NEWS ARCHIVE
October, 2021
31 October, 2021
WOKING 3-1 ALTRINCHAM
Altrincham's much-weakened side lost 3-2 at Kingfield as, for the third time in a week, they surrendered a lead.Match report here.
RESERVES BACK TO WINNING WAYS
After a run of defeats in October, Altrincham Reserves got back to winning ways with a 3-2 home win over FC St Helens in their Cheshire League fixture.Alty now lie 12th in the eighteen-strong Premier Division.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Two ex-Alty players scored as Alfreton Town trounced Bradford PA and their ex-Alty men, 5-1. They were Yusifu Ceesay and Conor Branson.Joe Piggott scored for The Coasters as they beat Altrincham's FA Cup opponents, Gateshead.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo tells us that "Southend United head coach Kevin Maher stayed tight-lipped when quizzed about Aaron Jackson’s refereeing performance against Boreham Wood.
Jackson sent off both Ogogo and Maher himself during a frustrating 1-0 defeat for the Shrimpers...
Said Maher, 'Abs’ red card was harsh to say the least and I think he was too quick to get the card out'...
'Overall it’s disappointing not to come away with something but I can’t fault the players at all. We had a good week with them and everything we wanted from them they gave us...
'We know we’ve got enough in the dressing room to compete but it’s disappointing to not come away with what I felt we deserved.'”
Devon Live informs us that "In front of the Hollywood owners, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans scored in the 84th minute to seal a 1-1 draw for the Gulls
A spirited second-half performance by Torquay United won a point at Wrexham this afternoon to deny the Welsh club's Hollywood owners three points in their first game at the Racecourse Ground.
All the focus was on Ryan Reynolds and Rob McIlhenney before the game and Wrexham took an early lead with Torquay struggling to get going in the first half.
But a much better second 45 from the Gulls saw them draw level with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans finishing off the best move of the match in the 84th minute.
Unsurprisingly, after the 2-0 win against King's Lynn Town, it was an unchanged team that started this game, with last week's goalscoring debutant Sinclair Armstrong again leading the line up front.
On the bench however there was a new name, experienced 33 year-old winger Byron Moore, the former Plymouth Argyle man, whose arrival was announced late on Friday night. Tom Lapslie was also among the substitutes after a month out through injury.
Not in the team for Wrexham was their key man up front Paul Mullin after a case of mistaken identity saw him escape a sending off in the week, with teammate Bryce Hossanah being shown the red card instead. The FA rectified that in the week and Mullin was starting a three-match ban instead of Hossanah.
Following an ankle ligament injury, former Torquay captain Luke Young was also back on the bench for them.
Torquay 'got at' Wrexham straight away and Lemonheigh-Evans put a chance wide inside the first minute. But Harry Lennon put the home side 1-0 ahead in the fourth minute when the Gulls failed to clear a throw-in and the centre back turned the ball home...
Dan Holman was replaced by Alex Addai in the 72nd minute and the shape changed to 4-4-2...
With 10 minutes to go the game was opening up and Torquay were far more dangerous in the final third than they had been all game, but still the final ball was missing.
However, in the 84th minute, a lovely build-up involving Armstrong, Lapslie and Chiori Johnson created the chance for Lemonheigh-Evans, who got on the end of Johnson's cross to make it 1-1 with a lovely header.
Torquay defended well after that... A point felt like a fair result and Torquay saw the game out, using up as much time as they legally could, with Lemonheigh-Evans unable to run after the knock to his knee".
In the Derbyshire Times, "James Rowe said he was ‘full of pride’ as injury-hit Chesterfield came from two goals down to secure a valuable point at Dagenham and Redbridge.
With several players already in the physio room, things got worse when Laurence Maguire was stretchered off in the opening minutes with a calf problem.
It looked like being a long afternoon when the hosts scored twice in ten minutes through Angelo Balanta and George Saunders and threatened to go further ahead.
But two quick-fire goals on 50 and 52 minutes from Jamie Grimes and Kabongo Tshimanga levelled the score.
With the momentum with the Blues, Grimes was shown a second yellow and the ten men had to settle for a draw which leaves them third and just one point behind leaders Boreham Wood.
'I am just full of pride today,' Rowe said. 'We have come so far as a club in the last 11 months. We are reacting well to the adversity and seven points from the week means I am a very happy man...
'Our team talk at half-time was about how we had nothing to lose, that it has been a fantastic season so far and not to let ourselves down. Probably midway through the first-half it could have been three or four really, they were right on us.
