Altrincham F.C. Youth Team: Match Report.

ALTRINCHAM YOUTH (2) 3 LEEK TOWN YOUTH (1) 2

Match report: FA Youth Cup 1st Preliminary Round, 29 August 2001.

Team Line-Ups

The Match

In a match played at Moss Lane before almost a hundred spectators, Altrincham Youth secured a Second Qualifying Round tie in the FA Youth Cup last night with a deserved but well-earned victory over Leek Town Youth, who contributed fully to an entertaining game.

A half of the Alty Youth side were new faces brought in after many of last year's double-winning side had become over-age for under-18s competitions such as this. Manager George Heslop was also without two strikers from last season, Mario Daniel and Wes Wilkinson, both of whom are suspended. Alty played Drew and Robinson at right and left-back, with Phythian and Marley at centre-back. In midfield, Esdaile and Tilley were in the centre with Thompson on the left and Coverley to the right. Up front, Lee Shillito, who had been doubtful with a leg injury, was passed fit to play alongside Richard Smith.

Altrincham started well with Lee Thompson and Paul Tilley looking lively but from an early chance Thompson's shot went over the bar (5 mins). The home side opened the scoring after only seven minutes when Tilley converted a pass from the right from Smith to score from close range. Altrincham looked the better side in these early stages but Leek threatened to equalise five minutes later when Naggington played in Cooper.

However, Alty's Manchester F.A. keeper goalkeeper, Broxson, came out and saved well with his feet. A twice-taken free-kick for Leek just outside the Alty box threatened the home net once more (18 mins) but Altrincham soon responded with a low shot from Lee Shillito which the Leek keeper saved (20 mins).

Leek were now more than matching Altrincham and it was slightly against the run of play when the home side went further ahead after the referee played a good advantage. Shillito had collected and relayed the ball well some 25 yards from goal when he was fouled but play continued forward and with Tilley and Smith almost getting in each other's way, it was the latter who drove the ball into the net from close range past Duggan (32 mins).

Cooper was evident in some good moves for the visitors and it was fitting that he was the man who scored for Leek after 41 minutes, heading into the net from close range after a corner from the right had produced a scramble on the line. Cooper then shot wide shortly afterwards (44 mins) as Altrincham's good start to the game had dissolved.

Leek gained two early free-kicks in the second half as they continued to press for an equaliser. However, Thompson and Smith soon combined for the striker to get in a shot for Altrincham. Better was to come when Smith's ball from the left was deflected by a defender into the path of Lee Shillito who finished well to restore Altrincham's two-goal lead.

Although Broxson had to do well to tip over a fine shot from Cooper, Altrincham now began to look fairly comfortable, with Robinson and Drew both able to get forward on the flanks from time to time and the midfield unit looking more effective. Leek made two changes but Coverley in particular was impressing in midfield for the Robins.

It was surprising therefore when Leek pulled back a goal after 71 minutes when a move up their right ended with Naggington converting from close range. Stephen Lunt came on for Shillito with 15 minutes to go and he soon got on the end of a good ball from Drew but Morton tackled him well in the box. Coverley then had to leave the fray after treatment and was replaced by Ian Taylor (83 mins). Leek, too, made another change but Altrincham applied further pressure with Drew's long range shot causing Duggan some difficulty in gathering the ball.

George Heslop and his team will have been pleased to get past this hurdle with a side which had not played together in a competitive game before tonight. George, Neil Thomason and Gary Thompson appear to have got together a very promising squad for the coming season, to build on the skills of those players remaining from last year, such as Mark Drew, Paul Robinson, Domain Esdaile, Paul Tilley and Lee Shillito, who had good games last night.

The league season starts on 9 September and the next FA Youth Cup match is to be played before 23 September at home to Scottish side, Gretna. The league fixtures are here.