30 April 2023

ALDERSHOT TOWN 1-1 ALTRINCHAM

Match report here

A late Eddy Jones goal secured a deserved draw at Aldershot in the final league match of the season.

The match kicked off 45 minutes late after Altrincham's team-coach broke down at Oxford Services and the team had to complete the journey to Hampshire by a fleet of taxis.

WHERE ALTY FINISHED

Last season they completed a 44-match campaign with 55 points ending up in fourteenth place having won 15 times, drawn 10 and lost on 19 occasions. Last season they scored 62 times and conceded 69 goals

The 2022-23 season bears a remarkable similarity to the 2014-15 campaign, when the same points total and league position were attained.

• 2014-15 CONF P46 W16 D8 L22 F54 A73 PTS56 POS17 Manager: Lee Sinnott
• 2022-23 CONF P46 W14 D14 L18 F68 A82 PTS56 POS17 Manager: Phil Parkinson

The Alty Files' season's review will appear here over the coming week or so.

ALTY OLD BOYS

AUSTRALIA: After going two goals down within 15 minutes of their clash at unbeaten league leaders Avondale, CONNOR HAMPSON'S Oakleigh Cannons side fought back to go in level at the break. However, the hosts turned the screw in the second half to run out 4-2 winners.

League 1 : JUNIOR QUITIRNA was an unused substitute as Fleetwood lost 2-0 at Bolton Wanderers.

With his Portsmouth side winning at Derby County, OWEN DALE was substituted after 70 minutes. Within a minute the hosts levelled and the game ended 1-1.

League 2 : CONNOR JENNINGS rounded off the scoring in stoppage time as Hartlepool United beat a Barrow side who ended with 9 men 3-1.

By the time TYRESE SINCLAIR (right) joined the fray in the 69th minute, all the goals had been scored in Rochdale's 4-1 home win over Sutton United. ALISTAIR SMITH was booked for the visitors late in the game.

National League: RYAN COLCLOUGH rounded off the scoring as Chesterfield comfortably beat Maidstone 4-0.

REAGAN OGLE played the full game for Scunthorpe United as they bowed out of the National League with a 2-1 defeat at Dorking Wanderers. TOM PUGH, a pre-season trialist for Altrincham, was booked, and later substituted.

DAN MOONEY came on as a substitute just after the hour at Roots Hall with his Southend United side being held 1-1 by a Wealdstone side reduced to 10 men. He was booked, but Southend went on to win 2-1.

National North : LEWIS SALMON scored a consolation goal in added time as AFC Telford lost 4-1 at Boston United.

ASHLEY HEMMINGS rounded off the scoring for Kidderminster Harriers as they comfortably beat visitors Kettering Town 3-0.

NEXT: JAKE MOULT TESTIMONIAL

Tickets are £10 for adults and concessions and £5 for under-16s

In addition, there will be a cash turnstile available on the day.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

We are sure we speak for every supporter when we call on the leadership at the club to step up and address the uncertainty at Huish Park and give clarity to the hard-working people – both on and off the field – who are the lifeblood of our club. Achieve by Unity".

ITV added that "Bosses at Yeovil Town FC say it is 'highly regrettable' that staff have not been paid.

It comes as the club faces financial uncertainty and follows their relegation to the sixth Tier for the first time since the 1990s.

In a short statement posted on Yeovil Town FC's website, the club said 'The transaction for the sale and purchase of the club has not been completed. But the staff will be paid on Tuesday irrespective of a transaction being concluded or not'".

Devon Live tells us that "Torquay United went down fighting today but will be a National South side next season after drawing 1-1 against the National League champions Wrexham. It was a superb game of football... and when the only other team that could go down, Maidenhead United, were 3-0 down at Gateshead at half time, and it was 0-0 at Plainmoor, that hope was murderous.

And then Frank Nouble turned in an Aaron Jarvis cross 10 minutes into the second half, and the seven-goal swing in goal difference that Torquay needed was down to three. However, the goals dried up at Gateshead, and Wrexham hit back, despite a brave display by a Torquay team that will now be broken up, but not forgotten...

There was one change from the team that drew 2-2 at Altrincham with Dean Moxey coming back in for Ben Wyatt".

The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

ALDERSHOT TOWN 1-1 ALTRINCHAM

The scheduled 5.30pm kick-off was delayed until 6.15pm because the Altrincham team coach had broken down at Oxford Services on the M40 and the players and staff had to take a fleet of taxis from from there to Aldershot!

Right: Eddy Jones equalised for Altrincham at Aldershot.

Fortunately, no promotion or relegation issues rested on this game as otherwise there would have been a problem with the game starting after every other fixture.

Alty made three changes as Perritt, Burgess and Hulme were replaced by Baines, Osborne and Goodson in the starting eleven.

Although the hosts saw more of the ball, Altrincham had hit the post twice before falling behind in an unfortunate manner. In attempting to block centre-half Cordner's effort from 22 yards, the shot hit James Jones and looped past Gould (67 mins).

Earlier Linney had had the best chance of the game when, fed by Goodson, he beat the keeper but struck the post (54 mins). Lundstram then hit the same post with a scuffed effort (65 mins)

Altrincham rescued a deserved point in the 86th minute when Lundstram's cross from the right was met by a mishit from Eddy Jones which bobbled into the keeper's left hand corner (86 mins).

The point left Altrincham seventeenth in the final National League table.

Match report here

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday, 29 April 2023; all matches k.o. 5.30pm

• Aldershot Town 1-1 Altrincham ko 6.15pm
• Barnet 0-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Boreham Wood 1-0 Yeovil Town
• Chesterfield 4-0 Maidstone United
• Dorking Wanderers 2-1 Scunthorpe United
• FC Halifax Town 1-1 Eastleigh
• Gateshead 4-0 Maidenhead United
• Notts County 1-1 York City
• Oldham Athletic 1-1 Bromley
• Solihull Moors 0-1 Woking
• Southend United 2-1 Wealdstone
• Torquay United 1-1 Wrexham

The results meant that Torquay United were relegated whilst Boreham Wood sealed their place in the play-offs.

BEFORE THE MATCH: ALDERSHOT TOWN

Aside from long-term injured players such as Matty Kosylo, Ross Barrows, Egli Kaja and more recent absentees Ollie Byrne and Miles Welch-Hayes, of the regular first-team squad only Elliot Osborne and Lewis Baines (left) did not kick a ball on Thursday. However, with the confirmed departure of loanees Tyrese Sinclair, Maxi Oyedele and Joe Hugill, the options for change are few.

Left: Phil Parkinson has much to ponder in terms of his starting eleven at Aldershot, though his player availability is severely limited by injury, departed loanees and fatigue after Thursday's match.

The match brings Alty up against Tommy Widdrington who recently left King's Lynn Town in controversial circumstances to take over at the EBB Stadium.

His Aldershot side ensured that the final fixture would not be a nail-biter when they secured the points last week to ensure their survival in the National League would not depend on the outcome of their game against Altrincham.

Altrincham are currently in poor form having not won in their last six league outings and securing just one win, in the Cheshire Senior Cup, in their last eight outings in all competitions.

This end of season decline mirrors the opening of the season when they failed to win any of their first nine league fixtures. As pointed out last week, Altrincham's mid-table form between these two runs of poor results would have secured them a play-off place and more than seventy points had it been maintained over all 46 matches.

CSC FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

EDEN SPOTTED

Notably there was a first sighting for supporters of striker Eden Bailey (right) in the warm up. Eden (aged 19) is a former Port Vale teenage striker whose signing for Altrincham was announced on 17 November 2022. However, he went immediately sent out on loan to Hanley Town, where his manager was Ryan Shotton. However, in early 2023 he moved on to Mossley in the Northern Premier League West Division.

Eden made his first-team debut for The Valiants in August 2021, in the EFL (Carabao) Cup before making his League Two debut as a substitute in December, 2021. However, in March 2022 and following an ankle injury, he went on loan at Staffordshire club, Newcastle Town in the NPL Division One West, where he made nine appearances and scored once.

His contract at Port Vale expired in June 2022 making him a free agent when signed by Altrincham.

ALTY SEASON TICKETS 2023/24

Season Tickets are now on sale, with an Early Bird discount through to the end of May. This is for existing season ticket holders renewing and also for those fans taking the step to acquiring a Season Ticket for the first time.

Being a Season Ticket holder brings a wide range of benefits.As well as guaranteed entry to all 23 of our National League home fixtures for next season, your ticket will also include entry to two planned pre-season friendlies at a significant discount to paying on the day.

In addition, other benefits include advance priority purchase of tickets for away fixtures, FA Cup and FA Trophy ties, a dedicated turnstile at the Golf Road end of the ground, 10% off all retail purchases and unique special offers for ticket holders throughout the forthcoming season.

We recognise the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on you all, and we have sought to minimise the impact on our fans despite the significant extra costs the club has and will incur over 2023 and 2024.

In particular, you will be pleased to hear that Early Bird pricing for Adult and Concession Season Tickets has been held at the 22/23 pricing, with the Adult tickets costing £299 and the Concession £245 if purchased before the end of May.

Juniors (ages 12-18) will be £100 and Children (ages 5-11) will be £50 if purchased before the end of next month. Season Tickets will no longer be available for our young fans under the age of 5.

From June 1st 2023, Season Tickets will go on General Sale and pricing will be as follows:

• Adult | £320
• Concession | £265
• Junior | £120
• Child | £60

Individual matchday pricing for next season will be as follows:

• Adult | £20
• Concession | £15
• Junior | £9
• Child | £4
• Infant | £1

For full details please follow the above link...

EGLI'S UNHAPPY ENDING

As seen (right) on Thursday at the CSC Final, Egli was on crutches so he will certainly not be in contention for today's game.

Having impressed a a substitute in a pre-season game at Moss Lane, right-winger Egli signed non-contract forms for Hampton & Richmond Borough in National League South. But days later he accepted a short-term contract at Altrincham, as announced on 19 August 2022.

After joining Kingstonian in 2006 he signed for AFC Wimbledon in 2008 and made his Wimbledon debut in 2015 but, in late 2016, he went on loan at Lewes before moving, again on loan, to Livingston in Scotland in summer 2018. A free transfer took him to Northampton Town in September 2019 where he made four appearances.

At Wimbledon he had a trial with AC Milan and was called up to play for the Albania under-21 side (2017). In late 2021 he returned to AFC Wimbledon on a short-term contract and by the end of his stay had made 27 EFL appearances over his two spells at the club.

On 8 November, it was announced that Kaja had signed a new contract of unspecified duration. However, during the season he has made just 6(+13) appearances of which 4(+11) were in the National League; he has scored one goal

THE CSC SAGA

The saga of the CSC Final started some time ago when the CCFA announced that the Final would be contested on Tuesday, 25 April.

However, they then changed their plans.

Above: Jordan Hulme and Regan Linney await a corner delivery as Congleton's former Alty keeper Dave Parton aims to keep them out.

Firstly they dispensed with a neutral venue for the Final and awarded the Final to potential finalists Crewe Alexandra. However, Crewe had an EFL fixture at Grimsby on Tuesday 25 April, so the FA moved the final to Thursday 27 April.

But these plans were thwarted by the Alex unexpectedly losing to Congleton Town in the semi-finals. The Railwaymen then refused to hold a Final that did not involve them, but the CCFA nevertheless stuck with its concept of using the stadium of one of the finalists to host the game.

So, Altrincham were chosen as the late replacement hosts but were obliged, for unclear reasons, to stick to a Thursday date that Crewe had required. Alty, in contrast to Crewe, but like Congleton Town, the other finalists, were without a fixture last Tuesday and Alty, if not both clubs, would have preferred to play on the originally stipulated date.

A Thursday night Final meant that the Robins would be required to travel to Aldershot to play The Shots in a final game of the National League season less than 48 hours later. And that match at Aldershot, at the time that the CSC Final was rearranged, could have sent down Torquay United if an exhausted Alty or an under-strength Alty team had lost lamely to the Shots at the EBB Stadium. Gary Johnson, the Torquay manager, would not have been amused.

The CCFA was luckily saved any pangs of guilt for such an occurrence when Aldershot's result last weekend effectively relegated Torquay United before this Saturday's games, barring a mathematically freak set of results today.

Given all the above that was going on before the Final on Thursday, it came as a surprise to find that the match boasted not one but two completely different matchday programmes, one produced by Altrincham in its Robins Review livery and one by the Cheshire FA.

The Robins Review was admirably produced at very short notice with no advertising content and containing articles by co-chairman Bill Waterson and director Rob Esteva, as well as four pages of articles on Congleton Town.

The FA version included three pages of adverts, a page which simply named the match officials, two pages on each team and a welcome from the FA. The two programmes had differnt teamsheets

Curiously the route to the final in the FA version recorded the Stockport County v Altrincham tie as "AW" meaning that it was an away win awarded after County were allowed to withdraw from the competiion. The Robins' Review listed the result as 0-3 to Altrincham, that being the default score attributed by the FA to games that were walkovers.

ALTY OLD BOYS

A goal down in only the third minute of their game at Bray, Waterford came from behind after the hosts had a man sent off early in the second half and won 1-2. BARRY BAGGLEY played the full match, but CHRIS CONN-CLARKE was merely an unused substitute.

In the Championship, DUNCAN WATMORE started for Millwall at Blackpool, and was credited with the assist for their second goal as well as winning the penalty that produced the decisive third goal. With his side ahead 2-3, he was substituted in the 85th minute, and had to watch from the bench as Millwall clung on for victory through 12 added minutes.

Today's results in the final matches of the regular season will determine:

• The final relegation place; barring a mathematical miracle, Torquay United will join Yeovil Town, Scunthorpe United and Maidstone United in returning to regional football.
• The final play-off place. Southend United need to win and hope that Boreham Wood drop points to allow the controversial Shrimpers operation into the play-offs. The already qualified play-off teams are Notts County, Chesterfield, Woking, Barnet and Bromley.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

But their first-ever victory over the Moors ended on a nervous note as Corie Andrews suddenly collapsed on the turf and proceedings came to a standstill.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and thankfully Andrews regained consciousness a few minutes later.

'Fair play to everyone who reacted very quickly and fair play to Neal Ardley [Solihull manager] as well who told the fourth official to just call [sic] the game,' said Stones assistant manager Matty Saunders...

'The biggest thing now is that he’s okay and he’s got all our best wishes'.

Wealdstone Chairman Rory Fitzgerald has since confirmed ... 'The hospital carried out several tests which thankfully came back clear. Corie is now at home resting. He will be unavailable for the remaining game away at Southend whilst he begins a controlled return to play programme'...

Goals from Nathan Ferguson, Micah Obiero and Charles Clayden sealed victory for the Stones to end a torrid 10-game winless run...

Ferguson drove into Kieran Boucher’s box and dispatched the ball into the bottom right corner to give his side a 1-0 advantage.

And the hosts doubled their lead just before half-time when the referee pointed to the spot after Junior Tiensia clumsily took down Obiero in the box.

The 22-year-old picked himself up and smashed his spot-kick into the far left corner...

Wealdstone made the visitors pay for their missed opportunities as a sweeping team move saw Dom Hutchinson break and play a good ball through to Sonny Blu Lo-Everton on the right, with the Derby County loanee picking out Clayden perfectly at the far post to power his effort into the top right corner".

28 April 2023

"MILES OFF IT" SAYS PARKINSON

Alty "deserved the boos" as "we let everyone down" conceded Parkinson.

As a consequence, the manager said that he would be "very selective" when giving out contracts for next season.

ALTY LOSE TO CONGLETON

Above: Altrincham lined up before kick off. Back row: Perritt, Linney, James Jones, Gould, Ferguson, Hulme. Fron row, Eddy Jones, Lundstram, Marriott, Bennett and Burgess.

Having gone out of the FA Trophy recently in a penalty shootout, Altrincham lost this match by the same process.

The Bears had taken an eleventh-minute lead when Needham's low shot rounded off a neat build-up.

Altrincham laboured to impose themselves and barely troubled the visitors' keeper, Dave Parton, a former Robins' employee before captain Jordan Hulme cut in smartly from the left before driving home a fine shot to level the score after 39 minutes.

However, Congleton regained the lead in the 45th minute when Matt Gould caught, but could not hold, a corner from the visitors' left, as JAmes Jones backed into him, and the ball found its way into the net, being recorded as an own goal.

Alty went on to dominate much of the second half in terms of possession but without seriously troubling Parton, though there were several failures by Alty to hit the target when they should have done.

Finally the hosts equalised for a second time in the 80th minute when a low ball from the right byline went through Parton's hands into the net to make it 2-2. This was attributed to Hulme by the tannoy but nearby spectators said it was an own goal from a Lundstram cross.

So the match went to penalties where Alty had the advantage not only of going first but also of having the spot-kicks at the home end.

Sadly, a sizeable number of home supporters resorted to the unsporting tactic of waving mobile phone torchlights at the Congleton players as they took their kicks but to no avail.

Linney missed the target with the first Altrincham penalty, before Congleton scored their opener and then Goodson converted his kick to make it 1-2. Next, substitute Ben Pringle hit the bar before Congleton took a 1-3 lead in the shoot-out.

James Jones made it 2-3 before Congleton wrapped up the win 2-4 on penalties.

Above: Congleton Town celebrate their win.

Their 435 supporters in a gate of 1153 gave their side great support throughout and the players rejoiced with them before receiving their winners' awards and the Cheshire Senior Cup trophy.

In contrast Altrincham are heading to their final match of the season with just one win (against Runcorn Linnets in the CSC) in eight games in all competitions.

Match report here.

NEXT: ALDERSHOT TOWN

Having fielded a first team on Thursday night for Cheshire Senior Cup Final, it will be a tired looking squad which travels to Hampshire this weekend, unless Phil Parkinson opts to bring in a number of fringe players.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Torquay owner Clarke Osborne announced this week that the club will remain full-time, whether it is in the National League, or National South next season, and Johnson backed Osborne’s decision, saying 'I thought it was a great statement from the owner. I knew it was going to stay full-time because they have got a project, and they want to see it through.

'That’s why I came here and obviously there are still discussions to be had about whether I am the one that takes it on. But at the moment that doesn’t matter so much because everybody is of the same thought, and that’s Wrexham, and we will sort it out after the Wrexham game...

'I don’t like bad luck letting me down, and I think we are a strong enough club, absolutely, to come straight back up, in my opinion...

'There are lots of things to talk about, the finances of dropping down, not necessarily for me, but the playing staff. And it was great for the players to hear that the owner had said we are staying full time, because we want lads that want to be full-time footballers. And it obviously gives you the advantage if you did go to the National South'">

And also from Devon Live we emind ourselves that "only an extraordinary set of results on the final day of the season next Saturday can save them now.

Torquay will have to beat champions Wrexham by a convincing margin, and hope relegation rivals Maidenhead lose by a similar wide margin in their game at Gateshead...

After their last relegation in 2018, owners Gaming International stayed fully-pro and reaped the benefits when manager Gary Johnson took the team to promotion from the National League South. Johnson is still at the helm. Today’s announcement will come as a relief to fans who had feared that the club’s status would be forced to change this time".

ROBINS MEET BEARS AGAIN

On 7 November 2012, Alty lost 0-4 before the clubs met again in 2018.

In the 2018 clash, the lights went out on Altrincham's Cheshire Senior Cup campaign, this time literally as well as metaphorically, following a four-minute stoppage in the 86th minute, for partial floodlight failure, which only delayed an inevitable outcome.

Right: Striker Joe Thompson was kept quiet by the Congleton defence.

The Altrincham side included just three first-teamers (Shaun Densmore, Simon Richman and Elliot Wynne), and even those three could amass just 15 league starts between them that season.

Alty lost 0-2 against a Congleton Town captained by Anthony Griffith. Griffith's 68 minutes on the Moss Lane pitch in this game far exceeded the nine minutes he spent in action for Altrincham in his abortive stay at the club as a player in 2015.

Alty's side for this match also included five players who had joined the club this season but who had not made a single start between them for the first team (Bay Downing, Ross Woodcock, Charlie Scott, Joe Thompson and Callum Harris).

Congleton proved themselves the stronger side with no Altrincham player making a case for immediate elevation to the first team. The Bears went ahead after eleven minutes when Burey got past Downing, who played most of the game at right-back, and he fed Henderson who netted to Wynne's right.

The lead was doubled in the 40th minute when handball was given against Woodcock. From 30 yards out, right of goal, Cope hit a superb left-footed freekick into the far corner of the net. His double-somersault celebration was equally impressive.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Elliot Wynne, 2. Bay Downing, 3. Ross Woodcock, 4. Charlie Scott, 5. Callum Jones, 6. Shaun Densmore (c), 7. Reece Coley, 8. Simon Richman, 9. Joe Thompson, 10. Callum Harris, 11. Dontai Gabidon. Subs: 12. Louie Barratt, 14. Ben Elliott, 15. Patrick Savage, 16. Matthew Cook, 17. Jack Ryan.

In goal for Congleton was former Alty custodian, Craig Ellison.

PARKINSON'S CUP RALLYING CALL

'We have gone as strong as we can in this competition for a purpose, to give us a chance of silverware,' he said... 'We haven't been this far in the Cheshire Senior Cup for a decade, and I know our fans want to see us winning things, which is why I've been banging the drum about the importance of this competition to the players.

'When we have our pre-season photo taken, I want to see a trophy standing in front of the team. If there isn't one, I'll be asking massive questions of the players...

'I'm hoping fans turn out in numbers, and if they do, I'll know how seriously we're all taking it'...

Alty's beer festival starts at the ground on Friday at 4pm, with plenty of attractions for children as well as adults, continuing on Saturday at 11am and culminating in Jake Moult's testimonial on Sunday (kick-off 1pm)".

COMING THROUGH THE RANKS

Right: Harlan Rodgers-Morris and Ryan Forde leave the pitch after the warm-up last Saturday.

