encouraging, when you consider the squad he inherited and the horrendous injury list.

'We can’t change what’s happened this season but we can focus on the future and aim to bounce back strongly'...

George said... 'I know we can only get better and get back to our winning ways... My plan is to rebuild and bring back the success Maidstone United FC thoroughly deserves.'

Maidstone United’s new manager was born in Cameroon, spending his childhood years in the African country before moving to England when he was 16. Dulwich Hamlet gave him his break in football and it wasn’t long before he was picked up by Colchester United.

Four years later came the dream move to Wolves where, during a six-year stay, he won League One and Championship titles and played in Premier League... He entered the non-league game with Leyton Orient and Aldershot Town, from where he moved to Maidstone".

Gateshead "confirm that midfielder Stephen Wearne has joined Gateshead on a free transfer.

Wearne joined the Mariners ahead of the current campaign and made ten appearances in all competitions for the Club.

He had a spell away from the Mariners on loan at Torquay United in the National League earlier this season.

The move sees Wearne move back towards his roots in the north-east...

Manager Paul Hurst said 'Stevie’s keen to try get some games between now and the end of the season so we have agreed to that. It hasn’t quite worked out for him here and he obviously had a loan spell at Torquay where he did quite well and then came back'".

24 March 2023

NEXT: SOUTHEND UNITED

Right: Dan Mooney in his Altrincham days.

Altrincham FC have announced that there will be plenty of off-field activity at Moss Lane before the game takes place on Saturday.

The match may also see the return of former Alty favourite Dan Mooney, who opted to join the Shrimpers last summer. It has not been a bed of roses for Mooney since joining Southend as the club has been shrouded in controversy over its non-payment of debts and of employees' salaries. And the Shrimpers have lost their last five games, despite remaining above Alty in the league table.

And for Mooney himself, injuries and form have restricted him to a stop-start season in which he has made 25 appearances for Southend but has scored just twice.

Since the 2-2 draw with Alty in the reverse fixture at Roots Hall this season, when he completed 82 minutes, Mooney missed the next six fixtures, then played in four matches but in none of them for more than for 34 minutes. His most recent five games have seen him miss one game altogether and then play four consecutive games but each was of fewer than 90 minutes' duration, though last time out he completed 85 minutes.

WINGER JOINS ALTY ON LOAN

"The Liverpool-born winger, who turned 24 earlier this month... brings with him the added bonus of also being able to operate in the number 10 role.

After starting out in the youth system at Everton, he signed for Wigan Athletic in 2013... After three seasons in and around Wigan's first team, including loan spells at Chorley and Barrow, he joined Salford in January 2020...

After a loan spell with AFC Fylde, he returned to the Ammies in October 2020... Oldham snapped him up on a two-year contract last July".

Whilst Burgess, (born 3 March 1999), has not played for Altrincham previously, he has played against them. That was when he was at AFC Fylde as The Coasters won an Emirates FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round match 2-1 on 25 October, 2020.

His previous appearances at Step Six or higher of English football comprise:

• At Chorley 1 NLN game
• At Barrow 25 NL games
• At Salford City 14 EFL2 games
• At AFC Fylde 1 NL game
• At Oldham Athletic, 7(+4) appearances and one goal scored this season.

31 "DEBUTANTS" THIS SEASON, SO FAR

Right: Regan Linney is one of the debutants for Altrincham this season

That extraordinary total comprises 21 players who had never played for Altrincham in a league match before this season and 10 others who have returned to the club in 2022-23 after previous spells at the club, mostly as loanees in their first spell at Moss Lane.

The 21 debutants have been Baines, Barrows, Bennett (loanee), Brockbank, Burgess, Byrne, Cashman (loanee), Goodson, Gyasi (loanee), Hugill (loanee), Hussain, Jennings (loanee), Kaja, Linney, Malone (loanee), Mee (loanee), Quitirna (loanee), Roxburgh, Samizadeh, Sinclair (loanee) and Welch-Hayes (loanee).

The ten who have made a second or third debut in 2022-23 after not being Alty employees at the end of last season are Conn-Clarke, Cooper, Ferguson, Harrison, Hulme, Eddy Jones, James Jones, Lundstram, Newby and Perritt. An eleventh player, Bennett, has made a second "debut" within 2022-23 season, having completed one loan period before commencing a second loan recently.

Two other players, Eden Bailey and loanee Sonny Aljofree, have been signed but have not yet made their debuts in a league squad.

The only season in recent times to have exceeded the above number of debutants at Altrincham was 2016/17 when new manager Neil Young's recruitment of numerous players led to additional signings by his successor, Jim Harvey, and then by Matt Doughty and Robbie Lawton as they sought to rescue a disastrous season.

KYLE REMAINS, JAKE REMAINS AWAY

Left, Kyle Ferguson and right, Jake Cooper.

On a busy day at the J. Davidson Stadium, Altrincham have announced changes affecting two centre-backs.

Altrincham FC confirms that "defensive lynchpin Kyle Ferguson will remain at The J.Davidson Stadium for the rest of the season.

At the same time, fellow-defender Jake Cooper will continue to benefit from valuable minutes in the middle by extending his loan at Darlington and staying with them for the remainder of their Vanarama National League North campaign".

So far this season, Cooper has made 12(+2) appearances for Altrincham and scored one goal; Ferguson has made 4(+1) appearances during his current loan.

GOODSON JOINS SPENNYMOOR ON LOAN

He made nine appearances in total".

And, now, Altrincham FC confirm that "Highly-rated young Altrincham forward Zak Goodson (left) is to continue his development at Spennymoor Town after joining the Vanarama National League North club on loan for the rest of the season.

The 22-year old, renowned as a clinical finisher, has been honing his skills on loan at Boston United but recently returned to Alty, where he has been training with the rest of the senior squad".

Footnote: Zak Goodson has made one sub appearance for Alty in the National League and 1(+2) appearances in cup competitions. Zak joined Alty in August 2022 for an undisclosed fee from NPL club Ilkeston Town, having joined the Derbyshire club in May, 2020.

Injury delayed his Alty debut until October when he started in the Cheshire Senior Cup at Sandbach, and he scored in that first outing. However, on 28 October 20222 it was announced that Zak was going on loan to Boston United until 27th November. However, in his debut game on 29 October, Zak unfortunately suffered a fractured wrist which curtailed that arrangement.

After recovering, he played a crucial role on his comeback as a used substitute inthe FA Trophy tie against Wrexham in January 2023. Zak netted the equaliser which led to a shoot-out and he netted his spot-kick in that finale. On 21 January it was announced that Zak had returned to Boston for a further loan but on 18 March the Pi;grims announced that he had been recalled.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 25 MARCH

Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years records reveal that Alty's most recent game on this coming Saturday's date was a 2-1 reverse at Bradford (Park Avenue), in the 2016-17 relegation season from the National League North.

However, the last time Alty won a game on this Saturday's date was back in 2001, in Alty's first season after relegation from their second releagtaion from the Conference, when the Robins trounced Accrington Stanley 5-2.

Following the sacking of manager Mark Ward, that match witnessed not only the Second Coming of Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote as Altrincham's management team but also the Third Coming of striker Dickie Landon, who had returned from Vauxhall Motors to be named as substitute.

Left: Altrincham captain, Steve Hawes.

After an impressive first-half display by Altrincham which produced a three-goal lead, Accrington improved on their poor first 45 minutes to claw the score back to 3-2 with the help of a debatable penalty.

Rod Thornley notched a hat-trick; his first after just 47 seconds. Finney added the second after 13 minutes before Thornley scored his second shortly before the interval. Carden converted a penalty after 68 minutes and then Coleman scored from a free-kick nine minutes from the end.

A fairer margin was restored when Adam Farley strode through the Stanley defence to notch his first goal for the Robins with a minute to go. There was still time, however, for Thornley to be chopped down for a penalty which he converted to earn his hat-trick.

Alty moved up to fifth place in the UniBond (Northern) Premier League but they finished the season in eighth place.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN , 2. Jason GALLAGHER, 3. Steve PORTER, 4. Terry BOWKER, 5. Adam FARLEY, 6. Steve HAWES (capt.), 7. Danny MURPHY, 8. Ian CRANEY, 9. Steve FINNEY, 10. Rod THORNLEY, 11. Paul EDWARDS, Subs: 12. Gary SCOTT, 14. Richard LANDON, 15. Keith MAIRS.

Right: Mark Ward, in Alty colours. He was Alty manager in 2000/01

They were tumultuous times at Altrincham in 2000/01.

• 4 March 2000 - Alty lay tenth in Conference, despite the 1999 sale of Paul Ellender to Scarborough and the resignation in December 1999 of assistant manager Graham Heathcote, a move occasioned by the arrival of former manager, Stan Allan, as Director of Football.
• 5 May 2000 - Alty were relegated to Unibond Premier on the last day of the season.
• Summer 2000 - Bernard Taylor resigned and Mark Ward was appointed as the new manager.
• Summer 2000 - Departure of players, including captain Chris Timons, Mick Morrell and Simeon Hodson.
• September 2000 - "Player of the Year" Danny Adams sold to Macclesfield for £25,000.
• January 2001 - Gerry Berman resigned as Chairman as a Winding-Up Order was threatened.
• February 2001 - Players off-loaded to save money- including Kevin Ellison to Leicester City for £50,000 and captain Gary Talbot to Northwich Vics.
• 17 March 2001 - Alty recorded their best win of 2001 against Droylsden.
• 18 March 2001 - Mark Ward reported to have been sacked.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Thanks in part to funds raised from the Supporters’ Trust’s 'Boost the Budget' campaign, Interim Manager Michael Morton completed the signing of the striker Danny Rowe.

Rowe is best remembered for his years at AFC Fylde where he was prolific in the Vanarama National League, scoring 57 league goals in 119 games.

He went on to play in the Football League with Oldham Athletic and Bradford City, before joining Chesterfield in 2020".

We learn from the Evening Standard that "Ben Foster has ended his retirement to join Wrexham in a shock move.

The former England goalkeeper, 39, will return to the Racecourse Ground on a short-term contract until the end of the season.

Wrexham had been searching for a new ‘keeper after first-choice custodian Rob Lainton suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s 2-1 win at Bromley... Scans later revealed ligament damage that will keep him sidelined for approximately six weeks...

Foster... retired from football following his release by relegated Watford last summer... However... [he] has now been enticed back into the game... having initially enjoyed a successful loan stint with the Welsh club back in 2005. He made 21 appearances for Wrexham during that spell".

Other moves before the new signing deadline were:

• Aldershot Town Jai Rowe from Scunthorpe United on a free transfer.
• Barnet Emmanuel Fernandez on loan from Peterborough United.
• FC Halifax Town Max Wright from Harrogate Town on loan
• Maidenhead United extended loan of Harry Panayiotou from Aldershot Town until the end of the season.
• Scunthorpe United sent Elliot Whitehouse to Chester FC on loan.
• Torquay United signed ex-EFL forward Frank Nouble
• Wealdstone brought in Lewis Simper on a loan deal from Cambridge United and converted loanee Charles Clayden into a signing from Charlton Athletic.
• Woking took Charlie Wakefield on loan from Yeovil Town and re-signed Charlie O’Connell on loan from Peterborough United.
• Yeovil Town Miguel Freckleton on loan from Sheffield United

GYASI GOES TOO

Like Cashman, Gyasi's loan was a planned "season-lomg" arrnagement but he had very little game time at Altrincham.

His arrival at Moss Lane was announced on 16 January 2023 but the left-winger did not make his debut until three games after that date, on 28 January against Boreham Wood at Moss Lane.

He had joined Chesterfield from King’s Lynn in December 2020 from where he had spent a period on loan at Dover Athletic

Michael made just two starts and two further appearances from the bench for Altrincham and was an unused sub in a fifth matchday squad. In total, his playing time added up to less than the equivalent to two full ninety-minute games.

CASHMAN RETURNS TO COVENTRY

Danny's close control and composure on the ball were a feature of his time at The J.Davidson Stadium after he arrived at Alty at the end of January...

Right: Danny Cashman

Though only just turned 22, he'd had experience of League football, following extended loan spells with Rochdale and Walsall, and it shone through in the course of five starts and four [three actually] appearances as substitute for the Robins".

The Coventry Telegraph adds that "Danny Cashman has cut short his loan spell at non-league Altrincham FC just over a month after joining the club.

The 22-year-old joined the National League side on transfer deadline day in January with a view to stay until the end of the season following his recall from League Two Walsall where he struggled to get game time during the first half of the campaign...

He is expected to continue his development in the Sky Blues Under-21s for the remainder of the season rather than be sent out anywhere else.

The young front man signed for the Sky Blues in the summer of 2021, joining on a free transfer after being released by Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion. He was sent straight out on loan to Rochdale where he spent the 2021/22 season.

Manager Mark Robins said recently 'He has got some talent, as he showed with the goal he scored the other day in the 21s, but he needs to go out and... find a level where he is playing regularly in men’s football, so that’s his next step.'”

Footnote: Cashman's Altrincham debut came at home to Wrexham on 4 February 2023 but that was to be the only match in which he completed ninety minutes for the club. He was named in 11 matchday squads, nine in the league, but on three occasions he was an unused substitute and only five times did he complete more than 10 minutes of action (excluding added-time). His total pitch time barely equated to four ninety-minute matches.

NEXT: SOUTHEND UNITED

The Shrimpers' defender Gus Scott-Morriss can expect to play on the Moss Lane pitch twice this week as he, just like Alty's Josh Lundstram was in the England C team which beat Wales 1-0 at The J. Davidson Stadiuem on Tuesday night.

Southend United add that "Gus Scott-Morriss played the full 90 minutes for England C... at the J Davidson Stadium.

Our number two was named as one of 16 representatives from the Vanarama National League to take on the best of the JD Cymru Premier...

Scott-Morriss put in an assured performance, and afterwards said 'The experience was great. There was a real buzz about the whole camp... the lads and the manager were top class... The pitch was very tricky, there was a lot of rain and it cut up in the second half...

'It was difficult to a certain extent because I didn’t know many of the lads, but at the same time, everyone made sure we got on with it and we prepared as best we could...

'It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in football'".

FAMILIAR FACES RETURN TO MOSS LANE

Right: Jake Moult.

At the end of last season, Jake and five of his team-mates listed above said their goodbyes to the club, along with fellow ex-Robin Connor Hampson, who would likely have appeared had he not emigrated to Oakleigh Cannons FC in Australia.

On Sunday, April 30th, (at 1pm) the lads are due to attend the testimonial in varying capacities to honour one of the great servants of Alty's recent history...

Tickets to see Altrincham XI and Jake Moult XI battle it out... cost just £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Aldershot Town v Gateshead
• Altrincham v Southend United
• Boreham Wood v Eastleigh
• Chesterfield v FC Halifax Town
• Dorking Wanderers v Maidenhead United
• Maidstone United v Woking
• Notts County v Scunthorpe United
• ham Athletic v Solihull Moors
• Torquay United v Dagenham & Redbridge
• Wealdstone v Barnet
• Wrexham v York City
• Yeovil Town v Bromley

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

As happened last season, the champions are automatically promoted to League Two. The next six clubs qualify for the play-offs with those finishing fourth to seventh playing each other to determine which two clubs face the teams that finish second and third in the regular season.

• Eliminator A – Tuesday, May 2 - 5th vs 6th
• Eliminator B – Wednesday, May 3 - 4th vs 7th
• Semi-final 1 – Sunday, May 7 - 2nd vs Eliminator A Winner
• Semi-final 2 – Sunday, May 7 - 3rd vs Eliminator B Winner
• Final – Saturday, May 13 at Wembley .

As things stand the top seven clubs, in descending order, are Wrexham, Notts County, Woking, Chesterield, Barnet, Eastleigh and Boreham Wood with there being six-point gap to eighth-placed Wealdstone.

Yeovil Town "announce the signing of Callum Harriott on a short-term deal with an option to an additional year...

Starting his career with Charlton Athletic, he rose through the academy to the first team, where he scored a total of 11 goals in the Championship.

After a short, but successful loan spell with Colchester United to get some more minutes, he was snapped up by Reading... He made a total of 30 appearances for the Royals, finding the back of the net four times.

He later returned to Colchester on a permanent basis, where he enjoyed the most prolific season of his career...

This season, Harriott spent a short spell with League Two side Gillingham, where he made four appearances".

Also, Yeovil Town "announce the signing of Zanda Siziba from Ipswich Town on a permanent transfer.

The 19-year-old arrived in Somerset this week and signed a two-year deal at Huish Park.

The tricky winger started his career within the youth system at Dagenham & Redbridge, before being picked up by Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. In 2019, he made the switch to Suffolk to join the Ipswich Town youth system".

According to York Press, "The Vanarama National League has caused uproar amongst players following a changing of rule to contracts belonging to players suffering from injuries.

A change in rule now means that an injured player will only receive their wages for 12 weeks, six weeks if it is a Vanarama National League North or South player, and that if a player remains injured after this period of time, the club can reduce their wages until they regain fitness again.

The club can opt against this if they choose to pay their player their full wages after the initial 12 or six week period...

Boreham Wood forward Tyrone Marsh brought the rule change to light, taking to Twitter and saying 'This is an absolute shambles... We are humans, who have families to look after not a puppet to entertain. What are you possibly thinking? This isn’t ok and will never be ok. Something needs to be done asap…!'

Yeovil Town club captain Josh Staunton has quickly shown his support for Marsh and has rallied together the captains of 20 other clubs involved in the National League and the North and South division...

Staunton said on Twitter 'We currently have 20 of the National League’s captains in contact with one another representing our team mates in hope of getting this matter resolved, allowing players to step foot onto the pitch next year without having to worry the risk of injury could financially cripple them.'"

Another EFL regular player has joined Wrexham as the club announces "the signing of striker Billy Waters from Barrow for an undisclosed fee.

The experienced forward, 28, has signed a contract until the end of the 2024/25 season.

Waters has scored nine goals in 32 league games for Barrow in League Two this season, helping The Bluebirds to tenth place...

Waters said... 'The gaffer has brought me in to add quality to the team and hopefully help win promotion'...

Waters is a product of the Crewe Alexandra youth academy... After 30 appearances for Crewe, he signed for Cheltenham Town in 2015... [He] earned a move to Northampton Town, where he spent three seasons, before dropping back into the National League with Torquay for the 2020/21 season... before a move to FC Halifax Town in the summer... netting 19 times in 47 games in all competitions...

Waters followed manager Pete Wild to Barrow... He arrives at Wrexham having made more than 300 professional appearances, scoring 68 goals...

Manager Phil Parkinson said... 'We were looking for another striker and Billy fits the criteria... He always looks dangerous around the penalty box... Strikers are so important, you can never have enough in the building'".

ALTY GET A SCOREBOARD

The new scoreboard was installed by LEDsynergy and will be situated in the corner between the ‘Popular Side’ and The Venditan Terrace away end.

Coming just weeks after we announced Add People as our latest club sponsors, the installation celebrates the beginning of what we know will be a positive and beneficial relationship with our Moss Lane neighbours. The installation would not have been possible without their generosity in covering the cost of the work, and so our gratitude goes to them for all of their help and support on this project.

Peter Marshall, Chief Marketing Officer at Add People comments: “Our aim is for the scoreboard to become a distinct feature within the stadium - improving the match day experience and increasing the commercial opportunities for the club and local businesses".

CSC GAME RE-ARRANGED

So, when a Cheshire Senior Cup game's date clashed with a league fixture, it was always the CSC game which would get priority.

But, now, that hiererachy seems to have changed as Altrincham FC confirm that "A new date has been agreed for Altrincham's Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final, with the Robins now travelling to Runcorn Linnets on Tuesday April 4th.

The tie was originally due to take place on Tuesday March 28th but had to be rescheduled when the league ruled that Alty's rearranged home game with Notts County had to go ahead on that date."

ENGLAND C 1-0 CYMRU C

Altrincham's Josh Lundstram (right) was in the starting eleven for a match which was generally a fairly low-key affair.

The teams, as per the teamsheet, were:

ENGLAND C: 1. Sam Howes, 2. Gus Scott-Morris, 3. Vincent Harper, 4. Kenton Richardson, 5. Tyler Cordner (c), 6. Regan Booty, 7. Josh Lundstram, 8. Ryan De Havilland, 9. Joe Nuttall, 10. Emile Acquah, 11. Joe Sbarra. subs: 12. Jesse Debrah, 13. Harrison Male, 14. Harry Phipps. 15. James Vennings, 16. Oliver Dyson.

CYMRU C: 1. Alex Ramsay, 3. Mael Davies, 4. Kayne Owen, 5. Emlyn Lewis (c), 6. Danny Davies, 7. Ryan Sears, 9. Tom Price, 10. Leo Smith, 11. Clayton Green, 13. Kane McClaggan, 15. Sam Jones. Subs: 12. Connor Roberts, 2. Aeron Edwards, 14. Nathan Wood, 16. Ben Ahmun, 17. Josh Williams, 18. Lee Jenkins, 19. Sion Bradley, 20. Gwion Dafydd

NEXT: SOUTHEND UNITED

Southend United reported on Tuesday that "Today, The FA’s Contract Disputes Tribunal decided that Kacper can leave the Club.

We sought to appeal the earlier decision (made by the National League) in order to protect the Club’s interests, and whilst we are disappointed with today’s outcome, we respect the Tribunal’s decision and we will not be pursuing the matter further".

The background is explained by the Echo News which tells us that "The FA hearing into Kacper Lopata’s departure from Southend United has gone the way of the defender.

Lopata handed in his notice at the Shrimpers following a ‘serious breach of contract’ which saw him having to wait an extra 28 days for his January wages.

The initial hearing, held with the National League, also went the way of Lopata but Blues opted to appeal against the decision.

However, that has now also gone against Blues, with Lopata taking to social media to write: Kasp 2, Ron 0. [Ron is the club owner]...

The 21-year-old made 44 appearances in total, scoring one goal".

On Tuesday, Echo News also reported that "Southend United have a behind closed doors clash at Leyton Orient this afternoon...

Goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi, who has been out with a hamstring issue since November, is expected to play along with striker Jake Hyde.

Hyde has missed the last fives games with a hamstring injury of his own... Left-back Tom Clifford, midfielder Jon Benton and striker Henry Sandat are all likely to be involved">

ALTY OLD BOYS

RECRUITMENT AT ALTY'S TROPHY OPPONENTS

From Calderdale, the Halifax Courier reports that "Town boss Chris Millington says he is hopeful that deals for two loan signings could go through in the next 24 hours.

'We're just waiting on the parent clubs in both cases to get back to us today,' Millington told the Courier [on Tuesday]... If they both get agreed then it should be within 24 hours'.

Both signings would be eligible for the FA Trophy, including any potential final...

The Town boss also said there are no departures on the horizon ahead of this Thursday's 5pm transfer deadline".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Lainton was taken off at half-time in Saturday's 2-1 win away to Bromley after feeling discomfort in his knee...

The 33-year-old goalkeeper has now had a scan on the knee, which has confirmed a knee ligament injury".

At the other end of the table, Scunthorpe United "have completed the signing of experienced midfielder Dean Rance from Dagenham & Redbridge until the end of the season, with the option of a further year.

The 31 year-old joins having [sic] made 32 appearances for the Daggers this term and scored in their fixture against the Iron at Glanford Park back in February.

The former Gillingham trainee has plied his trade with Dover Athletic, Aldershot Town and Ebbsfleet United, where he made over 200 appearances in a six-year spell.

He had spent three years at the Daggers prior to his move to Scunthorpe, making around 100 appearances.

Also Derby County "midfielder Liam Thompson is eager to impress during his loan spell with Scunthorpe United.

The 20 year-old joined the Irons on loan until the end of the National League campaign on Tuesday...

The midfielder has found game time hard to come by in recent weeks".

At Yeovil, Gloverscast reports that "Winger Callum Harriott and midfielder Zanda Siziba have arrived at Yeovil Town as they seek to bolster their injury-hit squad...

The pair were announced by owner-in-waiting Matt Uggla on social media after he said at the weekend that he was looking to bring in four signings before the deadline for registering players closes on Thursday.

Harriott left League Two side Gillingham at the end of February having only made four appearances this season... whilst Siziba has featured only twice for Ipswich, both in the Papa John’s Trophy."

NEXT: SOUTHEND UNITED

The Shrimpers have lost their last five games and, after their latest defeat, Southend United reported that "Rhys Murphy said the feeling of scoring his first goal of the season on Saturday was tinged with disappointment after the match ended in defeat.

The striker had put Blues ahead against Aldershot Town, but two goals from the visitors after he was substituted saw the Shots take all three points...

Murphy said... 'We were potentially a little bit lucky to go in 1-0 at half-time, then two quick goals and we’ve lost the game. It’s bitterly disappointing and there’s a lot that we need to rectify.

'I can’t remember the last time I started two games in a row, so from a personal point of view, that was positive...

'When you lose a few games, confidence does drop. You maybe start second guessing yourselves or you don’t play as freely as you do when you’re winning games. Sometimes it can take an ugly win to get back into a run of form or just a bit of luck...

'We said on Friday that we want to win, and we’ve lost another game, at home from a winning position, so it doesn’t get much worse... We need to dust ourselves down, take a look at the positives and what we need to be working on in preparation for the next game'".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Notts' 1-1 draw at Barnet left them three points behind National League leaders Wrexham... but Williams told BBC Radio Nottingham... 'The title race is not realistic any more for us. Even if we win there, we still can't close the gap enough for it to be realistic'...

Wrexham... have won eight of their past 10 league matches and have a game in hand on Notts...

Williams described the 1-1 result against Barnet as feeling 'like a loss' and said the second-half performance was 'terrible'...