'We lost our way after Laurence Maguire got injured because Alex Whittle had to move left-sided centre-back and he has never played there before. If you have got your club captain out, your captain out and your vice-captain out, (it is going to take its toll)...
Rowe said that the second yellow card for Grimes with six minutes remaining was ‘farcical’ and highlighted the ‘complete inconsistency’ in the decision...
'It was our third game in a week and there was not a lot left in the legs. Manny Oyeleke and Jim Kellermann should not be playing three games in a week but they have to...
'Before this game we had nine out injured, ten now with Laurence, and Kellermann and Oyeleke playing their third game in a week after those injuries, what team in the world would survive that? To get seven points from the week might be the best in the league in that seven-day period.'”
The Grimsby Telegraph tells us that Grimsby Town "couldn't find a breakthrough at Blundell Park but it was a much-improved performance as they lost 1-0
Grimsby Town suffered their first home defeat of the season as a late goal from Ruben Rodrigues snatched a 1-0 victory for Notts County.
Despite dominating for large portions of the encounter, the Mariners couldn't find a breakthrough, surrendering their 100 per cent record at Blundell Park. It was a much-improved display from Paul Hurst's side, though, after losing 1-0 to Wealdstone in midweek.
They came closest through Lenell John-Lewis, who hit the crossbar in the first-half, in what was a game of fine margins and few clear-cut chances.
Disaster struck in stoppage time as Rodrigues turned the ball home from close range after McKeown had denied Matty Palmer.
Alex Hunt and Harry Clifton returned to the XI, with Will Bapaga making way alongside McAtee as Hurst shifted to a 4-3-3 system...
It was chalk and cheese from Tuesday's display against Wealdstone, especially off the ball, with Town aggressive and tenacious in the tackle, not allowing the opposition any time on the ball".
30 October, 2021
WOKING 3-2 ALTRINCHAM
Having faced Solihull Moors on Tuesday without twelve first-teamers, Altrincham faced Woking today without thirteen of their first-team squad! In fact if you included the long-term injured midfielder Connor Kirby, the total was fourteeen.After Woking had had the better of a pretty scrappy opening to the game, a smart turn and feed by Hancock set up Peers for an excellent finish to give Alty the lead against the run of play (19 mins).
But for the third time in a week, Altrincham failed to hold a lead...
Match report here.
SATURDAY FIXTURES
Saturday 30 October 2021- Barnet v Aldershot Town k.o. 5.20pm
- Boreham Wood 1-0 Southend United
- Bromley 0-0 FC Halifax Town
- Dagenham & Redbridge 2-2 Chesterfield
- Dover Athletic 2-5 Stockport County
- Eastleigh 1-0 Maidenhead United
- Grimsby Town 0-1 Notts County
- Solihull Moors 0-0 Yeovil Town
- Weymouth 1-0 King's Lynn Town
- Woking 3-2 Altrincham
- Wrexham 1-1 Torquay United
NEXT OPPONENTS: WOKING'S NEW FACE
As they arrive at Kingfield, Altrincham are looking to end a run of one win in five National League games, whilst the hosts have lost their last four matches. However, only one of those defeats was at home and that was against league leaders Grimsby Town.Woking are the only team not have played a drawn game this season and before their recent blip, they had a trio of successive wins against good teams in Chesterfield, Notts County and Dagenham & Redbridge.
Alty were without twelve players on Tuesday night, their pre-existing injury list being expanded by the need for a number of other players who had not been double-jabbed to isolate after a member of the club's staff contracted the virus.
The isolation protocols will again limit the selection options this Saturday but Alty will be hoping that perhaps one or two of the injured players may be fit for consideration if they are also double-jabbed.
On the eve of their meeting with Altrincham, Woking have announced "the loan signing of Louie Annesley.
The centre-back, who can also play as holding midfielder, joins the Cards from Blackburn Rovers, on a deal until December 4th 2021.
Louie, 21, has 23 caps for Gibraltar and has faced the likes of Erling Haaland and Norway, and Louis van Gaal's Netherlands. He has spent time in the Chelsea and Wimbledon academies before eventually joining Blackburn Rovers in 2019.
The new number 16 will be available for selection for our match against Altrincham".
WE'VE MET BEFORE: WOKING
Alty's visit to Woking last season was, of course, behind closed doors, when an added-time equaloser from Josh Hancock secured a 1-1 draw.