Earlier this season, another Academy graduate, Amaar Hussain, was named in the first-team squad in the opening two fixtures of the league season.

Ryan and Harlan's inclusion means that Alty have named 42 players in National League squads this season, and 52 have been included in squads in all competitions before tonight's CSC Final.

NEXT: ALDERSHOT TOWN

Should alty beat Aldershot, they can finish fifteenth and could tie on points with Solihull Moors but the Midlanders' goal difference is far superior. Last season Alty finished 14th with 55 points from 44 fixtures. This season they again have 55 points, albeit from one additional game owing to the league running with 24 clubs this season.

Alty faced the long trek to Hampshire on Friday having been obliged by the Cheshire FA to play their Cheshire Senior Cup Final on Thursday night, which was hardly ideal preparation.

LINNEY SPEAKS TO FLYNNY

Linney is pictured, right, during last Saturday's game against Torquay United.

NEXT: CSC FINAL

One of the other curiosities of this year's Cheshire Senior Cup is that Altrincham have technically come through four rounds of the competition but have yet to play at home... until they do so in the last match they would ever have expected to be a home tie, Thursday's Final itself!

They won 4-0 at Sandbach United in the First Round, then were drawn away to Stockport County in Round Two before County were allowed to withdraw from the competition. In Round Three, Alty were given a home tie but voluntarily switched it to Vauxhall Motors' Rivacre Park, where they won on penalties.

In the semi-finals they played away at Runcorn Linnets, winning 4-0.

Versus Sandbach United, Alty fielded: 21. Matt Gould, 3. Aidan Roxburgh, 26. James Jones, 5. Jack Kingdon, 20. Liam Brockbank, 25. Rodgers-Morris, 22. Owen German, 18. Ben Pringle, 32. Zak Goodson, 9. Jordan Hulme (c), 27. Aaron Bennett. Subs: 12. Joel Bailey, 14. Joe Cooney, 19. Jayden Matthew, 23. Josh Jordan, 29. Dermot Mee

Above: Only Matt Gould, James Jones and Ben Pringle have started all three CSC ties.

Against Vauxhall Motors the squad comprised 21. Matt Gould, 2. Eddy Jones, 10. Elliot Osborne (c), 14. Ewan McGeady, 18. Ben Pringle, 25. Harlan Rodgers-Morris, 26. James Jones, 28. Maxi Oyedele, 30. Marcus Dinanga, 31. Michael Gyasi, 34. Miles Welch-Hayes. Subs: 6. Lewis Baines, 9. Jordan Hulme, Lewis Billingsley, Josh Jordan, Owen German.

And in the semi-final at Runcorn Linnets, the squad was 21. Matthew Gould, 30. Harry Perritt, 26. James Jones (c), 5. Sonny Aljofree, 34. Miles Welch-Hayes, 10. Elliot Osborne, 18. Ben Pringle, 11. Luke Burgess, 27. Aaron Bennett, 35. Tyrese Sinclair, 29. Regan Linney. Subs: 1. Ollie Byrne, 4. Isaac Marriott, 8. Josh Lundstram, 9. Jordan Hulme, 33. Egli Kaja.

With the Manchester United loanees Aljofree, Oyedele and Hugill seemingly having departed, there are likely to be a number of changes for the Final, with selection complicated by the fact that Altrincham have a National League game at Aldershot less than 48 hours later.

Now fewer than 23 players have been deployed in the 33 (3 matches x 11 players) starting positions in the CSC this season.

Only Matt Gould, James Jones and Ben Pringle have started all three ties. Bennett, Rodgers-Morris, Osborne and Welch-Hayes have started two games whilst every one else has made one start, (Brockbank, German, Goodson, Hulme, Kingdon, Roxburgh, Dinanga, Gyasi, E Jones, McGeady, Oyedele, Aljofree, Burgess, Linney, Perritt, Sinclair). Of those players, seven were loanees, several of whom have now left the club, two were Alty employees who have now joined other clubs (Dinanga, Roxburgh), and six others have not started an Alty league game this campaign.

Notably, key National League players for Altrincham, such as Lundstram and Marriott, have not started any of the three CSC ties.

CLEAN SHEETS

Above: The Alty wall kept out this freekick from Torquay last Saturday. In front of keeper Matt Gould we see, left to right, Harry Perritt, Kyle Ferguson, Lewis Baines, Elliot Osborne and Jordan Hulme

In the League, however, just four clean sheets have been recorded in 45 matches. One of those was in the reverse fixture against Aldershot Town, who are the hosts for Alty's final National League game on Saturday.

ALTY KEEPERS

Above, left to right: Matt Gould, Jordan Hulme, Dermot Mee, Ollie Byrne and Ryan Forde.

With registration issues delaying the league debut of first-choice keeper Ollie Byrne, Matt Gould was in goal for the opening matches of the 2022-23 campaign, against Maidstone United (1-1) and Bromley (0-0). He was sadly badly injured in the Bromley game and the Robins had to put striker and captain Jordan Hulme in goal for the final half-hour. Jordan can now boast that he i s the only "keeper" for Alty who has not let in a goal this season!

With Gould sidelined and Byrne still un-registered, Alty had to draft in an emergency loanee from Manchester United in the shape of youngster Dermot Mee. He kept goal in four games (a draw and three defeats).

Byrne went on to keep goal 37 times before injury led to Gould returning for Alty's two most recent National League matches, both at home, against Dagenham & Redbridge and Torquay Uited, both of which were 2-2 draws. So Matt has the curious record of four starts which all ended in draws this season! He also has not completed an away game this season.

Apart from Gould, Byrne, Mee and Hulme, Alty's fifth keeper to be involved in their National League squad is Ryan Forde who has come through the ranks at Altrincham and has spent much of this season on loan at Alsager Town.

Although he has not got on the pitch for Altrincham in the National League, Ryan was a named substitute on Saturday against Torquay, having also been an unused substitute in the third game of the season at Maidenhead United. In that game he was covering for Dermot Mee, whilst last Saturday he was cover for Matt Gould

NEXT LEAGUE GAME: ALDERSHOT TOWN

After last Saturday's game, Aldershot Town reported that "A point at the LNER Community Stadium proved enough for Aldershot to secure their place in the Vanarama National League for another season as Tyler Frost’s late equaliser rescued a good Shots performance.

The Shots named an unchanged side from their midweek win over Wealdstone with Ollie Harfield (rib) still not fit enough to start but Tyler Frost (knee) making his return to the Shots side via the bench....

Despite the Shots' forward line creating the early danger, it was centre-back Haji Mnoga who gave Aldershot the lead in the 16th minute. A Ryan Glover corner got a slight flick on from Joe Partington and Mnoga made sure the ball hit the back of the net to give his side an early lead...

York who had, in truth, played poorly and barely threatened Luca Ashby-Hammond’s goal, had a lifeline in the 56th minute when Shaqai Forde was brought down in the box by Josh McQuoid. Lennell John-Lewis stepped up to take the penalty and slotted it down the middle to equalise.

And the Minstermen were gifted the opportunity to take the lead from 12 yards when they were awarded another penalty. This time it was Luca Ashby-Hammond who clattered into John-Lewis. However, the York skipper missed, hitting the post.

But, the ball bounced back into action and caused a bit of chaos in the Shots area and as the ball was recycled back into the area, it hit Corey Jordan’s head and flew past Ashby-Hammond seeing York take the lead through an own goal...

York’s failure to put the game to bed was punished as Aldershot were able to rescue a point in the 90th minute. Another Ryan Glover corner was converted with Tyler Frost firing the ball into the back of the net...

Shots lineup: 1. Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2. Myles Kenlock (3. Ollie Harfield 74′), 4. Joe Partington (c) (7. Justin Amaluzor 83′), 5. Tyler Cordner, 9. Tahvon Campbell, 10. Josh McQuoid, 16. Corey Jordan, 22. Haji Mnoga, 23. Ryan Glover, 27. Tommy Willard (8. Tyler Frost 74′), 30. Jack Barham. Subs not used: 7. Justin Amaluzor, 15. Jai Rowe, 18. Henry Ochieng".

RESULTS

Tuesday 25 April

Vanarama National League

Boreham Wood failed to clinch their place in the play-offs on Tuesday night. They can still be caught by Southend United for the final place in the play-offs. Gateshead's win drops Altrincham to sixteenth place.

Barring a miraculous swing in goal difference, the highest that Altrincham can finish is now fifteenth and the lowest is eighteenth.

• Boreham Wood 0-2 Gateshead
• Wealdstone 3-0 Solihull Moors
• Woking 0-1 FC Halifax Town

FIXTURES

Thursday 27 April

Cheshire Senior Cup Final

• Altrincham v Congleton Town

Saturday, 29 April 2023; all matches k.o. 5.30pm

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

ALTY OLD BOYS

News of former Altrincham players' exploits on Tuesday come from Phil Jordan...

National League : MARCUS DINANGA was substituted after 77 minutes as Gateshead won 0-2 at Boreham Wood, leapfrogging Altrincham in the league table in the process.

NPL : In the Premier Division promotion playoff semi-finals, Warrington Town, whose line up included TONY THOMPSON, ANDY WHITE, TOM HANNIGAN, SEAN WILLIAMS, and JOSH AMIS comfortably won 4-1 at home against a Matlock Town side whose lineup included JOHN JOHNSTON. They now play the final at home to Bamber Bridge, who knocked out Gainsborough Trinity on penalties.

Also in the NPL West Division play-offs, RYAN BROOKE scored in Runcorn Linnets' 3-1 away win at Leek Town. They now face Workington who defeated Clitheroe 2-0 in the other semi-final.

NPL PLAY-OFFS

Premier Divison Semi-Finals

• Bamber Bridge 1 - 1 Gainsborough Trinity (Bamber Bridge won 5-3 on pens)
• Warrington Town 4-1 Matlock Town

25 April 2023

NEXT: THE STRANGE CASE OF THE 2023 CSC FINAL

Right: Altrincham last won the Cheshire Senior Cup back in 2009. Here captain Robbie Lawton receives the trophy after Alty had defeated Nantwich Town.

"First up for the Bears we face Altrincham FC in the Cheshire Senior Cup (CSC) Final. The final will be played at the home of Altrincham, the J. Davidson Stadium, on Thursday the 27th of April 19:45 ko. Tickets are available to buy via Altrincham's website here.

A few weeks later the Bears face Bacup Borough FC in the Macron Cup Final. It takes place at Chorley's Victory Park on the 8th of May".

The playing of the CSC Final on a Thursday night and at the home ground of one of the finalists is odd to say the least, The game's 7.45pm kick-off is well under 48 hours before Altrincham are to start a National League match at Aldershot. That clash could well have been a relegation decider with potentially huge repercussions for several clubs at the wrong end of the National League, had the Shots not fortuitously secured safety by gaining a vital league point last Saturday.

The choice of Thursday's date by the Cheshire County FA appears to stem from its premature decision to accommodate CSC semi-finalists Crewe Alexandra who would have not been available for a Final on the originally announced date for the Final of Tuesday 25 April, as they have an EFL match at Grimsby Town that evening.

However the Railwaymen were beaten by Congleton Town in the semi-finals of the CSC, leaving the FA seemingly unable to change its plans and reschedule the game back to Tuesday, a date they themselves had originally chosen and publicised for the playing of the Final.

The proximity to Alty's final National League game of the season must also now be creating a quandary for Alty manager Phil Parkinson.

Does he go out all-out for the first piece of cup silverware of his tenure at Alty, or does he give preference to achieving his declared goal of surpassing last season's league points' haul? Does he field a weakened team for the CSC Final or a weakened team for the Aldershot game; or a weakened team for both games? In short, does he risk falling between two stools because of the timing of this Final?

One thing in Alty's favour is that the game is on their own ground, another oddity for a County Cup Final which is traditionally played at a neutral venue. Again, unconfirmed rumours suggest that the venue would have been Gresty Road, had the Railwaymen reached the Final themselves.

NEXT LEAGUE OPPONENTS: ALDERSHOT TOWN

This is currently Alty's fifth separate spell in the national division. Their stay at this level started with 18 years from the foundation of the Alliance (1979-1997), a single season under Bernard Taylor (1999-2000), six years under Graham Heathcote (2005-11), two years under Lee Sinnott (2014-16) and now Phil Parkinson has overseen three more seasons at this level.

News of the Shots comes from York Press who tell us that "Aldershot Town manager Tommy Widdrington admitted that he didn't want to 'rely on anyone else' in securing their Vanarama National League safety against York City on Saturday.

The Shots are now mathematically safe after picking up a point against York, thanks to a stoppage-time equaliser from Tyler Frost.

But after Torquay United suffered a late blow in a 2-2 draw with Altrincham, Widdrington admitted that... 'We didn’t want to rely on anybody else... These lads were in a low place when I first walked in the door, they weren’t on a great run of form. But with five games we’ve picked up points in every one of those games, we’ve scored in every one of those games and that’s a recipe for doing okay.

'I’m really delighted that it won’t go down to the pressure of the last game... I honestly didn’t know what was going on up the road at Altrincham [v. Torquay], I wasn’t really interested because I care about this group."

THIRD FRIENDLY

They will "will visit Macclesfield FC as part of their 2023/24 pre-season preparations. The game will take place on Tuesday, 25th July with a kick-off time of 7:45pm".

This follows the announcement of two other away friendlies, at Lancaster City (8th July) and Dutch side NEC Nijmegen (22 July).

ALTY YOUTHS LIFT COUNTY CUP

Altrincham FC tells us that in "midday Sunday showdown with Trafford under-18s they were crowned County Cup champions in convincing style... going 2-0 in front with first-half goals from Edson Cata and JJ Kelly.

Trafford reduced the arrears with a penalty in the 40th minute, but Alty were always in the ascendancy... as Edson and Owen German finished off chances in the 44th and 45th minutes...

Owen scored from the spot after the resumption, and when a red card for Trafford left them with 10 men, the outcome looked a formality.

Credit to the Shawe View youngsters, who... stepped up their game to close the gap to 5-3... Credit also to Alty, though, for the way they responded... with a solo goal from Sheriff Njie that was worthy of winning any game... as Alty ran out 6-3 winners".

THROUGH THE YEARS: 27 APRIL

The first such occasion was an Altrincham & District Senior Cup Final in 1918 when Altrincham beat the strikingly named Saver Clutch, 2-0. At that time a number of Alty's opponents were workers' teams and Saver Clutch Ltd were actually located in Moss Lane, as very close neighbours of the Robins!

And like the 2023 game against Congleton, that final was apparently a home match for Altrincham.

In the early twentieth century, Saver Clutch Ltd produced "combined friction clutch and pulley devices" amongst other products.

The second cup final on 27 April was in 1964 when Alty beat Macclesfield Town 4-2 in a Cheshire County League Cup Final second-leg away match.

24 April 2023

NEXT: CSC FINAL

They have finished eighth in the NW Counties Premier this season.

Tickets for the Final can be purchased in advance here.

EVER-PRESENT JOSH

In addition, he has completed ninety minutes in six cup matches for Alty this season, taking him to 51 starts and finishes, so far.

With Alty facing Congelton Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup Final at Moss Lane on Thursday, it will be interesting whether manager Phil Parkinson rests his talismanic midfielder for that game, or at least for part of the match, given that the National League match is less than two days later.

BUSY MONTH FOR RESERVES

• 22/04/23 14:00 Altrincham FC Res. 1 - 3 Winstanley Warriors
• 18/04/23 18:30 Altrincham FC Res. 1 - 3 Whalley Range
• 15/04/23 14:00 Altrincham FC Res. 3 - 0 Middlewich Town
• 11/04/23 18:30 Altrincham FC Res. 4 - 4 Broadheath Central
• 08/04/23 14:00 Daten FC 0 - 0 Altrincham FC Res.

POST-MATCH PARKINSON

The video interview is available via Alty TV.

POST-MATCH JOHNSON

'I don’t think it is mathematically over, is it? But, of course, we have got a top team in Wrexham.

'Altrincham didn’t have anything to play for really apart from pride. But when they went 2-1 down, of course they could afford to get at you a little bit, and get people up there when we were trying to get the third one for goal difference'...

Above: Gary Johnson (far right) watches as Zak Goodson replaced Jordan Hulme, with the Gulls leading 2-1 after 84 minutes last Saturday. Seven minutes later Goodson's penalty conversion deepened Torquay's plight in the National League relegation battle.

Some players that Johnson brought in and expected to perform much better had to be sidelined as he and head of recruitment Pete Johnson searched for better ones. The turnover was high, but finally, just before the transfer window closed, Torquay had the kind of team that the fans had wanted all season.

They won five games on the trot to feed the hope of the supporters that a Great Escape was possible... But teams like Gateshead, Aldershot Town, Maidenhead and York have stayed just out of reach, and that last-minute penalty feels the end of the spirited challenge.

Johnson said... 'It’s sad, but the club is strong. It has gone down before and it can come back up and, who knows, somebody might have misdemeanoured somewhere and get thrown out of the league or something. You never know. That has happened, but we can’t rely on that, that’s for sure'...

It will be interesting to see what Aldershot do at home against Altrincham on the last day, with the fall-out from their appointment of manager Tommy Widdrington last month probably the misdemeanor Johnson was referring to. Widdrington apparently left his job at King’s Lynn Town while he was still contracted there to go to Aldershot. And King’s Lynn remain very unhappy about that".

ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES

In the goalless draw between Witton Albion and City of Liverpool, JAMES LAWRIE played for the hosts and the evergreen KEVIN ELLISON represented the Merseysiders.

MASON FAWNS was on the mark for Mossley but they lost 1-3 at home to Macclesfield for whom JAMES BERRY was on the mark.

ALTY OLD FOES' SINKING FEELING

In the National League North, as well as AFCTelfod United who have already been relegated, Bradford (Park Avenue) need to win both of their remaining fixtures and hope that Kettering Town lose their sole remaining fixture, to stay up.

DIVISIONS DILUTED

In 2023 there are no fewer than thirty-one of the 72 EFL clubs who have spent time in non-League levels since automatic promotion came in.

The highest placed such club currently is Luton Town who could become the first team to have played in all five top tiers in both directions, from what is now Premier League level to non-League level and vice versa, if the Hatters can win promotion to the Premier League this season. They are currently third in the Championship.

Right: Alty celebrate securing a goalless draw at Luton Town in 2010. Here, Adam Carden and Colin Little salute the travelling supporters at the end of the game.

Without counting Peterborough United who joined the Football League from non-League well before automatic promotiom, League One currently has thirteen clubs out of 24 who have been in non-League since that date.

Of its 24 members, League Two has no fewer than seventeen clubs who have moved up from non-League in that period.

And in the opposite direction there are currently five of the bottom six clubs of the National League who can claim Football League status in their heritage.

However, not all of those who have come up from non-League are excelling at present. Indeed, five out of the six bottom clubs in both the EFL1 and EFL2 are ex-non-League teams who are in danger of dropping back down the football hierearchy once again.

So far as the National League is concerned the only certain ups and downs for 2023/24 season are:

• Relegated from EFL 2 to National League: Rochdale. Almost certain to join them are Hartlepool United
• Promoted from National League South: Ebbsfleet United plus one other to be determined
• Promoted from National League North: Either King's Lynn Town or/and AFC Fylde; the second place to be determined
• Relegated from National League: Maidstone United, Scunthorpe United, Yeovil Town and almost certainly Torquay United.
• Promoted out of the National League: Wrexham and one other to be determined. Currently five of the six play-off contenders are known; Notts County, Chesterfield, Woking, Barnet and Bromley. The sixth place is between Boreham Wood and Southend United.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

True to form Gloverscast draws measured conclusions from their team's defeat on Saturday, saying "It started badly and didn’t get any better. If this was a ‘pressure off, express yourself’ kind of day, it really didn’t feel it. After just 8 minutes a cross into the box found Devarn Green who was given the freedom on the six yard box to give Oldham the lead. Oldham looked organised, drilled...

We just couldn’t get any attacking rhythm. Passes were either too short, too hard, impossible to control and wildly misplaced. There was no cohesion and it was a performance that was symptomatic of a relegated team that just want the season to finish...

In 23 games at home this season, supporters have seen 6 wins, 8 draws and 9 defeats and celebrated just 18 goals. Last season wasn’t much better, 7 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats and 20 goals. There was more than 4000 at Huish yesterday, and they weren’t sent away with a great deal to look forward to next season. The manager described relegation as death by a thousand cuts but in the last 108 league matches at home, the town has seen just 36 wins. Now that’s a tough sell…

It's a safe bet that many if these players won’t be around next season. Grant Smith, the standout player who kept teams at bay for so long this season will surely see his sights higher. Matt Worthington... won’t be short of suitors in the National League...

Someone needs to grab this club by the scruff of its neck and restore some pride. The owner has control of the destiny of Huish Park, facilitated by SSDC. He’s got what he wanted from before day one and has gone. SU Glovers, after ushering in a new era in March, weren’t at Huish Park yesterday.. The takeover has totally derailed the season... I don’t see how this deal gets completed...

From May, we’ll start paying the landlords for their ‘rescue package’ last Summer but the club feels anything but rescued. Administration is a massive risk but it would bring to light what’s been going on behind the scenes at the club over the past couple of seasons".

Kent Onlie reports that "Manager George Elokobi saw the same old mistakes as Maidstone conceded their 100th league goal this season. Notts County’s 5-2 win at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday brought up a century in the goals against column.

The manner of the defeat, with United fighting back from three down before crumbling again, left the manager bitterly disappointed.

Maidstone have gone 24 games, more than half a season, without a win, while Elokobi’s 18 matches in charge have produced only four points.

Officially relegated three weeks ago, they’re 25 points adrift going into the final weekend of the season.

The Stones conceded a series of terrible goals as Notts went 3-0 up through Cedwyn Scott and a Jim O’Brien double.