'We are preparing to make sure we win the rest of our fixtures and see what happens after that... We just have to focus now on making sure that we have no sulking, no victim mentality, and that we play ferocious[ly]'".

At the other end of the table, Scunthorpe United "confirm centre-back Will Smith's loan stay from Harrogate Town has been extended until the end of the season.

Scoring three goals in six appearances since joining last month, the 24-year-old has made a real positive impact at Glanford Park.

He's netted in each of the Iron's last three games, against Altrincham, Solihull Moors and Wealdstone...

Smith said... 'I think it's gone well so far. I've loved playing again after being out with injury prior to coming here. I also enjoy being part of this group, as I feel we're building up good relationships'".

"On Tuesday, 21 March 2023, Mole Valley District Council’s Cabinet will be considering a report concerning the recommendation to approve, in principle and subject to contract, the exchange of the Meadowbank Stadium freehold to Dorking Wanderers Football Club...

The offer Dorking Wanderers Football Club made to Mole Valley District Council is to purchase the freehold of the area of land which comprises, in broad terms, Meadowbank Stadium, the soft play and café facilities and Surrey County Football Association’s offices. The offer has generated considerable public interest both for and against...

If the decision made by Cabinet is to accept the offer from Dorking Wanderers Football Club in principle, this will trigger a period of legal, financial and technical due diligence by MVDC officers and Dorking Wanderers Football Club. The matter will then be ultimately decided by Cabinet at a future meeting".

According to Kent Online "Maidstone United caretaker manager George Elokobi is looking to add to his squad before this week’s transfer deadline.

Elokobi is working with head of recruitment Zach Foster-Crouch and the board to identify potential targets.

He’s been backed all the way in his recruitment since taking the reins, signing the likes of Sam Bone, Mamadou Jobe, Mark Marshall, Josh Shonibare and[ex-Alty man] Kevin Berkoe.

The non-league deadline for registering new players is Thursday...

Said Elokobi, 'Our head of recruitment, myself, the club, we’re always looking to strengthen.

'It’s very important we stay patient and if the right fit is available, the board has not disappointed me. They’ve backed every signing that I’ve asked them to do, so they’re not going to stop now.'

Maidstone sold top scorer Jack Barham to Aldershot for an undisclosed fee last week.

Elokobi doesn’t anticipate anyone else leaving before the deadline. 'Unless someone wants to,' he said...

It made sense all round for Maidstone to sell Barham... He wanted to stay in the National League and after turning down a new deal, it was best for player and club to make the deal happen.

Elokobi said... 'We offered him a good deal. In terms of Maidstone’s standards it was a very good deal... He’s one of the real reasons why we are in the National League in the first place. His contributions were immense last season and this season and it’s worked out best for both parties.'"

Meanwhile at Aldeshot Town, the Echo News tells us that "Aldershot Town boss Ross McNeilly feared it was not going to be his side’s day before they fought back to beat Southend United.

Shots ended a seven match winless streak with a 2-1 victory at Roots Hall....

We learn from Devon Live that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson said 'You know me, I tell the truth' after the 1-1 draw at Gateshead yesterday, which saw the team slip from 22nd to 23rd in the National League relegation zone, but also go a point closer to the safety zone, with nine games now to go.

In front of an incredible 173 Torquay fans, almost 400 miles from Plainmoor, the Gulls were hit by a Marcus Dinanga goal in the 43rd minute, but a fierce volley by Kieron Evans in the 70th minute, after some good work down the right by new boy Jack Stobbs, made it 1-1...

Beforehand, with Gateshead only three points above Torquay, It felt like a must-win, with the Gulls seven points clear in the drop zone but afterwards Johnson was keen to stress... 'It was a point gained', he said...

Johnson then listed the players that weren't fully fit, and included Lovett, who hadn't played a game since October.... He cited Stobbs, Moxey, Brett McGavin and Kevin Dawson, and more, as players who were playing while not fully fit...

'So let's not get too downhearted, you know me... We are not at the top of our game because of six or seven people that have not played enough, or normally trained enough to play a game at this level'".

20 March 2023

NEXT: SOUTHEND UNITED

The Echo News reports that "Southend United head coach Kevin Maher will continue to focus on just football amid Ron Martin’s plans to move on.

Chairman Martin has announced he is ‘commencing a formal process to explore the sale of the club’ after 25 years in charge...

'My only focus is the football,' said Maher. 'It hasn’t been good enough today and the last few games so that has to be my focus'".

ALTY SQUAD NUMBERS

When Joe Hugill started as a debutant recently for Altrincham, wearing no.39 on his shirt, his was the highest shirt-number ever worn by an Alty player in a league match squad, either as a starter or a substitute.

As for the previous record holder of the highest shirt number, curiously that was actually assigned in the first ever season of squad numbers for Altrincham players, when Ged Murphy wore number 37, despite no other player having a number above 28.

The highest squad number in a league matchday squad in campaigns that Altrincham have used squad numbers is listed below

• 2005/06 No.37 Ged Murphy (pictured, right)
• 2006/07 No.22 Andy Scott
• 2007/08 No.25 Liam King
• 2008/09 No.26 Rod Thornley
• 2009/10 No.27 Ryan Brown
• 2010/11 No.31 Ashley Woods
• 2014/15 No.26 Jordan Sinnott
• 2015/16 No.28 Marcus Holness
• 2020/21 No.36 Connor Kirby
• 2021/22 No.36 Connor Kirby.
• 2022/23 No.39 Joe Hugill

This season (at least) 45 different players have been assigned a squad number and 39 of them have been named in a league matchday squad as of 19 March 2023.

27 of those players remain at the club or have been sent out on loan. 12 others have left the club. (At least) six other players have been assigned squad numbers but have not been named in a league squad this season; they comprise the injured Matty Kosylo, Eden Bailey and four Academy graduates.

Another record-breaking feature this season has been the re-use of squad numbers during the season with no fewer than ten numbers being assigned to more than one player or to the same player twice during the season to date.

Had this not happened, and every player named in a league matchday squad had been assigned a different number sequentially, the highest shirt number would currently be (at least) 45.

The reused numbers are:

• 5. Toby MULLARKEY then Kyle FERGUSON
• 11. Ryan COLCLOUGH then Danny CASHMAN,
• 16. Chris CONN-CLARKE then Armando Junior QUITIRNA
• 27. Aaron BENNETT (both spells) [pictured, right]
• 28. Alex SAMIZADEH then Maxi OYEDELE
• 29. Dermot MEE then Regan LINNEY
• 30. Marcus DINANGA then Harry PERRITT
• 31. Dan MALONE then Michael GYASI
• 34. Byron HARRISON then Miles WELCH-HAYES
• 35. Connor JENNINGS then Tyrese SINCLAIR

ALTY OLD BOYS

CONNOR HAMPSON'S Oakleigh Cannons were held to a 1-1 draw in their away match at St.Albans. Their hosts were reduced to 10 men in the first half, but still managed to come from behind late on to share the points. Oakleigh drop to 3rd in the league.

19 March 2023

POST-MATCH INTERVIEW

EASTLEIGH 3-2 ALTRINCHAM

However, Alty got back into things after 29 minutes when keeper McDonnell could only push away an Eddy Jones shot and Hulme headed home the loose ball to make it 2-1.

But the curse of the corners struck again when Eastleigh scored from one as Byrne did not come for the ball at the near post and James Jones was unable to head it clear. Maghoma was left with a simple conversion to make it 3-1 (75 mins).

With the game petering out Alty scored as Eddy Jones netted after McDonnell again pushed out a shot, this time from Linney (90+4 mins). The Spitfires survived a strong penalty appeal for hands after that but they held out for a 3-2 win.

Match report here.

ALTY OLD BOYS

"We begin this evening in Ireland.

Waterford cruised to a 2-0 lead over visitors Bray midway through the first half, but CHRIS CONN-CLARKE was sent off in the 28th minute after picking up two yellow cards. BARRY BAGGLEY was one of the other seven Waterford players to see yellow as the visitors made the most of their man advantage to pull back for a 2-2 draw

Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE came on after an hour for Millwall at home to relegation threatened Huddersfield Town, but the visitors surprisingly scored the only goal of the game soon afterwards

League 1 : OWEN DALE was introduced in the 59th minute with his Portsmouth side a goal up at Bristol Rovers, and they went on to win 0-2.

League 2 : CONNOR JENNINGS was credited with the opening assist as Hartlepool United upset the form book at Valley Parade, leading twice before Bradford City forced a 2-2 draw

JOEL SENIOR played the full game for Carlisle United, while CARL PIERGIANNI, who was booked, did likewise for visitors Stevenage. The match ended goalless.

CHRIS MERRIE also put in a full shift at Prenton Park, but could not help Tranmere Rovers avoid a 1-3 defeat by Newport County.

TOBY MULLARKEY was booked in the 94th minute as Rochdale shared the points in an eight goal thriller with visitors Swindon Town.

It is to be hoped Toby hadn't been tasked with marking Charlie Austin, as the former Premier League striker scored all four of the visitors' goals.

BILLY SASS-DAVIES has gone on loan to Woking from Crewe Alexandra. He has come on as a substitute in their last two games.

National League : RYAN COLCLOUGH was substituted after 80 minutes as Chesterfield won 0-1 at Woking.

MARCUS DINANGA put Gateshead a goal up, but visitors Torquay United forced a 1-1 draw.

DAN MOONEY was substituted after 86 minutes as Southend United, who had led for over the game, fell to a surprise 1-2 home defeat against Aldershot.

National North : MONTEL GIBSON opened the scoring for AFC Telford, but visitors Curzon Ashton took control to build a two goal lead, with TOM PEERS scoring their third goal. The game finished 2-3.

NPL : THEO BAILEY-JONES was sent off with his Stalybridge Celtic side a goal up at Morpeth. They eventually lost 3-2."

18 March 2023

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

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

NEW LEAGUE DATES FOR SEMI-FINALISTS

Altrincham FC confirm that their "fixture with Notts County has been rescheduled for Tuesday March 28th, meaning our Cheshire Senior Cup tie with Runcorn Linnets will now have to be rearranged".

And the opposition FC Halifax Town also report that "the home game against Aldershot Town has been rearranged for Tuesday 28th March, 7.45pm kick-off.".

It would be a surprise if either of the Trophy semi-finalists were to field their first eleven just four days before their buggest match of the season, which may suit both Notts County and Aldershot Town!

EDEN MOVES TO MOSSLEY

Now, Altrincham FC report that "Eden Bailey is to continue his development by joining Mossley on loan for the rest of the season after recently being on loan at Hanley Town...

END OF SEASON AWARDS

Tickets can be purchaed here

The event tales place on Sunday, 30 April, from 6pm.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The German striker has made 27 appearances for Crewe Alexandra in League Two this season, but is yet to contribute to a goal or assist for his side...

The forward began his professional career with Coventry City, before being sold to Everton in 2016. After three-years with their youth side, Sambou joined Dutch side Fortuna Sittard...

He’s struggled to find a home throughout his career."

Also from the Real EFL we learn that "Southend United’s horror show looks like it’s finally set to end, as the owners have began the process of selling the football club, as revealed by a statement on the clubs official website...

The football club are currently owned by businessman Ron Martin, who has been quoted in today’s press conference as saying he has 'Invested £25 million on the club during his time as chairman'.

The process of selling a football club isn’t as straight forward as many think, as factors like player values, assets, total debts etc. all need to be calculated before accepting or negotiating possible bids for the National League side, and then you’d still need to wait weeks for league/FA approval...

Martin stated, 'The strength of Southend United lies in the passion of its fanbase, its historical and cultural importance to the city and the value in its relocation to a new state-of-the-art stadium at Fossetts – a project that has never been closer...

'The new stadium and its commercial income-generating opportunities will provide the infrastructure for the Club to maintain a stable financial footing, enabling the Blues’ to fulfil its long-held potential on the pitch and transform the Club into a profitable enterprise'".

17 March 2023

TROPHY SEMI-FINAL ARRANGEMENTS

Match Day prices will follow our normal National League ticket pricing;

• Adult £19
• Concession (Over 65, Full Time Student, NHS Staff) £15
• Junior (Age 12-18) £7
• Child (Under 12) £2

Please Note: Season tickets are NOT valid for this game and therefore Season Ticket holders wishing to attend will have to purchase a ticket.

However, along with LoyAlty Members, Season Ticket holders will be given priority and be able to purchase from 9am Friday 17th March, with a 24 hour window prior to tickets going on general sale.

We will email ticket details to the priority group at 8:30am Friday 17th March with a link to purchase.

FC Halifax Town have been given the Venditan Chequers End, along with a small section of seating in the Family Stand, with their allocation totalling 956 tickets...

This will leave 4,170 tickets for home fans...

Bill Waterson (right), Altrincham FC Co-Chairman adds... 'It will also be the first time that we implement specific allocated areas of the stadium that restrict movement for home fans for a big crowd'"

For details of these restrictions please follow the above link.

YORK MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

LUNDSTRAM JOINS BAINES FOR ENGLAND

Josh said, “To represent England is something I’d really love to do. I’ve never had the opportunity before, even at youth level...

'I think playing at The J.Davidson Stadium might make it a tad easier because of the familiarity. It will also be nice for the club to have a representative from their team playing in the game'...

One team-mate who has been guiding Josh through the call-up is last year’s England C participant Lewis Baines (right). Playing for Chorley at the time, Lewis was the only player who made the cut whilst competing at a level below the National League (National League North)...

'I had an epiphany that woke me up after the England C game. Back then, I was working in sales alongside playing football and I went from being treated like royalty and playing for my country to being sat in a meeting the next morning,' Lewis explained.

'It really gave me a kick and helped me realise I want to be playing full-time football for the next ten years or so'".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

But with ten second-half minutes gone, the Notts chief was forced to call upon the Albanian to step into the action with his side a goal down against the Spitfires...

It was another composed showing from Bajrami, slotting in perfectly alongside Connell Rawlinson and Adam Chicksen as a much-improved second-half display saw them go within a point of leaders Wrexham.

Williams explained... 'It was a difficult decision because Baj played so brilliantly... He understood, no problem, and told me he is always ready to go back in, and he went back in and played so incredibly well again when Aden came off'...

With there seemingly no let up with defensive injuries with Baldwin joining Richard Brindley and Tobi Adebayo-Rowling on the treatment table, Williams was able to provide an encouraging update on the injury sustained by the 25-year-old...

Explained Williams, 'We don't expect him to be sidelined for any amount of significant time'".

POST-YORK CITY

Meanwhile, York Press reports that "York City interim manager Michael Morton has described himself as a 'broken record' after suffering back-to-back 2-1 defeats to Altrincham...

It's clear that individual errors are a problem right now for York, and it's something that Morton is becoming more and more frustrated by.

'We keep doing the same thing', admitted Morton. 'I feel like we created more chances than them... and then we switch off. It was a sloppy goal, I need to look at that again but I think it’s two or three errors. I’m sick of saying it to be fair, they score on the first chance, we then go and create chances.

'We talk about three mistakes, we don’t stop the cross, we get bullied on the header and I don’t know if he [Ryan Whitley] should have saved it or not. .. We do all the hard stuff, that’s the frustrating thing, we get territory, we play some good football and we create chances...

'The lads in there were just saying that after yesterday, the exact same things that we spoke about have happened again today.'"

Elsewhere, York Press adds that "Morton also explained the absence of captain Lenell John-Lewis, and why it paved the way for Michael Duckworth to temporarily fill the vacancy.

'He's feeling his hamstring... Hopefully it’s not too bad but it might just be a case of one or two weeks or so...

'We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we’ve got to try and put in a similar sort of performance from that second half...

'[Michael Duckworth] is a York lad, he loves the club. He’s been outstanding over the last couple of games since he came in.... We’ve got a big squad who are all working their socks off...

'I think we have to be ruthless with some decisions and put the players that have been working hard in and hopefully you’ll see some of the performances like Mike Duckworth coming in'.

Morton was also grateful that midfielder Dan Pybus hadn't been sent off, despite the demands from the Altrincham players to the referee.

'They’d broken the line and it was too easy at the top. He had to go and win that one and I think he got lucky when he jumped away, but I think because he got out of the way there the ref gifted him a favour.'"

NEXT: EASTLEIGH

Altrincham won the reverse fixture, played on Saturday, 26 November 2022, by two goals to one. Eastleigh's 90th minute goal gave the result a closer margin than was merited. Altrincham took the lead in the thirteenth minute when Eddy Jones cut the ball back from the byline, left of goal, for Elliot Newby to score his third goal in successive games after arriving on loan from Stockport County.

In a game of generally moderate entertainment value, Alty finally got a second goal after 78 minutes through Ryan Colclough's effort from just inside the box.

Above: Elliot Newby, far right, savours his goal as he and his team-mates walk back to the centre circle.

Eastleigh substitute Whitehall was unmarked to head home at the back post from a Camp cross in the ninetieth minute to make it 2-1 .

Since that game Alty have lost the services of Toby Mullarkey, Elliot Newby, Ryan Colclough, Chris Conn-Clarke and Connor Jennings, as well as substitutes Marcus Dinanga and the currently out-on-loan Brad Jackson.

LUNDSTRAM CONFIRMED IN ENGLAND SQUAD

The original squad of 25 which included one player from each National League side plus a third keeper from National South, has now been whittled down to sixteen. And the good news is that Alty's Josh Lundstram (right) remains in the squad.

The final squad comrises:

• Goalkeepers: Magnus Norman (Oldham Athletic), Sam Howes (Wealdstone)
• Defenders: Tyler Cordner (Aldershot Town), Harry Phipps (Dagenham & Redbridge), Vince Harper (Eastleigh), Jesse Debrah (FC Halifax Town), Kenton Richardson (Gateshead), Gus Scott-Morriss (Southend United)
• Midfielders: Josh Lundstram (Altrincham), Ryan de Havilland (Barnet), Darren Oldaker (Chesterfield), Regan Booty (Maidstone United), Joe Sbarra (Solihull Moors)
• Forwards: Sam Dalby (Wrexham AFC), Emile Acquah (Maidenhead United), Macaulay Langstaff (Notts County)

Tickets can be bought here.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Scunthorpe United manager Jimmy Dean has told his players they're in must-win territory now as they prepare for a huge home game on Saturday. The Iron host play-off chasing Wealsdone... after a frustrating defeat mid-week.

Beaten 3-1 at Solihull Moors, Scunthorpe now sit seven points adrift of safety with nine games remaining to beat the drop...

'We have to win our home games,' said Dean... 'There are no if’s, no but’s, we have to win... With our crowd behind us it will give us a chance'...

After Josh Kelly had opened the scoring for the hosts on Tuesday night, it looked like the Iron were going to salvage a precious point on the road after Will Smith's 35th minute equaliser. That hope ended in an agonising final few minutes with the hosts scoring twice in the dying stages...

'I thought it was a good positive performance away from home against a side in-form. I thought we deserved a lot more from the game'" the manager concluded.

York Press reports that "York City interim manager Michael Morton has confirmed that Sam Sanders will be departing the club on a short-term loan deal.

Sanders will join Boston United on a short-term deal, with the hopes of the young defender regaining fitness having not started a match for York since Boxing Day...

'For me I think he has got the potential, he’s got another year at York so we will see a future centre-half for York...

"We have got quite a few centre-halves and right now he needs to play... It might be five or six games from now that he gets his opportunity so for us it is just a short-term loan'".

In the Echo News "Southend United wing-back Gus Scott-Morriss admits Blues are the lowest they have been all season.

But the defender also stressed the Shrimpers are determined to get back on track. Kevin Maher’s side have now suffered four defeats in succession after losing 1-0 at Boreham Wood on Tuesday...

Said Scott-Morriss, 'We aren’t delivering the goods and getting the points on the board. Roll back a few weeks and we’re scoring 90th minute winners and things we’re going in our favour... but it’s not a nice feeling in the dressing room today'.

A debatable penalty, scored by ex Shrimpers loanee Zak Brunt, condemned Southend to their latest defeat... Referee Richie Watkins pointed to the spot after adjudging Ollie Kensdale brought down Boreham Wood substitute Dennon Lewis...

'We’ve just had an honest chat as a group of players and said there’s a hell of a long way to go,' said Scott-Morriss. 'It’s all doom and gloom at the moment but we’ve been through tougher times than four defeats... In the four defeats I don’t think you can say we’ve been battered or deserved the defeats,' said the 25-year-old".

The Real EFL reports that "Notts County have confirmed the signing of Dagenham & Redbridge forward Junior Morias...

The side have not been shy of goals this season as they have striker Macauley Langstaff among their ranks...

For Junior Morias, he has been a mainstay in the first team at Dagenham & Redbridge this season, making 33 appearances and scoring in 10. The club have primarily deployed Morias as a centre-forward this season with eight of his goals coming in the 29 times he has played in that role, however, he has also featured on the left-wing seven times this season, managing to find the net twice from that position.

The striker came through the academy ranks at Premier League side Fulham, before joining Wycombe... Morias earned himself a move to the Football League as he joined Peterborough in January 2017... He would leave the club in July 2018 to make the drop to League Two and join Northampton Town, he joined on a two year contract but would depart for St Mirren after one year".

YORK CITY 1-2 ALTRINCHAM

Match report here

JENNY HESLOP R.I.P.

Right: Jenny Heslop, flanked by former Club Secretary Derek Wilshaw (left) and Jenny's husband, George Heslop.

Altrincham FC announce that "The funeral of much-loved Altrincham volunteer Jenny Heslop, for decades one of the most familiar faces in and around The J.Davidson Stadium, will take place next week.

Jenny's family have informed the club that the funeral will be at Altrincham Crematorium next Tuesday, March 21st, at 12.45pm, followed by a wake at the ground, and they have indicated that everyone would be made welcome at both... not only as a mark of respect and appreciation for all she did for the Robins but also for the sake of her daughter Sally.

When Sally's dad, legendary former youth team manager George Heslop, died in July 2020, his funeral was in the midst of the Covid pandemic and the restrictions that went with it. There was no wake, and though the funeral cortege stopped for a moment on its way to Dunham Massey, there was a limit on numbers able to support Sally at the crematorium...

As mentioned at the time, all at The J.Davidson Stadium send condolences to Sally, a lifelong fan who also worked behind the bar for many years, and our thoughts will be with her, and everyone who attends, next Tuesday".

OYEDELE CALLED UP

He will be part of the Poland U19 squad for the following fixtures:

• Israel U19 v Poland U19 22/03/23
• Poland U19 v Latvia U19 25/03/23
• Poland U19 v Serbia U19 28/03/23

Maxi will therefore be unavailable for selection when Altrincham host Southend United in the Vanarama National League on Saturday, 25th March 2023, and for the trip to Runcorn Linnets in the Cheshire Senior Cup Semi-Final on Tuesday, 28th March 2023".

ALTY WOMEN UPDATE

The concluding fixtures for the rest of the season are:

• 19th March A v Runcorn Linnets
• 26th March H v Bury AFC
• 16th April H v Chester FC
• 23rd April H v Hindley Juniors

NEXT: EASTLEIGH

Following a whipped in corner, the Spitfires won a 32nd minute penalty... Whitehall stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way...

The Spitfires headed in a goal to the good at the break, following an impressive first half display...

On the hour mark, the Nottingham side equalised. A well worked attack saw Rodrigues with the ball in the box. He wrong footed the Eastleigh defenders and slotted home...

Notts were awarded a penalty on the 70th minute following a handball. McDonnell made a heroic double save from Rodrigues's penalty...

Five minutes later, County took the lead. Ruben Rodrigues... slotted his effort low and hard, out of McDonnell’s reach into the bottom corner...

Two minutes before time, Langstaff added a third to the hosts' tally...

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Kelly, Martin (c), Maghoma (82), Carter, Cissé, Whitehall, Langston, McKiernan, Rutherford(83), McDonagh (75). Subs: Hill (75), Tshaka, Bragg (83), Stock, Scrimshaw (82)

ALTY OLD BOYS

Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE was a 75th minute substitute for Millwall in their 2-1 home win over Swansea City.

League 1 : OWEN DALE was a 70th minute substitute for Portsmouth as they won 1-3 at Accrington Stanley.

National League : DAN MOONEY was substituted for Southend United at Boreham Wood after 81 minutes, shortly after the hosts scored the only goal of the game.

RYAN COLCLOUGH now seems to have settled in at Chesterfield, and rounded off the scoring as they romped home 0-4 at Wealdstone".

14 March 2023

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Barnet 2-1 Yeovil Town
• Boreham Wood 1-0 Southend United
• FC Halifax Town P-P Bromley (waterlogged pitch)
• Maidenhead United 1-1 Aldershot Town
• Notts County 3-1 Eastleigh
• Solihull Moors 3-1 Scunthorpe United
• Wealdstone 0-4 Chesterfield
• York City 1-2 Altrincham

YORK CITY "WILL BE MORE ATTACKING"

Kouhyar has struggled with injuries for the majority of the season, after being sidelined with a lengthy abductor injury and coping with a tooth infection...

'Maz is actually feeling a lot better, although we are still waiting to see when he is going to have an operation but he trained well today, so he could be back in.... He has to have a wisdom tooth taken out... He wants to play so if he is feeling all right then he is in contention to be in.. . [Goalkeeper] [Ethan Ross] just had a light session, he’s got another assessment on Thursday...

'With Sam [Sanders] we are just taking it steady. We don’t want him [Sam Sanders] to breakdown'...

Morton also reinstated midfielder Gus Mafuta into the first team squad... Mafuta has struggled with a long-term calf injury...

'I thought he had a decent first half... he struggled in the second half with his fatigue but that was expected'" the manager concluded.

York Press added that "Shaq Forde... [joined] the Minstermen on a loan deal until the end of the season from Watford.