Above: Michael Rankine greets his team-mates at Woking in August 2015.
So the last time spectators witnessed this fixture between two traditional non-League rivals, was on Saturday, 15 August, 2015, when Altrincham lost 2-0, their third successive defeat, a sequence they will not want to repeat today.
Back in 2015, Alty fell behind in the 32nd minute. Former Histon man, Dan Holman, just signed on loan from Colchester, forced a save from Coburn. But the ball ran loose and Sole netted from close range.
The Cards settled the outcome with a second goal, after 75 minutes. He was allowed to twist and turn on the edge of the box before slotting a low shot into the corner of the net, to Coburn's left.
The result sent Altrincham to the foot of the table, as they headed towards relegation at the end of that season.
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 3. Adam GRIFFIN, 4. Jake MOULT, 6. Scott LEATHER, 16. Tom MARSHALL, 7. James LAWRIE, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. Michael RANKINE, 18. George BOWERMAN, 20. Jordan SINNOTT, Subs: 15. Anthony GRIFFITH, 17. Tim DEASY, 14. Josh O'KEEFE, 10. Damian REEVES, 11. Nicky CLEE.
Based on Mike Garnett's data, the historical record between Alty and Woking shows The Cards outscoring the Robins with almost the double number of goals scored.
- At Altrincham: P13-W5-D3-L5-F15-A19
- Away: P13-W3-D2-L8-F9-A27
- All games: P26-W8-D5-L13-F24-A46
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Manchester Evening News reports that "Stockport County are without a permanent boss at present following the sacking of Simon Rusk...
The Hatters... have a trip to Dover Athletic... aiming to return to winning ways... [Last weekend] County confirmed they had parted company with Rusk and assistant Mark McGhee, with First Team Coach Dave Conlon to take charge in the meantime.
And the Hatters interim boss will be assisted by former County defenders Michael Raynes and [ex-Alty man] James Jennings during his tenure, who have both come in on a temporary basis...
Raynes began his career at County... Jennings called time on his playing career this summer after knee surgery".
Aldershot Town "announce that MK Dons Goalkeeper Laurie Walker has signed for the club on loan!
The experienced shot-stopper started out his career at his current League One side, before spells with Cambridge United and Morecambe FC.
The 32 year-old previously moved on to an extended spell within Non-League football in England at all three levels of National League South, North and Premier with the likes of Kettering Town, Brackley Town, Leamington FC, Oxford City and Hemel Hempstead Town.
Walker was then given his opportunity to return to league football with MK Dons once again, before loan spells with Hampton & Richmond Borough and Chelmsford City followed.
Walker’s most recent loan move came with League Two side Oldham Athletic... but now joins us here... in a bid to fight for the starting position in goal.
The 6’5″ keeper comes in to provide competition to his namesake Mitch Walker".
MK Dons add that "Walker has made two appearances for MK Dons this season, while he also appeared three times for Oldham Athletic".
We learn from the Grimsby Telegraph that "The Mariners have made two offers for new strikers this week but neither will be coming to Blundell Park... before the weekend's match against Notts County, which is a sell-out crowd...
With John McAtee a major injury doubt and Ryan Taylor still unavailable, Hurst offered an update on his search to bolster Town's forward line...
With the Football League's transfer window firmly shut, clubs in the EFL are reluctant to allow players out on loan. Even those on the fringes can be difficult to recruit, with managers wary of a potential injury crisis heading into the busy winter months.
That saw one bid for a striker rebuffed, whilst the other didn't fit the character profile for Town after Hurst continued to research the player in question... 'I wasn't happy with some of the information I got back. I decided against that one'...
'Right now, we don't really (have more irons in the fire). That isn't through a lack of trying, I've exhausted every avenue I want to look at. Someone else might go on loan elsewhere but as I've said before, that is probably because I'm not interested in that player...
'We are light, there is no getting away from that. I won't bring someone in, even if it's short-term, that I don't think is right for us... One [we sought] was Championship, one was League One,' he added...
After Saturday, Town aren't in National League action for a fortnight, with the FA Cup taking centre stage next weekend. By that time, Ryan Taylor will be back and providing nothing worrying comes back with McAtee's scan, he should be available too.
Plus, there is Joel Grant. The forward is back in training with the first-team squad and could play a part against Kidderminster Harriers".
According to the Dorset Echo, "Weymouth are looking to extend a four-game unbeaten streak as they host old adversaries King’s Lynn Town...