Roarie Deacon and George Fowler, named supporters’ player-of-the-season before kick-off, got Maidstone back in the game and Notts were on the ropes for a spell.

It was good while it lasted but United shot themselves in the foot again as a Ruben Rodridgues free-kick and O’Brien’s penalty saw Notts pull clear....

'I’m bitterly disappointed,' ELokobi said.... 'How many times are we going to keep doing it to ourselves as a group? Making basic mistakes after mistakes, keep giving two-goal leads to good teams?... We are where we are for these basic reasons...

'We haven’t learned all season and we keep getting punished by good sides.. We pressed the self-destruct button again. You know, it’s my job to fix it and I will fix it'".

According to the Nottingham Post, "Wrexham edged out Notts County with victory over Boreham Wood

After the game, Hollywood megastar Ryan Reynolds told BT Sport he and McElhenney were backing the Magpies to join them after they moved to a huge tally of 106 points with a game still to play...

'One thing that has been running through my head is people who asked 'why Wrexham?'. This is why. What is happening now is why Wrexham.

'Huge credit to Boreham Wood tonight. Also, this entire story, the reason we're sitting on the edge of our seat right now is because Notts County is so damn good as well. They deserve to go up.

'It's something Rob and I feel quite strongly about. We are rooting for Notts County. We want to see them go up to League Two and face them next year. They're incredible.'"

23 April 2022

ALTRINCHAM "FRUSTRATED"

"We just cannot keep clean sheets. We got carried away at 1-0 [up] and let them back into it.

"I didn't think either side played that well but he [Goodson] was cool as a cucumber from the spot at the end, and I'm pleased for the fans".

Gulls' boss Gary Johnson stated "This was a bad day. I just wish we'd have had longer with this new group of players as we've had five wins, a loss and a draw, but it is what it is...

"We'll give it our all on the final day".

ALTRINCHAM 2-2 TORQUAY UNITED

Match report here.

Right: Zak Goodson, pictured during the game against Torquay, netted the late equaliser for Altrincham in only his second league appearance of the season.

WHERE ALTY STAND

Phil Parkinson has set a target to accrue more points than last season, when 55 points were gained from 44 games.

The Robins have now achieved that same total of 55 points but this time it has taken an extra game as the 55 points have come from 45 matches. Last season's National League operated with just 23 teams playing 44 fixtures apiece, courtesy of Macclesfield Town's demise.

Altrincham started this season with nine games without a win and, if they fail to beat Aldershot Town next Saturday, they will end the campaign with seven winless matches.

So with just 8 points earned from the 15 games so far at each end of the season, 47 points have come from just 30 fixtures between those sequences. Had that mid-season rate been carried through the whole season, Alty would have earned more than 70 points!

Another statistical quirk is that in eight matches against the bottom four this season, Alty recorded just one win.

The 81 league goals conceded so far this season is the highest conceded by Altrincham in any season that they have not finished in a relegation place since 1992, when 82 goals were let in.

Looking more positively, the 148 goals (67 scored, 81 conceded) netted in league matches involving Altrincham this season mean that Alty fans have witnessed more goals this season than any other club's supporters except for those of Wrexham and Notts County who have each witnessed 157 goals, and of Dorking Wanderers (151 goals) so far.

TORQUAY LAMENT

Above: Kyle Ferguson and Frank Nouble come up against each other in Saturday's match

It was captain Asa Hall who scored twice in 10 second-half minutes to give the Gulls a 2-1 lead, but it was also his foul in the 90th minute that gave the home side the chance of an equaliser, one they took, and one that has probably relegated Torquay to the National South division.

At one point in the afternoon, things were looking more rosy, with York City and Maidenhead United struggling in their games but York ended up drawing with Aldershot Town 2-2, while Maidenhead drew 1-1 against Barnet, and now it would take an exceptional set of results next Saturday for the Gulls to survive.

Torquay will have to beat current leaders and probably champions by then Wrexham at Plainmoor, while hoping Maidenhead - three points above them - are beaten heavily at Gateshead...

Linney scored for Altrincham at the end of a 44th-minute counter-attack. The goal came out of nowhere, against the run of play...

Hall stabbed the ball home from a corner in the 59th minute to breathe new life into Torquay's hopeful escape act...

Hall made it 2-1 to Torquay with a thunderous volley in the 68th minute...

It was a nervy end, and in the 90th minute, Hall was forced to make a rash challenge in the penalty area and from the spot Zac Goodson beat Halstead".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Championship : When DUNCAN WATMORE came on as a 70th minute substitute for Millwall at Wigan, the score was 1-1. Wigan scored in the 84th minute to win 2-1.

League 1 : JUNIOR QUITIRNA (right) was an 81st minute substitute for Fleetwood as they won 1-0 at home against MK Dons. Similarly, OWEN DALE came into Portsmouth's 1-0 home win over Accrington Stanley in the 86th. minute.

League 2 : TYRESE SINCLAIR was an 80th minute substitute for Rochdale at Stockport County. TOBY MULLARKEY wasn't in the match day squad as the hosts won 1-0 to ensure that Rochdale will be joining Altrincham in the National League next season.

CONNOR JENNINGS played the full game as Hartlepool United lost their relegation six pointer 1-2 to visitors Crawley Town. Hartlepool now need a miracle to avoid the same fate as Rochdale.

National League : MARCUS DINANGA was substituted in the 82nd minute as Gateshead fell to a 2-1 defeat at Woking.

National North : MONTEL GIBSON was AFC Telford's scorer in the 1-1 home draw with Scarborough Athletic.

CONNOR KIRBY scored Buxton's last goal in a 3-1 home victory over Brackley.

ASHLEY HEMMINGS scored twice for Kidderminster Harriers as they won 3-1 at Southport.

TOM PEERS was a scorer as Curzon Ashton were held 2-2 at home by Boston United.

NPL : On the final day of the season, JOSH AMIS was on target twice for Warrington Town as they clinched the runners-up spot with a 3-1 home win over Hyde United.

NEXT: CSC FINAL

With a final National League game at Aldershot Town to be played fewer than 48 hours later Phil Parkinsion will presumably make changes to rest key players.

22 April 2023

ALTRINCHAM 2-2 TORQUAY UNITED

Right: Aaron Bennett congratulates Regan Linney on his goal in front of the away end.

With York City and Maidenhead United also drawing, the Gulls must now not only beat Wrexham at The Racecourse next week, but also hope that Maidenhead United lose, and that they can overhaul a seven-goal deficit in goal difference between them and Maidenhead.

In a first half of moderate quality, in which Torquay spent a significant spell in the Alty half, it was a counter-attack by Aaron Bennett which led to Regan Linney opening the scoring just before the interval (44 mins).

The second half was a better spectacle. On the hour mark, Asa Hall hit the ball into the upper reaches of the net after a corner had been half-cleared to him to level the score at 1-1.

The same Torquay midfielder made it 1-2 to the visitors, just nine minutes later, with a fine strike from 25 yards, once again after a Gulls' corner had been half cleared out to him.

The Gulls then opted to sit on their lead by winding time with gratuitous unilateral drinks breaks at throw-ins and other breaks in play. They were to pay the price for that approach.

Their 354 fans who had been exultant when their side took the lead were plunged into despair in the ninetieth minute when Goodson turned past his man into the box and was brought down. The young striker, who has spent most of the season away from Moss Lane on loan, coolly converted the resulting penalty to silence the away support.

Match report here.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS

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

BEFORE THE GAME

"York City manager Michael Morton has credited Torquay United for their recent revival in the Vanarama National League.

After York’s back-to-back victories over Barnet and Chesterfield, many supporters would have been hoping that the Minstermen were within touching distance of survival.

But five victories on the bounce for Torquay has seen the relegation battle heat up, with just three points separating City and the Gulls.

York’s goal difference could be a saving grace for Morton’s side, something which he is pleased about.

'I think everybody is surprised and it’s a credit to Torquay.' Morton told BBC Radio York... 'Torquay only had to slip up twice out of all of the games, I think they only won seven games all year and then have gone and won five in a row.

'It’s credit to them because they’ve put themselves into that situation... If you get around the 50 mark then you’re usually all right, but Maidenhead are still in and around it. They’ve got a tough game against Barnet as well this weekend, and then they’ve got a tough game against Gateshead.

'We know that the pressure is on them as well. [On goal difference] It’s massive, we’ve sort of been between stick and twist if I’m being honest... We don’t like to just sit on a 1-0 so you’re sort of in between... Hopefully it [goal difference] will help us out going into the back end of the season.”

NEXT: TORQUAY UNITED

Right: Elliot Osborne heads clear during Torquay's last visit to Altrincham in January 2022.

Even a win today for the Gulls would not confirm survival, owing to their poor goal difference figures, but defeat for the Devon club and a point or more for both York City and Maidenhead United would relegate Torquay.

From Devon Live we read that "Torquay need to win the game to give themselves a chance of escaping the drop into National South this season - with Wrexham coming to Plainmoor on the last day next weekend...

Torquay have to win four more points than either Maidenhead United or York City to survive, with only some fanciful mathematics in regards to Torquay’s poor goal difference giving them a chance of losing at Altrincham, and still being safe if they beat Wrexham.

[Manager, Gary Johnson,] said 'The players should be self motivated but of course you can have good motivation, but tactically get it wrong if the management hasn’t shown you the opposition’s strengths and their weaknesses'

Torquay travelled to a secret Manchester training ground on Thursday to give them as much journey-recovery and training time as possible...

Johnson said 'We have got a couple of days with them, and that’s good because we can spend a lot of time on this particular game, as you would do anyway...

'But it is in our hands in as far as we have probably got to pick up at least one win and one draw, or switch our goal difference from a minus-seven to a zero, with a team like Maidenhead for instance, who we are seven goals behind...

'So we are still relying on other teams, but we have got to give ourselves a chance by getting enough points to stay in it and that’s probably going to be a win and a draw'"

Altrincham’s recent form hasn’t been great, while Torquay were winning 15 points from six games, Phil Parkinson’s team have accrued just three from three draws...

Torquay should have enough to win it [against Alty]...

And the paper provides a footnote "Altrincham’s manager and Wrexham’s manager are both called Phil Parkinson. To play against a team managed by people with the same name for the last two games of a season must be some kind of first for the record books".

ALTY OLD BOYS

When CHRIS CONN-CLARKE joined BARRY BAGGLEY three minutes after the second half kicked off, Waterford were cruising 4-0 at home to Athlone, and all the goals had been scored by Ronan Coughlan, the man he replaced. The entire complexion of the game changed, and Conn-Clarke was booked as Waterford hung on for a 4-3 win."

Meanwhile as Alty prepare to face The Gulls, Torquay United remind us that "Forward JODY BANIM (left) represented both United and Altrincham during a nomadic playing career that begun as a trainee at Manchester United, and ended at Ashton United some twenty years later.

Having failed to make the grade at Old Trafford, a hugely impressive spell at Radcliffe prompted Shrewsbury Town to pay £20,000 for his services... before Jody returned north with Accrington.

National League new boys Droylsden was [sic] to be his next stop, and after an impressive display in the 2-1 defeat to United at Plainmoor in September 2007, manager Paul Buckle made a surprise loan move for the attacker, who had already contributed ten games towards The Bloods’ survival bid. Neither side faired too well thereafter though... with Burton Albion proving to be his next port of call in the summer, prior to making a four-month switch to Altrincham towards the end of 2008/09.

A return to Droylsden followed, before Banim finally hung up his boots to take on the managerial reigns at Ashton, before subsequent roles at Stafford and Warrington Rylands, [from] whom he departed earlier this year".

And there two players in Alty's current squad who have previously turned out for Torquay United. They are Ben Pringle and Harry Peritt.

Pringle played five times for the Gulls in a loan spell from Derby County in 2011. Perritt was more recently at Plainmoor (2021) when he made eight appearances for Gary Johnson's team.

WOMEN'S GAME AT THE JDS

Refreshments will be available with food kiosk and bar facilities open, as well as inflatables for children and Junior matches on the pitch.

Come on down to support if you are able!"

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

He had an operation on his knee last summer and was due back around January time this year but has suffered setbacks along the way...

oach Danny Webb told the DT... 'He is out of contract. I very much doubt he will be here next year, which is a shame because Manny is a great player... But he has not been available and it has been really sad for him because I think the supporters saw glimpses of the talent he has got. That is the ruthless side of football, sadly, that if you are not available, you are not going to be around at the specific club you are at for too long'.

Oyeleke joined Town in April 2021 and has since made 40 appearances.

Webb added... 'I am sure he would get another club if he is fully fit'".

The York Press reports that "Aldershot Town manager Tommy Widdrington has described Saturday’s clash with York City as ‘the biggest game of the season’ for the Shots.

Widdrington’s side currently find themselves in 18th position in the Vanarama National League and just one place above York, with six points separating Aldershot and the relegation zone.

A point on Saturday could realistically secure Aldershot’s survival...

Widdrington told the Aldershot media team, 'Our approach has been very similar to the other four games that I have been in charge here. We’ll have a head count at the end of today and go up with 18 or 19 fit players with a bit of luck...

'If and when we do get clear of the dreaded trap door then I’m having a look at that but I’m not celebrating it. It’s an achievement but it’s not one to be known for. At the end of the day I left a group [King' Lynn Town] that were certainly going onto to win or end up in the play-offs position and that’s a successful season.

'I think this football club can do better and I’m hoping and planning to really be at this level at least... We need to make sure in our next two games that we take control of our destiny, and nobody else'".

According to the NL Paper, "The Football Association’s Director of Professional Game Relations Andy Ambler has revealed tweaks made to the Non-League Player Contracts following dialogue with the Step 1 captains’ group led by Yeovil Town’s Josh Staunton.

Following the initial release of the alterations that could have seen injured players only paid in full for 12 weeks – and those who play Step 2 and down would be entitled to six weeks, unless an opt-in box was ticked, the 24 National League captains released a joint-statement calling for urgent talks with the FA on the situation.

Other issues centered around a club being able to cancel a contract with three months’ notice if the opinion of a club-instructed doctor was the player wouldn’t return in four months.

Ambler hailed the positivity of talks and the resolutions they have brought which, among other changes, will see 'that the player receives their full pay of their contract, subject to the parties agreeing an alternative arrangement, which must meet a minimum level of support...

'In recent weeks, we have been engaging with the Step 1 captains’ group, led by Yeovil Town’s Josh Staunton, to help find solutions to some of the concerns they had, which were primarily based around the wording in the contract that was related to sick pay, long-term injury, and details about medical assessments. We appreciated and understood their concerns...

'The default position on sick pay for Playing Injuries will be that the player receives their full pay of their contract, subject to the parties agreeing an alternative arrangement, which must meet a minimum level of support. The provisions relating to Long-Term Injury will be replaced by the provisions relating to Permanent Incapacity, which was set out in the previous version of the contract...

'The Step 1 captains’ group, via Josh, has indicated to us that they’re supportive of the proposed changes... We’ve already agreed to further engagement and conversations about both permanent incapacity and long-term injury element of the contract, and we have a good foundation to build on...

'I’m pleased to say that the new version of the contract, with the amendments, has now been approved by the FA Board, and will be ready for clubs and players to use for contracts effective from the 2023/24 season onwards'".

21 April 2023

UPDATE

NEXT: TORQUAY UNITED

Defeat for Torquay would relegate them if both York City or Maidenhead earn any points on Saturday. Currently Torquay can match those two clubs' points totals, if the Gulls win at Moss Lane and the other two clubs both lose on Saturday, but the Devon side's goal difference is significantly worse so the odds are against them.

• 19th YORK CITY P 44 GD -8 PTS 49
• 20th MAIDENHEAD UNITED P44 GD -15 PTS 49
• 21st TORQUAY UNITED P44 GD-22 PTS 46

20 April 2023

CSC FINAL

Another curious aspect of this Final is that its original date of Tuesday 25 April has, as announced earlier this week, been moved to Thursday 27 April. That means it takes places fewer than 48 hours before Altrincham play a potentially important match against relegation threatened Aldershot Town. The Shots' win on Tuesday has lifted them five points clear of Torquay United but a win for the Gulls and defeat for the Shots this Saturday could leave Aldershot at risk of relegation.

Quite why this CSC fixture has been sanctioned to take place on a Thursday night is curious, to say the least. It would also be interesting to know why the final has also become a home tie for Altrincham against lower level opposition who may feel the odds are stacked against them.

Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson will have a quandary as to whether to go strongly for a piece of silverware in an otherwise trophy-less season or push for a strong performance and a higher placed league finish on the final day of the league season.

Altrincham FC announces that the Cheshire Senior Cup Final will kick off at 7.45pm.

"Tickets are priced at £12 for adults and concessions, and £6 for U18s.

Tickets can be purchased here, and there will also be a cash turnstile available for walk-up entry. This game will be segregated and we would remind visitors from Congleton Town to purchase an 'away' ticket.

Season tickets are not valid for this fixture. Our Corporate Five-a-Side event will be rearranged in due course".

NEXT: TORQUAY UNITED

The Derbyshire Times announces that "Andy Dallas netted a hat-trick and Ollie Banks and Liam Mandeville also got on the scoresheet as they secured an impressive 5-1 victory" for Chesterfield over Torquay United, who visit Altrincham on Saturday.

Gulls manager Gary Johnson opined, “It was a tough game, a tough watch, the lads are feeling a bit down, sad, about the performance because straight from the off we did not get going and they (Chesterfield) did... They looked like they had 14-15 men on the pitch and we kept giving the ball away too often early on and it kept giving them that momentum...

'Once they got the goal they were totally up for it, they were all running, chasing, and looking very dangerous. We could not get any passes together. We lost the forward challenge, we lost the midfield challenge and we lost the defensive challenge. They were better in all departments at that time and we could not get it back...

'Funnily enough, the score could have been 12-5. We had other chances, they had other chances. I am sorry for our fans that came all this way'...

The Gulls remain fourth from bottom and three points from safety".

THROUGH THE YEARS: 22 APRIL

The most recent game on 22 April was a 1-1 draw at home to Hereford United in 2019 in the Vanarama National League North.

Above: Hereford keeper Yates tips a fine shot from Matt Chadwick (no.7) over the bar for a corner in the first half.

With a place in the play-offs all but confirmed 48 hours earlier at Nuneaton, Phil Parkinson, with an eye on the extended season, did not risk a number of first-teamers who were carrying minor knocks. So, Altrincham went into this game without five regular starters in the shape of Andy White, John Johnston, James Jones, Sean Williams and Josh Hancock, with only the latter two being on the bench.

In this match, Altrincham led a lead slip for the third time in five games (losing seven points in the process) but mathematically confirmed their place in the play-offs with this point, which was a great achievement for Phil Parkinson and his newly promoted team.

Alty nearly opened the scoring in the tenth minute when Hulme rounded the keeper but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by a defender and, five minutes later, Ceesay was denied what looked a stonewall penalty when he was brought down on the byline.

But, after a goalless first half against draw specialists Hereford, Altrincham took a fifty-fourth minute lead for the second game running. This time the goal arose when Poole got possession and was fouled just inside the Hereford half. The referee, who had earlier denied Alty a stonewall penalty, this time allowed Alty the advantage as Hulme broke forward before smacking the ball into the net.

The Bulls equalised ten minutes later when, 35 yards out, Hannigan tried to clear but the ball rebounded off Owen-Evans who advanced to shoot past Tony Thompson.

Despite an impressive cameo from substitute Dolan, Altrincham could not get a winner and Hereford themselves also looked a threat. But, although there were five added minutes, the game ended level. Alty remained fifth and could not finish any lower.

ALTRINCHAM : 1. Tony Thompson, 2. Shaun Densmore, 3. Connor Hampson, 4. Ben Harrison, 5. Tom Hannigan, 6. Jake Moult (c), 7. Matt Chadwick, 8. Max Harrop, 9. Jordan Hulme, 10. James Poole, 11. Yusifu Ceesay. Subs: 12. Josh Hancock, 14. Sean Williams, 15. Callum Dolan, 16. Simon Richman, 20. Elliot Wynne.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

From York Press we learn that "Michael Morton will be back in the dugout for York City’s crucial Vanarama National League clash with Aldershot Town...

Morton was absent from York’s 3-2 defeat against Torquay United after testing positive for Covid-19, but has recovered to return to training on Monday and will now be back on the sidelines on Saturday.

City will take on Aldershot at the LNER Community Stadium for a crucial match against another fellow relegation-threatened side.

Aldershot currently find themselves on a [four]-match unbeaten run, after picking up draws against Yeovil Town and Eastleigh, before securing three points against Scunthorpe United on Saturday [and three more at Wealdstone this Tuesday].

It will be a welcome addition to have Morton back on the sidelines after missing the Torquay clash, in which an Aaron Jarvis hattrick saw Lenell John-Lewis and Adam Crookes’ strikes as just consolations...

It’s now back-to-back defeats for York, who are viewing Saturday’s penultimate game of the season as a must-win".

19 April 2023

ALTRINCHAM 2-2 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

As for the game at Moss Lane itself, in front of the third lowest home gate of the league season, Altrincham added another point to their tally in a game which improved in entertainment value as it progressed.

Match report here .

Right: Matt Gould replaced Ollie Byrne in goal against Dagenham but had to contend with the setting sun in the opening stages at the J. Davidson Stadium. Byrne's run of 36 consecutive league games was ended by a slight injury.

NEXT: TORQUAY UNITED

On Tuesday night, Torquay United travelled to Chesterfield boasting a run of five successive league wins. But a 5-1 thrashing left them three points behind Maidenhead United and York City and five adrift of Aldershot Town, the only other teams that can be caught by The Gulls in their final two games.

Should Torquay win on Saturday at Altrincham and Aldershot lose their game, the Shots would face Altrincham on the final day of the season still in danger of relegation. Maidstone United, Scunthorpe United and Yeovil Town are already confirmed as relegated.