The young striker immediately showed his quality, netting four goals in his first two matches...

'He’s 18-year-old now, he’s got a big future ahead of him', enthused Morton.. 'He knows that he wasn’t at his best the other day but he’s a young boy... Our number one priority is staying in the league, I think the positive is that we gave a couple of people a rest the other day who are going to come in tonight'...

Morton opted to switch to a four at the back formation on Saturday, moving away from his preferred three... The move unfortunately did not pay off...

'If you look at our last couple of games before [Altrincham] we have played with an extra attacking midfielder, which gives them a different problem. So tonight we will be more attacking.

'We’ll bring some players back in, we’ll be more forward-thinking and go and have a good go.'”

TONIGHT: YORK CITY

Tonight (Tuesday) sees Altrincham's fifth successive away game in all competitions.

This time (Tuesday), Altrincham are visiting the LNER Community Stadium for the second time in little more than 72 hours as the Robins and York City meet, this time, in the Vanarama National League (7.45pm). Following Altrincham's 2-1 win last Saturday in the Isuzu FA Trophy, manager Phil Parkinson intimated that he would rotate his squad and that he expected the Minstermen to do similarily.

York's interim manager Michael Morton clearly stated that the National League rather than the FA Trophy was his priority so Altrincham can expected a stiff test at the LNER stadium tonight.

Altrincham go into the match in thirteenth place with 46 points but without a league win in their three most recent outings.

They lie seven points ahead of 17th placed York who they beat 2-1 in the reverse league fixture at the J. Davidson Stadium.

Commentary on the match will be available via Radio Robins on Radio Alty, whilst the match is also being broadcast by the National League streaming service. Links to both services are towards the top of this page.

In advance of the game York Press reports that City "defender Sam Sanders is set to leave the club on a short-term loan deal to Boston United.

Sanders, who has made 20 appearances for York in the Vanarama National League this season, has been missing as of late with a calf injury... Sanders has missed City's last ten matches...

Sanders joined York on a permanent deal at the end of his Nottingham Forest contract last July".

ISUZU FA TROPHY OPPONENTS: FC HALIFAX TOWN

With £15,000 prize money for the semi-final winners this season, Altrincham or FC Halifax Town will have earned almost £50,000 should they reach Wembley, having already banked £23,250 for their progress so far. The finalists take home a further £60,000 if they win or £30,000 if they lose.

Alty have faced the Shaymen in the competition previously but will not want to replicate the outcome.

That meeting was ten years ago in 2012/13 season when Alty, fresh from an 8-0 win over Hinckley United and 1-0 up against Halifax after just five minutes, nevertheless crashed to a 5-2 defeat in West Yorkshire.

Manager Phil Parkinson will also be keen to right an historical reverse as his Nantwich Town side were put out of the Trophy at the semi-final stage in 2016 by the Shaymen who went on to lift the Trophy. In 2016 the semi-final were two legged. The Dabbers lost the first leg 2-4 at the Weaver Stadium before drawing 2-2 in Calderdale. Current Altrincham player, Elliot Osborne, was a participant in the tie as well, playing for Nantwich as were numerous players no longer at Moss Lane such as Mat Bailey, Josh Hancock, Matty Kosylo, Andy White and Lewis Short.

TV HIGHLIGHTS OF ALTY WIN

The highlights include the twenty-one pass move which culminated in Altrincham's opening goal.

YOUTH AND "ACADEMY" RESULTS

"TCG (Altrincham FC) Men Regional Team 2" play in the AoC Sport North West Men's Football Invitational League (1)

Recent results:

• 01-03-2023 14:00 iSPORTS Manchester Football Men Regional Team 1 3-3 (Altrincham FC) Men Regional Team 2
• 08-03-2023 14:00 (Altrincham FC) Men Regional Team 2-2 Fowler Education and Football Academy

ALTRINCHAM FC UNDER-21s

Altrincham under-21s play in the North-West U-21 Development League Premier Division.

Recent results:

• 05/03/23 14:00 Chorley FC U21 5 - 1 Altrincham FC U21
• 12/03/23 13:30 Altrincham FC U21 3 - 1 1874 Northwich FC U21
• 26/02/23 13:30 Altrincham FC U21 4 - 2 Avro U21
• 12/02/23 13:30 Altrincham FC U21 0 - 1 UDA Soccer U21 Cestrians
• 29/01/23 14:00 Runcorn Linnets FC U21s 6 - 2 Altrincham FC U21

ALTRINCHAM FC UNDER-19s

The "Altrincham FC U19 A Red" team plays in the National League U19 Alliance North Division

Recent results:

• 08/03/23 14:00 Notts County F.C. U19 3 - 1 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 01/03/23 13:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 3 - 1 Darlington FC U19s
• 27/02/23 14:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 1 - 1 Notts County F.C. U19
• 22/02/23 13:00 Boston United FC U19 1 - 1 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 08/02/23 13:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 1 - 0 Gateshead FC U19s
• 01/02/23 13:30 Chesterfield FC U19 2 - 0 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 25/01/23 13:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 5 - 2 Guiseley AFC U19 Academy

ALTRINCHAM FC UNDER-18s

Altrincham FC under-18s play in the North West Under 21 Development League

Recent results:

• 05/02/23 10:30 Youth Cup Under 18: Failsworth Boys U17 1 - 3 Altrincham FC U18 (Manchester FA Boys)
• 15/01/23 13:30 Youth Cup Under 18 Altrincham FC U18 11 - 0 North Walkden U17 Falcons (Manchester FA Boys)

ALTRINCHAM FC UNDER-16s

Altrincham FC under-16s play in the North West Youth Alliance League Development Division.

Recent results:

• 12/03/23 13:00 AFC Liverpool 3 - 3 Altrincham AFC Colts
• 19/02/23 13:00 Altrincham AFC Colts 5 - 2 Nantwich Town FC Development Squad
• Cup: 12/02/23 13:00 Altrincham AFC Colts 0 - 6 AFC Fylde Colts
• 05/02/23 14:00 Nantwich Town FC Development Squad 4 - 3 Altrincham AFC Colts
• 29/01/23 13:00 Altrincham AFC Colts 3 - 3 Atherton Laburnum Rovers FC
• 22/01/23 13:00 Altrincham AFC Colts 2 - 1 Chester FC Colts
• 08/01/23 13:00 Altrincham AFC Colts 0 - 2 Curzon Ashton FC Development Squad

PARTY AT MOSS LANE

One of which will be a free kids' party for under-12s in the Community Sports Hall hosted by Radio Alty’s Pete Scotson starting at 12.30pm prompt...

If you're interested in attending, sign up here.

All children must be accompanied by an adult".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 26-year-old had expressed his wish to leave in order to find more game time and, with this season’s player registration deadline approaching, we have granted his request".

At Scunthorpe United "Jacob Butterfield... began by reflecting on the break from action since the 2-0 win over Altrincham, saying 'It’s been good to have a break as we’ve had three weeks of back-to-back Saturday-Tuesday games, and we were starting to feel a bit of fatigue, but it was good to end that run of games with a win'...

Last Tuesday's hard fought win "was an important game for us for obvious reasons... We stepped forward. We’d tweaked a couple of tactical issues that we didn’t get right in the first half and came out much better in the second. We got a foothold in the game, nullified what they were trying to do, and that allowed us to win the ball back higher up the pitch and have more of it'...

Without a game on Saturday, the lads went bowling at the weekend... He explained 'It was nice to do something in a different environment, it’s the first time we’ve done that all season, seeing people outside of the football environment. It was good fun...

'All these last ten games are massive for us... but we haven’t had back-to-back wins this season, so that’s the target'".

The Maidenhead Advertiser tells us that "The council will decide whether to approve or refuse a bid to install hundreds more seats at Maidenhead United's York Road grounds on Wednesday (March 15).

There are plans in motion to extend the south stand of the National League ground to provide an additional 224 seats; plus a new stand to the north of the site to seat 304 people.

Included is a wheelchair and disabled persons' seating area, disabled toilets, a changing block and improved floodlighting.

Maidenhead United Football Club put in an application in September.

The club’s chairman Peter Griffin said this was to ‘protect the club’s interests at York Road’".

13 March 2023

FA TROPHY DRAW

Alty's progress means that the planned league match at home to title-chasers Notts County on 1 April will now be postponed.

Semi-final winners receive £15,000 and losers pick up £5,000 in prize money.

The full draw for the Trophy and the FA Vase is below:

The Isuzu FA Trophy semi-final draw

• Gateshead v Barnet
• Altrincham v FC Halifax Town

The Isuzu FA Vase semi-final draw

• Congleton Town v Newport Pagnell Town
• Corsham Town v Ascot United

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF WIN AT YORK

The highlights include the 21-pass move which culminated in Altrincham's opening goal.

NEXT: YORK CITY

Following Altrincham's win last Saturday, both managers have expressed their views on the 2-1 win for the Robins.

Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson recorded his views in a post-match interview by Brian Flynn, to be found on the Altrincham FC website.

His opposite number, gave his views to York Press.

"Interim manager Michael Morton admitted that his side were not good enough to win their Isuzu FA Trophy Quarter Final against Altrincham...

The Minstermen failed to be clinical in taking their chances... Morton made five changes to the starting line-up from City’s brilliant 3-0 triumph in their Vanarama National League clash at Bromley in midweek, opting to rest key players...

That failed to pay dividends, with the Minstermen torrid in the first half and wasteful in front of goal in the second, leaving many left questioning whether Morton’s decision was the right one...

'I said to them when the kick-off was delayed, that it wasn’t good enough, and I think that [was] reflected the first half. Obviously, there’s a few changes in there and we tried something slightly different. We didn’t want to open up too early because we know that they’re a good footballing side, but still, there were just loads of little errors...

'I think that we just huffed and puffed. Second half, we changed a few things and I think that we had a really good go at them. We put them under pressure and then just switched off again. We lost our marker, a free header'".

ALTY OLD BOYS

West lost on penalties to Ascot Town. Amongst the ex-Alty players in manager CHRIS ROWLEY's team were goalkeeper ANDREW JONES, MATT COOK and TOM WESTALL.

Also in the FA Vase, Congleton Town advanced after winning their penalty shoot-out against Bury AFC. Goalkeeper DAVE PARTON was the hero in a 5-4 shoot-out win. LEWIS SHORT (left) also played for the Bears and made an important goal-line clearance.

In National North, MONTEL GIBSON had a penalty saved as his Kidderminster Harriers side, which also featured ASHLEY HEMMINGS, was held 1-1 by King's Lynn Town.

Lower down the leagues, in the NPL, LUIS MORRISON-DERBYSHIRE netted Stafford Rangers' goal but they lost 2-1 at Bamber Bridge

A 3-3 draw at Bower Fold saw THEO BAILEY-JONES hit the post for Stalybridge Celtic against South Shields.

EDEN BAILEY scored as his Hanley Town side drew 2-2 at home to Kidsgrove Athletic. And JAMES LAWRIE scored directly from a corner to secure a 1-0 win for Witton Albion at home to Prescot Cables.

OPPONENT'S FUTURE IN THE AIR

"The career of a footballer can provide some real highs and lows, though perhaps none quite as high as 35,000 feet where ex-Premier League hopeful Richard Kell currently operates

Former Barnsley and Scunthorpe United midfielder Richard Kell is now flying high after two broken legs forced him into early retirement.

Right: Richard Kell is the second player from the right in the red shirt, no.32, playing against Altrincham at Scarborough in 2006.

"Bishop Auckland-born Kell, 43, made over 100 appearances in the EFL after coming through the ranks at boyhood club Middlesbrough. The bulk of them came whilst on the books at then-League Two Scunthorpe, where Kell spent four years following a brief stint at Torquay United.

But two separate double leg fractures at Glanford Park forced him to reconsider his career path and during a substantial spell on the treatment table, Kell trained to become a commercial airline pilot...

Retiring from the professional game at just 27, Kell was handed a lump sum from the PFA on top of an educational grant that helped fund his aviation courses".

Kell, along with Tom Baker, who went on to play for Alty, was loaned to Scarborough by Barnsley and Kell's match against Alty was one of just two appearances that he made for the Seadogs.

In the match Altrincham's Chris Adams "was flattened by a wild challenge from Kell, which saw the Barnsley loan-player booked (64 mlns)".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Whitehall netted with just 18 minutes to go as Eastleigh got their National League play-off bid back on track at the Silverlake Stadium.

The Spitfires saw their seven-game unbeaten run come to an end at lowly Yeovil on Tuesday, but moved into fifth place following a seventh win in nine...

Boss Unsworth said after the game 'It's a hard one to take. I'm gutted for the players and I'm gutted for the fans.'"

According to the Maidenhead Advertiser, "While Maidenhead United have undoubtedly improved in recent weeks, their results against Boreham Wood and Woking this week are a timely reminder they still have plenty of work to do if they want to climb into the top half of the National League this season.

Off the back of Tuesday’s narrow, but deserved,1-0 home defeat to Wood, the Magpies travelled to Woking with something of a defensive injury-crisis, with Temi Eweka having been recalled from Slough Town to plug the gap at centre half.

With Will De Havilland and Cole Kpekawa already nursing injuries that are keeping the pair on the sidelines, Remy Clerima limped off after Tuesday’s home defeat and the Magpies were let with little alternative other than to recall Eweka from his impressive stint with the Rebels... However his display wasn’t quite good enough to prevent the Magpies from slipping to a second straight league defeat..

The Cards took the lead... with Padraig Amond given the freedom of the Magpies’ six-yard box to head home from a corner kick... before the game clinching goal from Woking in the 72nd minute...

The Magpies remain 10 points clear of the drop zone in 15th, but most of the sides beneath them do have one or two matches in hand".

12 March 2022

POST-MATCH COMMENTS

"I felt we controlled the first half and, when we got a lead, we had something to hold on to".

In contrast, losing interim manager Michael Morton referred to the opening goal in the 41st minute, "We needed to get to half-time. So that was the frustrating thing. It was just a sloppy goal just before half-time. We needed to grind it out, get to half-time and then we could change it".

But Morton explained that "I've always said that the number one priority is the league. We knew we had to change things at some point, we just felt that this was the right time".

As for the teams meeting again in the league on Tuesday night, Parkinson observed, "It's horrible, isn't it? I hate these scenarios. I'm sure both managers don't feel great about it because you've just gone toe-to-toe with each other.

"I think you'll see lots of rotation from both sets of players and we'll just have to believe in what we do.

"We had a plan going into this game, and for Tuesday, so we'll execute that plan", he concluded.

YORK CITY 0-2 ALTRINCHAM

Match report here

THE VIEW FROM YORK

The Minstermen created more than enough chances to come away with the victory, but ultimately paid the price for indecision and poor finishing in front of goal on a thoroughly frustrating afternoon for Michael Morton’s men...

Interim manager Morton’s focus remains firmly on ensuring his side’s Vanarama National League survival, with the Minstermen naming a much-rotated team that saw five changes to the side that started their crucial 3-0 triumph at Bromley on Tuesday night...

Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson also named a rotated line-up from his side’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at struggling Scunthorpe United in midweek...

Should City claim victory in their National League clash against the Robins on Tuesday however, the disappointment of this afternoon’s defeat will likely soon be forgotten...

But Altrincham soon had the goal that their efforts deserved, with York’s defence statuesque as Hulme (left) chested down a lofted pass, before turning and firing an unstoppable shot past Whitley from close range..

Morton’s half-time talk seemed to have lit a fire under his players, who came out after the break with tenacity, delivering a much-improved performance that should have seen them to victory...

City were made to pay for their failure to take their chances, with more sloppy defending seeing them fall two goals behind... The lively Oyedele won Altrincham a free-kick close to the left touchline, with Jones connecting with his namesake’s wicked delivery to float a free header across goal and into the bottom left corner to double his side’s advantage...

City did eventually find their goal in the fifth minute of added time, Fallowfield’s pinpoint cross finding John-Lewis five yards out to thunder a header into the roof of the net, but it was far too little, too late...

[Altrincham] will return to the LNER Community Stadium on Tuesday evening (7.45pm), where they will be hoping to claim their sixth successive victory in York".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Scotland : JOSH GINNELLY played the whole match for Hearts, but was unable to save them being knocked out of the Scottish Cup 0-3 at home to Celtic.

League 1 : OWEN DALE was substituted after 65 minutes as Portsmouth lost to the only goal of the game at home to leaders Sheffield Wednesday.

League 2 : CHRIS MERRIE (left) played the full game for Tranmere Rovers, but they were on the wrong end of a 2-0 scorelines at Gillingham.

LUKE WATERFALL was booked late on as Grimsby Town overcame TOBY MULLARKEY's Rochdale by the only goal at Blundell Park.

CARL PIERGIANNI was booked as Stevenage won 3-1 at home to Walsall.

JOEL SENIOR played the full game for Carlisle United in their 1-2 win at Swindon Town.

National League : DAN MOONEY (right) was substituted after 67 minutes as Southend United went down 1-0 at Wrexham.

RYAN COLCLOUGH played the full game as Chesterfield's run of indifferent form continued with a 1-1 draw at home against Yeovil Town.

National North : Two goals from HAYDEN CAMPBELL helped Curzon Ashton to rip up the form book in a 3-1 home victory over Brackley Town.

ASHLEY HEMMINGS put Kidderminster Harriers ahead against promotion chasing Kings Lynn, but the visitors forced a 1-1 draw.

NPL : BYRON HARRISON equalised from the penalty spot for Nantwich Town after visitors Lancaster City had taken the lead. The Dabbers completed their recovery to run out 2-1 winners.

JOE PIGGOTT scored the only goal as Radcliffe won their home match against Hyde United.

DYLAN MOTTLEY-HENRY reduced the arrears for South Shields at Bower Fold after Stalybridge Celtic unexpectedly led 2-0. They regained their advantage to lead at half time, but the Tyneside club scored twice in the second half to draw 3-3.

NEXT: YORK CITY

When York visited Moss Lane back in November, Alty won 2-1 in front of the BT Sport cameras.

The Minstermen lie seven points and four places below Altrincham in seventeenth place in the league table.

Tuesday will be Altrincham's fourth successive away league game and their fifth away game in succession in all competitions.

It is followed by yet another away trip next Saturday when the Robins face a trek to Hampshire to face Eastleigh.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

In the reverse fixture, Jake Hyde had a goal disallowed that would’ve seen Southend pick up three points, while today at The Racecourse Ground, Maher felt the referee was in the wrong to allow the winning goal after a Dragons player collided with goalkeeper Steve Arnold.

The Head Coach said 'It’s twice we [have] played them this season and twice we’ve been on the wrong end of bad decisions. Their player’s clever and he’s just nicked Arnie’s arm as he’s catching the ball. I can’t see how the referee hasn’t seen it. “Those moments haven’t been going our way. It shows how close we are to being a top side in this division. What you need is one or two things to go your way, btu I don’t want to keep saying how well we’ve done – we’re losing games and I want to win football matches...

'We grew into the game and took control for long periods but just lacked that final cutting edge. I thought we were very good for long periods without opening them up'...

A fantastic 726 fans made the trip all the way to north Wales... 'It’s an unbelievable turnout in the conditions'" opined Maher.

Gloverscast reports that "After picking up an important result in the battle against relegation, Mark Cooper described the 1-1 at Chesterfield as a ‘great point’.

Ryan Law’s header cancelled out Paul McCallum’s 33rd minute penalty...

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, Cooper said 'I’m really really pleased.I thought we controlled large spells of the game with the ball in the first half'...

'It’s a horrendous penalty decision against us... the handball. It’s never a penalty, I’ve seen it back'...

The manager said that Jordan Maguire-Drewhas been dealing with an injury. He said 'He’s had a niggly hip injury that’s really affected him and hindered him... We are short of players and being able to rotate because of the amount of loans we’ve got. It would be nice to give one or two a breather.'”

YORK CITY 1-2 ALTRINCHAM

After forty minutes, which had witnessed few chances and during which Alty had shaded the game, Jordan Hulme put his side ahead when he turned well inside the box and scored into the bottom-left corner (41 mins).'

York had a better spell in the early stages of the second half but James Jones (right) made it 0-2 after 62 minutes with a header from a frekick by Eddy Jones.

Substitute John-Lewis headed a consolation in the fifth-added minute when Ferguson was off the pitch after a head injury.

Match report here

ISUZU FA TROPHY FIXTURES

• Aldershot Town 0-2 FC Halifax Town
• Gateshead 0-0 Farsley Celtic (Gateshead won 4-2 on pens)
• Maidstone United 2-2 Barnet (Barnet won 4-3 on pens)
• York City 1-2 Altrincham

SATURDAY LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Chesterfield 1-1 Yeovil Town
• Eastleigh 1-0 Oldham Athletic
• Notts County v Dorking Wanderers (k.o. 5.20pm)
• Torquay United 1-2 Wealdstone
• Woking 2-0 Maidenhead United
• Wrexham 1-0 Southend United

BEFORE TODAY'S MATCH: YORK CITY

Both teams have had two previous home ties and one away in this year's Isuzu FA Trophy.

To reach this stage, York have seen off Southend United (Away), Chelmsford City (Home) and Blyth Spartans (Home).

Altrincham's victims have been Bracknell Town (Away), Wrexham (Home) and Curzon Ashton (Home).

As previously reported, Altrincham have won their last three visits to York, all of the matches being knock-out fixtures. But York have been buoyed by a fine 3-0 away win at Bromley last time out whilst Altrincham are smarting from a run of three successive away games without a win.

York's line up for that win at Bromley comprised:

18. Ryan Whitley, 2. Ryan Fallowfield, 4, Maxim Kouogun, 14. Lenell John-Lewis, 8. Olly Dyson, 6. Paddy McLaughlin, 12. Alex Whittle, 16. Mitch Hancox, 19. Dan Pybus, 24. Mark Ellis, 28. Michael Duckworth. Subs: 5. Fraser Kerr, 9. Shaq Forde, 23. Luke James, 25. Maison Campbell, 27. Manny Duku.

Many of that side faced Altrincham in the reverse fixture this season but many have also played against Alty previously for clubs other than York. They inlude John-Lewis (for Hereford), Alex Whittle (Chesterfield), Ryan McLaughlin (Gateshead), Mark Ellis (Torquay United, Bolton Wanderers) and Michael Duckworth (Bradford PA).

ALTY OLD BOYS

Primarily a right back but capable of playing on the left too, he broke through at Trafford to earn his move to Alty and has also played for Ashton United".

Footnote: Aidan left Altrincham having made a single appearance, in the Cheshire Senior Cup. Whilst at Altrincham, he went on loan to Ashton United in mid-October 2022 and later to Nantwich Town. However, he suffered a hamstring injury which sidelined him in the New Year.

From Australia we learn, via Phil Jordan, that CONNOR HAMPSON'S Oakleigh Cannons romped to a 0-5 win at Heidelberg despite having a man sent off when the game was still goalless. They are still unbeaten, and went top of the league, before South Melbourne went back above them by later retaining their 100% record at Dandenong.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Strevens, made 125 appearances for the Daggers, scoring 35 goals as a player, and returns to the club following a rigorous interview process.

Ben, who was a part of the Daggers' 2006/07 Conference National promotion side, started his managerial career at Eastleigh, originally taking on the Assistant Manager role.

In 2018, he went on to become the Manager of the Spitfires which featured an impressive 7th placed finish for the Hampshire club.

Executive Chaiman Peter Freund stated 'After a thorough search conducted over the past two weeks, I am delighted that one of our own has come back to coach the club. When meeting with Ben, it was immediately clear he has the right mix of passion and skill-set to take the Daggers forward.'”

From Hampshire Live we learn that "Southampton academy full-back Lewis Payne has opened up on why he has returned early from his loan spell at National League side Eastleigh.

The 18-year-old joined the Spitfires on January transfer deadline day and made his debut the same night against Barnet, though he has since come back to Southampton after only managing to add one further appearance for the non-League side in February...

'Obviously it didn’t go to plan,' said Payne of his loan spell. 'I went there not expecting to start but with the idea of starting games... It was a very good experience still though, being around a men’s changing room. I’ll take the positives out of it despite not going how I wanted it to'...

Asked about the physicality of the men's game... Payne said 'That wasn’t something I was used to, I’m used to playing on the ball but in the National League it’s not like that, it's a bit more off the ball'".

The independent fans' site Pride of Nottingham says of Notts County that "The club's success can also be attributed to the use of data in its transfer activities, which resulted in the signing of players like Macaulay Langstaff...

The club's progress this season has been commendable, regardless of the promotion outcome...

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, Notts County co-owner Alexander Reedtz said... 'It's exciting times. I think the major change is a new head coach, and Luke has done a brilliant job with the players...and, we have signed some really good players...

'It's well known that there's a lot of data utilized in Notts County's transfer activity', stated Alexander Reedtz... 'We had a great feeling about that signing and the other signings as well that we made in the summer...

'It has been a really good season so far and clearly the best season we've had since Chris and I came to the club in 2019 and we are confident about the progress'".

10 March 2023

NEXT: FOURTH IN A ROW AT YORK CITY

When Altrincham travel to York on Saturday it will not only be the fourth successive away trip for Altrincham in their current fixture list but, even more curiously, it will be their fourth successive game against the Minstermen to be played away from home.

Right: In November 2019, at a very wet Bootham Crescent, Alty warmed up in rain gear before their FA Trophy win. James Jones, Jake Moult, Josh Hancock and Shaun Densmore are the players seen here. Only Jones and Jordan Hulme are players at Alty in 2023.