Both the Terras and the Linnets have recorded two promotions since the 2017/18 season, King’s Lynn beating Weymouth in a play-off semi-final, but find themselves in a National League full of big-spending teams.
The duo were found in the bottom half of the table last season and going into tomorrow’s clash 19th-placed Weymouth are four points and one place above the Norfolk side.
On a four-game unbeaten streak in normal time, penalties aside, Weymouth... manager Brian Stock is confident...
'It’s important going into a free week the following week that if we do get those three points it will stand us in good stead.
'It will give us a chance to analyse the squad, evaluate one or two that might need a rest and one or two that might need a bit more work. We’re working behind the scenes to get a fixture on so we’re not too far without a game'...
Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Aldershot Town 'was what the squad needed,' Stock said. 'They’ve been there or thereabouts throughout the whole of the season. I don’t think we’ve put in a poor performance with maybe the exception of the first half against Bromley and maybe Boreham Wood'...
Ben Morgan and Xander McBurnie (both Achilles) are the Terras’ sole injury doubts, with Sean Shields expected to return".
29 October, 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: WOKING
field on Saturday to face Woking, who lost 2-0 in midweek at Yeovil. Both sides go into the match after a poor run of league results; one win in five for Alty and four successive defeats for The Cards.
Woking report that "Woking travelled down to Yeovil’s Huish Park stadium in Somerset with the hope of arresting their recent run of defeats, but were undone by a resolute display from the home side who scored goals early in each half to seal the win...
The Cards were forced to shuffle their line-up from the last-minute 3-2 defeat at Maidenhead in front of the BT Sport cameras on Saturday evening. They were without the suspended Joe McNerney and Kyran Lofthouse dropped to the bench; into the starting line-up came Tommy Block and Tyreke Johnson...
A long ball down the left was crossed by Knowles into the area where it was expertly volleyed home by Charlie Wakefield to give the home side the lead with less than five minutes on the clock...
The second period began much as the first had with an early goal for the Glovers. A cross from the right by Wakefield eluded the Woking defence and found Tom Knowles at the far post to double their lead just two minutes into the half...
The first changes were then made by Dowse with Tommy Block and Solomon Nwabuokei being replaced by Kyran Lofthouse and Tarryn Allarakhia...
Woking then made their final change with Kane Thompson-Sommers coming on for Max Kretzschmar...
Several free kicks were then awarded to the Cards but the Yeovil defence, expertly marshalled by skipper Josh Staunton, utilised the ‘None shall pass’ phrase as the blank night for Woking came to its conclusion...
For Woking it was a fourth successive defeat in a game where they rarely threatened to score. They will need to play much better than this and with home games coming up against Altrincham on Saturday and Bromley on Tuesday they have chances to improve their fortunes.
Woking: 13 Craig Ross, 3 Josh Casey ©, 4 Tom Champion, 6 Moussa Diarra, 8 Solomon Nwabuokei (Tarryn Allarakhia 61’), 9 Inih Effiong, 10 Max Kretzschmar (Kane Thompson-Sommers 74’), 19 Tahvon Campbell, 21 Tommy Block (Kyran Lofthouse 61’), 24 Rohan Ince. Unused subs: 1 Mark Smith, 7 Jamar Loza
Man of the Match: Tommy Block played well before being replaced but Moussa Diarra used all his height and experience to prevent further goal chances and gained my vote".
ALTY "GAVE EVERYTHING"
After Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Solihull Moors, when the Robins had to play without twelve of their squad through injuries and Covid protocols, manager Phil Parkinson told the Sale & Altrincham Messenger...
“I thought the lads were fantastic. We asked them to give everything, and they certainly did that. We had to throw the two new lads straight in, but it was a great debut by both of them that just showed the quality we’ve brought in.
"We had reserve team lads on the bench which meant we didn’t have the depth we needed for changing the game late on, and we were up against a Solihull team with riches beyond our wildest dreams.
“But the fact is, their keeper was the defining factor and the main reason they have left here with the points. His saves decided the outcome and stopped us getting what we deserved...
“Josh Hancock (left) was top class, and I thought he and Tom Peers (right) gave us a real platform. Tom was outstanding, and if he keeps playing like that, he will start every week".
ALTY WOMEN BOW OUT OF FA CUP
Altrincham FC Women have bowed out of the Women's FA Cup in the Third Quaifying Round, losing 0-7 to Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies at the J. Davidson Stadium.Marks Simpson's match report is on the Altrincham FC website.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo News reports that "Southend United are still assessing Simeon Akinola’s knee injury.