Devon Live reported that "The odds are now stacked against relegation-fighting Torquay United after they were beaten 5-1 at promotion-chasing Chesterfield, and Aldershot Town won at Wealdston...

After five wins in a row for the Gulls, they really did come up against a team in top form tonight, and suddenly it looks like Torquay might not have done enough to escape the drop to the National South after all. There are now three points between Maidenhead and York, and Torquay, and Torquay's terrible goal difference means that gap is basically four points.

That, of course, means Torquay need four points from their last two games, while hoping that one of either Maidenhead or York fail to pick up any more themselves. Lose at Altrincham on Saturday and Torquay could be down...

Only midfielder Asa Hall was out with Tom Lapslie coming back in...

Chesterfield had chance after chance before they went 1-0 ahead in the 25th minute when Ollie Banks's 22-yard shot came off Dean Moxey's foot and the ball changed direction to go over the top of the already-diving Halstead. It was 2-0 two minutes later when the excellent Dallas headed home a rebound from Paul McCallum's original header that hit the crossbar.

[Manager, Gary] Johnson made a change after that, bringing on Ali Omar on for Lapslie... Dallas made it 3-0 with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box...

Chesterfield continued to dominate before half time... It was 4-0 within a minute and a half of the restart with Mandeville scoring from six yards out... Dallas completed his hat-trick when Torquay were poor while defending a free kick in the 61st minute...

McGavin volleyed the ball home for 5-1 with a neat strike in the 77th minute".

ALTY OLD BOYS

League 2 : JOEL SENIOR was booked as Carlisle United and Stockport County shared 4 goals and the points at Brunton Park.

LUKE WATERFALL returned from injury in the 86th minute of Grimsby Town's 1-0 home win over Barrow.

TOBY MULLARKEY was left on the bench as Rochdale fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Spotland with Tranmere Rovers. It seems unlikely that the point will be of any benefit in their bid to avoid relegation to the National League.

National League: DAN MOONEY was a 55th minute substitute for Southend United as they went down 2-0 at Oldham Athletic.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Glovers performed admirably but the league leader’s quality shone through as they saw off Mark Cooper’s side 3-0...

The opening exchanges were even, with Yeovil keeping some nice control of the ball... Yeovil were forced into a 22nd minute change when Owen Bevan [was] injured after a push in the back by Paul Mullin saw him pull his thigh. Malachi Linton entered the fray at left wing back despite Max Hunt being on the bench...

After the early efforts, the Glover did find themselves under the cosh and were only able to clear the ball long and invite Wrexham pressure...

After the half time break it was much of the same, with Yeovil trying to soak up pressure and hit Wrexham on the counter...

Just before the hour mark, a slip by Pollock on the edge of the box allowed Anthony Forde time to pick up the ball and work some space and fire a deflected effort into the bottom corner past Buse. 1-0

In the 71st minute the second goal came. A scramble in the six yard box just couldn’t be mopped up and JAMES JONES doubled the league leader’s lead. 2-0...

PAUL MULLIN scored his 45th goal of the season in the 76th".

18 April 2023

MIDWEEK GAMES

• Altrincham 2-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
• Barnet 1-0 Solihull Moors
• Chesterfield 5-1 Torquay United
• FC Halifax Town 1-1 Bromley
• Gateshead 0-0 Dorking Wanderers
• Oldham Athletic 2-0 Southend United
• Wealdstone 0-1 Aldershot Town
• Wrexham 3-0 Yeovil Town

The results meant that Yeovil Town have been relegated and that Dorking, Gateshead and Altrincham joined those clubs assured of a place in the National League next season.

Aldershot were the only team in the bottom half to win and they now look fairly safe from relegation, leaving York City, Maidenhead United and Torquay United to fight it out for the final relegation spot. Alty face Torquay this Saturday and travel to Aldershot on the final day of the season.

NEXT: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

Originally scheduled for Saturday 11 March, the game was postponed owing to a clash with the FA Trophy fixtures that day.

Dagenham have had a mixed campaign and have fallen away after flirting with the play-off places. They have won two but lost four of their last six league games. On Saturday they lost 2-0 at Souithend with both goals being penalties.

They currently lie tenth, eight points off the play-offs and five points ahead of Altrincham.

In the reverse fixture Alty lost 4-1 at Dagenham. Last season Altrincham won the game at the JDS 3-0.

Alty's team that day, in February 2022 was: 1 Tony Thompson (c), 23. Harry Perritt, 25. Toby Mullarkey, 14. Jake Cooper, 28. Eddy Jones, 8. Elliot Osborne, 32. Isaac Marriott, 7. Dan Mooney, 10. Josh Hancock, 11. Ryan Colclough, 29. Jordan Hulme. Subs: 15. Matty Kosylo, 17. Ben Pringle, 20. Andy White, 27. A-Jay Leitch-Smith, 24. Kyle Ferguson.

CSC FINAL OPPONENTS DETERMINED

The Cheshire County FA has announced a change of date for the Final, moving it from the previously announced 25th April to Thursday 27th April, just two days before Alty face Aldershot Town in the final match of the Vanarama National League season. The CCFA has yet to confirm the venue for the Final.

The Bears last won the Senior Cup in 1937/38 and also won it in 1920/21.

Altrincham have won it seven times, in 1904/05, 1933/34, 1966/67, 1981/82, 1998/99, 2004/05 and 2008/09.

ALTY OLD BOYS

2014 PLAY-OFF REUNION DINNER

This will be a fantastic night to reminisce about an unforgettable event in Altrincham FC’s recent history.

Tickets priced at £15 will be available online from April 1st through this link, or by calling 0161 9281045 option 2

Included in your ticket price will be:

• Hot buffet meal
• Q&A

Alty TV's & Radio Robins' very own Brian Flynn will MC the event. Get your tickets early as this is guaranteed to be a highly entertaining evening. They can be purchased here. Friday, 12th May 2023, 7:30pm".

ANTHONY AND ALTRINCHAM

Right: Anthony Taylor has refereed a number of pre-season games at Moss Lane. Here he greets the teams before Alty faced Burnley in 2016. It was a game in which Nick Pope kept goal for Burnley in a goalless draw.

Anthony Taylor buys a season ticket for Altrincham every year, despite being unable to attend most matches due to his job as a Premier League referee.

Taylor has been officiating Premier League matches since February 2010 and has taken charge of 336 games to date... [since] starting out in the North Premier League in 2002.

Born in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, he grew up supporting nearby Altrincham,... He remains involved at the National League side, where he helps with club events.

'Anthony has always been an Altrincham fan,' Altrincham president Grahame Rowley told The Athletic. 'Even now, he gets a season ticket every year, despite the fact he can’t go to all the matches... He’s actually a great advocate for non-League football'...

Under PGMOL rules, referees are not allowed to officiate matches that involve the team they support, or games which might affect the fortunes of their team".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Shaymen have won four of their last five games and are on the verge of breaking back into the top-half of the table...

'We've got to remain humble because we can't get too ahead of ourselves,' Millington told the Courier.

"What we need to remember is all of the significant effort that's gone into keeping clean sheets in recent games;... working hard, being organised, backing each other up, fighting for possession and then, once the game settles down, having that ability to put our foot on the ball and build'...

With the likes of Jesse Debrah, Luke Summerfield and Harrogate loanee Max Wright remaining unavailable through injury, 'We've got to be mindful of the fact that we can't afford any more injuries... We still feel we're in a healthy position with the players who are available...

'Bromley's never an easy game and I think what they've done really well this seaso'... Millington said. 'They've gone from being quite one dimensional and direct into a team who can play in a mixture of ways. They've still got the ability and the physicality to go back-to-front quickly, but they've also got the ability to stay in possession and build through the thirds....

'We're thin on the ground in terms of numbers so we've got to rest well, recuperate and patch up ready for what will be on a difficult test on a difficult surface'...

On the Shay pitch, Millington said... 'The players looked a bit nervy in the first-half and weren't quite sure on how to pass and receive on it'...

When asked whether there was any progress with tying down any of the club's out of contract players, the Town boss said 'There's been some really good conversations between myself and the chairman, making plans for how we go about retaining players for next season and the process is well underway.'"

17 April 2023

NEXT: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

After weathering an early Southend storm, the Daggers began to assert themselves on proceedings, with Angelo Balanta getting more and more involved...

The hosts started the second half just as they did the first, with Josh Hare brilliantly heading away a dangerous delivery.

But just moments later the right-back tripped Bridge in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Bridge stepped up to the spot and converted clinically...

Despite a decent period for the Daggers, Southend were awarded another penalty after Phipps tripped his man in the box, Bridge stepped up again and put the penalty in the same spot as his first to double his side's advantage...

Starting Lineup: Justham, Hare, Onariase, Phipps, Johnson (83’ Saunders), Longe-King (66’ Mussa), Sagaf, Ling, Balanta, Weston (73’ Ibie), Effiong. Unused Subs: Strizovic, Bird

After the match, Dagenham boss Ben Strevens told the NL Paper, "I'm angry... I'm burning inside. Everyone is certain the first penalty is a dive but the reacton to that was nowhere near where I want it to be.

"It's tough to go into what I really wnat to say but it's not good enough for where I want this club to be.

"Stuff needs to change and certain people need to do more".

ALTY OLD BOYS

He recently spent a short time at Altrincham as chief scout but Michael Clegg has now secured a two-year contract as manager at Warrington Rylands.

There was a hat-trick for Jonny Margetts (right) as champions Stamford beat bottom club Yaxley 3-0 in the NPL Midlands Division.

Andy Owens score dfor Bootle in their 4-2 away win at Skelmesrdale United.

West Didsbury & Chorlton drew 2-2 with Longridge Town with Ben Elliott netting West's opener.

For Macclesfield FC, James Berry converted two penalties as the champions were held 2-2 at home by Prescot Cables. As Runcorn Linnets coasted to a 5-0 win over Ramsbottom United, Ryan Brooke was on the mark.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Playoff hopefuls Eastleigh had led by two goals at the interval as Kairo Mitchell and Charlie Carter had the visitors on course for a fine win.

However, the Spireites rallied after the break as Ryan Colclough pulled one back before completing a brace in the last minute and Andrew Dallas hit a last-gasp winner.

The result sees the Spitfires drop out of the top seven... Eastleigh are without a win in five...

Bromley are only one point ahead but every other team competing for the playoffs currently in the top 10 also has at least one game in hand".

Torquay United will be the visitors to the J. Davidson Stadium next Saturday and they are the form team in the National League having recorded five successive wins. However, they remain in the bottom four despite beating York on Saturday.

According to York Press "York City assistant manager Tony McMahon admitted that his side gave themselves a 'mountain to climb' after falling to a 3-2 defeat to Torquay United.

A prolific hattrick from Torquay striker Aaron Jarvis meant that Lenell John-Lewis and Adam Crookes' goals weren't enough to claim anything from Plainmoor...

McMahon admitted, 'Torquay have done nothing that we didn’t show the players, we knew that they were going to go direct into the front two...

'We didn’t win enough one-on-one duels... We knew that they were in really good form... We had to weather the storm...

'They played direct and Jarvis is in good form. The ball runs around Maxim [Kouogun] and that’s what they’re good at, that’s their style of play and that’s what they do...

'We gifted them two goals and we also gave them another goal'...

York did mount the pressure on Torquay, managing 13 shots throughout the contest but struggled to beat Mark Halstead in goal.

'If I showed you the game plan and I showed you the clips of Torquay, you’d see that they can’t defend... You know with Torquay that they do the same, they get it forward and get runners off. We knew that they can’t deal with that.

'That’s where we got our joy... The only positive, is that we did have chances'".

16 April 2023

AFTER THE GAME

"The players did really well to stay in the game, our changes helped and it was a great goal involving Jimmy (Muitt) and Jason (Prior) to win it".

Meanwhile, Phil Parkinson said "We're massively frustrated... We've had more than enough chances to win the game but when you're not clinical that puts pressure on.

"We've not been good enough at the back but have had to make a lot of changes there".

The NLP statistics recorded that Alty had ten shots on target against five by Dorking.

DORKING WANDERERS 3-2 ALTRINCHAM

Altrincham had taken an early lead when good approach work by Hulme and Hugill culminated in a curling shot by Linney (left) which gave Lincoln the goalkeeper no chance of keeping it out (5 mins). It was their earliest leaue goal of the season.

Oyedele made it 0-2 when a mistake by Craig let him in (8 mins). But Dorking hit back with a goal headed in by Muitt from a fine cross by Bowerman (12 mins).

There was no further scoring before the interval at which point Dorking made a double change with Gallagher and Ottaway replacing Francombe and Seager.

With Alty looking fairly comfortable in the second half, Dorking equalised when the ball broke for Ottaway to shoot past Byrne (61 mins).

And the Wanderers made it 3-2 when Prior headed in a Muitt cross (72 mins) as Alty wobbled.

Match report here

MANAGER'S VIEW

Right:18 year-old Maxi Oyedele, a Manchester United loanee.

The interview can be heard on the Altrincham FC website.

Amongst Parkinson's comments were that "We are not clinical enough" and "not good enough at the back".

Also, at "Both ends [of the pitch] we've got to be better"

Pointing out that Altrincham are the youngest side in the National League, the Alty boss added that "We are relying on 18 year-olds" before promising that after summer recruitment, "Next season we'll be a real force in this division".

Footnote: Altrincham do have a young team; the average age of the starting eleven at Dorking was almost exactly 24 years of age. The eleven were:

1. Oliver Byrne (25y 4m), 34. Miles Welch-Hayes (26y 6m), 30. Harry Perritt (22y 2m), 6. Lewis Baines (24y 6m), 28. Maxi Oyedele (18y 5m), 2. Eddy Jones (21y 6m), 8. Josh Lundstram (24y 2m), 4. Isaac Marriott (23y 6m), 9. Jordan Hulme (c) (32y 5m), 29. Regan Linney (25y 11m), 39. Joe Hugill (19y 6m).

ALTY OLD BOYS

Championship : already a goal up, Millwall brought DUNCAN WATMORE on in the 70th minute at home to Preston, and went on to win 2-0.

League 1 : JUNIOR QUITIRNA was an unused substitute as Fleetwood romped to a 2-5 win at Accrington Stanley.

With his side trailing at Shrewsbury, Portsmouth substituted OWEN DALE on the hour. The match ended 1-1.

League 2 : TOBY MULLARKEY was restored to Rochdale's starting lineup, while TYRESE SINCLAIR came on as a 71st minute substitute with his side a goal down. Visitors Bradford City went on to win comfortably 0-3.

National League : With his side trailing 0-2 to visitors Eastleigh, RYAN COLCLOUGH (left) scored twice to bring Chesterfield level, and they went on to win 3-2 in added time.

National North : ASHLEY HEMMINGS rounded off the scoring as Kidderminster Harriers comfortably beat relegated visitors AFC Telford 3-0.

NPL : JACK REDSHAW rounded off the scoring for Hyde United as they comfortably beat Marine 4-0 at Ewen Fields.

And, finally, in Scotland, although JOSH GINNELLY returned to training after missing Hearts last match with injury, he wasn't involved in Saturday's Edinburgh derby which his team lost 1-0. It was their fifth consecutive league defeat.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match, [manager Mark] Cooper said his players were "frustrated by what’s happened, but like I said last week, it didn’t need to happen. But it has, and we have to see it now as rock-bottom for the club.

“I think everyone needs to look at it as a chance to rebuild... The recruitment has got to be spot on because if you get it wrong at the start of the season, or during the season, it’s really difficult to recover".

He also reiterated his desire to be at the club next season...

With deafening silence around the takeover of the club (it’s been 46 days since the stewardship announcement) Cooper called for clarity for supporters and staff at Huish Park.

'If the takeover goes through, there’s a lot of us not going to be here, there’s no point beating around the bush. But I want to be here...

'We were powder-puff for 20 minutes and we tweaked a couple of bits and from then on in we looked as though we were going to be a threat.

'I think a lot of it’s fear. Players are frightened to make a mistake but we haven’t got time for that. You’ve got to seize the moment'".

ON Saturday evening, Woking lost 3-0 at Notts County.

Woking report that "Darren Sarll made several changes...

A cagey opening saw the home side have much of the ball...

Woking continued to frustrate the hosts with their pressure and work rate...

Half time arrived, with the hosts, as expected, dominating the ball, but resolute Woking defending kept the contest level...

Nine minutes into the second half, Notts took the lead....

Notts made their pressure count on 71 minutes, when... Aaron Nemane forced the ball home.

It was three on 76 minutes, as the home side once again sliced the Cards apart...

The Cards [were] simply overwhelmed by a side a couple of places above them".

According to the Maidenhead Advertiser "Alex Reid’s early finish condemned Maidenhead United to a narrow defeat...

Winless since March, Alan Devonshire’s men are now three points clear of fourth from bottom Torquay United and flirting dangerously with relegation.

A mere three minutes were on the clock when Reid found the back of the net for Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park, his goal beautifully scored in the far corner...

In the dying embers, the Magpies gave it their all with a header floating just inches over the woodwork before the referee blew for full time.

Defeat leaves the Magpies just three points above the drop zone having played a game more than Aldershot Town in 20th and Torquay United in 21st, the only two sides who can realisitcally catch them before the end of the season. Both the Shots and Torquay are also in better form heading into the final few matches of the campaign".

15 April 2023

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

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

NEXT: DORKING WANDERERS

The hosts are in good form and sit just four points behind Altrincham, despite being six places below them in a tightly-congested lower-middle of the Vanarama National League table.

Alty have gone six away league games without a win and in their last nine games have won just twice, drawn twice and lost five times.

They suffered a blow in midweek when their leading league scorer, Tyrese Sinclair, was recalled by his parent club Rochdale. Tyrese's departure made him the tenth loan player to leave the club this season.

ALTY SEASON TICKETS 2023/24

Season Tickets are now on sale, with an Early Bird discount through to the end of May. This is for existing season ticket holders renewing and also for those fans taking the step to acquiring a Season Ticket for the first time.

Being a Season Ticket holder brings a wide range of benefits.As well as guaranteed entry to all 23 of our National League home fixtures for next season, your ticket will also include entry to two planned pre-season friendlies at a significant discount to paying on the day.

In addition, other benefits include advance priority purchase of tickets for away fixtures, FA Cup and FA Trophy ties, a dedicated turnstile at the Golf Road end of the ground, 10% off all retail purchases and unique special offers for ticket holders throughout the forthcoming season...

You will be pleased to hear that Early Bird pricing for Adult and Concession Season Tickets has been held at the 22/23 pricing, with the Adult tickets costing £299 and the Concession £245 if purchased before the end of May.

Juniors (ages 12-18) will be £100 and Children (ages 5-11) will be £50 if purchased before the end of next month. Season Tickets will no longer be available for our young fans under the age of 5.

From June 1st 2023, Season Tickets will go on General Sale and pricing will be as follows:

• Adult | £320
• Concession | £265
• Junior | £120
• Child | £60

Individual matchday pricing for next season will be as follows:

• Adult | £20
• Concession | £15
• Junior | £9
• Child | £4
• Infant | £1

Note: This new category of Infant is for all those supporters who are under 5 years of age.

For fuller details, please follow the above link.

ALTY GO DUTCH

The Robins will be heading to Holland on July 22nd to test themselves against one of the most recognisable names in the Eredivisie... [The game] has been accomplished largely thanks to the influence of Robins director Mark Luby.

Mark, a lifelong Alty fan as well as member of the board, is the Managing Director of EBS Aftermarket Group Limited, a thriving business that has expanded beyond these shores and now has a base in Nijmegen...

It is hoped it will mark the start of a mutually-beneficial friendship between the clubs, with the possibility of more matches to follow.

The game that will take place at the ground of their near-neighbours WVW Weurt, just four kilometres north-west of Nijmegen, on Saturday July 22nd, kicking off at 2pm".

Details of travel packages to the game are on the Altrincham FC website via the above link.

ALTY OLD BOYS

CHESTER FACE ALTY WOMEN

The Blues' unbeaten run stretched to five games in the league despite dropping two points in a 1-1 draw against local rivals Warrington Wolves last weekend...

The result saw Chester fail to score more than one goal in a league game for the first time since November... The Seals remain firmly in 4th place in the league following last weekend’s draw...

Sunday’s opponents Altrincham come into this weekend’s clash looking for their first win in three matches following back to back defeats in the league. The Manchester outfit currently find themselves in 8th place in the table having won four of their eighteen games in the league and accumulating sixteen points in the process.

Altrincham have two games remaining in the league including this weekend and with still six points on offer to play they could potentially finish as high as 5th with results elsewhere. Chester ran out convincing winners in the reverse fixture back in August, recording a comfortable opening day 4-0 victory and will be hoping for more of the same this weekend

Altrincham have failed to score in their last two league games".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Both Aden Baldwin and Richard Brindley were missing from the Magpies' 3-2 defeat at The Racecourse Ground...

For Baldwin, an injury picked up during the win over Eastleigh last month saw him miss three games before returning for the Good Friday fixture...

'What's behind it is that both guys had not played for a while; they played against Wealdstone and were not recovered in time to go again in such a short turnaround. That was disappointing for us because we want every single player available, but fortunately it is nothing serious, it was purely the fact they hadn't recovered in time'".

According to the Derbyshire Times, "Chesterfield defender Ryheem Sheckleford has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.

The full-back went off at half-time against Dagenham and Redbridge on Easter Monday with a hamstring injury.

The 25 year-old has only made nine starts this season since signing from Maidenhead United last summer...

Assistant manager Danny Webb said 'I think he is going to miss the rest of the league season. Hopefully he may be around for the play-offs if needed. He has done his hamstring reasonably bad[ly] so I can’t see him being involved for at least the next three games...

'It is disappointing for Shecks because he has waited so long to get a go, he gets a go, and then he gets injured'...