The Alty side that day in 2019 comprised 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 3. Andy WHITE, 4. James JONES, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. Tom PEERS, 8. Sean WILLIAMS, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Luke WALL. Subs: 12. John JOHNSTON, 14. Max HARROP, 15. Connor HAMPSON, 16. Toby MULLARKEY, 17. Simon RICHMAN, 20. Joel TORRANCE.

What is more, all four games in this ongoing sequence of games at York since 2019 have been knock-out matches.

However, this time the venue is York City's new out of town stadium rather than their historic home in the city centre at Bootham Crescent, where the previous clashes occurred.

The three clashes in York before this Saturday's FA Trophy tie were all in the 2019/20 season. In November 2019, Altrincham secured 1-0 away wins in both the FA Cup Round One and the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round, with Tom Peers the scorer on each occasion. That season the scheduled National League North league fixture at York was postponed, and never played, though it had been Alty's next scheduled league game before Covid intervened to curtail the regular season in March 2020.

However, the sides did then meet in another knock-out match in the play-offs of that curtailed campaign, a game played on 25 July 2020, again at York, when Alty for a third time in one season emerged triumphant with a 2-0 win courtesy of goals by Josh Hancock and, inevitably, Tom Peers again.

Those three clashes, all at Bootham Crescent, brought very different attendances. Whilst 3,222 had been attracted to the FA Cup clash, just 974 turned up for the Trophy game just 13 days later and the play-off match was played behind closed doors.

The sides had previously met once before in the FA Trophy First Round in 2007-08 at Moss Lane when Alty were beaten 1-3.

Altrincham's fifth away game in succession this season occurs when York host the Robins again, next Tuesday, in the Vanarama National League. So that clash will also be the fifth successive game against the Minstermen to have been played at York's own ground! But it will be the first match in that series to be a regular league match and not a knock-out tie.

"BIG PLAYERS NEED TO TURN UP"

Above: Captain Jordan Hulme is the only player to have appeared in all three wins at York in 2019/20 season who is also an Altrincham player in 2023.

In the Sale & Altrincham Messenger press and media officer John Edwards writs that manager "Phil Parkinson sounded a rallying cry for Saturday’s crucial FA Trophy tie at York City after Altrincham slipped to a second successive National League defeat at Glanford Park on Tuesday...

Attention now turns to the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where a semi-final place is at stake against York...

Alty boss Parkinson... said 'It’s massive for us on Saturday, an absolutely huge game. Big players turn up when it’s a big occasion, and we need that to happen for us.

'Wealdstone [a 4-0 reverse] was a massive disappointment, and Tuesday was night and day in terms of the first half compared to the second half.

'The first half was as comfortable as we’ve been in an away game in a long, long time, but then a mistake cost us a goal and gave them all the momentum they needed.

'Too many are having a dip in form and confidence at the wrong time, and we’ve got to put that right sooner rather than later. We need to show more resilience... in a competition we are desperate to do well in...

'You only get one shot at it in cup competitions, so we can’t be feeling sorry for ourselves... If we turn up on the day, we will give ourselves a great chance.'”

ALTY OLD BOYS

Set up in memory of our former player, whose life was tragically cut short in 2020, the organisation supports vulnerable and under privileged children and young adults to access healthy recreation and ensure that they have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and enjoy the life-changing benefits that comes from sport.

Kelly, Jordan’s fiancee, said 'Donations help us provide facilities, equipment and coaching for disadvantaged children'...

To find out more about the organisation, please visit here".

Phil Jordan informs us that "Although JOSH GINNELLY put them a goal up after only six minutes, Hearts eventually lost 3-1 on their visit to Celtic".

THROUGH THE YEARS: 11 MARCH

Alty took a 32nd minute lead when Elliott Newby finished well from a smart feed by Nicky Clee and that was the only goal of the game.

Above, left, Alty salute their goal, scored by Elliott Newby (far right). Above, right, Alty's management duo, Robbie Lawton and Matt Doughty, salute the travelling supporters at Boston after the final whistle. Behind them are Laurence Taylor, Nicky Clee and Sam Patterson.

The Altrincham line-up was: 1. Stuart TOMLINSON, 2. Chris LYNCH (c), 3. Andy McWILLIAMS, 4. Laurence TAYLOR, 5. Sam HEATHCOTE, 6. John CYRUS, 7. Elliott NEWBY, 8. Gary JONES, 9. Simon RICHMAN, 10. James LAWRIE, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs: 12. Sam PATTERSON, 14. Alan GOODALL, 15. Damian REEVES, 16. Andy OWENS, 20. Andrew JONES

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

In their squad, however, they have Mitchel Bergkamp, son of the Arsenal legend Dennis. In Mitchell, there’s the story of a talented 24-year-old midfielder trying to make his way through English football, independently from his father’s greatness.

This is Mitchell’s first senior club, signed as a free agent after a spell with Watford under-23s. He also went through the age groups at Almere City in the Netherlands...

His father is renowned as a legend of the game, but for Mitchel, the focus is helping Bromley to make it to the football league.

This season he has made seven appearances in the league and has one goal to his name.

This modest start suggests he is not setting the world alight at the London club, but in fairness he has only featured for 147 minutes since his move...

Manager Andy Woodman was Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach when Bergkamp was on trial with the club in 2021. He told The Athletic 'He knows my thinking about where he is going to fit into our team, which he will do for sure...

'He has come in on a short-term deal but the plan is for him to stay in London and play for Bromley for a couple of years.'".

At Scunthorpe United "Goalkeeper Aaron Chapman reflected on his first Iron clean sheet and looks to build on the solid defensive display and victory over Altrincham.

The 32-year-old celebrated his first shutout since joining the club from Stevenage last month... the shot stopper having very little to do on the night...

He said 'It’s been a long time coming to keep a clean sheet on a personal note'...

Labelled as a must-win game by first team manager Jimmy Dean, Chapman alluded to the importance of the game...

'You could see by the first half, there were a couple of nerves there,' he continued.

'We started well, they grew into the game, which is always going to happen.. We got in at 0-0 at half-time, we knew that we’ve got the power up at the top of the pitch to get goals'".

From the Echo News "Southend United boss Kevin Maher... has not been able to make a signing since September...

'I’ve got to plan with what we’ve got,' said Maher... 'We’ve got players coming back from injuries and we’re working with what we’ve got'...

The National League and Southend United have not responded to the Echo’s request for comment but it is understood talks between them are continuing.

Blues were handed a transfer ban due the winding up order issued by HMRC which has now been settled.

However, other debts still remain which must be cleared before the Shrimpers are able to add to their squad".

The London Football Scene says that "It’s been quite a turnaround in fortune for Barnet under head coach Dean Brennan...

Initially joining in a Head of Football capacity before becoming caretaker following the sacking of Harry Kewell in September 2021, Brennan galvanised the side to an 18th place finish..

The Bees have continued to develop this term with the Dubliner awarded National League Manager of the Month for December as well as a new contract until 2026...

First choice keeper Laurie Walker may have been sidelined with a thigh injury but Brennan’s abrasive reaction to understudy Azaze’s performance underlined the ruthlessness he is trying to instil in Barnet’s previously soft underbelly..

'If Laurie (Walker) is not available for the weekend, we need a new goalkeeper in for the game,' Brennan added. 'It’s not good enough, it’s as simple as that, you can’t be clattering centre-forwards'...

Barnet’s best form of defence is arguably their attack, currently sitting third in the scoring charts with 66 goals...

Brennan said 'We set a points target at the start of the season and we’re still on for that. If we can achieve that, I think we will make the Play-Offs'".

POST-SCUNTHORPE

With no limit on loanees in the FA Trophy, interviewer Brain Flynn asked the Altrincham manager if this would affect his team selection on Saturday. Parkinson responded that he might be using his telephone again, implying that perhaps more loanees are on the way.

Right: Maxi Oyedele is on loan from Manchester United.

As things stand Alty technically already have nine loanees, though two of them have yet to be seen. They are Sonny ALJOFREE and Joe HUGILL, who are both on loan from Manchester United.

A further loanee Miles WELCH-HAYES, on loan from Harrogate Town, has played well but has been sidelined recently by injury.

Another loanee, Michael GYASI, on loan from Chesterfield, has not even been in the matchday squad recently, whilst recent arrival, the returning Aaron BENNETT, on loan from Preston North End, has yet to start a game on his "second coming" to Alty.

That leaves, Danny CASHMAN, on loan from Coventry City, who has yet to make an impact in nine appearances, centre-back Kyle FERGUSON, who only arrived on loan from Harrogate Town recently, Maxi OYEDELE, on loan from Manchester United, who has impressed but was an unexpected absentee from the squad at Scunthorpe last Tuesday, and Tyrese SINCLAIR who has looked lively since arriving on loan from Rochdale.

"THE TIDE HAS TURNED"

Scunthorpe United manager Jimmy Dean was speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph which tells us that "It was crucial Dean intervened at half-time against Altrincham to see his team through to victory, and he highlighted the things his side were not doing enough of to start with.

The Iron boss said 'Bar one block, I don't think Chappy [Aaron Chapman] has had a save to make. We looked solid and I thought first half we were too passive out of possession. [We were] too deep, and we weren’t getting the ball high enough up the pitch.

'We chatted about how to change it half time, be more on the front foot and once we sorted that out and started to dictate the ball, we started getting out and got more players higher up the pitch.

'The other one was crosses, we don’t cross the ball enough in any game. For some reason we get to the point, stop, and then come back out. [We need to learn] to get the ball in the box.

'I know one was a corner but it is still a cross into the box. The first was as well and we got lucky with the ‘keeper dropping it but that is what we have to do. They edged the first half but I thought we were far better in the second. The tide turned today and that’s two wins in seven,' he said...

'That was a must win tonight and I did call it. I would not have hid[den] from it if we lost, it was a must win for a lot of reasons'".

Scunthorpe United's match report added, "Within the first few minutes of the second half, United had taken the lead. Richie Bennett managed to turn the ball home. Wilson drove a cross into the area and Feeney was the Iron player to get on the end of it.

From close distance, he directed the ball goalward but it was saved by Byrne. Byrne couldn’t hold onto the ball and it rebounded to Bennett. The Iron striker had an empty net to aim at and he simply tapped the ball into the net to give the Iron the lead. It was a huge goal for the Iron...

"In the 75th minute, United grabbed a second goal. This time Will Smith was the player to grab the goal. Butterfield whipped an outswinging corner into the area. His cross was driven low in the air and this allowed Smith to connect with the ball on the volley at the near post. His volley had a lot of power and it curled towards the far corner. The ball struck the inside of the upright and spun [sic] just across the line...

"The Iron comfortably saw the game out and took away all three points".

NEXT: YORK CITY

So far, those games have yielded a draw and two defeats. In contrast, the Monsytermen had a morale boosting three-nil away win at Bromley on Tuesday night, albeit against a side reduced to ten men.

York Press explains that York City interim manager Michael Morton "opted to drop striker Shaq Forde to the bench, replacing him with midfielder Paddy McLaughlin in a change of formation...

'We've got to manage the legs as well. Shaq's 18-years-old and he's still looking after his hamstring, so that's a factor as well', explained Morton... 'In terms of energy and experience it was just picking and choosing when we come out...

'So that that was part of the strategy in terms of our possession to be more compact but to then go straight down the middle of them... Looking back, [John] Askey played Ducky [Michael Duckworth] at the side of a back three... and them two [Duckworth and Ryan Fallowfield] have got a good relationship as well.

'If you look at the two different players, Ducky's really calm and collective and Fallows is all energy and he wants to go forward so I think it’s a really good balance between them two.

Maziar Kouhyar wasn't involved in the squad after struggling with a tooth infection...

York are out of league action this weekend for the quarter-finals of the Isuzu FA Trophy against Altrincham, causing Morton to face a selection headache...

'There will be one or two changes just to come in.. There is no doubt that any player that comes in on Saturday that we will be expecting that same thing...

'There should be a good crowd against a really good side. We know that they like to play good football and entertain, whenever we play at home we try to get on the front foot'".

The York Press adds that on Tuesday night, "The sending off of goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook was a massive moment in the match, as Bromley had no substitute goalkeeper to replace the shot-stopper. This allowed York to score three against the play-off chasing Ravens, with Lenell John-Lewis, Ryan Fallowfield and Luke James getting their names on the scoresheet".

Like Alty the Minstermen have had a lot of recent travelluing as manager Morton said, "'Obviously travelling down here three times in seven days, I think we're ready for a bit of a sleep now!'... Morton felt the decision from the referee to send of Charles-Cook was the correct one, after the former Coventry City goalkeeper hacked Mitch Hancox down after the midfielder rounded the shot-stopper".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Things started well at Solihull with defender Ross Marshall getting his head to a Tope Fadahunsi flick-on from a Kieron Evans free kick in just the second minute to make it 1-0. But with chances missed, Torquay left themselves open, and Solihull, who lost their main striker Andrew Dallas to Chesterfield the day before the game, scored through the player who came in for him: Josh Kelly.

That goal came in the 36th minute, and in the final minute of the first half Callum Howe hit the post with a header before pouncing on the rebound... Solihull were 3-1 up in the 56th minute when Torquay allowed Mark Beck to stroll up to the goalline and prod a low cross home...

In the 59th minute, Solihull went down to 10 men when Jamey Osborne threw a boot out at Tom Lapslie...

Fadahunsi... managed to... play it to Collins, whose shot came off a Solihull boot and wrong-footed the Solihull goalkeeper for 3-2...

Johnson said... 'There have been so many defeats by one goal, so many games where we have had opportunities and not taken them. So many games where teams, whether it is us or the other team, are down to 10 men and sometimes it makes it more difficult... I am really pleased the club has found a player in Kev Dawson'.

Dawson, the 32-year-old midfielder who has joined on loan from Gloucester City... started the game...

Johnson said 'He [Dawson] will give us so much more. He was only supposed to play half-hour today but he wanted to carry on and I thought he was fantastic... We didn’t deal today enough with the big fella up front [Beck]. He’s a big lad and we dealt with him on some occasions but he got the ball a lot...

'I don’t know how many chances we created but I bet it was as similar as them'".

According to the Halifax Courier "Town winger Jordan Slew has been given the option to play elsewhere, says manager Chris Millington.

Slew has made 18 league appearances this season for Halifax, but has only started one league game in the last four months...

The Town boss said 'We've circulated players, so obviously Tom Scott's out, Sam Smart's out, there's been interest from National League North in Sam Minihan but he's not interested in going anywhere, I think he's enjoying his time at Halifax...

'And we've given Jordan Slew the option to go and get football elsewhere and we're just talking through one or two options for him at the moment... We need to bulk up the squad so we're going to need some bodies in... hopefully at the top end of the pitch.

'Clearly, defensively, the clean sheets would suggest we're doing something right at the bottom end'...

Bolton loanee Adam Senior has proved a superb addition since his arrival, and has contributed to Town's three clean sheets on the spin in their last three outings.. Said Millington when asked if he would like to extend his loan again. 'Very calm, gets in and gets his job done, there's never any drama around him, so he's the type of player we really want to work with and if we can do anything longer-term then we'd really like to'...

Millington says midfielder Kian Spence is now back in training".

Hampshire's Daily Echo tells us that "Matthew Worthington’s second-half strike was the difference as relegation-threatened Yeovil secured a 1-0 win against Eastleigh in the National League.

The Glovers had a series of good chances but Jordan Young’s shot was blocked before Worthington’s follow-up efforts were cleared.

Jordan Maguire-Drew then forced a great save from Joe McDonnell... Danny Whitehall saw a headed effort cleared off the line for the Spitfires...

Worthington made the decisive breakthrough in the 65th minute, heading home a cross.

Eastleigh were then reduced to 10 men in the 82nd minute after Ousseynou Cisse was shown a second yellow card".

SCUNTHORPE UNITED 2-0 ALTRINCHAM

For Ben Pringle (left) it was just a second league start after twenty appearances from the bench in the National League this season.

Following the 4-0 defeat at Wealdstone, Altrincham had made four changes with Cashman, Baines, Linney and Oyedele replaced by Pringle, James Jones, Hulme and Marriott. They lined up as follows:

Altrincham's third away game on the run again ended in disappointment, yet they had dominated first-half possession on their first ever league visit to Scunthorpe. However, they failed to score before the break and Pringle then spurned a decent opening early in the second period.

Match report here

ROXBURGH LEAVES

Right: Aidan Roxburgh talks to Neil Sorvel at the pre-season friendly against West Didsbury and Chorlton last July.

In a 2022/23 season that has seen Aidy contend with injuries, he has gained experience through loan spells at Ashton United and, more recently, with Nantwich Town.

Aidy made one competitive appearance for Altrincham, starting in our 4-0 victory at Sandbach in the Cheshire Senior Cup".

Footnote: Altrincham announced their signing of Aidie Roxburgh on 2 June, 2022. He had joined Chester FC in July 2021 and the National North club had immediately registered him with Trafford FC where he spent the 2021-22 season and from where he signed for the Robins. Primarily a right-back he can play on either flank.

He had started out as a "scholar" with Welsh Premier club The New Saints before spending 2017-18 with Runcorn Town. In summer 2018 he joined Welsh club Holywell Town before returning to Runcorn Town in summer 2020 from where he joined Chester.

Injury sidelined him at the start of 2022-23 and he went on loan to Ashton United in mid-October 2022 and later to Nantwich Town. However, he suffered a hamstring injury which sidelined him in the New Year.

Ironically, his only appearance in a National League squad came only last week when he was an unused substitute for the match at Yeovil Town.

NEXT: YORK CITY

From there, the York Press reported, before yesterday's fixtures, that "Michael Morton has admitted his players were feeling ‘a bit down’ after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday afternoon.

It was back-to-back defeats for the Minstermen, despite enjoying the majority of possession and having more chances than their hosts...

'Everybody was a bit down because everybody knew that we had put in a good performance,' Morton admitted. 'It was two mistakes that cost us... It wasn’t just one error when we’ve watched it back... It’s just little individual errors that has [sic] cost us, we’ve just got to make sure that we cut them out moving forward...

'We need to be a little bit more ruthless in both boxes.

'The last two games we have been really calm and collective on the sidelines. I thought one of our worst performances was against Yeovil, yet we won the game. Then we’ve put two good performances together and come away with nothing, but that’s the beauty of football.'"

ALTY OLD BOYS

League 1 : OWEN DALE was substituted after 75 minutes as his Portsmouth side went down 3-1 at Barnsley.

League 2 : ALISTAIR SMITH was credited with the assist for the second goal in Sutton United's 3-0 home victory over Crawley Town.

National League : DAN MOONEY was substituted for the hosts after 61 minutes, shortly before RYAN COLCLOUGH scored what turned out to be the winner for Chesterfield at Southend United. He was himself substituted after 79 minutes.

National North : MONTEL GIBSON scored the last two goals - the second a penalty - as AFC Telford comprehensively beat visitors Bradford PA 4-0.

NPL : Pre-season trialist HARRY BUNN (above, right) rounded off the scoring for Ashton United in their 3-1 home win over Belper Town.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Blackburn-born Procter, 21, joins the Terras until the end of the season... Procter is under contract with Dorking until the summer.

He has experience at EFL sides AFC Wimbledon and Accrington, leaving the latter in November.

However, he has found game time limited at Wanderers, making just five appearances in non-League's top flight since joining...

If he makes his debut, he would become the 46th player to play for Weymouth this season".

SCUNTHORPE UNITED 2-0 ALTRINCHAM

Those meetings both ended in victory for Altrincham in replays at Moss Lane.

• 1974-75 1st Round: Scunthorpe United 1-1 Altrincham (J. Hughes)
• 1974-75 1st Round Replay: Altrincham 3-1 Scunthorpe United (Alty scorers Morris, J.Hughes, Davison)
• 1980-81 2nd Round:Scunthorpe United 0-0 Altrincham
• 1980-81 2nd Round Replay: Altrincham 1-0 Scunthorpe United (Alty scorer, Davison (pen)
>

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

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

IRON PREVIEW

Alfie Beestin came off shortly before half-time at the weekend through injury (hamstring), with scan results expected at some stage to access his situation.

Marcus Carver (groin) continues to miss out...

Altrincham were dismantled over the weekend after a 4-0 defeat away from home to Wealdstone put a stop to their four game unbeaten run, where they had won three...

Despite losing top scorers Chris Conn-Clarke and Ryan Colclough who had scored nine and six each, Alty have seen success in the transfer market through former Iron attacker Tyrese Sinclair and ex-FC United of Manchester forward Regan Linney, who have both netted four and three respectively since joining in February.

The referee will be Matt Corlett, assisted by Ashley Royston and Wayne Cooper. The fourth official will be Anthony Tankard."

GOAL-FEST AT SCUNTHORPE UNITED?

And Alty supporters have witnessed an aggregate total of 117 league goals this campaign which is the highest number of goals involving any team this season apart from league leaders Wrexham (124 goals) and Notts County (123).

As for the match itself, having served a one-match suspension for the red-card he was given for a goal-line handball at Yeovil last Tuesday, centre-back James Jones (right) is likely to be restored to the heart of an Altrincham defence which conceded four goals in his absence last Saturday at Wealdstone.

Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson spoke with Laurence Howarth after that heavy defeat at Wealdstone, previewing Tuesday’s fixture at Scunthorpe and the remainder of the season.

He said, “It’s been the same all season; if you lose a game, you want to win as soon as you can, so I won’t be putting all or nothing on the next result. But if we want to do anything from now until the end of the term, we’ve got to bounce back.

“You look at the games we’ve got left, the majority of them are against teams that are fighting for their lives, so we have to battle to earn the right to play. If you don’t prioritise that as a starting point, you can’t compete.”

Altrincham have eleven fixtures remaining in the National League. As Phil Parkinson implies, seven of those are against sides currently in the bottom eleven league positions. However, five of those seven fixtures are away from home, where Altrincham have won just three times this season.

For those unable to attend, the match can be followed, live, on Radio Alty or via the National League streaming service.

LIVE VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE MATCHES

• Saturday March 11, Notts County vs Dorking Wanderers (5.20pm)
• Saturday March 18, Woking vs Chesterfield (12.30pm)
• Saturday March 25, Slough Town vs Ebbsfleet United (12.30pm)
• Saturday March 25, Wealdstone v Barnet (3pm)
• Saturday April 1, Yeovil Town vs Southend United (5.20pm)
• Friday April 7, Boreham Wood vs Dagenham & Redbridge (5pm)
• Monday April 10, Wrexham vs Notts County (3pm)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

'Looking forward to it,' Millington said of the trip to Gateshead... 'We're in a run of games here where we're playing teams that like to be possession-based and like to move the ball, and they're the teams we really enjoy playing against because it becomes a bit more of a tactical battle.

'We think we've got the ability and the know-how within the squad to overcome those type of teams... What we're seeing now is the positive aspects of our play for longer periods in games,' he said...

'The positive thing we're seeing at the moment is that control in games and that high-performance level for much longer periods'...

Another positive for the Town boss is the increase in competition for places in his squad thanks to players returning from injury...

'So as a group we look like we're in a really different place at the moment'".

The Derbyshire Times confirms that "Chesterfield brothers Phil and Ashley Kirk are set to increase their stake in the Spireites.

It comes as the latest accounts show the club made a loss of £2,370,671 for the year to June 30 2022, compared to a deficit of £400,177 in 2021.

Brothers Phil and Ashley, who are both from Chesterfield and are Spireites fans, provided the club with a £1m loan last year and the pair are set to increase their stake in the club to 25 per cent. Ashley became a director last April and Phil will join the board shortly.

Phil told the club’s We Are Sailing podcast... 'I am not intending to make money out of the club. I want to do the right thing and help the club. The intention is not to take over the club. I would really like to keep the club owned by the fans but it is pretty clear the trust can’t support the finances of the club at the moment and what Ash and I would like to do along with the rest of the board is to get it to a position where it is sustainable.'

Ashley added... 'Those accounts relate to 2021/2022 and we are in a very different place now. We will continue to work really hard to get the club on an even keel'...

Chairman Mike Goodwin... said... 'A realistic deficit is closer to £1m which is a similar level to the current year...

Turnover breakdown

• Gates and season tickets up from £176,793 to £2,049,047
• TV and football awards down from 276,832 to 257,539
• Transfer fees down from £105,000 to £40,000
• Total turnover up from 1,998,961 to 3,928,008
• Wages and salaries up from 1,895,400 in 2021 to £3,077,898 in 2022
• Hotels, travel and subsistence up from £96,978 in 2021 to £426,788 in 2022.
• Ground upkeep £255,933 in 2021 to £351,431 in 2022
• Matchday expenses up from £105,005 to £324,507".

Despite their deficit, Chesterfield "have signed striker Andrew Dallas on loan from National League rivals Solihull Moors...

The 23 year-old Scot, who began his career at Glasgow Rangers, will remain at the Technique Stadium until the end of the season...

Dallas said... 'When I had the opportunity to come and play at this great stadium. It was one I definitely jumped at'...

He has scored 14 goals so far this season".

According to the Maidenhead Advertiser "Alan Devonshire could barely hide his delight after Maidenhead United tore up the Wrexham script to earn a hard-fought 2-2 draw at York Road...

Reece Smith found the back of the net with a sublime finish to cancel out Paul Mullin’s first half header before Shawn McCoulsky replied in dramatic fashion...

'I’m just so pleased,' he said to the Advertiser. 'The boys have hit a rich vein of form and hopefully it will continue... We tweaked a few things at half-time'...

'Reece was superb,' he said... 'He’s played so many games in this league already, I think he’s played over 50 now which is so good for a kid of 20-years-old. I expect him to get even better next year as well'".

A trip to Hampshire beckons for Altrincham in mid-March and, from there, the Daily Echo advises us that "Eastleigh's pursuit of the National League’s top three continued as they won 1-0 at struggling Scunthorpe, despite being reduced to 10 men.

