Altrincham F.C. Youth Team
Altrincham's Youth side are managed by George Heslop and play in the Bolton and District Amateur Football Combination (North West Youth Alliance Under-18s' Premier Division).ALTRINCHAM YOUTH (1) 1 RYLANDS FC YOUTH (0) 1
Bolton and District Amateur Football Combination (North West Youth Alliance Under-18s' Premier Division) league match, Sunday 18 February, 2001, kick-off at 2pm at Wythenshawe Town FC
Altrincham fielded the same side which defeated Lancaster City on 28 January. Alty were defending their 100% record this season whilst Rylands lay second to them in the league.
Right: From left to right, Youth captain Steve Howe with André Lewis, Danny Wright and Danny Leahey are pictured before last Sunday's game with Rylands.
ALTRINCHAM YOUTH TEAM
Altrincham maintained their unbeaten run but lost their 100% record this season when a strong Rylands side came back in the second half to notch a deserved draw. Former Robins' Youth player, Martin Snagg, featured for the visitors from Warrington at number eight. For Altrincham it was the outstanding pace of Mario Daniel which was the main feature of the first half as he repeatedly got behind the Rylands team's defence.
Altrincham enjoyed the better of the opening stages, with a shot from the former Barnsley FC youngster, Adam Schofield, being their best early effort (10 mins). Indeed, it was not until a quarter of an hour had past that Rylands got in their first real shot at Newbrook. Rylands lost their number six with a head injury shortly afterwards and the substitute (no.15) went on to have a fine game. Altrincham's number six, Danny Leahey had an impressive match and he it was who presented Daniel with a chance on goal from a cross from the right but Mario lifted the ball over the bar (20 mins).
A minute later, a ball over the defence set Mario racing at goal and he won a corner off the Rylands' keeper. However, Rylands had their own chances and their number nine missed badly in the 23rd minute when he was presented with a free shot. Daniel lost his cool midway through the half and was fortunate not to be booked after two fouls and some resulting silliness in the space of a minute (23 mins). Rylands won a corner when Martin Snagg fed the number 15 but the call came to Newbrook in the end from the flag-kick.
Two corners in quick succession followed for Rylands before Mario Daniel yet again raced at the Rylands keeper (29 mins). Two minutes later the visitors' keeper again stopped the free-running Daniel. Then, following a throw on the left, a pass from the impressive Tilley was put into the net by Daniel, but the referee had already blown his whistle and the goal did not stand (32 mins).
A fine ball forward from Levi Kennedy set Daniel against the Rylands' keeper once more and this time, the Altrincham man got round the keeper but with the goal at his mercy he was unable to turn the ball into the net from an acute angle to the left, though he himself ended in a heap inside the net (37 mins).
However, Rylands were far from lying down and their number seven had a clear shot at Newbrook, which the Alty keeper saved very well, diving to his right (39 mins). Another Daniel shot won another corner for Altrincham, at least their fifth of the half. Although this came to nothing, Danny Leahey soon strode through the middle and got the ball forward to Daniel. Mario's first shot was blocked by the keeper but he slotted the rebound into the empty net to give Alty the lead (42 mins). A nice turn by Schofield almost gave Claffey another goal before the whistle went for half time.
The second half was a bit of a disappointment as Rylands stifled the threat of Daniel and Schofield and frequently won the midfield battles. Altrincham's passing was frequently awry and their set-piece kicking was disappointing, though they started the half well. Howe moved up the left from the back and fed Schofield but his clear shot at goal went disappointingly wide (47 mins). A corner was soon also won but Rylands equalised shortly afterwards, following an error by Howe, who dwelt too long on the ball and was dispossessed, some 20 yards from goal.
Rylands's number ten went on to score, giving Newbrook no chance to save (55 mins). The equaliser unsettled the home team and their passing became ragged as Rylands went on to have the better of the rest of the game. Otis Thomas came on for Schofield (72 mins) and soon after this a fine run by Lewis won a corner. Tilley's flag-kick led to a fine header by Claffey which was cleared off the Rylands' line (75 mins).
The Rylands number 15 then got through the Alty defence but poked his shot wide (79 mins). Crowther was then replaced by Lee McDonald (80 mins) whilst Rylands's number 9 gave way to number 14 with six minutes to go. Otis Thomas sidefooted a shot at the Rylands's keeper (87 mins) and McDonald showed some good touches, including a fine run up the left wing but the winner never really looked like coming. Wright replaced Tilley for the last minute before Otis Thomas headed wide with the last chance of the game. Although they lost their 100% record, Altrincham remain clear at the top of the table. For the table and more on the Youth Team, click here.