It means the baton is passed back to Jeff King, who was left out of the squad for the win at Dagenham. Webb hopes he can find the same form which saw him score eight goals in the first part of the campaign.

He added 'We can’t forget how much Jeff has contributed to the team up until this point. It is up to Kingy now because he has not got Shecks breathing down his neck for that competition'".

14 April 2023

SINCLAIR RECALLED BY ROCHDALE

We would like to go on record in thanking Tyrese for his excellent performances during his stay with the club and wish him all the best for the future".

Rochdale reported that "The 22-year-old will be available for all five of Dale's remaining games this season.

Interim Manager Jim McNulty commented 'The way we play, the way I want us to play and the way I see the game, I really think Tyrese can help us in that last line.

'He always has an impact and he’s got qualities that I think I can harness to help the team. It will be helpful in the run-in to have anyone available that I think can help us in our fight against relegation.'"

Footnote: Winger Sinclair made eleven National League appearances, eight of them starts, in which he scored five goals which made him the club's current leading scorer in the National League, given that those who had scored more (Colclough and Conn-Clarke) had already left the club.

His departure leaves Jordan Hulme and Regan Linney as top scorers of league goals with four to their names.

Tyrese also appeared in four cup matches (3 starts) and scored one goal giving him an overall return of 11 (+4) appearances and six goals.

He becomes the eighteenth player (tenth loanee) to have left the club since the start of this season.

ALTY HEADING FOR GIANT AXE

Footnote: the clubs last met in 2018 in the Northern Premier League

NEXT: DORKING WANDERERS

Although Alty have never been to Dorking before they did meet the Wandrerers earlier in the season at the J. Davidson Stadium where the Robins won 4-1.

Above: In the 4-1 win for Alty in October, Ryan Colclough's freekick from the left opened the scoring and here is seen going into the net off the underside of the bar.

However, despite the paucity of contact between the clubs over the years, Dorking do employ some players who have played against Alty for other clubs.

Amongst those in that category are:

Luke Moore who faced Alty and scored against the Robins for Gravesend & Northfleet as long ago as 2006. In 2008 he was still at the club, which had changed its name to Ebbsfleet United and he again played against Altrincham.

In 2009 and 2010 he played for AFC Wimbledon against Alty.

Barry Fuller, the Dorking captain, faced Altrincham for Stevenage Borough back in 2007.

Last time out, as they beat Yeovil Town, their side lined up as follows:

21. Dan Lincoln, 37. George Francomb, 33. Joe Cook, 18. Luke Moore, 20. Dan Gallagher, 27. Tony Craig, 17. Josh Taylor, 7. Jimmy Muitt, 11. James McShane, 30. Seb Bowerman, 19. Jason Prior Subs : 3. Bobby-Joe Taylor, 9. Ryan Seager 22. Barry Fuller 24. Harry Ottaway, 25. Aaron Kuhl

PARKY'S CHANGE OF MOOD

Right: Kyle Ferguson and Gateshead's Marcus Dinanga compete for the ball.

'I was disgusted, disappointed and upset with the performance at Oldham,' he said.

'The first half was probably the worst we have played for a long, long time, and when we lost James Jones for what I thought looked a harsh red card, I couldn’t help thinking everything was going against us.

'We were already 2-0 down, so to turn it round the way we did showed great character. Young Maxi Oyedele really galvanised us when he went on as substitute and got us back in it with a magnificent goal. Much as I didn’t like the performance overall, I was really proud of the effort and never-say-die attitude.

'But I thought the lads were superb against Gateshead, absolutely top drawer. We created enough chances to win three games, but the dice wouldn’t roll for us.

'Their keeper kept them in it, but really they’ve been let off the hook. Their goal was their only real chance...

'[Marcus Dinanga] was a good player for us without being quite clinical enough, but he has been putting those sort of chances away for them'".

JAKE MOULT TESTIMONIAL

In addition to the already announced Shaun Densmore, Josh Hancock, Andy White, Tom Hannigan and Tony Thompson, the following players will also take part, along with Jake himself. They are Stuart Coburn, Damian Reeves, Scott Leather, Nicky Clee, James Lawrie, Sam Heathcote and Adam Griffin.

The match will feature an Altrincham Xl versus a Jake Moult Xl. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s and can be bought here.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Gulls were nine points from safety and faced a very tough schedule heading into the Easter weekend. A 1-0 win at play-off chasing Boreham Wood came from nowhere and Torquay then won a massive relegation six-pointer at Scunthorpe...

Torquay were still languishing in the drop zone when high-flying Eastleigh visited on Good Friday. Once again, however, the Gulls found a top performance to triumph 2-0...

The Gulls outclassed Maidenhead to win 3-1 on Monday... In an astonishing turnaround, Torquay are now two points behind Aldershot in the ‘safety zone’ and face another huge game at Plainmoor on Saturday, when struggling York City are the visitors".

Heading in the reverse direction interms of recent results, the Daily Echo reports that "Eastleigh boss Lee Bradbury could not hide his disappointment as their playoff hunt took a hefty hit with a 5-2 home defeat to Gateshead...

Aaron Martin... fired the visitors in front in the seventh minute, tucking the ball into the bottom corner, but Eastleigh responded four minutes later when Charlie Carter capitalised on a poor back pass to smash low into the corner.

Adam Campbell restored the lead for the visitors in the 27th minute. Martin earned his brace five minutes after the break and Greg Olley completed a good team move with a top-corner finish in the 63rd minute.

Owen Bailey added a fifth for Gateshead in the 82nd minute but the Spitfires pulled one back through Kairo Mitchell just one minute later.

Bradbury... admitted 'We were miles off it, we gave them back the ball and the lads showed a soft underbelly which hurt me personally... We rolled over in the second half...

'Some of the goals were horrendous, we were second to a lot of balls today and reacted to many things rather than being proactive as a team... I’m shocked at the result and the performance; I didn’t see that coming to be honest...

'Defensively, we were sixes and sevens... We’ve kept the most clean sheets at this level in the club’s history, winning games 1-0 is what we have been based on. Hopefully, this is a bit of a freak'...

On his rotated team selection, Bradbury said 'We had no choice with the number of games, three in six days'">

We learn from the Echo News that "Southend United skipper Nathan Ralph suffered a broken nose and a hairline fracture below his eye in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Woking... following a nasty clash of heads with Woking defender Dan Moss. And Blues boss Kevin Maher [said] ...'There’s still a lot of swelling there so that’s going to need to settle down... and see where he is in seven to 10 days...

'We don’t know if he’s out for the season'...

Ralph has made 30 appearances for Blues this season".

NEXT: DORKING WANDERERS

One of those clubs is Dorking itself, who are four points behind their guests on Saturday. The club now immediately behind Alty are Gateshead who would, in fact, already be ahead of the Robins on goal difference but for a one-point deduction earlier this season.

ALTY OLD BOYS

MIDWEEK RESULT

• Eastleigh 2-5 Gateshead

Marcus Dinanga was only used as an eighty-fifth minute substitute after the Heed had already scored five times. Gateshead are now second in the National League form guide, second only to Wrexham.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 15 APRIL

According to the Through the Years data of Howard Watts and Mike Garnett, the last time Altrincham played a top-flight non-League game on the date of 15 April was back in 2006.

Pictured right, Man of the Match, Gary Talbot, receives his award from an Alty hero from the past, Derek Halliwell.

Back then, Hereford United visited Moss Lane and left with the points by scoring the only goal of the game.

For this game, Mark Maddox continued his suspension whilst Val Owen was out with a broken bone in his foot, injured for the third successive game. Chris Adams was only fit to be on the bench so Gary Scott continued at left-back. Alty's starting line-up was therefore the same as that which had done so well at Dagenham in midweek.

With the Conference hearing regarding James Robinson's eligibilty hanging over them, Alty had edged towards Conference safety with a fine 4-2 win at Dagenham last Tuesday, to end a run of eight games without a win. For their part second-place Hereford were going through a slightly disappointing period but were still looking for points to confirm their play-off place.

This narrow defeat against an impressive Hereford side meant that Altrincham had now not won at home in t six games. However, Altrincham were disappointed at the manner of the winning goal which came as a gap appeared up the middle and, despite Gary Scott's attempt to cut the ball out, Stuart Fleetwood got behind him to poke the ball past the advancing Coburn (64 mins).

Alty then made a double substitution, moving Peter Band up front at the same time, and for the last 20 minutes Alty began to cause Hereford some problems with Norton showing some good touches on the left.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Steve ASPINALL, 15. Peter BAND, 5. Gary TALBOT, 11. Gary SCOTT, 7. Colin POTTS, 37. Ged MURPHY, 12. Warren PEYTON, 14. Lewis CHALMERS, 9. Colin LITTLE, 10. Rod THORNLEY. Subs: 3. Chris ADAMS, 17. Karl MUNROE, 18. Blake NORTON, 21. Kieran LUGSDEN, 28. Pat McFADDEN.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Altrincham lie fifteenth in this chart.

• 1. Wrexham 9,960
• 2. Notts County 7,842
• 3. Chesterfield 6,857
• 4. Oldham Athletic 6,697
• 5. Southend United 5,864
• 6. York City 4,784
• 7. Scunthorpe United 3,240
• 8. Woking 2,679
• 9. Yeovil Town 2,618
• 10. Torquay United 2,493
• 11. Bromley 2,492
• 12. Eastleigh 2,319
• 13. FC Halifax Town 2,244
• 14. Maidstone United 2,148
• 15. Altrincham 2,030
• 16. Aldershot 2,023
• 17. Dorking Wanderers 1,917
• 18. Barnet 1,835
• 19. Dagenham and Redbridge 1,754
• 20. Solihull Moors 1,613
• 21. Wealdstone 1,603
• 22. Maidenhead United 1,498
• 23. Gateshead 1,238
• 24. Boreham Wood 1,180

The National League has announced its latest monthly awards, for March 2023.

"Days after Macaulay Langstaff scored his 41st goal of the season – the most in a single campaign since the league was rebranded in 2015 – he has something else to whack on the CV.

The deadly striker has won the division’s Player of the Month for a third time in one season, something never achieved before... He scored eight times, after a nine-goal haul the month before... He found the net against Bromley, Eastleigh and Altrincham and fired pairs in games against Dorking and Scunthorpe United...

It’s a Notts double, and it’s not the first time Luke Williams has won the Manager of the Month, either".

Eastleigh report that they "struggled to kick into gear as they fell 2-5 to the in-form Gateshead who produced a masterclass in finishing at the Silverlake Stadium.

In a fairly even contest, it was the Tynesiders who were clinical in front of goal as a brace from Aaron Martin and further goals from Adam Campbell, Greg Olley and Owen Bailey, helped Gateshead record their sixth consecutive league victory...

The first shot of the game led to the opener as Aaron Martin found space on the edge of the box...releasing a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner.

The floodgates were not only opened on the pitch but from the skies too as the rain poured once more.

From the second shot in the game came the second goal, as Eastleigh drew level just four minutes later...

As the rain came down even heavier, it was the Tynesiders who capitalised as a slippery ball ricocheted around the box and Adam Campbell’s effort from inside the area took a deflection to divert into the bottom right corner and regive Gateshead the lead....

It was Gateshead that would extend their lead just five minutes into the second half... On the counter the Tynesiders would pounce again... Captain Greg Olley in acres of space inside the box... took a touch to set himself before powering the ball into the top left corner from 10-yards out...

The Tynesiders rounded off a five-star performance when Owen Bailey powered home Olley’s corner putting the Gateshead fans behind the goal into dreamland.

Despite the scoreline, the Spitfires continued to battle and got a goal back just two minutes later".

12 April 2023

GATESHEAD MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Right: Harry Perritt gets to grips with Marcus Dinanga and Miles Welch-Hayes grapples with Gateshead's Louis Storey on Easter Monday.

NEXT: DORKING WANDERERS

Dorking Wanderers "took another step towards National League safety after securing a narrow win over fellow strugglers Yeovil Town at Huish Park on Easter Bank Holiday Monday.

The hosts were reduced to ten men at the very end of the first half as winger Chiori Johnson was dismissed for collecting a second yellow card, in spite of this the game continued to be tightly contested, but an instinctive close range finish from Jason Prior with less than twenty minutes remaining was enough for Wanderers to come away from Somerset with maximum points.

Registering back-to-back away victories for the first time this season, Marc White's side continued to show their defensive resolve with a third clean sheet retained from their last four matches.

The Wanderers boss went with an unchanged starting line-up following the 1-2 defeat to Woking on Good Friday, opting for the same side which has now started four of the last five matches...

Play was predominantly fought in the middle of the park as both sides struggled to find a cutting edge, the game often scrappy with a succession of cautions breaking up the rhythm throughout the opening forty-five...

Yeovil boss Mark Cooper ensured his side maintained their attacking intent despite being a man light after the restart... and his side took command of the game in the early going of the second period...

Marc White made his final change as we entered the final quarter of the game with Ryan Seager coming on ... the last sub of the day would be key in setting up the chance which enabled Wanderers to break the deadlock.

Moore... forced Smith into a low diving save, the keeper only able to push the ball just in front of him though and Prior was fastest on the scene to arrive and calmly tuck the ball home...

Wanderers managed to hold out, sealing victory for the fourth game in their last five matches. Six points clear of the relegation zone and now tied on 49 points with the three sides above them in Maidenhead, York and Gateshead, Wanderers will look to take another massive step towards survival next Saturday when they return to action to face Altrincham at Meadowbank.

RECORDS AT TOP AND BOTTOM

At the top of the Vanarama National League two ex-Football League clubs (Wrexham and Notts County) are setting records, having both attained one hundred points and one hundred goals already this season.

But at the bottom there is another potential record in the making as this season may become the first time that four of the ex-League, or phoenix clubs are relegated in one campaign.

Already in 2022/23 two of these clubs have been condemned to relegation, namely Maidstone United and Scunthorpe United. And, currently, two other ex-EFL clubs occupy the other two relegation slots; Yeovil Town and Torquay United.

MIDWEEK FIXTURE

• Eastleigh v Gateshead

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The 22-year-old, in his first season in professional full-time football, has come on as a substitute 26 times this season for the Spireites. But the majority of those have been as an impact player in the latter stages of games, often on the left or right wing.

So to see him line-up at right-back after Ryheem Sheckleford was forced off at half-time with a tight hamstring in the win against Dagenham and Redbridge on Easter Monday was a bit of surprise for many people...

In the end, Uchegbulam’s right-back cameo was over within 15 minutes... He was switched over to his more comfortable territory of left wing, Ryan Colclough went to right wing, and Liam Mandeville was dropped back.

It was a bold tactical switch from manager Paul Cook, but it paid off as 10 minutes later Mandeville snuck in at the back post to head in Ollie Banks’s cross for the winner".

At Scunthorpe United "boss Jimmy Dean has reflected on the Iron’s 2-0 home defeat to Oldham Athletic, which confirmed our relegation to the National League North...

Dean began... 'I thought on the balance of it we edged it to be honest with you. One ball from the goalkeeper and the lad has won the flick and we have switched off. It’s a poor one to concede and the other one it looked like a harsh penalty for me...

'It’s a tragic moment for the club... I am gutted for the fans and I apologise to them... I promise that we are going to be in a lot better shape next season. We are going to look to bounce straight back up...

'I have made my mistakes and we have been unfortunate at times as well. I spoke about the mentality at the club and the way it felt when I came in and we really have to work hard to change that next season'...

With all focus now swiftly turning to a huge summer in terms of our recruitment and preparation for the 2022/23 campaign, the Iron boss issued some stark home truths about the kind of people he wants at the football club... 'They have to be boys that want to be here and that’s important. There have been a few that have had their eyes looking another way which is part of football'".

11 April 2023

ALTRINCHAM 0-1 GATESHEAD

Match report here

Following a third successive home defeat at the J. Davidson Stadium, manager Phil Parkinson spoke to press and media officer Brian Flynn. It can be viewed via Alty TV on the Altrincham FC website.

He was pleased with the team's performance but rued missed chances.

NEXT: DORKING WANDERERS

Coincidentally, for the second successive game, next Saturday Altrincham will face a newly promoted team which lies six points above the relegation places at kick off and which is enjoying an upturn in form.

It will be Altrincham's first ever visit to Dorking Wanderers, though the Robins won the reverse fixture 4-1 in October.

Above: Despite his side winning 4-1, Altrincham keeper Ollie Byrne was named Man of the Match. Here we see one of his first-half saves.

Recent results reveal four wins and one defeat for Dorking in the last five outings.

• Yeovil Town 0-1 Dorking Wanderers
• Dorking Wanderers 1-2 Woking
• Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 Dorking Wanderers
• Dorking Wanderers 1-0 Southend United
• Dorking Wanderers 3-1 Maidenhead United

Earlier in the season Dorking became known for high scoring games at both ends of the pitch but recently they have tightened things up as the above results confirm.

Nevertheless the match brings together two of the most porous defences in the league. Only Maidstone United and Scunthorpe United, who have both now been relegated, have let in more goals than Dorking's 86. But the next worst defence is Altrincham's which has leaked 74 goals.

In terms of goals scored Alty have hit 61 against Dorking's 60.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Meanwhile, at home, on Easter Monday, in...

League One : OWEN DALE was booked in the 90th minute as Portsmouth were surprisingly held 0-0 at Fratton Park by Morecambe.

League Two : Having been booked early, Grimsby Town captain LUKE WATERFALL was withdrawn at half time as his side trailed 1-0 to hosts Doncaster Rovers, but they fought back after he'd gone to win 1-2.

TOBY MULLARKEY was left on the bench as Rochdale forced a 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town.

JOEL SENIOR (left) was not in the Carlisle United squad as they drew 0-0 at Walsall.

National League : We won't discuss MARCUS DINANGA, while RYAN COLCLOUGH was substituted in the 81st minute as his Chesterfield side won by the only goal at Dagenham & Redbridge.

DAN MOONEY was an 84th minute substitute for Southend United in their 1-1 draw at Woking. For the hosts, BILLY SASS-DAVIES was booked in the very first minute, then substituted 10 minutes into the second half

National North : CONNOR KIRBY scored the only goal as Buxton beat visitors Boston United.

TOM PEERS (right)scored the only goal from the penalty spot as Curzon Ashton won at home against Spennymoor.

NPL : THEO BAILEY-JONES put Stalybridge Celtic ahead at Bower Fold in their Tameside derby against Hyde United, but they had to come from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with a 96th minute penalty.

DONTAI GABIDON rounded off the scoring for FC UNITED as they routed hosts Ashton United 0-5.

2014 PLAY-OFF REUNION DINNER

Altrincham FC remind us that "On Friday 12th May 2023, Altrincham FC Community Sports will be holding a reunion event of the victorious 2014 Altrincham FC side.

This will be a fantastic night to reminisce about an unforgettable event in Altrincham FC’s recent history.

Tickets priced at £15 will be available online from April 1st through this link, or by calling 0161 9281045 option 2

Included in your ticket price will be:

• Hot buffet meal
• Q&A

Alty TV's & Radio Robins' very own Brian Flynn will MC the event. Get your tickets early as this is guaranteed to be a highly entertaining evening.

Friday, 12th May 2023, 7:30pm".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Iron, who were relegated from the Football League along with Latics last season, will play in National League North next season.

The visitors opened the scoring five minutes before half-time through Devarn Green...

Oldham were awarded a penalty when Bassala Sambou attempted to get on the end of a long ball forward and goalkeeper Tom Billson rushed out and brought him down in the area.

Sambou picked himself up and tucked the penalty away to double Latics’ lead and end a run of six games without victory, condemning the home side to the drop in the process".

And another former EFL club could be following Maidstone and Scunthorpe inot tier six of the Englsih game as Gloverscast reports on Yeovil Town who lost 0-1 at home to Dorking Wanderers.

"Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper... revealed that striker Frank Nouble was ready to join the club before being allowed to join relegation rivals Torquay United.

The former Colchester United player scored twice for the Gulls in a 3-1 win at Maidenhead United on Easter Monday whilst Cooper’s side struggled in front of goal again as they went down to a 1-0 home defeat to Dorking Wanderers.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Cooper said 'It didn’t have to be like this. Five or six weeks ago, the players we wanted to bring in, one of them is going to keep Torquay up by the looks of it and it just didn’t happen. We have to learn from that...

'The deal was done, Frank was coming in on a five-week deal and it didn’t happen. That’s what way it is. It’s frustrating because it didn’t have to be like this; I will get the majority of the blame, but it didn’t have to be like this'...

Minutes after the manager’s comments went out, owner-in-waiting Matt Uggla took to his Twitter feed with a lengthy thread claiming why he disagrees with Cooper (to put it mildly)...

Cooper said 'I would love to be (manager next season). I know supporters hate me at the minute, but a lot of it has been ut of my control'...

On the pitch, it was the same old story with a struggle to score goals compounded by the sending off of Chiori Johnson at the end of the first half.

Cooper said... 'We have four or five players that I don’t know how they put the shift in that they do. Every game they run, they fight and they scrap but then we are filling in around them that you never know what performance you are going to get out of them.'"

In the Nottingham Post "Notts County boss Luke Williams admits it will now be tough for his side to win the National League title... after their 3-2 loss to Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground.

The Magpies had taken the lead with a John Bostock free-kick just before half-time, but Paul Mullin and Jacob Mendy hit back to put the home side in front with 20 minutes to go.

County captain Kyle Cameron levelled six minutes later, but Notts were again pegged back as a defensive error allowed Elliot Lee to slot home to put Phil Parkinson's side in front once more.

But when a penalty was given on the cusp of full-time for a handball inside the Wrexham area, County had a lifeline. Cedwyn Scott stepped up to take it, but saw his effort superbly saved by veteran keeper Ben Foster to swing the pendulum back in favour of the Welsh outfit.