Danny Whitehall scored the decisive goal with a 22nd-minute penalty given after a foul in the Scunny area. Whitehall won and netted the spot-kick.

The visitors had to see out most of the second half with a man down after loanee Kairo Mitchell was sent off in the 51st minute for an off-the-ball incident involving Harvey Bunker.

But the Iron could not make their advantage count, with [ex-Alty trialist] Tom Pugh and Bunker amongst those who tried and failed to bridge the gap...

The result leaves Lee Bradbury’s side in sixth in the division with 57 points from 35 matches".

Yeovil Town "announce the signing of Reo Griffiths from Doncaster Rovers on loan until the end of the season.

The centre forward arrives with a prolific record at youth level, having netted 33 goals for the Tottenham Academy in the 2017-18 season... He signed for Lyon and... scored 13 goals for Lyon II.

In January 2022, he returned to England and signed for Doncaster Rovers... Having scored twice for Rovers during his time in South Yorkshire, he now heads to Somerset for his first taste of National League action".

6 March 2023

INTERNATIONAL CALL-UP FOR LUNDSTRAM

The Alty midfielder (right), who turned 24 last month, has been a model of consistency since joining the Robins from Crewe Alexandra last summer, and it has not gone unnoticed by Paul Fairclough, as he prepares for England C's latest game against Wales C at The J.Davidson Stadium on March 21st.

England C's manager has named a 25-man squad...

It is an honour for Alty to be chosen to stage an international fixture... with tickets priced at just £7 for adults and £2 for under-18s... Click here to buy a ticket...

England squad:

• Goalkeepers - S. Howes (Wealdstone), M. Norman (Oldham Athletic), H. Male (Worthing).
• Defenders - T. Cordner (Aldershot Town), V. Harper (Eastleigh), H. Phipps (Dagenham & Redbridge), K. Richardson (Gateshead), D. Gallagher (Dorking Wanderers), J. Debrah (FC Halifax Town).
• Midfielders - J. Lundstram (Altrincham), D. Oldaker (Chesterfield), J. Daly (Woking), R. De Havilland (Barnet), R. Booty (Maidstone United), M. Worthington (Yeovil Town), J. Vennings (Bromley), G. Scott-Morriss (Southend United), O. Dyson (York City).
• Forwards - D. Lewis (Boreham Wood), C. Wilson (Scunthorpe United), S. Dalby (Wrexham), E. Acquah (Maidenhead United), J. Sbarra (Solihull Moors), M. Langstaff (Notts County), A. Jarvis (Torquay United)."

NEXT: SCUNTHORPE UNITED

So, as well as Josh Lundstram from Altrincham, their next opponents, Scunthorpe United have also got a player in the next England C squad.

"Iron attacker Cameron Wilson has been named in the provisional England C squad to face Wales C on March 21st...

The attacking player has scored three goals in 23 appearances so far this season (10 of which have been starts).

ALTY'S TROPHY GOAL

In the Non-League Paper, Phil Parkinson was asked about Altrincham's progress in the FA Trophy, 37 years after the club last won the competition.

He said, "With Wembley so close now, there is a real sense of anticipation around the place.

"I've got two promotions under my belt here but, in truth, I've probably under-performed as a manager... in the FA Trophy.

"Altrincham is a club steeped in such amazing history within the non-League game and it really gives us motivation to try and reach those heights that were once reached...

It's a pretty alien feeling to be described as one of the big hitters left in the tournament because we have, for so long, associated ourselves as underdogs, especially when up against other National League sides.

"I think the form book kind of goes out of the window at this point, though. It's a one-off game where the stresses and scenarios of the league can be forgotten about for 90 minutes.

"York are another club with a proud history and it will mean a lot to them as well. So, we are expecting a brilliant atmosphere and a really good, old-fashioned battle".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Ben Elliott's brace helped West Didsbury & Chorlton to a 3-1 win at Squire's Gate.

At Trafford Sean Miller played in opposition to Widnes goalkeeper Cameron Terry.

Lancaster City beat Mopeth on Saturday with Kyle Brownhill in the victors' team.

Ex-Alty men A-Jay Leitch Smith and Osebi Abadaki played for Warrington Rylands in a 2-2 draw with Stafford Rangers, with Abdaki on the scoresheet.

And Phil Jordan reports that Josh Ginnelly, who was substituted after 79 minutes, scored the first two goals for Hearts in their 3-0 home win over St. Johnstone.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Magpies found themselves a goal down in the 20th minute, with Tiernan Brooks adjudged to have taken down a Bromley player inside the area, with Adam Marriott stepping up to send the 20-year-old the wrong way having seen his earlier penalty saved by the legs of the Notts keeper.

But with a tweak in personnel, a much-improved and free-flowing second-half performance finally reaped its rewards two minutes from time, Macaulay Langstaff latching on to a Ruben Rodrigues pass to score his 33rd goal of the season...

Williams made three changes to the side that lost to Dagenham and Redbridge at Meadow Lane last weekend, opting for a back four in the absence of Aden Baldwin, while Sam Slocombe also missed the trip to Hayes Lane after sustaining an issue in training in midweek...

The Magpies' chief insisted... 'It mainly went wrong because I changed the back line and the formation because we are trying to look back at previous performances and looking at combinations of different players...

'I tried to help the players stem the flow of counter-attacks because they are a very good counter-attacking team. But in the end, it didn't seem to help too much and I think we lost our balance at the top of the pitch in this formation. First of all, it starts with me, for sure, then I tried to correct the formation and change the players around that and I thought in the second half we were very good'...

Striker Cedwyn Scott had suffered another injury after just recovering from a shoulder problem... he could be out for weeks at this crucial part of the season".

5 March 2023

AFTER WEALDSTONE 4-0 ALTRINCHAM

Match report here

Manager Phil Parkinson gave a frank assessment of his team's failings at Wealdstone, after the game, when he spoke to Radio Robins' Laurence Howarth in an audio interview on the Altrincham FC website.

NEXT: SCUNTHORPE UNITED

On Saturday, Scunthorpe United "boss Jimmy Dean shared his thoughts following the Iron’s 1-0 defeat at home to Eastleigh". In the interview, the former Peterborough Sports manager, who recently took over at Scunthorpe, said of their next opponents, "Altrincham have had a bad result today but we have to try and take advantage of that on Tuesday night".

In the match "Danny Whitehall’s first-half penalty opened the scoring for the Spitfires, with [their] striker Kairo Mitchell dismissed for a straight red card early in the second period.

Dean added, "It was a game we could have won, and should have won... I thought we were miles off it. They were too and they weren't world beaters...

"We had a go and went for it in the second half...

For the game "Making two changes by bringing in both Bennett and Billy Fewster, Dean opted to shake things up...

'I changed shape because we wanted to play more football, and get more men in the box,' Dean said. 'We wanted... to have an extra midfielder to keep the ball... Second half was a lot brighter and we were better with the ball'.

Midfielder Alfie Beestin was forced to be withdrawn at the end of the first half... 'It’s a hamstring injury and it is a big loss as he's been terrific since I came to the club', Dean said...

With a chance to put things right on Tuesday night against Altrincham, Dean insists... 'It is last chance saloon and results have all gone our way again,' he said. 'With that though, we cannot keep relying on other teams. We have to start winning games'".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE was a 68th minute substitute for Millwall as they trailed 1-3 to visitors Norwich City. Although they pulled one goal back, he still finished on the losing side.

League 1 : OWEN DALE was substituted in the 89th minute, but was credited with the assist for Portsmouth as they won by the only goal of the game at Cambridge United.

League 2 : JOEL SENIOR (right) was an 82nd minute substitute for Carlisle United in their 2-0 home win over Grimsby Town.

TOBY MULLARKEY played the whole game for Rochdale, as did CARL PIERGIANNI for visitors Stevenage. Rochdale turned the form book upside down with a 2-0 win.

CHRIS MERRIE featured for Tranmere Rovers, but CONNOR JENNINGS was probably happier with the result on his return to Prenton Park as Hartlepool United forced a 1-1 draw.

National League : RYAN COLCLOUGH scored Chesterfield's 92nd minute winner at Gateshead, and picked up a yellow card for his celebration.

National North: YUSIFU CEESAY (right) scored the equaliser as Alfreton Town came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with visitors Darlington.

BRAD JACKSON opened the scoring as Buxton won 2-1 at home to Gloucester City.

HAYDEN CAMPBELL was Curzon Ashton's scorer as they lost 4-1 at Leamington

NPL : After FC United found themselves 0-3 down at home to struggling Liversedge, DONTAI GABIDON pulled one back. It wasn't enough as his team lost 2-3.

Despite having SEAN WILLIAMS sent off inside 30 seconds, Warrington Town still managed to win their home game with Bamber Bridge 1-0.

Down Under: CONNOR HAMPSON hit the 90th minute winner for Oakleigh Cannons as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season at Dandenong

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The defender missed Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Barnet at Roots Hall on Friday night.

And he has now issued a statement on social media to explain his departure. Lopata said... 'Due to a serious breach of contract by the club I have decided it is best for myself and my family to terminate my contract'...

Lopata made 18 appearances for Blues while on loan from Sheffield United last season before making the move permanent in September.

The 21-year-old centre-back has made 26 appearances this season but leaves on a free transfer after the Shrimpers were 28 days late in paying his wages for January".

Bu the Echo News adds that "United boss Kevin Maher has revealed Kacper Lopata has shown he no longer wants to be with the Shrimpers...

'Between Kacper and his agent they don’t want to be here,' said Maher. 'They’ve made that clear with what they’ve done but that’s above me... It’s a great football club and people are lucky to play for it.'

Lopata is believed to be allowed to leave the club after going 28 days without being paid".

4 March 2023

WEALDSTONE 4-0 ALTRINCHAM

Both new signings for Altrincham, Ferguson and Perritt, started today. Danny Cashman (right) also came back into the starting eleven. Dropping out were the suspended James Jones whilst Marriott and Hulme moved to the bench.

Josh Lundstram assumed the captaincy.

After an even and fairly uneventful start, Wealdstone got on top with four successive corners, which Alty defended unconvincingly (13 to 15 mins). But having survived that sequence, Alty conceded...

Match report here

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Southend United 0-1 Barnet

Saturday, 4 March 2023.

• Aldershot Town 1-1 Torquay United
• Bromley 1-1 Notts County
• Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 York City
• Dorking Wanderers 0-0 FC Halifax Town
• Gateshead 1-2 Chesterfield
• Maidenhead United v Wrexham k.o. 5.20pm
• Oldham Athletic 0-2 Boreham Wood
• Scunthorpe United 0-1 Eastleigh
• Solihull Moors 2-0 Maidstone United
• Wealdstone 4-0 Altrincham
• Yeovil Town 0-1 Woking

BEFORE TODAY'S MATCH: WEALDSTONE

Above: Alty's two signings on Friday were pictured in the warm-up to Altrincham's last game of last season at home to Yeovil Town. Here Harry Perritt (left) and Kyle Ferguson (right) flank Kole Hall.

With centre-back James Jones suspended after his red card last time out and with right-back loanee Miles Welch-Hayes injured, both new signings could start against Wealdstone.

Alty arrive in North London with a four-game unbeaten league run behind them as they undertake the second of their sequence of five successive away games in the National League.

A win for Alty could lift them from their current eleventh place to ninth but a defeat would only see them drop just a single place, with their opponents Wealdstone the only club who could go above them today.

As usual the match will be covered by Radio Robins on Radio Alty.

FIFTEEN LOANEES AT ALTY THIS SEASON

Loanees currently at Altrincham:

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. Kyle FERGUSON - on loan from Harrogate Town
5. Michael GYASI - on loan from Chesterfield
6. Joe HUGILL - on loan from Manchester United
7. Maxi OYEDELE - on loan from Manchester United
8. Tyrese SINCLAIR - on loan from Rochdale
9. Miles WELCH-HAYES - on loan from Harrogate Town

Loanees who have been at Altrincham this season but have since left:

1. Chris CONN-CLARKE (loanee from Fleetwood Town)
2. Connor JENNINGS (loanee from Stockport County)
3. Dan MALONE (loanee from Stoke City)
4. Dermot MEE (loanee from Manchester United)
5. Elliot NEWBY (loanee from Stockport County)
6. Armando Júnior QUITIRNA (loanee from Fleetwood Town)

ALTY MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS

• £500 cash | #471 | A Sharp
• £75 cash | #176 | Simon Ellis
• £25 cash | #171 | C Morrison
• Hospitality for Two | #8 | Phil James
• Bottle of Alty Gin | #522 | K Esteva
• Scarf & Team Photo | #79 | N Seller

Congratulations to all the winners!

ALTY OLD BOYS

DAN MOONEY was not in the Southend United squad which lost 0-1 at Roots Hall to Barnet on Friday night".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

But the manager has reiterated that it is difficult to convince clubs to give him players as the season reaches its ‘business end’ at both ends of the table...

'There still has to be some process behind how we recruit, if that person is not available, we can’t magic them up and at this stage of the season it is very difficult to get good players because nobody wants to let them go.. It is a difficult time to recruit...

'I need somebody who can score us 15 goals before the end of the season, but I am not daft enough to think we are going to get one of those', he said.

He admitted the team had felt pressure with an announcement that the group, led by Matt Uggla and former England rugby union player Paul Sackey [were taking over the club]...

'They know the owners will come in and have ideas, but the only way (to make sure they are involved) is by performing well and getting results'...

The manager said that his initial discussions with the new owners had gone well and said... 'With the new people being in the same it might give everyone a lift, there might not be as much negativity around the stadium because the players pick up on that. Hopefully there is a feel good factor... I understand that fans when they have been beaten down for so long are very sceptical – who it is, what it is and why it is. Hopefully that has been put to rest'".

Yeovil clash with their former manager when they face Woking this weekend.

And Get Surrey tells us that the manin question, Darren Sarll, "refuses to be drawn on how he would feel leading Woking FC into the Football League this season.

He said... 'That’s all just fairy-tale nonsense'.

Woking drew 1-1 at home to Wealdstone in the National League last weekend...

Although Sarll understands he has led Woking into an unbelievable position at this stage, he won’t ever be looking beyond the next game which for him this week happens to be a trip to one of his former employers, the Glovers...

He added 'We don’t talk about positions in the table. Woking have every right to be third and then very little right to be dictating that we try to retain that position. The players have exceeded anyone’s expectation in this community this year and they deserve a lot of praise and a lot of confidence for that'.

On his new deal at Woking he said 'It’s a brilliant place and brilliant people... and it’s been great fun but make no bones about it, Darren Sarll doesn’t see out two-and-half years if his team’s not winning... You’ve got to meet the expectation of your consumer and unfortunately for me we have driven that expectation through the proverbial glass ceiling, which makes it even tougher'...

Sarll gave [coach Ian] Dyer a chance from day one when other managers might have brought in their own man and Alan Dowson’s former assistant rose to the challenge. Sarll said... 'I like working with different people. I like working with people I’ve never met. I’ve got very basic and simple values that I ask my staff to have. They must look after me. They must look out for my back. They mustn’t ever go behind it, ever...

'Ian is a very, very good coach... He has to go out and coach this group of players to win'".

At the other end of the table, Kent Online reports that "Maidstone United caretaker manager George Elokobi... doesn’t intend to change much ahead of back-to-back away fixtures...

After three matches at the Gallagher Stadium, Stones are back on the road, travelling to Solihull Moors this Saturday and Wealdstone on Tuesday....

Elokobi said 'We keep improving daily. We don’t change a lot. We always have a Plan A, we always have a Plan B and we always have a Plan C....

'So there’s always a tactical game plan against good opposition.'”

3 March 2023

PERRITT SIGNS FOR ALTRINCHAM

Though primarily a right-back, Harry, who turned 22 last month, will give manager Phil Parkinson extra options with his ability to slot in to the middle of the back line or central midfield with ease.

He joined Alty on loan from Accrington on February 19th last year and was with us for the remainder of the season".

Background: Harry Perritt (aged 22) made 11(+1) appearances and scored once for Altrincham in his previous loan from Accrington Stanley.

He joined Stanley at the age of eleven and came through two setbacks, by way of fractures to the arm and ankle, to establish himself at the Lancashire club.

After signing professional forms in 2019, he made his first-team debut in the EFL Trophy in March 2021 and had made six first-tam appearances before his loan at Moss Lane. Before joining Alty he had had a loan spell at Torquay United.

This season he had made seven appearances for Accrington in EFL1 before moving to Altrincham.

KYLE RE-JOINS ON LOAN

The 23-year old will be with Alty for the next month and has signed in time for Saturday's Vanarama National League fixture with Wealdstone...

It's a timely return for Kyle, with James Jones serving a one-game ban following his red card at Yeovil on Tuesday night".

Background: 23 year-old Kyle Ferguson made 8(+1) appearances in his previous spell at Altrincham on a short-term contract.

A centre-back, his initial arrival at Moss Lane was announced on 25 February 2022.

In 2021, the 6ft 4 inch defender had been playing for Waterford in the Republic of Ireland, whose season had ended in November 2021.

Unsurprisingly, given his father Barry's career with Rangers, it was at that club that Kyle started out, with spells with Kilmarnock, Airdrie and Clyde (2016-18|) all featuring on his CV.

He also spent time in the USA on a football scholarship with Medaille College and prior to joining Waterford he had been playing for Ytterhogdals IK in Sweden.

Having broken into the team when Tom Hannigan was sidelined by injury, Kyle made eight successive starts and completed ninety minutes on each occasion. He was offered terms for 2022-23 but rejected these and joined EFL 2 club Harrogate Town instead; his departure was announced by Altrincham on 30 May 2022.

Altrincham appearances: 8(+1), 0 goals.

RETURNING PLAYERS

1. Aaron Bennett - recently re-arrived on loan from Preston North End having been at the club earlier in the 2022-23 season on a similar loan from North End.
2. Jake Cooper - he was at Alty on loan from Rotherham United in 2021-22, and was then signed from The Millers by Alty in summer 2022. He is currently out on loan at Darlington.
3. Kyle Ferguson see above
4. Jordan Hulme - he signed for Altrincham in 2017 and stayed till 2020 when he moved to AFC Dylde. He returned on loan from the Coasters in early 2022 and then re-signed for Altrincham in May 2022.
5. Eddy Jones - joined for a second loan spell in September, having been at the club on a previous loan from Stoke in early 2022. In January 2023 he signed as an Altrincham player.
6. James Jones - was an Altrincham player from 2017-20 but left to join Barrow. He returned to Altrincham for 2022-23 season.
7. Josh Lundstram - first played for Alty as a loanee from Crewe Alexandra in 2020, but signed for Altrincham from the Alex in May 2022.
8. Harry Perritt see above
9. Byron Harrison - was signed by Alty in 2020-21 season and re-appeared on a short-term contract in September 2022 before moving on to Nantwich Town.
10. Elliot Newby - enjoyed a loan spell from Barrow in 2016/17 season and returned on another loan arrangement from Stockport County in 2022 before moving to re-join Barrow.

NEXT: WEALDSTONE

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

Meanwhile the Robins have surged up the table following impressing victories over play off hopefuls Woking, Barnet and Solihull Moors...

This match will be unsegregated although Altrincham supporters have been allocated the first two sections of the MODU Stand for seating and the Hawthorn Terrace for standing".

In the reverse fixture on Tuesday, 1 November 2022 a part-time Wealdstone side which had travelled more than 150 miles to play at Altrincham on a damp Tuesday night, and which had just endured six successive defeats in which they had conceded a shedload of goals, nevertheless won 1-0 against their newly full-time hosts.

The Stones' goal came in the 47th minute when Olomola got to a low, near-post ball from the left, just ahead of an Alty defender, to turn the ball into the net. Beforehand, the visitors had looked the better side in the first forty-five minutes with pacey attacks and a solid defence which belied the team's recent record.

The Stones were then largely on the back foot during the second half as Altrincham laboured to create openings and, when they did, they could not convert them.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 4 MARCH

Altrincham last played on this Saturday's date, 4 March, in 2017, when a relegation-doomed Robins travelled to the New Buck's Head to face AFC Telford United.

Right:Goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson lines up between Gary Jones and James Lawrie.

By the end of Alty's game at Darlington the previous Wednesday they had ten players unavailable, (Jake Moult, Gary Jones, Shaun Densmore, Sean Miller, Craig Hobson, Tom Hannigan, Andy Owens, Alan Goodall, Tim Deasy, Kyle Brownhill). Of those absentees, Owens and Goodall were on the bench at Telford but Reeves was not present owing to a family commitment.

Before this game, 49 players had played a part in Alty's league fixtures this season and with the debut of keeper Stuart Tomlinson that became fifty today.

Altrincham deserved at least a point, if not all three, but were robbed of any reward at all for their good performance by a heavily deflected goal in the 87th minute.

With goalkeeper Tim Deasy injured, new signing Stuart Tomlinson made his debut and, apart from a couple of saves, he had relatively little to do.

In a match riddled with petty fouls and played on a soft surface, there was too much scrappy play to make it a great spectacle but Altrincham, with John Cyrus again excelling at the back, put together some good attacking moves. But the injury jinx struck again as Nicky Clee had to come off at the interval, after a late challenge on him in the first half.

In addition to a Micah Evans effort, Altrincham came closest to scoring when Richman's shot from three yards was blocked by a defender and when the same player lifted a late effort over the bar, both efforts arising from Newby crosses.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart TOMLINSON, 2. Chris LYNCH (c), 3. Nicky CLEE, 4. Sam HEATHCOTE, 5. John CYRUS. 6. Laurence TAYLOR, 7. Elliott NEWBY, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. Micah EVANS, 10. James LAWRIE, 11. Gary JONES Subs: 12. Andy McWILLIAMS, 14. Alan GOODALL, 15. Andy OWENS, 16. Sam PATTERSON, 20. Andrew JONES

ACADEMY'S CREDITABLE DRAW

On Wednesday Altrincham FC U19 A Red a.k.a. Altrincham FC Academy beat Darlington FC U19s 3-1 to extend their unbeaten run to four games and lift themselves to fifth in the thirteen-strong NLFA North Division.

Before that match they had drawn at home to second-placed Ntotts County academy who trail the league leaders, Blyth Spartans U19 Academy by six points.

Altrincham FC Academy player Tom Jones reported on a 1-1 home draw with Notts County Academy on the Altrincham FC website.

He wrote that "The young Robins... came within five minutes of yielding a notable win...

The back four of McGeady, Igeze, Bailey and Bonney-Phillips battled fiercely in their defensive half, with Byron in the sticks rarely having a save to make. .. and midfield trio of Chambers, German and Njie... dictated the play to such an extent that County barely had a sniff of the ball...

After 65 minutes, Altrincham countered off a well-defended corner, with Williams leading the charge down the right wing. Williams' great run led to a goal, as he placed the ball right in front of Jones for an easy tap in, with the goalkeeper having no chance.

Substitutions were made after 70 minutes, with Dixon coming on for Jones, Adeniyi for Bonney-Phillips and igbanke for Lynch up front. The team showed no sign of resting...

However, a slight lack of concentration around the edge of the box was punished by a thunderous, top corner strike that hauled County level with just five minutes left...

Squad: Dane Byron, Sam Bonney-Philips, Loui Williams, Adam Lynch, Eddie Igeze, Owen German, Sheriff Njie, Joel Bailey, Liam Evans, Ollie Dixon, Yusuf Adeniyi, Ewan McGeady, Jake Mallen, Tom Jones, Sam Chambers, Alfred Igbinake

ACADEMY CATCH-UP

• 22/02/23 13:00 Boston United FC U19 1 - 1 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 8/02/23 13:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 1 - 0 Gateshead FC U19s North
• 1/02/23 13:30 Chesterfield FC U19 2 - 0 Altrincham FC U19 A Red

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The deal includes a recall period for the first 28 days...

Bennett re-joined Barrow last summer from Sutton United, following spells at Carlisle United, Morecambe, Port Vale and Stockport County.

A nasty injury in pre-season condemned Bennett to the sidelines for a number of months, and since returning to action in November, he has featured 14 times for The Bluebirds".

Scunthorpe United add that "The 31-year-old... 6ft 4in forward said... 'I like to think I’m very hard-working. First and foremost is give everything on the pitch. Hopefully I’ll bring some goals and assists and hopefully I’ll bring a positive vibe to the team and to the place...

'With my serious injury that I’ve had in pre-season, I had three or four months out,' he explained... 'It’s not really worked out at Barrow, so I said if there was an opportunity for me to go out on loan and go and help a team, then I’d be happy to do that'".

The Southend Echo reports that "Blondy Nna Noukeu has extended his loan spell at Southend United.

The shot-stopper, who is with the Shrimpers from Stoke City, has made 16 appearances since signing in September...

Blues boss Kevin Maher confirmed 'Blondy's loan has been extended for another week. The league have allowed us to do that'...

Shrimpers shot-stoppers Steve Arnold and Collin Andeng Ndi are both back in training but have yet to feature in any kind of match since returning to action at Boots & Laces.

'We're trying to get Stevie and Collin up to speed but it's been difficult,' added Maher. 'We've had games Saturday, Tuesday and we've not had the numbers to put another game on'...

Arnold has not featured since August due to a hip problem while Andeng Ndi has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in November".

York Press confirms that "York City have been fined £500 for surrounding the match officials in their recent 3-1 defeat to Wealdstone.

The FA have charged York for breaching FA rule E20 in the recent fixture versus Wealdstone, after the players surrounded the officials in the 64th minute of the match following a decision.

The club have therefore been fined £500, which has been accepted by the Minstermen as a standard penalty one.

York were ordered to control their players and failed to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion during the match, in which City were comfortably defeated by play-off hopefuls Wealdstone.

