ALTRINCHAM FC MATCH REPORTS
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ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (0) 2
CHORLEY FC YOUTH (1) 1
played at Manchester Health Academy, Wythenshawe
on Sunday, 12 November 2017, at 2.30pm
LINE-UP:
ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Matt LOIZOU, 2. Will HALL, 3. James O'HARA, 4. Elliot COLEMAN, 5. Harry SHERIDAN (c), 6. Ollie OKUNOWU, 7. Calvin BOYD, 8. Curtis MILLER, 9. Dylan SCANLAN, 10. Bailey RICHARDSON, 11. Reiss HUGHES. Subs: 12. Craig BARNETT, 14. Shaun WALKER, 15. Kane HUSSAIN 16. Scott MILNER, 17. Fergus GROGAN
REPORT
After a minute's silence for Remembrance Day, the inaugural game at Altrincham Youth's new home venue kicked off in sunshine but accompanied by a cold breeze. With the Metrolink trams at Moor Lane station providing the backdrop to the new 4G pitch, Alty almost took a fifth-minute lead when the Chorley keeper did well to keep out Scanlan's downward header from an excellent O'Hara cross.
Chorley responded as Loizou had to push a long-range shot from Chorley's no.11 round the post for a corner (7 mins). The fairly even start continued as each side gained a corner and, then, from a freekick Chorley's no.10 found the side-netting (19 mins).
After Richardson had battled well, Boyd lifted a chance over the bar and soon afterwards, from a Hall cross, Scanlan headed wide for Altrincham (22 mins).
Next, from a fine cross by Hughes, a Scanlan shot was deflected over the bar for a corner. Chorley then made a triple change and they were to use the rolling substitute facility at very regular intervals during the 90 minutes. A good run by Coleman now ended with his shot going narrowly wide, as Alty now dominated (28 mins). Soon afterwards, Alty spurned a good chance when Hall's excellent cross was sidefooted over the bar by Miller (29 mins).
But Chorley then took the lead, decidedly against the run of play. Coleman was dispossessed on the front edge of his own box, centrally, and the visitors' no.7 executed an impressive lob, which dropped behind Loizou into the net (36 mins). The goal lifted the Magpies and they went on to win three corners before the interval.
| Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 0 CHORLEY FC YOUTH 1 |
A lively start to the half featured Curtis Miller, who saw his shot saved, before Scanlan was fed the ball up the middle. He drew the keeper and then rolled the ball into the unguarded net to make it 1-1 (56 mins). With Grogan now on for Richardson, the visitors made another of their many changes of personnel.
On 61 minutes Altrincham took a deserved lead as Coleman more than made amends for the Chorley goal by cleverly beating a defender inside the box before shooting home to make it 2-1 (61 mins).
With several players slipping over on this 4G pitch, Alty now introduced no.16 for Miller (64 mins) and, soon after, Hussain replaced Hughes (68 mins). A stoppage for a shoulder injury to Okunowu was followed by Coleman feeding Scanlan, whose effort flew narrowly wide (75 mins).
Although Altrincham were on top and keeper Loizou remained a virtual spectator, they could not kill the game off. A fine cross from Hall was headed wide before substitute Grogan won a corner, when his long-range shot was tipped over the bar (81 mins).
But, in the closing stages, Chorley did get forward and a Magpies' shot just cleared the Alty bar (82 mins). At the other end, after Coleman had won a corner, he had an effort cleared off the line. As the final whistle approached, a foul by Hall earned him a booking (87 mins).
In added time, the visitors pressed forward again and Hall had to clear off the line (90+1 mins) but Altrincham held on for a well deserved win.
| Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 2 CHORLEY FC YOUTH 1 |