Speaking after the game, Williams told BBC Radio Nottingham... 'I think now the momentum is with them and we have to try to apply maximum pressure by winning our remaining games... With Wrexham dropping points on Friday we felt like maybe there is a difference, but coming here we were ultimately unable to turn them over and I think we're back in the same position as before'...

With Notts' normal penalty taker Ruben Rodrigues off the pitch having been substituted earlier in the game, Scott took the responsibility and placed the ball down on the spot, only to his effort saved brilliantly by the sprawling hand of former Premier League star Foster...

'We would prefer to draw the game of course, but I think in the grand scheme of things it would not have made a huge difference'".

10 April 2023

ALTRINCHAM 0-1 GATESHEAD

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

Right: Marcus Dinanga and Harry Perritt clash during the match.

Altrincham did create some decent chances but their shooting was woeful with Hugill, Linney and Sinclair amongst those at fault. Indeed, Hugill somehow contrived to hit the bar from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

Match report here

EASTER MONDAY FIXTURES

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

TODAY: GATESHEAD

In addition to winning their FA Trophy semi-final last week, Gateshead have been in excellent form after a worrying early part of the National League campaign. They are currently unbeaten in their last eight outings in the National League and FA Trophy.

Last Friday they beat Scunthorpe United 2-0 at home which was their third successive home league game, a run in which they have struck an impressive nine goals and conceded none.

On 4 April they had trounced Yeovil Town 4-0, having beaten Dagenham & Redbridge 3-0 on 28 March.

Gateshead also won their most recent away game, scoring three times again as they overcame Aldershot Town 3-2. That followed two successive draws at home to FC Halifax Town and Torquay United.

OLDHAM BOSS "HURTS" AFTER ALTY COMEBACK

"It's a sickening result for us but we played really well for the majority of the game.

"First half, we go a goal up deservedly and thta second goal looks like it's going to be enough to see us over the line.

"But then they score a cracker and we go and lose our man at a corner, which isn't like us.

"There's lessons to be learned because we need to be better at killing teams off and holding on to results going forward".

A POINT FOR THE RESERVES

ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES

Ryan BROOKE did not face Altrincham in midweek but he scored at the weekend as his Runcorn Linnets beat Prescot Cables 2-0.

Joel TORRANCE was in goal for Skelmersdale United.

Three players with Robins connections netted for Mossley in a 5-1 win at Newcastle Town. Alty loanee Eden BAILEY got a brace and Mason FAWNS (right), with a penalty, and Nicky CLEE also scored for the Lilywhites.

Sean MILLER got the goal as Widnes defeated Colne 1-0.

Macclesfield Town welcomed James BERRY back after injury and he scored twice in a 5-0 drubbing of City of Liverpool.

NATIONAL LEAGUE ATTENDANCES

On Good Friday the National League witnessed five gates of more than six and a half thousand.

• 9786 Notts County
• 8638 Chesterfield
• 7663 FC Halifax Town
• 7391 Oldham Athletic
• 6603 Southend United

In addition, eight attendances in the National North exceeded a thousand with Chester FC attracting 3,487 for the visit of Chorley which sadly ended goalless. In National South, ten gates exceeded a thousand with both the champions Ebbsfleet United and lowly Dulwich Hamlet attracting more than three thousand spectators.

However, Alty's visitors today, Gateshead, FA Trophy finalists and third top of the NL form guide, must wonder why they could only attract 1,804 for the visit of Scunthorpe United when South Shields, some ten miles further down the River Tyne, attracted 2,764 for a match two levels below against Nantwich Town.

THROUGH THE YEARS: 10 APRIL

Today, 10 April, is a date on which Alty have only previously played three times this century and over the last 47 years they have not won once in eight attempts on 10 April!

The Robins' last win on 10 April was a 3-1 win in 1976 over Skelmersdale United in the Northern Premier League as is confirmed by Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years data.

Since then Alty have experienced a run of five successive draws then three successive defeats on that date.

The most recent reverse came behind closed doors at the J. Davidson Stadium in 2021 when FC Halifax Town won 1-0 in a National League game. So on two counts the Shaymen are the last team to win at Moss Lane!

The last game witnessed by spectators on 10 April was another 1-0 defeat at home, that time against Oxford United.

Altrincham's April 2010 fixtures made a formidable list, with four successive games against top five teams. After a last-minute defeat by York in the previous game, came Oxford United, followed by the top two, Stevenage and Luton Town.

With Nicky Clee still injured, as well as longer-term absentees Dale Johnson, Matt Doughty and Tom Kearney, the 16-man squad comprised the whole of the available squad. So, Graham Heathcote and Ken McKenna rotated their squad today. They started with both their leading scorers (Senior and Denham) on the bench, starting instead with Colin Little and John McAliskey up front.

Above: Alty clear their lines in the first half.

After holding the visitors to a goalless first half, Altrincham were disappointed to have lost this game early in the second half to slack marking from a corner, which allowed James Constable a free header (53 mins). Oxford had the better of the first half without forcing Stuart Coburn into any really serious action, though an Oxford header did strike the cross bar.

Alty had rotated their small squad with a view to tough games against the top two (Stevenage and Luton) later that week, so leading scorers Chris Senior and Chris Denham only joined the game just before the hour mark. With Williams also pushed forward, Alty pressed hard in the closing stages but could not get an equalizer.

Overall there could be few complaints at the outcome, as Oxford became the only side to beat Alty home and away this season.

ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. James SMITH, 12. Robbie WILLIAMS, 5. Greg YOUNG, 27. Ryan BROWN, 6. Shaun DENSMORE, 21. Peter DORAN, 16. Anthony DANYLYK, 7. Robbie LAWTON (capt); 9. Colin LITTLE, 17. John McALISKEY, Subs: 19. Chris SENIOR, 10. Chris DENHAM, 18. Michael WELCH, 13. Russell SAUNDERS [gk], 24. Adam CARDEN

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Altrincham's last home game this season will be against Torquay United who remain four points from safety despite a win on Friday. Devon Live reports that "Torquay United manager Gary Johnson gave every player a 10 out of 10 after the 2-0 win against Eastleigh...

Two goals in the second half won the game for Torquay; a clever header from a Jack Stobbs free kick by the skipper Asa Hall, and a perfectly-placed shot past the goalkeeper by midfielder Tom Lapslie...

In fact, Torquay pretty much cruised to their third win on the trot, and the confidence in the camp now must be sky high ahead of Easter Monday's trip to Maidenhead United. But it wasn't only the players that Johnson was pleased with after the game. He also spoke about how the crowd got behind the team from the off, and never let up in their support. There were 3,237 fans in the ground'...

'It's what we asked for and they have come up trumps, our supporters'... he said. 'That's what we can do at Plainmoor. The lads are buzzing in there because the crowd was buzzing right from the off.. Lapslie's legs just keep going. He is one of them Duracel battery bunnies; it's Easter time, I thought I would throw that one in..

Every single department of our team worked so hard. And we played; and we passed it; and we created a couple of chances. We didn't create loads of chances but they're not seventh for no reason, they are a decent team...

'Everybody for me was a 10 out of 10'...

With five games to go, Torquay (40 points) are now 21st, four points below Aldershot... Torquay and Aldershot have both played 41 games but Aldershot's goal difference is much better...

Johnson said 'I am very pleased with the result but we still haven't done anything yet'...

After Maidenhead away on Monday, Torquay's remaining games are at home against York City, away at Chesterfield, away at Altrincham and home against Wrexham".

---

9 April 2022

POST-MATCH INTERVIEW

Altrincham drew 2-2 at Boundary Park on Good Friday.

Brian Flynn's post-match interview with Alty manager Phil Parkinson can be heard on the Altrincham FC website.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM LATICS v ALTRINCHAM

Goal highlights of the 2-2 draw between Oldham Athletic and Altrincham are available to view via the Altrincham FC website.

LATICS LAMENT LATE GOALS

Following the 2-2 draw with Altrincham on Friday, Oldham Athletic reported that "Two late goals from Altrincham saw Latics drop two points at Boundary Park.

Oldham got off to a lively start, creating a number of chances, and... broke the deadlock when Reid was played through, but saw his shot saved by Byrne. Nuttall reacted quickly, turned 180 degrees, and fired home.

Latics remained in control of the game, and looked for a second before the break...

The second-half wasn’t as energetic as the first, but Latics still had their fair share of chances...

David Unsworth’s side won a free-kick on the edge of the area which John Rooney took, his set piece was parried by Byrne, before Kitching flicked the ball back across goal for Sambou to head home.

With 15 to play, it looked as though Latics would see the game out with ease, and those thoughts were compounded when James Jones saw red for a dangerous challenge on Sambou.

Maxi Oyedele spectacularly pulled one back with ten minutes to play... Disaster struck for Latics in the dying moments of the game, an Altrincham corner fell to Ty Sinclair (pictured, right), whose thumping header gave Norman no chance.

A disappointing end to the game".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan reports that on Saturday in the NPL, DONTAI GABIDON (right) opened the scoring for FC United in their home game with Bamber Bridge. They went on to win 5-2.

South Shields cruised to a 3-0 lead against visitors Nantwich Town, with DYLAN MOTTLEY-HENRY scoring their second - BYRON HARRISON converted two penalties to make the scoreline 3-2.

JOSH AMIS scored the first two goals as Warrington Town saw off visitors Ashton United 3-0.

Meanwhile in Scotland, JOSH GINNELLY was not in the Hearts squad for today's home game against St.Mirren, which they lost 0-2.

NEXT: GATESHEAD

A resurgent Gateshead are the visitors to the J. Davidson Stadium on Monday (3pm). Having looked in danger of an immediate relegation back to the National North, the Heed have now got themselves six points clear of the bottom four with games in hand and despite having a point docked for an administrative error.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The Real EFL has a long account of "The Decline of Yeovil Town".

Ten years ago the Glovers won promotion to the Championship. Today they are at risk of falling into the National League South, a drop of four levels in ten years.

On Good Friday, however, Gloverscast quoted manager Mark Cooper speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after a draw at Aldershot Town.

The manager opined, 'I thought from start to finish we were outstanding, yeah of course we made some mistakes, committed, one mistake from us from the corner you know you you’re relying on people to do their jobs and and we let somebody get a free header in the box...

'And that’s an horrendous decision from the referee at the end; it’s a blatant penalty... it’s a great performance, a great following, nice to see the prospective owner and his friend in there leading the chants'...

Callum Harriott returned to the side to grab a late equaliser....

'We’re just trying to find a formula you know, we’re playing with a lack of front players and we’re trying to cover that up.. If we play like that until to the end of the season we have a chance (of staying up). When you get the fans behind you, you see the response you get from the players...

'I thought we deserve to win the game'.

In the dying embers of the game, Aldershot had the chance to get all three points after Chiori Johnson was adjudicated to have fouled a Shots’ attacker gifting the hosts a penalty, which they would blaze over the bar...

'We’ve got to keep going... we’ve got a really difficult one against Wrexham but the others are winnable'".

The Nottingham Post reports that "With 100 points and 103 goals this season, Notts County boss Luke Williams continues to strive for absolute perfection as he dissected Friday's 3-0 win over Wealdstone at Meadow Lane...

While the score-line suggests a comfortable win and performance, Williams was on hand to critique his side's first-half display, labelling it as poor... Williams' side were forced to play long, completely dispersing [sic] from their usual possession-based style of play....

'To be honest, we were up against a team that played an incredibly high line. When the keeper comes out to advance with the ball, there is no space to play football and they were very brave in doing that, so then we tried to exploit the spaces in behind them... so it became a game of two teams with very high lines...

'At times, it was the most sensible thing to go more direct but, I don't think that we did that quite well enough'...

Goalkeeper Sam Slocombe was one of those players missing, with Archie Mair deputising in between the sticks...

'I am the only head coach in the National League for sure with three first-choice goalkeepers,' Williams said...

The other two players missing from the action were defender Geraldo Bajrami and Ruben Rodrigues. Rodrigues was forced off during the Magpies' 2-0 win over Altrincham 10 days ago as the J. Davidson surface made it difficult to play on and resulted in the Portuguese's eventual removal from the encounter...

'Baj has played incredibly well but we monitor the fatigue score, and his was quite high, so I felt in order for us to have the maximum for us to pick from, we need to remove him from his duties today... And Ruben trained as well this morning and trained brilliantly with no reaction'".

---

8 April 2023

OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2-2 ALTRINCHAM

Ten-man Alty secured a remarkable point after being 2-0 down late in the match.

Oldham had much the better of the first half and deservedly led at the interval after Nuttall scored (23 mins).

In a scrappy second half James Jones conceded a freekick just outside the box. Though Byrne saved Rooney's freekick the ball was recycled for substitute Sambou to nod home from close range to make it 2-0 (75 mins)

Two minutes later Jones rashly slid in on Sambou and was given a red card (77 mins), his second of the season.

Ten-man Alty then scored out of nothing when Oyedele lashed in a fine half-volley following a corner (81 mins). And amazingly they levelled in the 90th minute when Sinclair (above, right), arguably the shortest man on the pitch, headed home an Eddy Jones corner.

Match report here.

MAXI MAKING HIS MARK

All Nigeria Soccer reports that "Manchester United-owned midfielder Maxi Oyedele continues to catch the eye at National League club Altrincham.

The Poland U19 international (left) of Nigerian descent joined the fifth-tier side in the January transfer window...

Oyedele played a key role as Altrincham came from two goals down to salvage a point in a thrilling contest against Oldham Athletic...

The visitors saw themselves trailing by two goals with ten minutes left on the clock...

Oyedele entered the fray in the 58th minute... his ninth appearance in the division...

The 18-year-old... pulled one back in the 81st minute when he rifled in an effort from twenty yards out, taking his tally in the league to three goals.

Oyedele's other strikes came in back-to-back matches against Woking and Barnet in February.

With a minute to go, Tyrese Sinclair nodded home from a few yards out to restore parity for Altrincham".

NEXT: GATESHEAD

Altrincham play their sixth game in seventeen days when Gateshead visit the J. Davidson Stadium on Easter Monday (3pm).

The two sides had contrasting FA Trophy semi-finals last week, with Gateshead recovering from being pegged back from a 3-0 lead to 3-3 by winning the resulting penalty shoot out.

In contrast, Alty were also pegged back in added time but lost their shoot out to FC Halifax Town.

Gateshead will no doubt include ex-Alty man Marcus Dinanga in their teams.

Although the 25 year-old striker's statistics do not appear too bad, he scoored ten goals from 33 starts, he actually made a further 13 appearances from the bench in reaching his final tally, and six of his ten goals came in consecutive matches, so he failed to net in thirty-three appearancees.

Dinanga's arrival at Alty was announced in June 2021 on a two-year contract. Things started well as Marcus scored on his league debut for Alty at Torquay but, after a total of just three goals from eighteen appearances, on Christmas Eve 2021 it was announced that he was going on a month's loan to Kidderminster Harriers.

On 1 February he moved on another month's loan to Dartford, where he found some goalscoring form, and he remained there till the end of the Kent club's season before making a start for Alty in their final fixture of the season in May 2022.

After failing to score for Altrincham until October in 2022-23 season he then netted in six successive matches before losing form and featuring mainly as a substitute before a move to Gateshead for an indisclosed fee was announced on 4 January 2023.

However, on arrival at the International Stadium he seems to have rediscovered his scoring touch with five goals in eleven appearances, though four of those strikes have come through braces in his last two starts before Good Friday's games.

The Chronicle Live reports that "The Heed were a whisker away from Football League status in 2013/14, beaten by Cambridge United in the play-off final, before almost ceasing to exist four years ago.

They bounced back as National League North title winners last season...

It's been a tough slog of a campaign for the Heed; losing their two leading goalscorers from last season in Cedwyn Scott and Macauley Langstaff to Notts County, injuries woes throughout the entire campaign and five members of the squad are cup tied, but they keep overcoming the next hurldle...

For manager Williamson, the FA Trophy Final will be another marker on his CV but admits that'll count for nothing if they lose the final and are relegated from the National League...

'I said in the huddle before the guys did the penalty shootout "this group is unbreakable, the strength is in the pack." It's such a tight group and I'm so proud to be associated with each and every one of them because we all just muck in for the greater cause and that unbreakable mentality, that unbreakable culture we've got in the group showed in the penalty shootout. We conceded in the last minute and then go and win on penalties again.'"

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan reports on the exploits of former Alty players or loanees on Good Friday...

League 1 : JUNIOR QUITIRNA, a 73rd minute substitute, scored Fleetwood's late consolation goal as they lost 2-1 at Cambridge United.

OWEN DALE was substituted in added time as his 10 man Portsmouth side forced a 1-1 draw at MK Dons.

LEAGUE 2 : CONNOR JENNINGS (left) faced LUKE WATERFALL as the latter's Grimsby Town side entertained Hartlepool United, who ran out 1-4 winners.

TOBY MULLARKEY came off the bench for Rochdale after 85 minutes - there were no further goals thereafter, and the hosts beat visitors Walsall 4-2.

ALISTAIR SMITH was booked as his Sutton United side fell to a 0-1 defeat at home to Stockport County.

National League : RYAN COLCLOUGH was one of four Chesterfield players booked as they surprisingly slumped to a 1-3 home defeat by York City.

Gateshead appeared not too inconvenienced by MARCUS DINANGA failing to reappear for the second half, and beat Scunthorpe United 2-0 at the International Stadium. The visitors had been reduced to 10 men after 38 minutes when former Altrincham trialist TOM PUGH was dismissed.

DAN MOONEY was a 57th minute substitute for Southend United as they beat already relegated visitors Maidstone 2-0.

National North : Despite already being relegated, AFC Telford came from behind in the second half to earn a shock 1-2 victory at Brackley. MONTEL GIBSON (above, right) scored the 68th minute winner to dent Brackley's playoff hopes.

ASHLEY HEMMINGS scored as Kidderminster Harriers won 1-0 at home to Buxton.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Kent Online rpeorts that "Defender Sam Bone has signed a new deal at relegated Maidstone United.

Bone, 25, became George Elokobi's first signing as caretaker manager when he joined his hometown club in January after a spell training at the Gallagher.

Before that, he'd spent six years playing in Ireland, winning the Irish Cup with St Patrick's.

His wholehearted approach quickly won over Stones fans and he's handed the club a big boost by agreeing terms for next season in National South...

'We've got five games left to try and get that win but I suppose my focus is going to be on having a really good pre-season and hitting the ground running for next season'" said Bone.

"The Stones may be down but Elokobi, confirmed as Hakan Hayrettin's full-time successor a fortnight ago, wants to finish the season on a high. 'It’s my job to make sure I pick our lads up and make sure I tell them there’s no hiding place in football,' said Elokobi...

'The players, since I’ve come in, they have been giving me their all and that isn’t going to stop just because of the relegation. They feel accountable for what's happened and I feel very much accountable'" he concluded.

According to the Echo News, "Southend United got back to winning ways at Yeovil Town on Saturday having previously suffered seven defeats in succession...

'It wasn’t just a lot of games, for me it was tough mentally as well,' said Ollie Kensdale... 'It does take its toll. You go home and you do think about it, you don’t just switch off. It’s a learning experience and one I can hopefully use in a positive way in the future'.

Blues ended the losing sequence with a 2-0 victory against Yeovil Town on Saturday...

Said Kensdale.... 'Like the gaffer says sometimes it’s just about going back to basics and we did that well on Saturday'...

Kensdale – who already made 43 starts this season is pleased with how things have gone for him this term... 'There have been a lot of ups and downs but that’s when you find out about yourself'".

According to the Halifax Courier "Town boss Chris Millington said he had no doubts his side could beat Wrexham after the stunning 3-1 victory against the league leaders at The Shay.

Wrexham led at half-time thanks to Elliot Lee's goal, but two goals from Milli Alli and one from Mani Dieseruvwe in the second-half earned Halifax their best result of the season.

'I've sensed all week a certain confidence in the group'... Millington said. 'I always believed it was going to happen...

'The real key feature of the game were the counter-attacks, certainly in the first-half that was when they looked the most threatening... I thought similarly, we counter-attacked very well and dropped them in pretty quickly...

'Getting that third goal was crucial and just made it a bit more comfortable to see out the game...

'Their goal was a fantastic goal, we couldn't have done any more to stop it...

'We weren't asking the lads to go out and try to earn a draw, we believed we could win the game...

'It is something of a David and Goliath story in that Wrexham come with all the fans and all the resources, a fantastic squad,' Millington said."

From the other side, the Daily Post says that "The Dragons were disappointing in front of a giant away contingent.

Wrexham AFC put in a woeful second half display at The Shay as Halifax Town took full advantage of the below par display to claim the three points... Over 4,000 fans followed the Reds to Yorkshire and they went home hugely disappointed...

The Dragons did take the lead on the half-hour mark however when a long ball forward was chased down by the excellent Sam Dalby and he was able to feed it into Elliot Lee's path and Lee turned inside his man and dispatched an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner...

The second half started in disastrous fashion for Phil Parkinson's men however as the hosts got themselves back on level terms. Milli Alli restored parity with a precise shot...

It then got even better for the hosts as they took the lead in the 70th minute as Alli got his second of the game. The Wrexham defence parted like the Red Sea...

The poor defending continued to the end as the hosts got their third late on as Dieseruvwe got in the act with a neat finish. That's how it stayed and all of a sudden Monday's crunch home clash against title rivals Notts County takes on even more significance".

Before the defeat, the Leader Live informed us that "Paul Mullin says reaching 100 points is a 'magnificent achievement' but the striker insists it will count for nothing if Wrexham don't go on and clinch automatic promotion...

But the National League title remains up for grabs with Wrexham being pushed all the way by Notts County...

'There is still a long way to go,' said the 43-goal leading scorer...

Midfielder Tom O'Connor, who made his return from injury as a substitute against Oldham, says pats on backs can wait with the title still on the line.