Wealdstone have also admitted to the charge and have elected a Paper Hearing".

GLOVERS' PERSPECTIVE

Centre back James Jones was gifted an unmarked header inside the box after 22 minutes to give the visitors the lead, but he turned villain on 77 minutes when he handled on the line to give the Glovers a penalty...

Five minutes before team news was announced, the club announced that SU Glovers, a business owned by Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla, had 'taken on the stewardship' of Yeovil Football & Athletic Club, which runs the football operations of the club...

The team news saw the Glovers without captain Josh Staunton, who had been playing through the pain barrier for weeks, whilst Matt Worthington and the two Jordans (Maguire-Drew and Young, who both started last weekend against York City) were on the substitutes bench. Edwin Agbaje, Lawson D’Ath and Alex Fisher were all brought in...

The visitors... looked the more calm and composed. For the visitors Linney looked dangerous...

As Yeovil began to grew in to the game (why does it always take us a half to do that?!)... [they] were looking as composed in the second half as they had looked all at sea in the first...

But, on 78 minutes Yeovil drew level. Two minutes earlier, James Jones handled a goal-bound effort on the goal line and, despite his protest, he was quite correctly shown the red card. It took a good while before MAGUIRE-DREW stepped up to coolly put the ball past Byrne to draw his side level...

Given the poor first half and the form the visitors arrived in, a point and pulling out of the bottom four will be considered success".

NEXT: WEALDSTONE

The destination for Altrincham this weekend is North-West London where Wealdstone are the hosts.

Just as last Saturday against Solihull Moors, Alty will face a side in an adjacent league position. This time, however, Alty are the higher placed of the two contestants on goal difference but the Robins have played one more game than their twelfth-placed hosts.

After admirable draws at high-flying Woking and Chesterfield, Wealdstone suffered an unexpected thumping at The Shay on Tuesday when the usually goal-shy FC Halifax Town put five in the Stones' net without reply.

Right: James Jones will be a big miss at both ends fo the pitch for Altrincham following his red card on Tuesday at Yeovil. Here, the centre-back is seen in action last Saturday, heading the ball in the Solihull Moors penalty area.

However Wealdstone have also been up-and-down for quite a while; in the last 13 league matches, they have won four games, drawing five and losing four more fixtures. However, all four of those wins have come at home which suggests a difficult game lies ahead for Alty.

On Tuesday night, three Halifax goals in five or so minutes either side of half-time and two in added time at the end of the second half represented a bizarre scoring pattern by the Yorkshiremen.

On their reverse at Halifax, Wealdstone reported that they "fell to an uncharacteristic 5-0 defeat...

Injuries and loan recalls meant Stuart Maynard had to make four changes to the side with a youthful makeshift back four, that saw Ashley Charles out of position at right-back.

Stones were without Miguel Freckleton who was recalled by Sheffield United and the injured duo of Jack Cook and Sam Habergham. Alex Dyer took the captain's armband in Cook's absence.

Despite the host of changes it was the visitors who started strongest... Tarryn Allarakhia... pulled a good stop from Sam Johnson in the Shaymen goal, but pulled his hamstring in the process, compounding Maynard's injury misery.

From then on it was downhill for the Stones and Halifax opened the scoring on the stroke of half time when Jamie Stott looped a header over Sam Howes. And the hosts had two more in the space of two kamikaze second half minutes...

The hosts were awarded a penalty on the hour mark. Milli Alli stepped up to take it but struck the post from 12 yards out.

Mason Barrett returned to the eleven and he had Wealdstone's best chance of the second half.. [After a fourth goal, Halifax recorded] a fifth with the last kick of the game...

WEALDSTONE: Howes, Charles, Barrett, Barker, Ilunga, Dyer (McGregor 61), Ferguson, Kretzschmar (Lo-Everton 77), Allarakhia (Whittaker 15), Obiero, Andrews. Subs not used: Olomola, Hutchinson".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Another Altrincham (loanee) centre-back is also the subject of Phil Jordan's report that, on Tuesday night, Luke Waterfall played the whole match at St Mary's as his Grimsby Town side produced an FA Cup shock, beating Premier League Southampton, 1-2.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The BBC explains that the deductioni is... ' for fielding an ineligible player'. The deduction sees the Heed slip back into the fifth-tier relegation zone.

The National League said in a statement that the player had featured in a game despite being suspended, and also fined the club £750.

In a statement Gateshead said 'substantial' mitigation had been put to the league in their defence, but they have accepted the decision. They also said the breach was made because of an 'administrative error'".

Footnote: The deduction drops Gateshead back into the bottom four as they swap places with Dorking Wanderers.

Why are we not surprised that the BBC reports that "A winding-up petition against Southend United has been dismissed by a judge after the club paid £1.4m owed to HM Revenue & Customs.

Southend said on Tuesday that the debt had been cleared and the club also had new 'funds as working capital'...

In a brief hearing at the Insolvency and Companies Court, a lawyer representing HMRC confirmed the outstanding money had been paid.

Judge Sally Barber then dismissed the petition".

According to the BBC "Winger Dillon de Silva has been recalled from his loan spell at Torquay United by parent club Queens Park Rangers.

The 20-year-old Sri Lanka international scored four goals in 26 appearances for the Gulls.

'I am disappointed that Dillon was called back at this time, but he is the property of Queen's Park Rangers and we understand the reasons, and we may see him again in the near future,' Torquay boss Gary Johnson said.

Meanwhile, Devon Live states that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson said it would take him a couple of days to get over the disappointment of the 2-1 defeat by Bromley on Tuesday night but insisted he is ‘still the best man’ for the job at Plainmoor. Torquay have lost three games on the trot now and are deeply embroiled in a relegation battle and looks like it could go down to the wire...

Johnson said 'I am disappointed, I am gutted, I am gutted with a few things at the minute, and I will take a couple of days to get over it. Wait and see how I feel in a couple of days...

He said... 'I am still the best one to get us out of this trouble. I don’t want this club to go back to where it started when I first came. So I have got to try and rally myself, rally the players, and rally some of the supporters...

'The lads are gutted. A couple of mistakes have cost us,' said Johnson".

Scunthorpe United "is giving supporters the opportunity to own Glanford Park Stadium...

The new Lifetime 1899 Membership is an innovative scheme designed to give supporters what they want, a fan-owned Glanford Park.

The Membership is a one-off lifetime package limited to only 1899 members. Memberships will be available to purchase directly from the club and each member will be allocated one share in the company owning Glanford Park Stadium.

Only 1899 shares will be issued in the company meaning supporters will fully own the Stadium and the home of Scunthorpe United Football Club.

Lifetime 1899 Memberships are available to purchase via a one off payment with no annual fee or subscription and are also fully transferable...

The Lifetime 1899 Membership package is available to all Iron fans in the following ways:

• The one-off payment of £1899 (which is £1582.50 + VAT)
• Spreading the cost monthly, which is a £388.90 deposit (including 10% surcharge) and £170 per month over 10 months
• For Business customers the cost is £1899 + VAT.

This opportunity is literally once in a lifetime and please be aware that Membership sales are limited to only 1899, once sold they will never be available again".

The BBC explains that "Yeovil Town needs to get 'back up on its feet' says manager Mark Cooper, after the club was placed under the new stewardship of SU Glovers.

SU Glovers was set up in December 2022 by Julie-Ann Uggla and Matthew Uggla, according to Companies House.

Matthew Uggla was at Huish Park for Yeovil's draw with Altrincham on Tuesday alongside former England rugby union player Paul Sackey. Sackey is believed to be involved in the new venture...

Chairman Scott Priestnall took over the National League side in 2019 but has been a controversial figure...

'We are committed to working with the community to build a successful and thriving club,' the statement from SU Glovers said..

'Our vision for Yeovil Town is to create a club that is not only successful on the field, but also plays an integral role in the community'...

Questions remain over what the stewardship means in terms of the club's ownership and its long-term stability.

'People are hanging on that word stewardship and whether it means there is a physical handing over of the deeds to the company,' Ben Barrett, presenter of the Gloverscast podcast, told BBC Radio Somerset. 'I think the overriding feeling is a cautious optimism'".

YEOVIL TOWN 1-1 ALTRINCHAM

Quitirna had returned to Fleetwood Town after his loan spell which comprised just nine minutes of action, plus added time, at Bracknell in the FA Trophy. Nevertheless he did score in that brief time.

At Huish Park, Altrincham deservedly led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a headed goal by James Jones from an Eddy Jones inswinging corner from the right (22 mins). Regan Linney had also gone close to scoring twice. His first effort had been well tipped round the base of the post by Smith (13 mins) and his second saw him round goalkeeper Smith only for Bevan to clear off the line (30 mins).

But Yeovil dominated the second half though their 78th minute equaliser arrived from an error by Byrne. He flapped at a near-post corner and James Jones was forced to handle the ball to stop it going into the net.

Jones (right), who had had an excellent game, was shown a red card and Maguire-Drew beat Byrne from the spot to level the score.

The ten men held on to record a point, which had promised to be three at the interval.

Match report here.

CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP OPPONENTS

NEXT: WEALDSTONE

The past few days have witnessed a loanee departing and another one returning to Wealdstone who have confirmed that "Defender Miguel Freckleton has been recalled from his loan spell prematurely by parent club Sheffield United.

The youngster immediately impressed at The Vale, playing the full 90 minutes on his debut, keeping a clean sheet against free-scoring Wrexham in a 0-0 draw.

In total he made 14 appearances at the Stones, scoring his first professional goal in a 2-1 win over York City".

And Wealdstone also report that "Derby County midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton has returned to Wealdstone on a loan deal until the end of the season.

The 20 year old attacking midfielder originally joined the Stones on loan from Watford at the back end of the 2020/21 season, scoring the Stones goal of the season that year...

Stones chairman Rory Fitzgerald was happy the club could finally lure the Scottish talent back to Grosvenor Vale.. 'He's a player we've been after for a while. He showed everyone just how good he was in his last spell here'...

Since his last time here the midfielder spent all of last season on loan in the National League at Yeovil Town where he made 44 appearances scoring five times... He then made the move from Watford to Derby in the summer where he's been a regular starter in their U21 side".

MILES AND FOZ INTERVIEWED

Amongst other topics, Miles discusses his football career to date whilst Steve explains how Tyrese Sinclair borrowed his five year-old boots having forgotten to bring his own for the trip to Barnet. And Tyrese scored a goal whilst wearing them!

Right: Steve Foster and fellow kitman John Skelhorn. .

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan adds more on last night's action...

Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE was an 88th minute substitute for Millwall in their 2-2 draw at Luton Town.

National League : Scunthorpe United's TOM PUGH, a pre-season trialist for Altrincham, was booked in their 1-1 draw at Maidstone.

League 1 : OWEN DALE played the full game in Portsmouth's 3-1 home win over Bolton Wanderers.

League 2 : With his Stevenage side trailing 1-0 at half time to hosts AFC Wimbledon, CARL PIERGIANNI equalised 10 minutes into the second half. The visitors went on to win 2-3.

CHRIS MERRIE was substituted after 57 minutes at Prenton Park with the game goalless, but the only goal of the match soon afterwards gave Tranmere Rovers a 1-0 win over Crawley Town, who hardly helped themselves by failing from the penalty spot in the 80th minute.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Our vision for Yeovil Town is to create a club that is not only successful on the field, but also plays an integral role in the community. We believe that football has the power to bring people together and create positive change, and we are committed to making a positive impact in the Yeovil community.

We understand that building trust and positive relationships takes time, and we are committed to being patient and persistent in our efforts. We are looking forward to working with the community and our fans to achieve our shared goals. We hope that you will join us on this journey".

The Maidenhead Advertiser reports that "Assistant boss Ryan Peters... [feels] the side have ‘turned a corner’ after back-to-back National League wins.

The Magpies were excellent in last week’s 2-0 home win over Yeovil Town at York Road and, while Saturday’s display at FC Halifax Town was slightly more ‘indifferent’, an excellent defensive display helped the side to a 1-0 win.

Ashley Nathaniel-George scored the game’s only goal...

'We’ve had two massive results and two massive performances... Ash [Nathaniel-George] adds a little bit of quality to our game. He spoke to us before the game about trying to get more advanced and into positions to score a goal and then he popped up with a goal'...

[Referring to the Yeovil game] 'It’s a long journey up and a long journey back before a quick turnaround to Tuesday. It’s one of the reasons the gaffer has such a big squad, to be able to rotate when he needs to... Performances are strong we’ve turned a corner'" he concluded.

10 March 2023

NEXT: FOURTH IN A ROW AT YORK CITY

When Altrincham travel to York on Saturday it will not only be the fourth successive away trip for Altrincham in their current fixture list but, even more curiously, it will be their fourth successive game against the Minstermen to be played away from home.

Right: In November 2019, at a very wet Bootham Crescent, Alty warmed up in rain gear before their FA Trophy win. James Jones, Jake Moult, Josh Hancock and Shaun Densmore are the players seen here. Only Jones and Jordan Hulme are players at Alty in 2023.

The Alty side that day in 2019 comprised 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 3. Andy WHITE, 4. James JONES, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. Tom PEERS, 8. Sean WILLIAMS, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Luke WALL. Subs: 12. John JOHNSTON, 14. Max HARROP, 15. Connor HAMPSON, 16. Toby MULLARKEY, 17. Simon RICHMAN, 20. Joel TORRANCE.

What is more, all four games in this ongoing sequence of games at York since 2019 have been knock-out matches.

However, this time the venue is York City's new out of town stadium rather than their historic home in the city centre at Bootham Crescent, where the previous clashes occurred.

The three clashes in York before this Saturday's FA Trophy tie were all in the 2019/20 season. In November 2019, Altrincham secured 1-0 away wins in both the FA Cup Round One and the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round, with Tom Peers the scorer on each occasion. That season the scheduled National League North league fixture at York was postponed, and never played, though it had been Alty's next scheduled league game before Covid intervened to curtail the regular season in March 2020.

However, the sides did then meet in another knock-out match in the play-offs of that curtailed campaign, a game played on 25 July 2020, again at York, when Alty for a third time in one season emerged triumphant with a 2-0 win courtesy of goals by Josh Hancock and, inevitably, Tom Peers again.

Those three clashes, all at Bootham Crescent, brought very different attendances. Whilst 3,222 had been attracted to the FA Cup clash, just 974 turned up for the Trophy game just 13 days later and the play-off match was played behind closed doors.

The sides had previously met once before in the FA Trophy First Round in 2007-08 at Moss Lane when Alty were beaten 1-3.

Altrincham's fifth away game in succession this season occurs when York host the Robins again, next Tuesday, in the Vanarama National League. So that clash will also be the fifth successive game against the Minstermen to have been played at York's own ground! But it will be the first match in that series to be a regular league match and not a knock-out tie.

"BIG PLAYERS NEED TO TURN UP"

Above: Captain Jordan Hulme is the only player to have appeared in all three wins at York in 2019/20 season who is also an Altrincham player in 2023.

In the Sale & Altrincham Messenger press and media officer John Edwards writs that manager "Phil Parkinson sounded a rallying cry for Saturday’s crucial FA Trophy tie at York City after Altrincham slipped to a second successive National League defeat at Glanford Park on Tuesday...

Attention now turns to the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where a semi-final place is at stake against York...

Alty boss Parkinson... said 'It’s massive for us on Saturday, an absolutely huge game. Big players turn up when it’s a big occasion, and we need that to happen for us.

'Wealdstone [a 4-0 reverse] was a massive disappointment, and Tuesday was night and day in terms of the first half compared to the second half.

'The first half was as comfortable as we’ve been in an away game in a long, long time, but then a mistake cost us a goal and gave them all the momentum they needed.

'Too many are having a dip in form and confidence at the wrong time, and we’ve got to put that right sooner rather than later. We need to show more resilience... in a competition we are desperate to do well in...

'You only get one shot at it in cup competitions, so we can’t be feeling sorry for ourselves... If we turn up on the day, we will give ourselves a great chance.'”

ALTY OLD BOYS

Set up in memory of our former player, whose life was tragically cut short in 2020, the organisation supports vulnerable and under privileged children and young adults to access healthy recreation and ensure that they have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and enjoy the life-changing benefits that comes from sport.

Kelly, Jordan’s fiancee, said 'Donations help us provide facilities, equipment and coaching for disadvantaged children'...

To find out more about the organisation, please visit here".

Phil Jordan informs us that "Although JOSH GINNELLY put them a goal up after only six minutes, Hearts eventually lost 3-1 on their visit to Celtic".

THROUGH THE YEARS: 11 MARCH

Alty took a 32nd minute lead when Elliott Newby finished well from a smart feed by Nicky Clee and that was the only goal of the game.

Above, left, Alty salute their goal, scored by Elliott Newby (far right). Above, right, Alty's management duo, Robbie Lawton and Matt Doughty, salute the travelling supporters at Boston after the final whistle. Behind them are Laurence Taylor, Nicky Clee and Sam Patterson.

The Altrincham line-up was: 1. Stuart TOMLINSON, 2. Chris LYNCH (c), 3. Andy McWILLIAMS, 4. Laurence TAYLOR, 5. Sam HEATHCOTE, 6. John CYRUS, 7. Elliott NEWBY, 8. Gary JONES, 9. Simon RICHMAN, 10. James LAWRIE, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs: 12. Sam PATTERSON, 14. Alan GOODALL, 15. Damian REEVES, 16. Andy OWENS, 20. Andrew JONES

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

In their squad, however, they have Mitchel Bergkamp, son of the Arsenal legend Dennis. In Mitchell, there’s the story of a talented 24-year-old midfielder trying to make his way through English football, independently from his father’s greatness.

This is Mitchell’s first senior club, signed as a free agent after a spell with Watford under-23s. He also went through the age groups at Almere City in the Netherlands...

His father is renowned as a legend of the game, but for Mitchel, the focus is helping Bromley to make it to the football league.

This season he has made seven appearances in the league and has one goal to his name.

This modest start suggests he is not setting the world alight at the London club, but in fairness he has only featured for 147 minutes since his move...

Manager Andy Woodman was Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach when Bergkamp was on trial with the club in 2021. He told The Athletic 'He knows my thinking about where he is going to fit into our team, which he will do for sure...

'He has come in on a short-term deal but the plan is for him to stay in London and play for Bromley for a couple of years.'".

At Scunthorpe United "Goalkeeper Aaron Chapman reflected on his first Iron clean sheet and looks to build on the solid defensive display and victory over Altrincham.

The 32-year-old celebrated his first shutout since joining the club from Stevenage last month... the shot stopper having very little to do on the night...

He said 'It’s been a long time coming to keep a clean sheet on a personal note'...

Labelled as a must-win game by first team manager Jimmy Dean, Chapman alluded to the importance of the game...

'You could see by the first half, there were a couple of nerves there,' he continued.

'We started well, they grew into the game, which is always going to happen.. We got in at 0-0 at half-time, we knew that we’ve got the power up at the top of the pitch to get goals'".

From the Echo News "Southend United boss Kevin Maher... has not been able to make a signing since September...

'I’ve got to plan with what we’ve got,' said Maher... 'We’ve got players coming back from injuries and we’re working with what we’ve got'...

The National League and Southend United have not responded to the Echo’s request for comment but it is understood talks between them are continuing.

Blues were handed a transfer ban due the winding up order issued by HMRC which has now been settled.

However, other debts still remain which must be cleared before the Shrimpers are able to add to their squad".

The London Football Scene says that "It’s been quite a turnaround in fortune for Barnet under head coach Dean Brennan...

Initially joining in a Head of Football capacity before becoming caretaker following the sacking of Harry Kewell in September 2021, Brennan galvanised the side to an 18th place finish..

The Bees have continued to develop this term with the Dubliner awarded National League Manager of the Month for December as well as a new contract until 2026...

First choice keeper Laurie Walker may have been sidelined with a thigh injury but Brennan’s abrasive reaction to understudy Azaze’s performance underlined the ruthlessness he is trying to instil in Barnet’s previously soft underbelly..

'If Laurie (Walker) is not available for the weekend, we need a new goalkeeper in for the game,' Brennan added. 'It’s not good enough, it’s as simple as that, you can’t be clattering centre-forwards'...

Barnet’s best form of defence is arguably their attack, currently sitting third in the scoring charts with 66 goals...

Brennan said 'We set a points target at the start of the season and we’re still on for that. If we can achieve that, I think we will make the Play-Offs'".

POST-SCUNTHORPE

With no limit on loanees in the FA Trophy, interviewer Brain Flynn asked the Altrincham manager if this would affect his team selection on Saturday. Parkinson responded that he might be using his telephone again, implying that perhaps more loanees are on the way.

Right: Maxi Oyedele is on loan from Manchester United.

As things stand Alty technically already have nine loanees, though two of them have yet to be seen. They are Sonny ALJOFREE and Joe HUGILL, who are both on loan from Manchester United.

A further loanee Miles WELCH-HAYES, on loan from Harrogate Town, has played well but has been sidelined recently by injury.

Another loanee, Michael GYASI, on loan from Chesterfield, has not even been in the matchday squad recently, whilst recent arrival, the returning Aaron BENNETT, on loan from Preston North End, has yet to start a game on his "second coming" to Alty.

That leaves, Danny CASHMAN, on loan from Coventry City, who has yet to make an impact in nine appearances, centre-back Kyle FERGUSON, who only arrived on loan from Harrogate Town recently, Maxi OYEDELE, on loan from Manchester United, who has impressed but was an unexpected absentee from the squad at Scunthorpe last Tuesday, and Tyrese SINCLAIR who has looked lively since arriving on loan from Rochdale.

"THE TIDE HAS TURNED"

Scunthorpe United manager Jimmy Dean was speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph which tells us that "It was crucial Dean intervened at half-time against Altrincham to see his team through to victory, and he highlighted the things his side were not doing enough of to start with.

The Iron boss said 'Bar one block, I don't think Chappy [Aaron Chapman] has had a save to make. We looked solid and I thought first half we were too passive out of possession. [We were] too deep, and we weren’t getting the ball high enough up the pitch.

'We chatted about how to change it half time, be more on the front foot and once we sorted that out and started to dictate the ball, we started getting out and got more players higher up the pitch.

'The other one was crosses, we don’t cross the ball enough in any game. For some reason we get to the point, stop, and then come back out. [We need to learn] to get the ball in the box.

'I know one was a corner but it is still a cross into the box. The first was as well and we got lucky with the ‘keeper dropping it but that is what we have to do. They edged the first half but I thought we were far better in the second. The tide turned today and that’s two wins in seven,' he said...

'That was a must win tonight and I did call it. I would not have hid[den] from it if we lost, it was a must win for a lot of reasons'".

Scunthorpe United's match report added, "Within the first few minutes of the second half, United had taken the lead. Richie Bennett managed to turn the ball home. Wilson drove a cross into the area and Feeney was the Iron player to get on the end of it.

From close distance, he directed the ball goalward but it was saved by Byrne. Byrne couldn’t hold onto the ball and it rebounded to Bennett. The Iron striker had an empty net to aim at and he simply tapped the ball into the net to give the Iron the lead. It was a huge goal for the Iron...

"In the 75th minute, United grabbed a second goal. This time Will Smith was the player to grab the goal. Butterfield whipped an outswinging corner into the area. His cross was driven low in the air and this allowed Smith to connect with the ball on the volley at the near post. His volley had a lot of power and it curled towards the far corner. The ball struck the inside of the upright and spun [sic] just across the line...

"The Iron comfortably saw the game out and took away all three points".

NEXT: YORK CITY

So far, those games have yielded a draw and two defeats. In contrast, the Monsytermen had a morale boosting three-nil away win at Bromley on Tuesday night, albeit against a side reduced to ten men.

York Press explains that York City interim manager Michael Morton "opted to drop striker Shaq Forde to the bench, replacing him with midfielder Paddy McLaughlin in a change of formation...

'We've got to manage the legs as well. Shaq's 18-years-old and he's still looking after his hamstring, so that's a factor as well', explained Morton... 'In terms of energy and experience it was just picking and choosing when we come out...

'So that that was part of the strategy in terms of our possession to be more compact but to then go straight down the middle of them... Looking back, [John] Askey played Ducky [Michael Duckworth] at the side of a back three... and them two [Duckworth and Ryan Fallowfield] have got a good relationship as well.

'If you look at the two different players, Ducky's really calm and collective and Fallows is all energy and he wants to go forward so I think it’s a really good balance between them two.

Maziar Kouhyar wasn't involved in the squad after struggling with a tooth infection...

York are out of league action this weekend for the quarter-finals of the Isuzu FA Trophy against Altrincham, causing Morton to face a selection headache...

'There will be one or two changes just to come in.. There is no doubt that any player that comes in on Saturday that we will be expecting that same thing...

'There should be a good crowd against a really good side. We know that they like to play good football and entertain, whenever we play at home we try to get on the front foot'".

The York Press adds that on Tuesday night, "The sending off of goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook was a massive moment in the match, as Bromley had no substitute goalkeeper to replace the shot-stopper. This allowed York to score three against the play-off chasing Ravens, with Lenell John-Lewis, Ryan Fallowfield and Luke James getting their names on the scoresheet".

Like Alty the Minstermen have had a lot of recent travelluing as manager Morton said, "'Obviously travelling down here three times in seven days, I think we're ready for a bit of a sleep now!'... Morton felt the decision from the referee to send of Charles-Cook was the correct one, after the former Coventry City goalkeeper hacked Mitch Hancox down after the midfielder rounded the shot-stopper".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Things started well at Solihull with defender Ross Marshall getting his head to a Tope Fadahunsi flick-on from a Kieron Evans free kick in just the second minute to make it 1-0. But with chances missed, Torquay left themselves open, and Solihull, who lost their main striker Andrew Dallas to Chesterfield the day before the game, scored through the player who came in for him: Josh Kelly.

That goal came in the 36th minute, and in the final minute of the first half Callum Howe hit the post with a header before pouncing on the rebound... Solihull were 3-1 up in the 56th minute when Torquay allowed Mark Beck to stroll up to the goalline and prod a low cross home...

In the 59th minute, Solihull went down to 10 men when Jamey Osborne threw a boot out at Tom Lapslie...

Fadahunsi... managed to... play it to Collins, whose shot came off a Solihull boot and wrong-footed the Solihull goalkeeper for 3-2...

Johnson said... 'There have been so many defeats by one goal, so many games where we have had opportunities and not taken them. So many games where teams, whether it is us or the other team, are down to 10 men and sometimes it makes it more difficult... I am really pleased the club has found a player in Kev Dawson'.

Dawson, the 32-year-old midfielder who has joined on loan from Gloucester City... started the game...

Johnson said 'He [Dawson] will give us so much more. He was only supposed to play half-hour today but he wanted to carry on and I thought he was fantastic... We didn’t deal today enough with the big fella up front [Beck]. He’s a big lad and we dealt with him on some occasions but he got the ball a lot...

'I don’t know how many chances we created but I bet it was as similar as them'".

According to the Halifax Courier "Town winger Jordan Slew has been given the option to play elsewhere, says manager Chris Millington.

Slew has made 18 league appearances this season for Halifax, but has only started one league game in the last four months...

The Town boss said 'We've circulated players, so obviously Tom Scott's out, Sam Smart's out, there's been interest from National League North in Sam Minihan but he's not interested in going anywhere, I think he's enjoying his time at Halifax...

'And we've given Jordan Slew the option to go and get football elsewhere and we're just talking through one or two options for him at the moment... We need to bulk up the squad so we're going to need some bodies in... hopefully at the top end of the pitch.

'Clearly, defensively, the clean sheets would suggest we're doing something right at the bottom end'...

Bolton loanee Adam Senior has proved a superb addition since his arrival, and has contributed to Town's three clean sheets on the spin in their last three outings.. Said Millington when asked if he would like to extend his loan again. 'Very calm, gets in and gets his job done, there's never any drama around him, so he's the type of player we really want to work with and if we can do anything longer-term then we'd really like to'...

Millington says midfielder Kian Spence is now back in training".

Hampshire's Daily Echo tells us that "Matthew Worthington’s second-half strike was the difference as relegation-threatened Yeovil secured a 1-0 win against Eastleigh in the National League.

The Glovers had a series of good chances but Jordan Young’s shot was blocked before Worthington’s follow-up efforts were cleared.

Jordan Maguire-Drew then forced a great save from Joe McDonnell... Danny Whitehall saw a headed effort cleared off the line for the Spitfires...

Worthington made the decisive breakthrough in the 65th minute, heading home a cross.

Eastleigh were then reduced to 10 men in the 82nd minute after Ousseynou Cisse was shown a second yellow card".

SCUNTHORPE UNITED 2-0 ALTRINCHAM

For Ben Pringle (left) it was just a second league start after twenty appearances from the bench in the National League this season.

Following the 4-0 defeat at Wealdstone, Altrincham had made four changes with Cashman, Baines, Linney and Oyedele replaced by Pringle, James Jones, Hulme and Marriott. They lined up as follows:

Altrincham's third away game on the run again ended in disappointment, yet they had dominated first-half possession on their first ever league visit to Scunthorpe. However, they failed to score before the break and Pringle then spurned a decent opening early in the second period.

Match report here

ROXBURGH LEAVES

Right: Aidan Roxburgh talks to Neil Sorvel at the pre-season friendly against West Didsbury and Chorlton last July.

In a 2022/23 season that has seen Aidy contend with injuries, he has gained experience through loan spells at Ashton United and, more recently, with Nantwich Town.

Aidy made one competitive appearance for Altrincham, starting in our 4-0 victory at Sandbach in the Cheshire Senior Cup".

Footnote: Altrincham announced their signing of Aidie Roxburgh on 2 June, 2022. He had joined Chester FC in July 2021 and the National North club had immediately registered him with Trafford FC where he spent the 2021-22 season and from where he signed for the Robins. Primarily a right-back he can play on either flank.

He had started out as a "scholar" with Welsh Premier club The New Saints before spending 2017-18 with Runcorn Town. In summer 2018 he joined Welsh club Holywell Town before returning to Runcorn Town in summer 2020 from where he joined Chester.

Injury sidelined him at the start of 2022-23 and he went on loan to Ashton United in mid-October 2022 and later to Nantwich Town. However, he suffered a hamstring injury which sidelined him in the New Year.

Ironically, his only appearance in a National League squad came only last week when he was an unused substitute for the match at Yeovil Town.

NEXT: YORK CITY

From there, the York Press reported, before yesterday's fixtures, that "Michael Morton has admitted his players were feeling ‘a bit down’ after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday afternoon.

It was back-to-back defeats for the Minstermen, despite enjoying the majority of possession and having more chances than their hosts...

'Everybody was a bit down because everybody knew that we had put in a good performance,' Morton admitted. 'It was two mistakes that cost us... It wasn’t just one error when we’ve watched it back... It’s just little individual errors that has [sic] cost us, we’ve just got to make sure that we cut them out moving forward...

'We need to be a little bit more ruthless in both boxes.

'The last two games we have been really calm and collective on the sidelines. I thought one of our worst performances was against Yeovil, yet we won the game. Then we’ve put two good performances together and come away with nothing, but that’s the beauty of football.'"

ALTY OLD BOYS

League 1 : OWEN DALE was substituted after 75 minutes as his Portsmouth side went down 3-1 at Barnsley.

League 2 : ALISTAIR SMITH was credited with the assist for the second goal in Sutton United's 3-0 home victory over Crawley Town.

National League : DAN MOONEY was substituted for the hosts after 61 minutes, shortly before RYAN COLCLOUGH scored what turned out to be the winner for Chesterfield at Southend United. He was himself substituted after 79 minutes.

National North : MONTEL GIBSON scored the last two goals - the second a penalty - as AFC Telford comprehensively beat visitors Bradford PA 4-0.

NPL : Pre-season trialist HARRY BUNN (above, right) rounded off the scoring for Ashton United in their 3-1 home win over Belper Town.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Blackburn-born Procter, 21, joins the Terras until the end of the season... Procter is under contract with Dorking until the summer.

He has experience at EFL sides AFC Wimbledon and Accrington, leaving the latter in November.

However, he has found game time limited at Wanderers, making just five appearances in non-League's top flight since joining...

If he makes his debut, he would become the 46th player to play for Weymouth this season".

SCUNTHORPE UNITED 2-0 ALTRINCHAM

Those meetings both ended in victory for Altrincham in replays at Moss Lane.

• 1974-75 1st Round: Scunthorpe United 1-1 Altrincham (J. Hughes)
• 1974-75 1st Round Replay: Altrincham 3-1 Scunthorpe United (Alty scorers Morris, J.Hughes, Davison)
• 1980-81 2nd Round:Scunthorpe United 0-0 Altrincham
• 1980-81 2nd Round Replay: Altrincham 1-0 Scunthorpe United (Alty scorer, Davison (pen)
>

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

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

IRON PREVIEW

Alfie Beestin came off shortly before half-time at the weekend through injury (hamstring), with scan results expected at some stage to access his situation.

Marcus Carver (groin) continues to miss out...

Altrincham were dismantled over the weekend after a 4-0 defeat away from home to Wealdstone put a stop to their four game unbeaten run, where they had won three...

Despite losing top scorers Chris Conn-Clarke and Ryan Colclough who had scored nine and six each, Alty have seen success in the transfer market through former Iron attacker Tyrese Sinclair and ex-FC United of Manchester forward Regan Linney, who have both netted four and three respectively since joining in February.

The referee will be Matt Corlett, assisted by Ashley Royston and Wayne Cooper. The fourth official will be Anthony Tankard."

GOAL-FEST AT SCUNTHORPE UNITED?

And Alty supporters have witnessed an aggregate total of 117 league goals this campaign which is the highest number of goals involving any team this season apart from league leaders Wrexham (124 goals) and Notts County (123).

As for the match itself, having served a one-match suspension for the red-card he was given for a goal-line handball at Yeovil last Tuesday, centre-back James Jones (right) is likely to be restored to the heart of an Altrincham defence which conceded four goals in his absence last Saturday at Wealdstone.

Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson spoke with Laurence Howarth after that heavy defeat at Wealdstone, previewing Tuesday’s fixture at Scunthorpe and the remainder of the season.

He said, “It’s been the same all season; if you lose a game, you want to win as soon as you can, so I won’t be putting all or nothing on the next result. But if we want to do anything from now until the end of the term, we’ve got to bounce back.

“You look at the games we’ve got left, the majority of them are against teams that are fighting for their lives, so we have to battle to earn the right to play. If you don’t prioritise that as a starting point, you can’t compete.”

Altrincham have eleven fixtures remaining in the National League. As Phil Parkinson implies, seven of those are against sides currently in the bottom eleven league positions. However, five of those seven fixtures are away from home, where Altrincham have won just three times this season.

For those unable to attend, the match can be followed, live, on Radio Alty or via the National League streaming service.

LIVE VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE MATCHES

• Saturday March 11, Notts County vs Dorking Wanderers (5.20pm)
• Saturday March 18, Woking vs Chesterfield (12.30pm)
• Saturday March 25, Slough Town vs Ebbsfleet United (12.30pm)
• Saturday March 25, Wealdstone v Barnet (3pm)
• Saturday April 1, Yeovil Town vs Southend United (5.20pm)
• Friday April 7, Boreham Wood vs Dagenham & Redbridge (5pm)
• Monday April 10, Wrexham vs Notts County (3pm)

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

'Looking forward to it,' Millington said of the trip to Gateshead... 'We're in a run of games here where we're playing teams that like to be possession-based and like to move the ball, and they're the teams we really enjoy playing against because it becomes a bit more of a tactical battle.

'We think we've got the ability and the know-how within the squad to overcome those type of teams... What we're seeing now is the positive aspects of our play for longer periods in games,' he said...

'The positive thing we're seeing at the moment is that control in games and that high-performance level for much longer periods'...

Another positive for the Town boss is the increase in competition for places in his squad thanks to players returning from injury...

'So as a group we look like we're in a really different place at the moment'".

The Derbyshire Times confirms that "Chesterfield brothers Phil and Ashley Kirk are set to increase their stake in the Spireites.

It comes as the latest accounts show the club made a loss of £2,370,671 for the year to June 30 2022, compared to a deficit of £400,177 in 2021.

Brothers Phil and Ashley, who are both from Chesterfield and are Spireites fans, provided the club with a £1m loan last year and the pair are set to increase their stake in the club to 25 per cent. Ashley became a director last April and Phil will join the board shortly.

Phil told the club’s We Are Sailing podcast... 'I am not intending to make money out of the club. I want to do the right thing and help the club. The intention is not to take over the club. I would really like to keep the club owned by the fans but it is pretty clear the trust can’t support the finances of the club at the moment and what Ash and I would like to do along with the rest of the board is to get it to a position where it is sustainable.'

Ashley added... 'Those accounts relate to 2021/2022 and we are in a very different place now. We will continue to work really hard to get the club on an even keel'...

Chairman Mike Goodwin... said... 'A realistic deficit is closer to £1m which is a similar level to the current year...

Turnover breakdown

• Gates and season tickets up from £176,793 to £2,049,047
• TV and football awards down from 276,832 to 257,539
• Transfer fees down from £105,000 to £40,000
• Total turnover up from 1,998,961 to 3,928,008
• Wages and salaries up from 1,895,400 in 2021 to £3,077,898 in 2022
• Hotels, travel and subsistence up from £96,978 in 2021 to £426,788 in 2022.
• Ground upkeep £255,933 in 2021 to £351,431 in 2022
• Matchday expenses up from £105,005 to £324,507".

Despite their deficit, Chesterfield "have signed striker Andrew Dallas on loan from National League rivals Solihull Moors...

The 23 year-old Scot, who began his career at Glasgow Rangers, will remain at the Technique Stadium until the end of the season...

Dallas said... 'When I had the opportunity to come and play at this great stadium. It was one I definitely jumped at'...

He has scored 14 goals so far this season".

According to the Maidenhead Advertiser "Alan Devonshire could barely hide his delight after Maidenhead United tore up the Wrexham script to earn a hard-fought 2-2 draw at York Road...

Reece Smith found the back of the net with a sublime finish to cancel out Paul Mullin’s first half header before Shawn McCoulsky replied in dramatic fashion...

'I’m just so pleased,' he said to the Advertiser. 'The boys have hit a rich vein of form and hopefully it will continue... We tweaked a few things at half-time'...

'Reece was superb,' he said... 'He’s played so many games in this league already, I think he’s played over 50 now which is so good for a kid of 20-years-old. I expect him to get even better next year as well'".

A trip to Hampshire beckons for Altrincham in mid-March and, from there, the Daily Echo advises us that "Eastleigh's pursuit of the National League’s top three continued as they won 1-0 at struggling Scunthorpe, despite being reduced to 10 men.

Danny Whitehall scored the decisive goal with a 22nd-minute penalty given after a foul in the Scunny area. Whitehall won and netted the spot-kick.

The visitors had to see out most of the second half with a man down after loanee Kairo Mitchell was sent off in the 51st minute for an off-the-ball incident involving Harvey Bunker.

But the Iron could not make their advantage count, with [ex-Alty trialist] Tom Pugh and Bunker amongst those who tried and failed to bridge the gap...

The result leaves Lee Bradbury’s side in sixth in the division with 57 points from 35 matches".

Yeovil Town "announce the signing of Reo Griffiths from Doncaster Rovers on loan until the end of the season.

The centre forward arrives with a prolific record at youth level, having netted 33 goals for the Tottenham Academy in the 2017-18 season... He signed for Lyon and... scored 13 goals for Lyon II.

In January 2022, he returned to England and signed for Doncaster Rovers... Having scored twice for Rovers during his time in South Yorkshire, he now heads to Somerset for his first taste of National League action".

6 March 2023

INTERNATIONAL CALL-UP FOR LUNDSTRAM

The Alty midfielder (right), who turned 24 last month, has been a model of consistency since joining the Robins from Crewe Alexandra last summer, and it has not gone unnoticed by Paul Fairclough, as he prepares for England C's latest game against Wales C at The J.Davidson Stadium on March 21st.

England C's manager has named a 25-man squad...

It is an honour for Alty to be chosen to stage an international fixture... with tickets priced at just £7 for adults and £2 for under-18s... Click here to buy a ticket...

England squad:

• Goalkeepers - S. Howes (Wealdstone), M. Norman (Oldham Athletic), H. Male (Worthing).
• Defenders - T. Cordner (Aldershot Town), V. Harper (Eastleigh), H. Phipps (Dagenham & Redbridge), K. Richardson (Gateshead), D. Gallagher (Dorking Wanderers), J. Debrah (FC Halifax Town).
• Midfielders - J. Lundstram (Altrincham), D. Oldaker (Chesterfield), J. Daly (Woking), R. De Havilland (Barnet), R. Booty (Maidstone United), M. Worthington (Yeovil Town), J. Vennings (Bromley), G. Scott-Morriss (Southend United), O. Dyson (York City).
• Forwards - D. Lewis (Boreham Wood), C. Wilson (Scunthorpe United), S. Dalby (Wrexham), E. Acquah (Maidenhead United), J. Sbarra (Solihull Moors), M. Langstaff (Notts County), A. Jarvis (Torquay United)."

NEXT: SCUNTHORPE UNITED

So, as well as Josh Lundstram from Altrincham, their next opponents, Scunthorpe United have also got a player in the next England C squad.

"Iron attacker Cameron Wilson has been named in the provisional England C squad to face Wales C on March 21st...

The attacking player has scored three goals in 23 appearances so far this season (10 of which have been starts).

ALTY'S TROPHY GOAL

In the Non-League Paper, Phil Parkinson was asked about Altrincham's progress in the FA Trophy, 37 years after the club last won the competition.

He said, "With Wembley so close now, there is a real sense of anticipation around the place.

"I've got two promotions under my belt here but, in truth, I've probably under-performed as a manager... in the FA Trophy.

"Altrincham is a club steeped in such amazing history within the non-League game and it really gives us motivation to try and reach those heights that were once reached...

It's a pretty alien feeling to be described as one of the big hitters left in the tournament because we have, for so long, associated ourselves as underdogs, especially when up against other National League sides.

"I think the form book kind of goes out of the window at this point, though. It's a one-off game where the stresses and scenarios of the league can be forgotten about for 90 minutes.

"York are another club with a proud history and it will mean a lot to them as well. So, we are expecting a brilliant atmosphere and a really good, old-fashioned battle".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Ben Elliott's brace helped West Didsbury & Chorlton to a 3-1 win at Squire's Gate.

At Trafford Sean Miller played in opposition to Widnes goalkeeper Cameron Terry.

Lancaster City beat Mopeth on Saturday with Kyle Brownhill in the victors' team.

Ex-Alty men A-Jay Leitch Smith and Osebi Abadaki played for Warrington Rylands in a 2-2 draw with Stafford Rangers, with Abdaki on the scoresheet.

And Phil Jordan reports that Josh Ginnelly, who was substituted after 79 minutes, scored the first two goals for Hearts in their 3-0 home win over St. Johnstone.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Magpies found themselves a goal down in the 20th minute, with Tiernan Brooks adjudged to have taken down a Bromley player inside the area, with Adam Marriott stepping up to send the 20-year-old the wrong way having seen his earlier penalty saved by the legs of the Notts keeper.

But with a tweak in personnel, a much-improved and free-flowing second-half performance finally reaped its rewards two minutes from time, Macaulay Langstaff latching on to a Ruben Rodrigues pass to score his 33rd goal of the season...

Williams made three changes to the side that lost to Dagenham and Redbridge at Meadow Lane last weekend, opting for a back four in the absence of Aden Baldwin, while Sam Slocombe also missed the trip to Hayes Lane after sustaining an issue in training in midweek...

The Magpies' chief insisted... 'It mainly went wrong because I changed the back line and the formation because we are trying to look back at previous performances and looking at combinations of different players...

'I tried to help the players stem the flow of counter-attacks because they are a very good counter-attacking team. But in the end, it didn't seem to help too much and I think we lost our balance at the top of the pitch in this formation. First of all, it starts with me, for sure, then I tried to correct the formation and change the players around that and I thought in the second half we were very good'...

Striker Cedwyn Scott had suffered another injury after just recovering from a shoulder problem... he could be out for weeks at this crucial part of the season".

5 March 2023

AFTER WEALDSTONE 4-0 ALTRINCHAM

Match report here

Manager Phil Parkinson gave a frank assessment of his team's failings at Wealdstone, after the game, when he spoke to Radio Robins' Laurence Howarth in an audio interview on the Altrincham FC website.

NEXT: SCUNTHORPE UNITED

On Saturday, Scunthorpe United "boss Jimmy Dean shared his thoughts following the Iron’s 1-0 defeat at home to Eastleigh". In the interview, the former Peterborough Sports manager, who recently took over at Scunthorpe, said of their next opponents, "Altrincham have had a bad result today but we have to try and take advantage of that on Tuesday night".

In the match "Danny Whitehall’s first-half penalty opened the scoring for the Spitfires, with [their] striker Kairo Mitchell dismissed for a straight red card early in the second period.

Dean added, "It was a game we could have won, and should have won... I thought we were miles off it. They were too and they weren't world beaters...

"We had a go and went for it in the second half...

For the game "Making two changes by bringing in both Bennett and Billy Fewster, Dean opted to shake things up...

'I changed shape because we wanted to play more football, and get more men in the box,' Dean said. 'We wanted... to have an extra midfielder to keep the ball... Second half was a lot brighter and we were better with the ball'.

Midfielder Alfie Beestin was forced to be withdrawn at the end of the first half... 'It’s a hamstring injury and it is a big loss as he's been terrific since I came to the club', Dean said...

With a chance to put things right on Tuesday night against Altrincham, Dean insists... 'It is last chance saloon and results have all gone our way again,' he said. 'With that though, we cannot keep relying on other teams. We have to start winning games'".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE was a 68th minute substitute for Millwall as they trailed 1-3 to visitors Norwich City. Although they pulled one goal back, he still finished on the losing side.

League 1 : OWEN DALE was substituted in the 89th minute, but was credited with the assist for Portsmouth as they won by the only goal of the game at Cambridge United.

League 2 : JOEL SENIOR (right) was an 82nd minute substitute for Carlisle United in their 2-0 home win over Grimsby Town.

TOBY MULLARKEY played the whole game for Rochdale, as did CARL PIERGIANNI for visitors Stevenage. Rochdale turned the form book upside down with a 2-0 win.

CHRIS MERRIE featured for Tranmere Rovers, but CONNOR JENNINGS was probably happier with the result on his return to Prenton Park as Hartlepool United forced a 1-1 draw.

National League : RYAN COLCLOUGH scored Chesterfield's 92nd minute winner at Gateshead, and picked up a yellow card for his celebration.

National North: YUSIFU CEESAY (right) scored the equaliser as Alfreton Town came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with visitors Darlington.

BRAD JACKSON opened the scoring as Buxton won 2-1 at home to Gloucester City.

HAYDEN CAMPBELL was Curzon Ashton's scorer as they lost 4-1 at Leamington

NPL : After FC United found themselves 0-3 down at home to struggling Liversedge, DONTAI GABIDON pulled one back. It wasn't enough as his team lost 2-3.

Despite having SEAN WILLIAMS sent off inside 30 seconds, Warrington Town still managed to win their home game with Bamber Bridge 1-0.

Down Under: CONNOR HAMPSON hit the 90th minute winner for Oakleigh Cannons as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season at Dandenong

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The defender missed Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Barnet at Roots Hall on Friday night.

And he has now issued a statement on social media to explain his departure. Lopata said... 'Due to a serious breach of contract by the club I have decided it is best for myself and my family to terminate my contract'...

Lopata made 18 appearances for Blues while on loan from Sheffield United last season before making the move permanent in September.

The 21-year-old centre-back has made 26 appearances this season but leaves on a free transfer after the Shrimpers were 28 days late in paying his wages for January".

Bu the Echo News adds that "United boss Kevin Maher has revealed Kacper Lopata has shown he no longer wants to be with the Shrimpers...

'Between Kacper and his agent they don’t want to be here,' said Maher. 'They’ve made that clear with what they’ve done but that’s above me... It’s a great football club and people are lucky to play for it.'

Lopata is believed to be allowed to leave the club after going 28 days without being paid".

4 March 2023

WEALDSTONE 4-0 ALTRINCHAM

Both new signings for Altrincham, Ferguson and Perritt, started today. Danny Cashman (right) also came back into the starting eleven. Dropping out were the suspended James Jones whilst Marriott and Hulme moved to the bench.

Josh Lundstram assumed the captaincy.

After an even and fairly uneventful start, Wealdstone got on top with four successive corners, which Alty defended unconvincingly (13 to 15 mins). But having survived that sequence, Alty conceded...

Match report here

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

• Southend United 0-1 Barnet

Saturday, 4 March 2023.

• Aldershot Town 1-1 Torquay United
• Bromley 1-1 Notts County
• Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 York City
• Dorking Wanderers 0-0 FC Halifax Town
• Gateshead 1-2 Chesterfield
• Maidenhead United v Wrexham k.o. 5.20pm
• Oldham Athletic 0-2 Boreham Wood
• Scunthorpe United 0-1 Eastleigh
• Solihull Moors 2-0 Maidstone United
• Wealdstone 4-0 Altrincham
• Yeovil Town 0-1 Woking

BEFORE TODAY'S MATCH: WEALDSTONE

Above: Alty's two signings on Friday were pictured in the warm-up to Altrincham's last game of last season at home to Yeovil Town. Here Harry Perritt (left) and Kyle Ferguson (right) flank Kole Hall.

With centre-back James Jones suspended after his red card last time out and with right-back loanee Miles Welch-Hayes injured, both new signings could start against Wealdstone.

Alty arrive in North London with a four-game unbeaten league run behind them as they undertake the second of their sequence of five successive away games in the National League.

A win for Alty could lift them from their current eleventh place to ninth but a defeat would only see them drop just a single place, with their opponents Wealdstone the only club who could go above them today.

As usual the match will be covered by Radio Robins on Radio Alty.

FIFTEEN LOANEES AT ALTY THIS SEASON

Loanees currently at Altrincham:

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. Kyle FERGUSON - on loan from Harrogate Town
5. Michael GYASI - on loan from Chesterfield
6. Joe HUGILL - on loan from Manchester United
7. Maxi OYEDELE - on loan from Manchester United
8. Tyrese SINCLAIR - on loan from Rochdale
9. Miles WELCH-HAYES - on loan from Harrogate Town

Loanees who have been at Altrincham this season but have since left:

1. Chris CONN-CLARKE (loanee from Fleetwood Town)
2. Connor JENNINGS (loanee from Stockport County)
3. Dan MALONE (loanee from Stoke City)
4. Dermot MEE (loanee from Manchester United)
5. Elliot NEWBY (loanee from Stockport County)
6. Armando Júnior QUITIRNA (loanee from Fleetwood Town)

ALTY MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS

• £500 cash | #471 | A Sharp
• £75 cash | #176 | Simon Ellis
• £25 cash | #171 | C Morrison
• Hospitality for Two | #8 | Phil James
• Bottle of Alty Gin | #522 | K Esteva
• Scarf & Team Photo | #79 | N Seller

Congratulations to all the winners!