'Any other season and we are up by now,' said O'Connor."

---

7 April 2023

GOOD FRIDAY FIXTURES

Friday 7 April 2023

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

UNSWORTH WANTS UNBEATEN TO START AGAINST ALTY

In the Oldham Times, "David Unsworth has challenged his Oldham Athletic side to stay unbeaten until the end of the season.

A run of three draws going into last weekend's trip to Wrexham was shattered by the National League leaders as they romped to a 5-1 win.

But Latics boss Unsworth has urged his players to get back into the good habits that brought an upturn in form this calendar year.

'If we can bounce back like we did against Notts County when we got turned over on Boxing Day... we worked really hard and we've worked really hard since then to try to put a run together, so I've challenged the players now to be unbeaten for the rest of the season'... he said ahead of the Good Friday game at home to Altrincham (kick-off 3pm).

'There's no reason why against the teams that we're playing that we can do that....[For Wrexham] It's 15 years in the making, we're six months in the making. I need people to patient. We need to rebuild. We've still got a lot of work to do this season to take us into pre-season'.

Latics will be without Mike Fondop as he started a four-match ban but Unsworth was hoping to have Alex Reid available after his recent absence with a hamstring injury for at least one of the Easter games...

Goalkeeper Magnus Norman is likely to return to the starting line-up having been named on the bench last weekend following a knee injury. Hallam Hope, too, could also be knocking on the door after a lengthy absence with a knee injury".

NEXT: OLDHAM ATHLETIC

Before today's clash, the Oldham Chronicle reported that the "Latics, who have turned a significant corner since the turn of the year with some much-improved results, could finally be officially safe from the threat of relegation after weekend fixtures at home against Altrincham tomorrow (Friday) and Monday's trip to Scunthorpe. [Oldham would have to pick up points and hope that others do not for "safety" to be certain].

Seven wins in 2023 so far have dispelled most fears of a potential second consecutive relegation.

Tomorrow's opponents Alty have also gone through a generally inconsistent campaign so far, and currently sit two places higher in the table and five points better off than Latics...

Meanwhile, Latics chiefs have announced a 'hugely exciting' partnership with Puma to become the club’s new technical kit supplier, starting from the 2023/24 season".

The Latics go into the match with no win in their last four league games and just one win in their last seven National League fixtures:

• Away Wrexham 1-5
• Away Wealdstone 2-2
• Home Solihull Moors 1-1
• Away Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1
• Away Eastleigh 0-1
• Home Woking 1-0
• Home Boreham Wood 0-2

TWO CONTRASTING SEMIS

In the Sale & Altrincham Messenger, press and media officer John Edwards reflects on a week which witnessed two contrasting sem-finals for Altrincham.

"Phil Parkinson was left emotionally-drained and struggling to speak after seeing Altrincham’s Wembley dream snatched away from them in dramatic and highly-controversial style at a packed J.Davidson Stadium on Saturday.

A dominant Alty side were leading their FA Trophy semi-final through a Jordan Hulme goal and on the brink of booking their Wembley place when a flare was thrown on to the pitch from the away end at the start of three minutes added time.

Stoppage time was adjusted to allow for the hold-up, and, despite being second-best all game, FC Halifax Town stunned a 4,771 crowd with a 95th-minute equaliser that came less than five seconds before the final whistle... to signal a penalty shootout that the visitors won...

'It’s really difficult for me to speak with you, to be perfectly frank, just as it was really difficult to address the players at the end,' said Alty boss Parkinson. 'Football is a cruel world, a cruel game, and you don’t always get what you deserve...

'Lads are in tears, absolutely devastated. It will take some getting over. I’m not normally an emotional person, but just seeing our fans at the end clapping us off because they knew we had given everything really got to me. I’m just so sorry we couldn’t quite get there, and it feels like my insides have been ripped out.

'But moments like this will help these young players grow. They will come back better and stronger for the experience'...

There will still be a final for Alty this season after goals from James Jones, Regan Linney (two) and Aaron Bennett gave them a 4-0 Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final win at Runcorn Linnets on Tuesday night".

THROUGH THE YEARS: 7 APRIL

The Through the Years files of Howard Watts and Mike Garnett emind us of previous Altrincham games on today's date.

A lot has happened in the five years since Altrincham's last game on 7 April.

Back then the Robins were competing in the Northern Premier League, two levels below where they are now, and they had travelled to the characterful Giant Axe ground to face Lancaster City, where they emerged with a 2-1 win.

Above: Tom Hannigan nets the opening goal, (his legs can just be seen, far right!), as he wheels away after heading home the goal

.

This win and defeats for Warrington and Grantham allowed Alty to extend their lead to eight points at the top of the table. But, during the game, after cruising to an early 2-0 lead, Lancaster got a goal back and kept the game tight till the end.

Alty had taken a tenth-minute lead when Jordan Hulme's shot was fumbled over the line by former Alty keeper Elliot Wynne, who, nevertheless, was later named Man of the Match. Seven minutes later it was 2-0 as Hannigan powered a header into the net from Johnston's corner.

However the Dolly Blues pulled back a goal in the 24th minute when Simpson headed home an Akrigg cross from the right after a corner. Hulme missed a sitter before half-time and Altrincham were unable to convert a lot of second half pressure into a third goal.

Compared with the almost 5,000 who watched Alty las Saturday, just 313 spectators saw this game.

Alty remained without James Poole, Connor Hampson and Ben Harrison through injury but Andy White was back and midfielder Rhain Davis joined the squad. Tom Peers was also out, with a hamstring tweak.

ALTRINCHAM : 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Shaun DENSMORE, 3. Andrew WHITE, 4. Tom HANNIGAN, 5. James JONES, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 7. John JOHNSTON, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. Jordan HULME, 10. Max HARROP, 11. Josh HANCOCK. Subs: 12. Rhain DAVIS, 14. Chris MERRIE, 16.Theo BAILEY-JONES, 20. Andrew JONES, 15. Sam HEATHCOTE

JAKE MOULT TESTIMONIAL

Altrincham FC have announced more names who will participate in Jake Moult's testimonial, at The J.Davidson Stadium on Sunday, April 30th at 1.30pm.

In addition to the already announced Shaun Densmore, Josh Hancock, Andy White, Tom Hannigan and Tony Thompson, the following players will also take part, along with Jake himself. They are Stuart Coburn, Damian Reeves, Scott Leather, Nicky Clee, James Lawrie, Sam Heathcote and Adam Griffin.

The match will feature an Altrincham Xl versus a Jake Moult Xl. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s.

---

6 April 2023

POST-RUNCORN

Following the win at Runcorn Linnets, Brian Flynn's post-match audio interview with Phil Parkinson is available courtesy of Alty TV.

OLD FOES IN DECLINE

It is a sad time for one of Altrincham's long-term rivals as the BBC reports that "AFC Telford United have been relegated from National League North.

The Bucks' demise, all but sealed for some weeks, was finally confirmed by Farsley Celtic's 2-1 win over Brackley, which leaves Telford 18 points adrift of safety, with just five games left...

Right: Altrincham's last trip to the New Buck's Head was on 1 February 2020 when, just as this week, James Jones was on the score sheet. Here we seem him receiving congratulations in a 2-2 draw in National League North played on a pudding of a pitch.

It means a return to the seventh tier of English football for the Shropshire club for the first time since 2007...

After a dreadful start to the season brought the sacking of manager Gavin Cowan in October, former Nuneaton, Wrexham and Brackley boss Kevin Wilkin, a long-time Telford target, was finally appointed.

But, despite a six-game unbeaten run from Boxing Day onwards, and although they have only lost two of their last six games, including two wins, he was unable to halt the slide.

AFC Telford are a 'phoenix club' formed by fans in 2004 following the liquidation of the old Telford United...

Telford's plight is a long way from the reputation they once built as English football's foremost non-league side.

After changing their name to Telford United from Wellington Town [sic] in 1969, and then winning the FA Trophy for the first time in 1971, they were twice managed by England World Cup winners, Geoff Hurst and Gordon Banks, but the Lilywhites enjoyed their greatest days in the 1980s under Stan Storton".

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Like Wellington/Telford United/AFC Telford United, another historic rival of Altrincham is Yeovil Town and they, too, are sadly in the doldrums as the BBC reports.

"Yeovil manager Mark Cooper has criticised the club's recruitment policy after his side were thrashed 4-0 by fellow strugglers Gateshead... The Glovers have now won just once in their last 14 games...

'We haven't done the right thing, we haven't reacted the right way to what we needed to do before the transfer window shut, in my opinion,' Cooper told BBC Radio Bristol. 'I've been promoted out of this league as a manager and I think I know what a good National League player looks like. Obviously some people didn't think that I knew that'.

Cooper took over at Yeovil in October on a two-and-a-half-year deal... Yeovil have scored only 32 goals in 40 matches this season, the lowest in the division by a distance...

'In any business if you don't get your recruitment right'... Cooper said... 'I wanted to come and build this club, like I did at Forest Green for five years and make it into a proper football league club. But you need support and you need backing for that... There was no way I was going to walk out on the players,' Cooper added.

'I probably should have done after the Eastleigh game [Yeovil's last win on 7 March] but I know that we have a couple of of fighters in the changing room and we've got to try and regroup and go again@.

Club captain Josh Staunton echoed Cooper's belief that Yeovil can avoid the drop... Staunton said... 'It's about characters and probably we're lacking that'.

The centre-back... said the performance against Gateshead... was 'borderline embarrassing. We're getting beaten without putting up a fight and that for me is the most disappointing thing', Staunton added".

The Derbyshire Times reminds us that Chesterfield face York City next

They spoke to jurnalist Gabriel Ramsey of The Press newspaper in York who said, "I think one way it could be summed up with would be a season of two-halves, pre and post of John Askey. His sacking changed the trajectory of the season and split the club and fans in two. It’s just a real shame, but hopefully City can kick on now with Mikey Morton in charge, who certainly has the backing of the fans.

The off-the-field issues really derailed a positive start to the season, and there’s more uncertainty than ever right now. Safety isn’t yet confirmed... but off-the-pitch, a much-needed takeover has just fallen through, and the Supporters' Trust are accusing the majority shareholder Glen Henderson of refusing to pay players and staff. He’s since rejected this notion, but in a recent radio interview a lot of new information has come to light. It’s all a bit of a mess...

The main concern right now is looking ahead to next season, which I think will be in the National League, and whether York have a clear plan.

The current style of play is a possession-counter attacking sort of setup. With the five at the back formation that Morton prefers, he likes the wing-backs to constantly dominate their wings. The midfield three usually has one man sitting back... With the two up top too, Morton tends to go with the strength of Lenell John-Lewis or Manny Duku to partner Shaq Forde, who is without a doubt City’s strongest player."

The National League has issued a statement.

Amongst other things the League "confirm that the 2023 Vanarama National League Promotion Final will be hosted at Wembley Stadium... on Saturday 13 May at 3pm and will be the first time the match has been at Wembley Stadium since 2020...

We are also delighted to confirm the Vanarama National League North and South Promotion Finals, taking place on Sunday 14 May, with both be broadcast live on BT Sport...

The final games of the season will go ahead on Saturday 29 April, with National division games kicking off at 5.30pm and North/South games staying at 3pm.

Here are the full play-off schedules for each division.

Vanarama National League

BT Sport will cover all National division play-off games including the Vanarama National League Promotion Final on Saturday 13 May, kick-off at 3pm.

• Eliminator A (5th v 6th) – Tuesday 2 May - 7.45pm
• Eliminator B – (4th v 7th) – Wednesday 3 May – 7.45pm
• Semi-Final (2nd v Eliminator A Winner) – Sunday 7 May – 12.30pm
• Semi-Final – (3rd v Eliminator B Winner) – Sunday 7 May – 3.30pm
• Promotion Final – Saturday 13 May – 3pm

Vanarama National League North

We are delighted to confirm BT Sport will cover the Vanarama National League North and South Promotion Finals on Sunday 14 May.

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

• Eliminator A (5th v 6th) – Tuesday 2 May - 7.45pm
• Eliminator B – (4th v 7th) – Wednesday 3 May – 7.45pm
• Semi-Final (2nd v Eliminator A Winner) – Sunday 7 May – 12.30pm
• Semi-Final – (3rd v Eliminator B Winner) – Sunday 7 May – 3.30pm
• Promotion Final – Sunday 14 May – 3.30pm

Vanarama National League South

• Eliminator A (5th v 6th) – Tuesday 2 May - 7.45pm
• Eliminator B – (4th v 7th) – Wednesday 3 May – 7.45pm
• Semi-Final (2nd v Eliminator A Winner) – Sunday 7 May – 12.30pm
• Semi-Final – (3rd v Eliminator B Winner) – Sunday 7 May – 3.30pm
• Promotion Final – Sunday 14 May – 12.30pm

---

5 April 2023

ALTRINCHAM REACH CSC FINAL

After the disappointment of losing their FA Trophy semi-final in such dramatic and controversial circumstances some 72 hours earlier, Alty made nine changes for their Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final on Tuesday night, though only first-team squad members were deployed, unlike in earlier rounds. One, loanee Sonny Aljofree from Manchester United, made his debut.

James Jones, who was named captain, and Miles Welch-Hayes, who was one of six loanees in the starting eleven, were the only survivors from Saturday's starting eleven.

It was Jones who put his side ahead at Runcorn, with a half-volley from a Pringle corner in the fifteenth minute. A well-struck Regan Linney goal doubled the lead after 34 minutes.

A second goal from Linney made it 3-0 (84 mins) before Aaron Bennett's superb lob from just inside the opposition half completed the scoring (89 mins).

In the final, Alty will face either Congleton Town or Crewe Alexandra who do not meet until 18 April, just a week before the expected date of the Final.

Match report here.

NEXT: OLDHAM ATHLETIC

Altrincham travel to Boundary Park on Good Friday for the club's first competitive match at that stadium against Oldham Athletic following the relegation of The Latics last season.

The sides met last October at the J. Davidson Stadium, with Altrincham winning one-nil, thanks to a Chris Conn-Clarke goal.

Right: When Alty beat Oldham in October, Ryan Colclough completed the game as the wearer of the captain's armband.

As they go into Friday's match, Altrincham lie thirteenth, two places and five points ahead of their Greater Manchester neighbours.

ALTY OLD BOYS

MARCUS DINANGA has hit a rich vein of goalscoring form at Gateshead where he netted twice on Tuesday night and had a third disallowed as Gateshead thrashed Yeovil Town 4-0 to leave the bottom four five points and more adrift of safety

And Phil Jordan informs us that on the same night Warrington Town, already a goal up, benefited from hosts Radcliffe having JUDE OYIBO sent off in the 88th minute, and scored twice in added time to clinch a 0-3 victory.

JOSH AMIS scored the third goal. With only four games left, Town sit in third spot and look a good bet for a playoff spot. TONY THOMPSON, TOM HANNIGAN, and ANDY WHITE were all in tonight's starting XI, while SEAN WILLIAMS was a 74th minute substitute; 13 minutes earlier JOE PIGGOTT had come on for the hosts.

TUESDAY RESULT

Tuesday 4 April 2023

• Gateshead 4-0 Yeovil Town

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

On Monday night Barnet, defeated in last Saturday's FA Trophy semi-final by Gateshead, also lost ground in their play-off push by losing 1-0 at York.

Barnet report that they "fell to a second defeat in three days, at the hands of York City at The LNER Community Stadium.

Dean Brennan named six changes from the team that lost on penalties to Gateshead on Saturday.

It was a slow start for The Bees. York dominated the first half with John-Lewis and Forde having many chances...

York did find the opener on the 40th minute mark through Forde...

Kabamba and Diarra made way for Kanu and Moyo at the break as Kabamba suffered a groin injury...

Barnet didn’t challenge their goal and the game finished 1-0.

It was a day to forget for The Bees who played their fourth away game in eight days".

It was a bad night on Tuesday for Yeovil Town and the unofficial Gloverscast reports that "In what was absolutely a must-win game against relegation rivals, Yeovil Town were hammered 4-0 by Gateshead..

DINANGA broke the offside trap and lashed it in from the angle off the underside of the bar and past Smith...

Eight minutes later and it was 2-0... [a] header of DINANGA. 2-0...

The mood in the away end turned. What had been relatively supportive and noisy, fell angry and muted...

'Que sera, sera, whatever will be will be, we’re going to Bath City,' sang the away support...

The players were sent out early for the second half...

But a third goal was not far away... Connor PANI simply looked up from 25 yards out and hit a thunderous effort past Smith.

That was enough for the away end to turn on the manager...

Probably the biggest insult was that Gateshead, a relegation rival (albeit in decent form), genuinely took the mick out of us as the game dragged on...

The final (of many insults) came with 86 minutes gone. BAILEY, on as a substitute a minute earlier, poked home a fourth goal.

If I have seen a worse performance from a Yeovil Town side than this, I can’t recall it. Devoid of everything. Effort. Talent. Confidence. A bleak night".

---

4 April 2023

BEFORE: CSC SEMI-FINAL

Ironically given last Saturday's FA Trophy shoot-out disappointment, it was actually a penalty shoot out against Vauxhall Motors that allowed Alty to progress to tonight's CSC semi-final at Runcorn Linnets.

Earlier, Alty has beaten Sandbach United (4-0) and had a walkover against Stockport County.

Right: Robbie Lawton was the last Alty captain to raise the Cheshire Senior Cup trophy after his side had defeated Nantwich Town 3-0 at Witton Albion's ground in 2009. On that occasion Phil Parkinson was in the Dabbers' team.

Despite being drawn at home to Vauxhall, Alty's tie with the Motormen was shifted to Ellesmere Port, so whatever the outcome tonight, Altrincham will go through their entire participation in the competition this season without having played at home.

The Linnets have beaten Chester FC, Winsford United and Macclesfield FC to reach tonight's round.

Whilst opponents Runcorn FC Linnets have yet to win the Cheshire Senior Cup, Altrincham can claim seven previous successes in the competition.

ALTY WITNESSING ANOTHER DOUBLE CENTURY

As the Vanarama National League heads to being completed for the first time in the history of non-League's top-flight with two clubs having reached 100 points or more, (Wrexham already have a century whilst Notts County have ninety-seven), it will actually be the second time this century that Altrincham have been participants in such a campaign.

The previous time that Altrincham were in a division which was completed with its top two teams having amassed a century of points was in Step 6 of the English game in 2000-01 which at that time was the Northern Premier League.

In that 2000-01 season, Altrincham, who had been relegated the previous season from the Conference, finished eighth in the NPL but the champions were Stalybridge Celtic, who earned 102 points, whilst excond-placed Emley amassed 101. The centuries were reached that year from 44 matches.

Just one club went up in 2001 and there were not even any play-offs for the runners-up.

Things are not so good for either of those two clubs these days. Stalybridge Celtic are currently in the relegation places of the NPL which, these days, is actually the seventh level of English football. Emley, for their part, find themselves even lower in the pyramid.

Having relocated their first team to Wakefield, in 2002 they changed their name to Wakefield & Emley and, later, to Wakefield, before disbanding in 2014. In 2006 AFC Emley had been formed back in the village and after a spell in the North West Counties League they moved in 2020-21 to the Northern Counties East League. Following a promotion they are now in that league's Premier Division where they lie third.

The only other club to share with Alty the honour of twice being in a division in which two other teams amassed more than 100 points in a season is Gateshead who, like Alty, were in the NPL in 2000-01 and are today in the National League along with the Robins.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Monday 3 April 2023

• York City 1-0 Barnet

Tuesday 4 April 2023

• Gateshead 4-0 Yeovil Town. (Marcus Dinanga scored the first of the Heed's four goals).

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

The BBC reports that "Scunthorpe United owner David Hilton says the club's first team will train "70 miles away in Ilkeston and close their academy in order to save costs.

The club also plan to limit the use of their Glanford Park home during the week and make some staff redundant.

Hilton took over in January, with the club facing a successive relegation...

'The logistical reasons are a massive reason. The savings to the club are significant'... Hilton added that the facilities at Ilkeston Town, developed during his previous ownership of the Southern League Premier Division Central side, were of a higher standard compared with those used in Scunthorpe.

'I invested heavily into an artificial surface there,' he continued. 'It's probably the best-maintained artificial surface in the country. There's also other fantastic facilities there and logistically they're dead central in the country, they're five minutes off the M1.

'The players have been spoken to. We [currently] have to put up a lot of players in accommodation in Scunthorpe and this will remove a lot of that cost. We will be able to attract a lot more players from many more areas and locations that can still stay at home with their families rather than have to lodge away. It saves the club money and we'll have a bigger pool of players to choose from in the summer'...

Since arriving at the club, Hilton says he has paid out almost £400,000 having settled a number of tax and VAT bills as well as covering the wage bill, which he says is between £150,000 and £170,000 a month...

'To create a sustainable model for the football club, I would have to strip away money from the first-team budget to fund an academy from which I've seen no real evidence that it will benefit us,' he said. 'Keeping hold of the better players in the academy doesn't seem to happen. We lose the majority of them before the age where they can participate in first-team football. In 10 years we haven't had any players that we've had a sell on clause for, which in my eyes doesn't show a great deal of success'".

According to the Maidenhead Advertiser, "Assistant boss Ryan Peters believes Maidenhead United should take... encouragement from the strength of their performance in Saturday's goalless draw with Chesterfield.

United more than matched their promotion chasing visitors... [and] one point keeps them on track for survival, with United now 10 points clear of the drop zone...

The Spirerites dominated the early stages of this clash, and had the Magpies pinned inside their own half for much of the first half an hour. But slowly, United's players got to grips with their visitors ...

Peters said... 'We’ve had some good chances against a very good side, and compared to last week against Dorking, it’s a much better team performance... Everyone is putting their body on the line,' said Peters."