ALTY OLD BOYS

DAN MOONEY was not in the Southend United squad which lost 0-1 at Roots Hall to Barnet on Friday night".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

But the manager has reiterated that it is difficult to convince clubs to give him players as the season reaches its ‘business end’ at both ends of the table...

'There still has to be some process behind how we recruit, if that person is not available, we can’t magic them up and at this stage of the season it is very difficult to get good players because nobody wants to let them go.. It is a difficult time to recruit...

'I need somebody who can score us 15 goals before the end of the season, but I am not daft enough to think we are going to get one of those', he said.

He admitted the team had felt pressure with an announcement that the group, led by Matt Uggla and former England rugby union player Paul Sackey [were taking over the club]...

'They know the owners will come in and have ideas, but the only way (to make sure they are involved) is by performing well and getting results'...

The manager said that his initial discussions with the new owners had gone well and said... 'With the new people being in the same it might give everyone a lift, there might not be as much negativity around the stadium because the players pick up on that. Hopefully there is a feel good factor... I understand that fans when they have been beaten down for so long are very sceptical – who it is, what it is and why it is. Hopefully that has been put to rest'".

Yeovil clash with their former manager when they face Woking this weekend.

And Get Surrey tells us that the manin question, Darren Sarll, "refuses to be drawn on how he would feel leading Woking FC into the Football League this season.

He said... 'That’s all just fairy-tale nonsense'.

Woking drew 1-1 at home to Wealdstone in the National League last weekend...

Although Sarll understands he has led Woking into an unbelievable position at this stage, he won’t ever be looking beyond the next game which for him this week happens to be a trip to one of his former employers, the Glovers...

He added 'We don’t talk about positions in the table. Woking have every right to be third and then very little right to be dictating that we try to retain that position. The players have exceeded anyone’s expectation in this community this year and they deserve a lot of praise and a lot of confidence for that'.

On his new deal at Woking he said 'It’s a brilliant place and brilliant people... and it’s been great fun but make no bones about it, Darren Sarll doesn’t see out two-and-half years if his team’s not winning... You’ve got to meet the expectation of your consumer and unfortunately for me we have driven that expectation through the proverbial glass ceiling, which makes it even tougher'...

Sarll gave [coach Ian] Dyer a chance from day one when other managers might have brought in their own man and Alan Dowson’s former assistant rose to the challenge. Sarll said... 'I like working with different people. I like working with people I’ve never met. I’ve got very basic and simple values that I ask my staff to have. They must look after me. They must look out for my back. They mustn’t ever go behind it, ever...

'Ian is a very, very good coach... He has to go out and coach this group of players to win'".

At the other end of the table, Kent Online reports that "Maidstone United caretaker manager George Elokobi... doesn’t intend to change much ahead of back-to-back away fixtures...

After three matches at the Gallagher Stadium, Stones are back on the road, travelling to Solihull Moors this Saturday and Wealdstone on Tuesday....

Elokobi said 'We keep improving daily. We don’t change a lot. We always have a Plan A, we always have a Plan B and we always have a Plan C....

'So there’s always a tactical game plan against good opposition.'”

3 March 2023

PERRITT SIGNS FOR ALTRINCHAM

Though primarily a right-back, Harry, who turned 22 last month, will give manager Phil Parkinson extra options with his ability to slot in to the middle of the back line or central midfield with ease.

He joined Alty on loan from Accrington on February 19th last year and was with us for the remainder of the season".

Background: Harry Perritt (aged 22) made 11(+1) appearances and scored once for Altrincham in his previous loan from Accrington Stanley.

He joined Stanley at the age of eleven and came through two setbacks, by way of fractures to the arm and ankle, to establish himself at the Lancashire club.

After signing professional forms in 2019, he made his first-team debut in the EFL Trophy in March 2021 and had made six first-tam appearances before his loan at Moss Lane. Before joining Alty he had had a loan spell at Torquay United.

This season he had made seven appearances for Accrington in EFL1 before moving to Altrincham.

KYLE RE-JOINS ON LOAN

The 23-year old will be with Alty for the next month and has signed in time for Saturday's Vanarama National League fixture with Wealdstone...

It's a timely return for Kyle, with James Jones serving a one-game ban following his red card at Yeovil on Tuesday night".

Background: 23 year-old Kyle Ferguson made 8(+1) appearances in his previous spell at Altrincham on a short-term contract.

A centre-back, his initial arrival at Moss Lane was announced on 25 February 2022.

In 2021, the 6ft 4 inch defender had been playing for Waterford in the Republic of Ireland, whose season had ended in November 2021.

Unsurprisingly, given his father Barry's career with Rangers, it was at that club that Kyle started out, with spells with Kilmarnock, Airdrie and Clyde (2016-18|) all featuring on his CV.

He also spent time in the USA on a football scholarship with Medaille College and prior to joining Waterford he had been playing for Ytterhogdals IK in Sweden.

Having broken into the team when Tom Hannigan was sidelined by injury, Kyle made eight successive starts and completed ninety minutes on each occasion. He was offered terms for 2022-23 but rejected these and joined EFL 2 club Harrogate Town instead; his departure was announced by Altrincham on 30 May 2022.

Altrincham appearances: 8(+1), 0 goals.

RETURNING PLAYERS

1. Aaron Bennett - recently re-arrived on loan from Preston North End having been at the club earlier in the 2022-23 season on a similar loan from North End.
2. Jake Cooper - he was at Alty on loan from Rotherham United in 2021-22, and was then signed from The Millers by Alty in summer 2022. He is currently out on loan at Darlington.
3. Kyle Ferguson see above
4. Jordan Hulme - he signed for Altrincham in 2017 and stayed till 2020 when he moved to AFC Dylde. He returned on loan from the Coasters in early 2022 and then re-signed for Altrincham in May 2022.
5. Eddy Jones - joined for a second loan spell in September, having been at the club on a previous loan from Stoke in early 2022. In January 2023 he signed as an Altrincham player.
6. James Jones - was an Altrincham player from 2017-20 but left to join Barrow. He returned to Altrincham for 2022-23 season.
7. Josh Lundstram - first played for Alty as a loanee from Crewe Alexandra in 2020, but signed for Altrincham from the Alex in May 2022.
8. Harry Perritt see above
9. Byron Harrison - was signed by Alty in 2020-21 season and re-appeared on a short-term contract in September 2022 before moving on to Nantwich Town.
10. Elliot Newby - enjoyed a loan spell from Barrow in 2016/17 season and returned on another loan arrangement from Stockport County in 2022 before moving to re-join Barrow.

NEXT: WEALDSTONE

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

Meanwhile the Robins have surged up the table following impressing victories over play off hopefuls Woking, Barnet and Solihull Moors...

This match will be unsegregated although Altrincham supporters have been allocated the first two sections of the MODU Stand for seating and the Hawthorn Terrace for standing".

In the reverse fixture on Tuesday, 1 November 2022 a part-time Wealdstone side which had travelled more than 150 miles to play at Altrincham on a damp Tuesday night, and which had just endured six successive defeats in which they had conceded a shedload of goals, nevertheless won 1-0 against their newly full-time hosts.

The Stones' goal came in the 47th minute when Olomola got to a low, near-post ball from the left, just ahead of an Alty defender, to turn the ball into the net. Beforehand, the visitors had looked the better side in the first forty-five minutes with pacey attacks and a solid defence which belied the team's recent record.

The Stones were then largely on the back foot during the second half as Altrincham laboured to create openings and, when they did, they could not convert them.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 4 MARCH

Altrincham last played on this Saturday's date, 4 March, in 2017, when a relegation-doomed Robins travelled to the New Buck's Head to face AFC Telford United.

Right:Goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson lines up between Gary Jones and James Lawrie.

By the end of Alty's game at Darlington the previous Wednesday they had ten players unavailable, (Jake Moult, Gary Jones, Shaun Densmore, Sean Miller, Craig Hobson, Tom Hannigan, Andy Owens, Alan Goodall, Tim Deasy, Kyle Brownhill). Of those absentees, Owens and Goodall were on the bench at Telford but Reeves was not present owing to a family commitment.

Before this game, 49 players had played a part in Alty's league fixtures this season and with the debut of keeper Stuart Tomlinson that became fifty today.

Altrincham deserved at least a point, if not all three, but were robbed of any reward at all for their good performance by a heavily deflected goal in the 87th minute.

With goalkeeper Tim Deasy injured, new signing Stuart Tomlinson made his debut and, apart from a couple of saves, he had relatively little to do.

In a match riddled with petty fouls and played on a soft surface, there was too much scrappy play to make it a great spectacle but Altrincham, with John Cyrus again excelling at the back, put together some good attacking moves. But the injury jinx struck again as Nicky Clee had to come off at the interval, after a late challenge on him in the first half.

In addition to a Micah Evans effort, Altrincham came closest to scoring when Richman's shot from three yards was blocked by a defender and when the same player lifted a late effort over the bar, both efforts arising from Newby crosses.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart TOMLINSON, 2. Chris LYNCH (c), 3. Nicky CLEE, 4. Sam HEATHCOTE, 5. John CYRUS. 6. Laurence TAYLOR, 7. Elliott NEWBY, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. Micah EVANS, 10. James LAWRIE, 11. Gary JONES Subs: 12. Andy McWILLIAMS, 14. Alan GOODALL, 15. Andy OWENS, 16. Sam PATTERSON, 20. Andrew JONES

ACADEMY'S CREDITABLE DRAW

On Wednesday Altrincham FC U19 A Red a.k.a. Altrincham FC Academy beat Darlington FC U19s 3-1 to extend their unbeaten run to four games and lift themselves to fifth in the thirteen-strong NLFA North Division.

Before that match they had drawn at home to second-placed Ntotts County academy who trail the league leaders, Blyth Spartans U19 Academy by six points.

Altrincham FC Academy player Tom Jones reported on a 1-1 home draw with Notts County Academy on the Altrincham FC website.

He wrote that "The young Robins... came within five minutes of yielding a notable win...

The back four of McGeady, Igeze, Bailey and Bonney-Phillips battled fiercely in their defensive half, with Byron in the sticks rarely having a save to make. .. and midfield trio of Chambers, German and Njie... dictated the play to such an extent that County barely had a sniff of the ball...

After 65 minutes, Altrincham countered off a well-defended corner, with Williams leading the charge down the right wing. Williams' great run led to a goal, as he placed the ball right in front of Jones for an easy tap in, with the goalkeeper having no chance.

Substitutions were made after 70 minutes, with Dixon coming on for Jones, Adeniyi for Bonney-Phillips and igbanke for Lynch up front. The team showed no sign of resting...

However, a slight lack of concentration around the edge of the box was punished by a thunderous, top corner strike that hauled County level with just five minutes left...

Squad: Dane Byron, Sam Bonney-Philips, Loui Williams, Adam Lynch, Eddie Igeze, Owen German, Sheriff Njie, Joel Bailey, Liam Evans, Ollie Dixon, Yusuf Adeniyi, Ewan McGeady, Jake Mallen, Tom Jones, Sam Chambers, Alfred Igbinake

ACADEMY CATCH-UP

• 22/02/23 13:00 Boston United FC U19 1 - 1 Altrincham FC U19 A Red
• 8/02/23 13:00 Altrincham FC U19 A Red 1 - 0 Gateshead FC U19s North
• 1/02/23 13:30 Chesterfield FC U19 2 - 0 Altrincham FC U19 A Red

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The deal includes a recall period for the first 28 days...

Bennett re-joined Barrow last summer from Sutton United, following spells at Carlisle United, Morecambe, Port Vale and Stockport County.

A nasty injury in pre-season condemned Bennett to the sidelines for a number of months, and since returning to action in November, he has featured 14 times for The Bluebirds".

Scunthorpe United add that "The 31-year-old... 6ft 4in forward said... 'I like to think I’m very hard-working. First and foremost is give everything on the pitch. Hopefully I’ll bring some goals and assists and hopefully I’ll bring a positive vibe to the team and to the place...

'With my serious injury that I’ve had in pre-season, I had three or four months out,' he explained... 'It’s not really worked out at Barrow, so I said if there was an opportunity for me to go out on loan and go and help a team, then I’d be happy to do that'".

The Southend Echo reports that "Blondy Nna Noukeu has extended his loan spell at Southend United.

The shot-stopper, who is with the Shrimpers from Stoke City, has made 16 appearances since signing in September...

Blues boss Kevin Maher confirmed 'Blondy's loan has been extended for another week. The league have allowed us to do that'...

Shrimpers shot-stoppers Steve Arnold and Collin Andeng Ndi are both back in training but have yet to feature in any kind of match since returning to action at Boots & Laces.

'We're trying to get Stevie and Collin up to speed but it's been difficult,' added Maher. 'We've had games Saturday, Tuesday and we've not had the numbers to put another game on'...

Arnold has not featured since August due to a hip problem while Andeng Ndi has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in November".

York Press confirms that "York City have been fined £500 for surrounding the match officials in their recent 3-1 defeat to Wealdstone.

The FA have charged York for breaching FA rule E20 in the recent fixture versus Wealdstone, after the players surrounded the officials in the 64th minute of the match following a decision.

The club have therefore been fined £500, which has been accepted by the Minstermen as a standard penalty one.

York were ordered to control their players and failed to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion during the match, in which City were comfortably defeated by play-off hopefuls Wealdstone.

Wealdstone have also admitted to the charge and have elected a Paper Hearing".

GLOVERS' PERSPECTIVE

Centre back James Jones was gifted an unmarked header inside the box after 22 minutes to give the visitors the lead, but he turned villain on 77 minutes when he handled on the line to give the Glovers a penalty...

Five minutes before team news was announced, the club announced that SU Glovers, a business owned by Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla, had 'taken on the stewardship' of Yeovil Football & Athletic Club, which runs the football operations of the club...

The team news saw the Glovers without captain Josh Staunton, who had been playing through the pain barrier for weeks, whilst Matt Worthington and the two Jordans (Maguire-Drew and Young, who both started last weekend against York City) were on the substitutes bench. Edwin Agbaje, Lawson D’Ath and Alex Fisher were all brought in...

The visitors... looked the more calm and composed. For the visitors Linney looked dangerous...

As Yeovil began to grew in to the game (why does it always take us a half to do that?!)... [they] were looking as composed in the second half as they had looked all at sea in the first...

But, on 78 minutes Yeovil drew level. Two minutes earlier, James Jones handled a goal-bound effort on the goal line and, despite his protest, he was quite correctly shown the red card. It took a good while before MAGUIRE-DREW stepped up to coolly put the ball past Byrne to draw his side level...

Given the poor first half and the form the visitors arrived in, a point and pulling out of the bottom four will be considered success".

NEXT: WEALDSTONE

The destination for Altrincham this weekend is North-West London where Wealdstone are the hosts.

Just as last Saturday against Solihull Moors, Alty will face a side in an adjacent league position. This time, however, Alty are the higher placed of the two contestants on goal difference but the Robins have played one more game than their twelfth-placed hosts.

After admirable draws at high-flying Woking and Chesterfield, Wealdstone suffered an unexpected thumping at The Shay on Tuesday when the usually goal-shy FC Halifax Town put five in the Stones' net without reply.

Right: James Jones will be a big miss at both ends fo the pitch for Altrincham following his red card on Tuesday at Yeovil. Here, the centre-back is seen in action last Saturday, heading the ball in the Solihull Moors penalty area.

However Wealdstone have also been up-and-down for quite a while; in the last 13 league matches, they have won four games, drawing five and losing four more fixtures. However, all four of those wins have come at home which suggests a difficult game lies ahead for Alty.

On Tuesday night, three Halifax goals in five or so minutes either side of half-time and two in added time at the end of the second half represented a bizarre scoring pattern by the Yorkshiremen.

On their reverse at Halifax, Wealdstone reported that they "fell to an uncharacteristic 5-0 defeat...

Injuries and loan recalls meant Stuart Maynard had to make four changes to the side with a youthful makeshift back four, that saw Ashley Charles out of position at right-back.

Stones were without Miguel Freckleton who was recalled by Sheffield United and the injured duo of Jack Cook and Sam Habergham. Alex Dyer took the captain's armband in Cook's absence.

Despite the host of changes it was the visitors who started strongest... Tarryn Allarakhia... pulled a good stop from Sam Johnson in the Shaymen goal, but pulled his hamstring in the process, compounding Maynard's injury misery.

From then on it was downhill for the Stones and Halifax opened the scoring on the stroke of half time when Jamie Stott looped a header over Sam Howes. And the hosts had two more in the space of two kamikaze second half minutes...

The hosts were awarded a penalty on the hour mark. Milli Alli stepped up to take it but struck the post from 12 yards out.

Mason Barrett returned to the eleven and he had Wealdstone's best chance of the second half.. [After a fourth goal, Halifax recorded] a fifth with the last kick of the game...

WEALDSTONE: Howes, Charles, Barrett, Barker, Ilunga, Dyer (McGregor 61), Ferguson, Kretzschmar (Lo-Everton 77), Allarakhia (Whittaker 15), Obiero, Andrews. Subs not used: Olomola, Hutchinson".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Another Altrincham (loanee) centre-back is also the subject of Phil Jordan's report that, on Tuesday night, Luke Waterfall played the whole match at St Mary's as his Grimsby Town side produced an FA Cup shock, beating Premier League Southampton, 1-2.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The BBC explains that the deductioni is... ' for fielding an ineligible player'. The deduction sees the Heed slip back into the fifth-tier relegation zone.

The National League said in a statement that the player had featured in a game despite being suspended, and also fined the club £750.

In a statement Gateshead said 'substantial' mitigation had been put to the league in their defence, but they have accepted the decision. They also said the breach was made because of an 'administrative error'".

Footnote: The deduction drops Gateshead back into the bottom four as they swap places with Dorking Wanderers.

Why are we not surprised that the BBC reports that "A winding-up petition against Southend United has been dismissed by a judge after the club paid £1.4m owed to HM Revenue & Customs.

Southend said on Tuesday that the debt had been cleared and the club also had new 'funds as working capital'...

In a brief hearing at the Insolvency and Companies Court, a lawyer representing HMRC confirmed the outstanding money had been paid.

Judge Sally Barber then dismissed the petition".

According to the BBC "Winger Dillon de Silva has been recalled from his loan spell at Torquay United by parent club Queens Park Rangers.

The 20-year-old Sri Lanka international scored four goals in 26 appearances for the Gulls.

'I am disappointed that Dillon was called back at this time, but he is the property of Queen's Park Rangers and we understand the reasons, and we may see him again in the near future,' Torquay boss Gary Johnson said.

Meanwhile, Devon Live states that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson said it would take him a couple of days to get over the disappointment of the 2-1 defeat by Bromley on Tuesday night but insisted he is ‘still the best man’ for the job at Plainmoor. Torquay have lost three games on the trot now and are deeply embroiled in a relegation battle and looks like it could go down to the wire...

Johnson said 'I am disappointed, I am gutted, I am gutted with a few things at the minute, and I will take a couple of days to get over it. Wait and see how I feel in a couple of days...

He said... 'I am still the best one to get us out of this trouble. I don’t want this club to go back to where it started when I first came. So I have got to try and rally myself, rally the players, and rally some of the supporters...

'The lads are gutted. A couple of mistakes have cost us,' said Johnson".

Scunthorpe United "is giving supporters the opportunity to own Glanford Park Stadium...

The new Lifetime 1899 Membership is an innovative scheme designed to give supporters what they want, a fan-owned Glanford Park.

The Membership is a one-off lifetime package limited to only 1899 members. Memberships will be available to purchase directly from the club and each member will be allocated one share in the company owning Glanford Park Stadium.

Only 1899 shares will be issued in the company meaning supporters will fully own the Stadium and the home of Scunthorpe United Football Club.

Lifetime 1899 Memberships are available to purchase via a one off payment with no annual fee or subscription and are also fully transferable...

The Lifetime 1899 Membership package is available to all Iron fans in the following ways:

• The one-off payment of £1899 (which is £1582.50 + VAT)
• Spreading the cost monthly, which is a £388.90 deposit (including 10% surcharge) and £170 per month over 10 months
• For Business customers the cost is £1899 + VAT.

This opportunity is literally once in a lifetime and please be aware that Membership sales are limited to only 1899, once sold they will never be available again".

The BBC explains that "Yeovil Town needs to get 'back up on its feet' says manager Mark Cooper, after the club was placed under the new stewardship of SU Glovers.

SU Glovers was set up in December 2022 by Julie-Ann Uggla and Matthew Uggla, according to Companies House.

Matthew Uggla was at Huish Park for Yeovil's draw with Altrincham on Tuesday alongside former England rugby union player Paul Sackey. Sackey is believed to be involved in the new venture...

Chairman Scott Priestnall took over the National League side in 2019 but has been a controversial figure...

'We are committed to working with the community to build a successful and thriving club,' the statement from SU Glovers said..

'Our vision for Yeovil Town is to create a club that is not only successful on the field, but also plays an integral role in the community'...

Questions remain over what the stewardship means in terms of the club's ownership and its long-term stability.

'People are hanging on that word stewardship and whether it means there is a physical handing over of the deeds to the company,' Ben Barrett, presenter of the Gloverscast podcast, told BBC Radio Somerset. 'I think the overriding feeling is a cautious optimism'".

YEOVIL TOWN 1-1 ALTRINCHAM

Quitirna had returned to Fleetwood Town after his loan spell which comprised just nine minutes of action, plus added time, at Bracknell in the FA Trophy. Nevertheless he did score in that brief time.

At Huish Park, Altrincham deservedly led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a headed goal by James Jones from an Eddy Jones inswinging corner from the right (22 mins). Regan Linney had also gone close to scoring twice. His first effort had been well tipped round the base of the post by Smith (13 mins) and his second saw him round goalkeeper Smith only for Bevan to clear off the line (30 mins).

But Yeovil dominated the second half though their 78th minute equaliser arrived from an error by Byrne. He flapped at a near-post corner and James Jones was forced to handle the ball to stop it going into the net.

Jones (right), who had had an excellent game, was shown a red card and Maguire-Drew beat Byrne from the spot to level the score.

The ten men held on to record a point, which had promised to be three at the interval.

Match report here.

CHESHIRE SENIOR CUP OPPONENTS

NEXT: WEALDSTONE

The past few days have witnessed a loanee departing and another one returning to Wealdstone who have confirmed that "Defender Miguel Freckleton has been recalled from his loan spell prematurely by parent club Sheffield United.

The youngster immediately impressed at The Vale, playing the full 90 minutes on his debut, keeping a clean sheet against free-scoring Wrexham in a 0-0 draw.

In total he made 14 appearances at the Stones, scoring his first professional goal in a 2-1 win over York City".

And Wealdstone also report that "Derby County midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton has returned to Wealdstone on a loan deal until the end of the season.

The 20 year old attacking midfielder originally joined the Stones on loan from Watford at the back end of the 2020/21 season, scoring the Stones goal of the season that year...

Stones chairman Rory Fitzgerald was happy the club could finally lure the Scottish talent back to Grosvenor Vale.. 'He's a player we've been after for a while. He showed everyone just how good he was in his last spell here'...

Since his last time here the midfielder spent all of last season on loan in the National League at Yeovil Town where he made 44 appearances scoring five times... He then made the move from Watford to Derby in the summer where he's been a regular starter in their U21 side".

MILES AND FOZ INTERVIEWED

Amongst other topics, Miles discusses his football career to date whilst Steve explains how Tyrese Sinclair borrowed his five year-old boots having forgotten to bring his own for the trip to Barnet. And Tyrese scored a goal whilst wearing them!

Right: Steve Foster and fellow kitman John Skelhorn. .

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan adds more on last night's action...

Championship : DUNCAN WATMORE was an 88th minute substitute for Millwall in their 2-2 draw at Luton Town.

National League : Scunthorpe United's TOM PUGH, a pre-season trialist for Altrincham, was booked in their 1-1 draw at Maidstone.

League 1 : OWEN DALE played the full game in Portsmouth's 3-1 home win over Bolton Wanderers.

League 2 : With his Stevenage side trailing 1-0 at half time to hosts AFC Wimbledon, CARL PIERGIANNI equalised 10 minutes into the second half. The visitors went on to win 2-3.

CHRIS MERRIE was substituted after 57 minutes at Prenton Park with the game goalless, but the only goal of the match soon afterwards gave Tranmere Rovers a 1-0 win over Crawley Town, who hardly helped themselves by failing from the penalty spot in the 80th minute.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Our vision for Yeovil Town is to create a club that is not only successful on the field, but also plays an integral role in the community. We believe that football has the power to bring people together and create positive change, and we are committed to making a positive impact in the Yeovil community.

We understand that building trust and positive relationships takes time, and we are committed to being patient and persistent in our efforts. We are looking forward to working with the community and our fans to achieve our shared goals. We hope that you will join us on this journey".

The Maidenhead Advertiser reports that "Assistant boss Ryan Peters... [feels] the side have ‘turned a corner’ after back-to-back National League wins.

The Magpies were excellent in last week’s 2-0 home win over Yeovil Town at York Road and, while Saturday’s display at FC Halifax Town was slightly more ‘indifferent’, an excellent defensive display helped the side to a 1-0 win.

Ashley Nathaniel-George scored the game’s only goal...

'We’ve had two massive results and two massive performances... Ash [Nathaniel-George] adds a little bit of quality to our game. He spoke to us before the game about trying to get more advanced and into positions to score a goal and then he popped up with a goal'...

[Referring to the Yeovil game] 'It’s a long journey up and a long journey back before a quick turnaround to Tuesday. It’s one of the reasons the gaffer has such a big squad, to be able to rotate when he needs to... Performances are strong we’ve turned a corner'" he concluded.