---

3 April 2023

GOING FORWARD

Saturday's painful defeat to FC Halifax, despite Altrincham being comfortably the better side in "normal" time, must now be put behind the club as they face the concluding games of the season.

Despite losing their top players in the shape of Mooney, Colclough and Mullarkey since last season, having to deploy an army of loanees, eight of whom were in the squad on Saturday, and going into that vital FA Trophy match with striker Regan Linney cup-tied, the Robins have defied the odds to sit comfortably in mid-table of the National League and having so nearly reached a Wembley final.

Next up, on Tuesday, is another semi-final, this time in the Cheshire Senior Cup against Runcorn Linnets (for more on this game, see below).

Just six more league fixtures remain:

1. Fri. 7.4.23 Away Oldham Athletic 3pm
2. Mon. 10.4.23 Home GATESHEAD 3pm
3. Sat. 15.4.23 Away Dorking Wanderers 3pm
4. Tue. 18.4.23 Home DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 7.45pm
5. Sat. 22.4.23 Home TORQUAY UNITED 3pm
6. Sat. 29.4.23 Away Aldershot Town 3pm

VISITOR'S IMPRESSION OF THE MATCH

FC Halifax Town's "Traveller's Tales" by Rob Brown provide an interesting account of a Shaymen supporter's experience at the J. Davidson Stadium.

Right: JAck Senior, the Halifax captain, consoles Maxi Oyedele following the Manchester United loanee's unconverted penalty. Senior had also not scored his penalty in the shoot-out.

We made a beeline to the back row of the family stand, the only place for travelling fans with cover. [There were actually other Halifax fans who managed to locate themselves in the Main Stand]. It’s still segregated by the biggest fence in football, I guess the numerous travelling pensioners have continued to fight with the Altrincham corporate guests since our visit on Boxing Day. Standing on the back row we could see a good 70% of the pitch, anyone sitting down had no chance of a view worthy of the admission price...

The action was mainly at our end, the home side passed the ball well, looked faster and were dominant. They took the lead just on half time and deserved it too.

The second half was more balanced in terms of possession, Alty played deeper and looked to seal the game on the break. Their defence looked decent too...

The scenes at the final whistle will live long in the memory, every round away from home, three wins in shoot outs".

Sadly some of the visiting supporters' behaviour did not reflect well on their club with a blue smoke flare disrupting the game at a crucially late stage, fans shaking the goal nets at the penalty shootout, and others climbing over the perimeter fence onto the playing area, with one individual in particular vigorously resisting stewards as they attempted to man-handle him away from the pitch.

NEXT: RUNCORN LINNETS

After their semi-final disappointment in the FA Trophy on Saturday, tomorrow (Tuesday) a no-doubt much changed Altrincham side goes into another semi-final, this time in the Cheshire Senior Cup, in which they face an away game at Runcorn Linnets.

The Linnets play in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Division One West. The club grew out of the ashes of the Runcorn club which faced Altrincham many a time before their demise.

In 2006, as the club explains "Although technically a 'new' club, Runcorn Linnets were given special dispensation by the FA to be treated as a reformed version of Runcorn AFC. The predecessor club had at that time simply become dormant, choosing not to field a team, as opposed to ceasing to exist as a legal entity, although Runcorn Association Football Club Limited has since been dissolved".

The Linnets have reached the CSC semi-final by beating Macclesfield FC 2-1 in the previous round.

Having just sacked manager Dave Wild over "matters of gross misconduct", the Runcorn club is now managed by former Port Vale and Doncaster Rovers player Billy Paynter who was a coach at the club.

Their squad notably includes former Alty men Sam Heathcote (left) and Ryan Brooke.

Sam joined the Linnets last year from West Didsbury & Chorlton where he was a goalscoring centre-back, netting 37 times in 64 appearances.

Ryan is in his second spell at Runcorn having been at Warrington Rylands in between. He had first signed in 2020.

ALTY OLD BOYS

OSEBI ABADAKI scored the winner for Warrington Rylands in the NPL Premier against Lancaster City.

On-loan Nantwich defender BEN HARRISON (right) scored for Witton Albion in their 5-3 win against Skelmersdale United in the NPL West.

In the same division SEAN MILLER scored the only goal of the game for Widnes against Workington.

The NLPaper has an interview with JONNY MARGETTS, whose Stamford side are on the cusp of promotion from the NPL Midlands division. His two goals yesterday took his tally to thirty this campaign.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

From Tyneside, the Chronicle Live reports that "The Heed came through an emotional rollercoaster of a game to secure a return to Wembley, less than ten years after their last outing

Mike Williamson and his side defeated Barnet on penalties to reach the FA Trophy Final for the first time in the club's history....

It's just the second time in Gateshead's history they've played at Wembley... beaten by Cambridge United in the 2014 play-off final, before almost ceasing to exist four years ago....

Goals from Adam Campbell, Louis Storey and Greg Olley saw the Heed race into a 3-0 lead, pegged back by Barnet's Harry Smith on the brink of half-time... before a second-half of contrasting fortunes saw the Bees make it 3-2 with ten minutes of normal time remaining from the spot through Harry Pritchard, then equalising in the 101st minute of the game.

Penalties beckoned with the Heed having to overcome yet another obstacle. It's been a tough slog of a campaign for the Heed; losing their two leading goalscorers from last season in Cedwyn Scott and Macauley Langstaff to Notts County, injuries woes throughout the entire campaign and five members of the squad are cup-tied, but they keep overcoming the next hurldle.

James Montgomery... was the penalty saving hero in the last round beating Farsley Celtic and repeated his heroics to secure a place in the final...

Manager Mike Williamson [said] 'To be pegged back in the last 30 seconds, to clear the fog and block out the noise and go through on penalties thanks to our excellent goalkeeper! We had chances to go four and five [nil up at the break] and I was delighted with that'".

Much less happy news comes from Somerset, where Gloverscast reported that "Yeovil Town suffered a damaging defeat at the hands of Southend United... and find themselves in huge trouble in the relegation battle...

It couldn’t have gone much worse. A devastating injury to Alex Fisher will inevitably see him out of action for a long time...

Miguel Freckleton picked up a red card, albeit a harsh one... It feels like a damaging defeat mentally as much as anything. Social media is sapped of belief, Huish Park was sapped of belief and rebuilding that belief will not be easy...

How we miss Matt Worthington... The energy Worthy gives us in midfield is irreplaceable...

We never looked like scoring, whereas Southend had two chances and took them both...

I don’t know how we get out of this.... It feels an impossibility that we come away with anything from Gateshead, Aldershot or Dorking... We’re facing the abyss. Conspicuous by their absences yesterday were the players we’ve signed to get us out of this predicament, it’s clear they are either unfit or not good enough. When the time came to make signings that could help us, we’ve got it absolutely wrong'".

The first relegation place was determined yesterday as Kent Online tells us that "George Elokobi says it's time for reflection after Maidstone's relegation from the National League was confirmed.

The Stones are down with five games to play following a 4-0 home defeat by Boreham Wood...

He felt he could keep them up but has been unable to halt the slump, picking up just three points from 14 games and failing to register a league win.

They’re the first team in the top five divisions of English football to be relegated this season, a year on from celebrating promotion as National South champions.

Elokobi said... 'I know exactly those factors that caused us to be relegated... We haven’t been good enough this season and we have to make sure in the next five games we try and give a good account of ourselves'...

Elokobi’s positivity seemed to be paying off as performances improved after taking the reins in January.

Maidstone beat Notts County on penalties in the FA Trophy in his first game and produced a stirring display in a 3-2 defeat by Wrexham the following week.

There seemed genuine optimism he would turn things around but the results haven’t followed...

'I still know I can turn things around even though we’ve been relegated.... It’s not just injuries. There’s different factors. It’s the recruitment. We have to look at everything'" he concluded.

Whilst Maidstone head out of the Vanarama National League, another Kent side confirmed its promotion back to that level as Ebbsfleet United won 1-0 on Saturday at Taunton Town. They are 21 points clear of second-placed DArtford and cannot now be caught in the National League South.

Aldershot Town "confirm that Ross McNeilly has been relieved of his temporary duties as First-Team Manager and will return to his former role of Academy Manager....

Tommy Widdrington will take charge of the First Team from our return to training tomorrow morning.

Widdrington recently resigned from his Managerial role at King's Lynn Town, leaving them second in the Vanarama National League North...

In his non-playing career, he spent five years as Manager of Eastbourne Borough and before joining Kings Lynn in December 2021, had a number of roles at Bristol Rovers during a three-year spell.

Club Chairman Shahid Azeem said... 'With just six games left, we felt we needed to make a change and, when notified of Tommy’s resignation, wanted to act quickly to secure the man that we believe can help us with the final push towards mathematical safety.'”

King's Lynn Town earlier reported that they were "disappointed to have been told by our manager Tommy Widdrington that he is resigning in order to take up an alternative post at another club.

Tommy is under contract with us, and the club in question have not contacted us to seek to reach an agreement and nor has Tommy sought to reach an agreement that would allow us to waive the contractual position.

We would not stand in the way of a manager (or player) who wished to progress to a higher level and has the opportunity to do so, but such matters need to be dealt with professionally and legally. We very much hope a swift resolution will be reached, as an alternative to a legal process".

---

2 April 2023

"BUCKET LOADS OF LUCK" SAYS FAX BOSS

Following their dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Altrincham in Saturday, the Shaymen's boss, Chris Millington, a former Alty coach, admitted "We could have been two or three down... Yes, we've had bucket loads of luck" he told Andy March of the NL Paper.

In contrast Alty assistant boss Neil Sorvel said, "That's the cruellest of the cruel. I thought we'd done it.

"We were far the better team and the fans were fantastic, they backed us all the way".

ALTY BLOW IT

If ever a match exemplified how defeat can be snatched from the jaws of victory, this was it.

In normal time Altrincham should have comfortably won this match; 3-0 would not have been an unfair outcome. But wastefulness in front of goal left Alty leading by just a single goal before Halifax levelled in the fifth added minute with a pot shot which somehow beat Ollie Byrne.

The Robins then led the penalty shoot-out 2-0 before three missed spot kicks left them desolate as their Wembley dreams evaporated.

Alty's only goal came in the 45th minute when the hardworking Jordan Hulme netted after a well-struck shot by Lundstram came back to the Alty captain to convert. Chances were created but not taken with Hugill and Oyedele the most notable in faiing to to convert them.

Alty players rush to congratulate Jordan Hulme on his goal.

Halifax fans disrupted the dying embers of added time by hurling a blue smoke flare onto the pitch which caused a delay. Moments later Alli's speculative shot from outside the box somehow found its way into the net to force a shoot-out.

Osborne and Hugill put Alty 2-0 up in the shoot-out only for Eddy Jones, Oyedele and Sinclair all fail to convert their efforts and hand the Shaymen a 3-2 win from the spot.

Match report here.

AFTER THE MATCH

After the defeat on Saturday, press and media officer Brian Flynn spoke to Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson and the interview can be seen via Alty TV .

HALIFAX VIEW

FC Halifax Town report that "Halifax Town are going to Wembley following a- 1-1 draw and a 3-2 penalty win over Altrincham...

As we got to 45 minutes, the home side took the lead. Good play down the right, the ball worked into the box and a fantastic block fell to Josh Lundstrum, his shot came in and Hulme nicked the ball past Johnson for the opening goal of the game.

Above: Elliot Osborne, who only came on as a substitute at the very end of the match, before the shoot-out, netted the first spot-kick in front of the massed ranks of the Halifax supporters.

The home side nearly doubled their lead just before the hour mark. The ball found Welch-Hayes, touch and his shot was saved by Johnson...

Altrincham nearly doubled the lead... later, Hulme did well to keep the ball, Hugill released Oyedele and he raced towards goal and his shot was wide of the target.

Another effort for the home side saw the ball come to James Jones at the edge of the box but it was easy for Johnson as Altrincham patiently looked for the chance to find that elusive second goal...

Oyedele then had the goal in his sights and fired a shot which had Johnson scrambling but wide of the target, then a corner into the box was headed goalwards by Ferguson but saved by Johnson...

Another superb save by Johnson kept the Shaymen in the tie as Altrincham cut the Town defence apart with Joe Hugill past Jamie Stott but denied by the legs by the Town goalkeeper...

Hugill got to the edge of the box and his shot was over the bar when he had better options with just over five minutes to play...

Town found their equaliser deep in injury through Milli Alli into the bottom corner past Byrne to force a penalty shoot-out".

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan reports on Saturday's activity...

CONNOR HAMPSON'S Oakleigh Cannons lost their unbeaten record this morning as visitors South Melbourne scored the only goal of the game to stay second in the league behind unbeaten leaders Avondale FC. Cannons stay third but are now 5 points adrift.

In League 1, HARRISON HOLGATE was booked as Fleetwood drew 2-2 at home to Exeter. JUNIOR QUITIRNA was an unused substitute.

In League 2, the injured TOBY MULLARKEY missed Rochdale's 0-1 win at AFC Wimbledon.

Having trailed from the 4th minute at home to Swindon Town, Hartlepool United made a remarkable late comeback, CONNOR JENNINGS equalising in the 88th minute before they won the game in the 94th minute.

ALISTAIR SMITH (right) gave Sutton United the lead at Walsall, but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Having been booked earlier, OWEN DALE scored the only goal in Portsmouth's home victory over Forest Green Rovers.

In the National League, both RYAN COLCLOUGH and JEFF KING were booked in Chesterfield's goalless draw at Maidenhead.

Another to see yellow was REAGAN OGLE in Scunthorpe United's 0-1 home defeat by Torquay United.

Scottish Premiership : JOSH GINNELLY was substituted for Hearts after 80 minutes at Kilmarnock as his team's early lead evaporated and they lost 2-1.

NEXT LEAGUE MATCH: OLDHAM ATHLETIC

Altrincham are next in action on Good Friday when they travel to Boundary Park for a local derby against an improving Oldham Athletic.

Like Altrincham Oldham will be seeking to erase memories of their last match as the Daily Post tells us that "Wrexham AFC returned to the top of the National League table as they dispatched Oldham Athletic with ease at the Racecourse..

The hosts dominated the visitors from start to finish and although the Latics grabbed a consolation just before half time there was only ever going to be one winner...Apart from a few tentative forays forward Oldham struggled to get into the game. It was no real surprise... when a Paul Mullin free kick struck the crossbar and Eoghan O'Connell was first on the scene to head the ball home to make it 1-0.

It was soon 2-0 to the hosts as an Elliot Lee free-kick found the head of Mullin and the Liverpudlian frontman made no mistake from close rang.. The home crowd were stunned into silence on the stroke of half time however as Liam Hogan nodded home a free kick to halve the deficit at the break...

Despite that setback... in the 50th minute Elliot Lee whipped in a tremendous right-footed strike into the top corner... The fourth goal predictably followed in the 70th minute as Mullin got his second of the game...

There was insult to add to the injury for the Latics in the closing stages as former Reds striker Mike Fondop received his marching orders for an elbow on Eoghan O'Connell and the visitors saw out the game with ten men. A few moments later Paul Mullin completed his hat trick with a brilliant 20 yeard strike to make it 5-1."

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1 April 2023

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday 1 April

Isuzu FA Trophy Semi-Finals

• Altrincham 1-1 FC Halifax Town (Halifax won 3-2 on pens)
• Gateshead 3-3 Barnet (Gateshead won 4-1 on pens)

Vanarama National League

• Bromley 4-0 Solihull Moors
• Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 Dorking Wanderers
• Maidenhead United 0-0 Chesterfield
• Maidstone United 0-4 Boreham Wood
• Scunthorpe United 0-1 Torquay United
• Wealdstone P-P Aldershot Town
• Wrexham 5-1 Oldham Athletic
• Yeovil Town 0-2 Southend United

TODAY'S MATCH: FC HALIFAX TOWN

Altrincham made five changes last time out against Notts County when five loanees were included in the squad. So it will be a surprise if more changes are not made today in the FA Trophy. However, with the likes of Regan Linney cup-tied, manager Phil Parkinson will not have free reign to select his best side.

But it will be a surprise if the likes of Jordan Hulme (right) and, assuming he is back from Poland's UEFA Under-19 Championship games, Maxi Oyedele are not amongst those restored to the squad which faced Notts County last Tuesday.

The referee for today's Isuzu FA Trophy semi-final is the experienced David Rock, who does not appear to have officiated at an Altrincham game for nearly seven and half years. On both of the occasions that he oversaw Alty matches, they were fixtures in the south-east of England at Histon and Bromley.

On both occasions Altrincham recorded clear away wins, beating Histon 5-0 in a Skrill North match in Cambridgeshire on 26 April 2014. In November 2015, with Alty lying nineteenth and Bromley sixth in the Vanarama National, Alty won 3-1 in front of a lunchtime television audience as Mr Rock officiated.

Since 2019/20 he has been on the EFL referees' roster and his last assignment was last Sunday at Forest Green Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday.

From the opposition FC Halifax Town report that they face Alty for third time this season "after a draw and a defeat so far this season in the league.

Town have had to get to the semi-final the hard way with away trips all the way to the semi-finals. Town have beaten Guiseley, had to go through two penalty shoot outs at Harrow Borough and Maidenhead United, then a 2-0 victory over Aldershot Town in the quarter-final.

The FA Trophy has been welcome distraction from the league which has seen just three away victories this season in 20 games at Scunthorpe, Solihull and Oldham.

Altrincham sit 13th in the table and at home they have won 10, drawn 3 and lost 7 in the league".

The winners will face either Gateshead or Barnet at Wembley.

Alty TV has Brian Flynn's pre-match interview with Neil Sorvel. Neil also discusses the match last Tuesday against Notts County.

THROUGH THE YEARS

The Through the Years files created by Howard Watts and Mike Garnett provide details of all Altrincham games played on today's date Through the Years.

ALTY OLD BOYS

Phil Jordan reports that Waterford do not appear to have missed the suspended CHRIS CONN-CLARKE on Friday evening. By the time BARRY BAGGLEY was substituted in the 75th minute they were already 5-0 up against visitors Finn Harps, and went on to win 7-1.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS

Notts County who were at Altrincham last Tuesday "are devastated to report the loss of our much-loved chief executive, Jason Turner.

Jason, who passed away suddenly last night aged 50, was appointed in 2016 and devoted himself to the club thereafter.

He was an outstanding CEO who was respected across football having also worked for Bath City, Newport County, Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City....

The club will be closed until Monday at the earliest. There will be no further comment at this time".

The Derbyshire Times reports that "Armando Dobra has been ruled out of Chesterfield’s game at Maidenhead United on Saturday.

The 21-year-old came on as a substitute against Halifax last weekend and scored but had to come off soon after with a slight hamstring strain. The Albania under-21 international has since had a scan...

Assistant manager Danny Webb said... 'He has got a slight strain of his hamstring. I think that will be at least a week or two, sadly...

'The worst is he will be back for the play-offs but, hopefully, [it will be] just a week or two'.

Dobra, only just back from a hamstring injury, is the Spireites’ top goalscorer this season with 11 goals.

Webb continued... 'If he had played on it might have been a bit worse'".

According to ITV "Gateshead FC will face Barnet in the FA Trophy semi-final at the Gateshead International Stadium which would see them play at the national stadium for only the second time in their history.

Goalkeeper James Montgomery was the hero in the quarter-finals as he saved two penalties in a shootout to help his side progress past Farsley Celtic...

When asked what it would mean to play on the hallowed turf of Wembley, he said: "Everything. Absolutely everything'.

The Heed Army have only marched on Wembley Way once before but it ended in heartbreak as they lost the 2014 Conference Premier play-off final...

Assistant manager Ian Watson said... 'We're one game off Wembley. It's 90 minutes, it's a straight shootout. We always say we want the community to be proud of the club and I think occasions like this do that'...

The club will be without player-manager Mike Williamson, who suffered an injury in training earlier in the week.

'He'll lead us however, whether that's on the pitch or off the pitch,' Watson said. 'He's an unbelievable manager that we're lucky to have at the football club. His presence will be enough to see us to the end of the season@".

At the other end of th financial spectrum in the National League from fan-owned Gateshead, Wrexham's "Annual Report and Financial Statements for the 12 months to June 30, 2022 (‘the period’) have been submitted to Companies House.

Turnover for the period was £5.972m, an increase of 404% from £1.478m.

Of the £5.972m turnover, Matchday income accounted for £2.650m, Retail income £1.303m and Sponsorship / Advertising £1.053m.

Football costs in the period were £3.940m, an increase of 294% from £1.340m

The loss for the period was £2.914m.

The R.R. McReynolds Company LLC, introduced £3.670m of loan funding which included the funds to purchase the freehold of the Racecourse Ground and subscribed for equity in the sum of £1.200m".

The Real EFL adds that "Wrexham have spent more than double on agents fees than anyone else in the National League in newly released data by The FA...

This season Wrexham have spent a whopping £163,737 on intermediaries this year more than doubling the amount spent by the club second in the list Oldham Athletic who only spent £80,747.

Interestingly title rivals Notts County only spent £68,379...

Wrexham’s huge figure actually puts them above all but Stockport County in League Two, and approximately mid-table in League One".

Altrincham do not appear in the FA listing, implying that they did not spend anything on agents' fees.

We learn from the York Press that "York City manager Michael Morton has admitted that the ownership row between Glen Henderson and the Supporters' Trust is 'not ideal'.

The Trust released a statement revealing that the prospected takeover had collapsed, and that Henderson had allegedly refused to pay the staff and the players of the club.

Morton revealed that Henderson had held a meeting with the players... to offer them reassurances on their future.

'It’s obviously not ideal', admitted Morton... 'Everybody has been paid... We’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve got to do...

'The main objective is staying in this league, and then hopefully we’ll get clarity on what that looks like at the top in the next week or so...

'I want to try and stay at York and I want to try and support York in anyway I can, obviously being a York lad... The role right now is managing the team until the end of the year and keeping them in this league.'"

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