The Shrimpers' striker, who has missed the last three games, will again be absent for Saturday’s trip to Boreham Wood...
'Sim has picked up an injury and we’re going to get it properly assessed,' said Blues' head coach Kevin Maher...
Akinola scored twice in 24 games last season before being frozen out by former Blues boss Phil Brown.
The 29-year-old earned a surprise recall against Eastleigh at the start of October but picked up an injury."
In the Leader Live "Wrexham's co-owner has described his first experience of Wrexham as 'beautiful'.
After...Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney visited the town for the first time, they were able to walk on the pitch during a tour of The Racecourse and chatted to staff and fans.
Posting on Instagram, Rob said... 'The emotion of the moment had just overwhelmed me. This whole experience has been beautiful'".
At Torquay United, "Having established himself in The Gulls’ starting line-up recently, Klaidi Lolos is looking to build on his recent performances by helping secure another positive result at Wrexham on Saturday...
Lolos played a key role... as Gary Johnson’s side rode out impressive winners against King’s Lynn...
'I’ve been in decent form, especially the last couple of games, I also think it’s down to our teammates as well...
'In general, I think we stuck to the plan well on Saturday, and we needed to get a result... because, obviously, we had a run of games that didn’t go our way'...
One of the many positive aspects from Saturday’s victory was the promise shown by Torquay’s new-look forward combination, and Lolos was pleased to see new colleague Sinclair Armstrong get off the mark on his debut...
'Obviously he joined in last week, and we already knew what he was about and heard a few things already. We complimented each other well I thought on Saturday'...
The passion that the former Plymouth Argyle frontman displays when celebrating a goal, whether it’s his own, or a teammate's, has already gone a long way to endearing him to the Yellow Army...
'I’ve come here to win'" he concluded.
28 October, 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: WOKING
After a traumatic midweek in which they faced Solihull Moors with twelve players out injured or in Covid induced isolation, Altrincham travel to Woking on Saturday for a National League fixture. The Robins are looking to end a run of one win in five National League games.
On Tuesday, Woking also lost 2-0, in their case at Yeovil Town who report that they "returned to winning ways as the Tom Knowles and Charlie Wakefield show secured victory against Woking...
It took just six minutes for Town to take the lead, with Knowles finding Wakefield at the back post to open the scoring. Returning the favour, Wakefield found Knowles just minutes into the second half who turned the ball home, building a comfortable lead for the hosts.
Despite both sides being blotted with late goals in recent weeks, neither were able to find one in the closing stages as Yeovil held firm, securing a first victory in six league games...
With a two-goal advantage, Yeovil marshalled the game extremely well throughout the second half, limiting the visitors to very little possession in dangerous areas, and creating openings themselves...
In the final moments, Woking should’ve made it a nervy as Innih Effiong burst beyond the Yeovil defence for the first time all evening, forcing Smith into his only save of the night."
ALTY WERE "FORCED TO PLAY"
Press and Media Officer Brian Flynn interviewed manager Phil Parkinson after the match against Solihull Moors on Tuesday night. On the Altrincham FC website he told Brian "We've had a massive hindrance being forced to play this game".
LAST TUESDAY'S MATCH
Altrincham FC state, via press and media officer, John Edwards, that the "Club would like to apologise to all parties for the entry of a spectator to the field of play during Tuesday night's Vanarama National League game against Solihull Moors.Furthermore, we have requested that Greater Manchester Police bring charges against the individual concomitant with the seriousness of the offence.
Altrincham FC will always adopt a zero tolerance policy for pitch intrusions of this type and will not only issue a lifetime ban to any offender without exception but always seek to press charges.
In the statement, the Board stated "We advised the National League on Monday of our situation and did not expect the game to go ahead, given the scale of our injury and COVID-related problems and number of players affected.
The response from the League was unequivocal – the game had to be played and the onus was on us to take the necessary steps to field a full side from players on our books and through loans.
On Tuesday, we asked for clarification on the rules covering postponements ahead of the game, and we noted that there were four postponements in the National League North for COVID that same night we were forced to play.
To reiterate, our intention was for last night’s game not to go ahead, for valid and obvious reasons, even if it did mean putting Saturday’s game at Woking at risk, but the League did not support our stance".
Bentley, who made 107 appearances for the Shrimpers as a player, is now back at the club as first team coach...
Said Bentley, 'We know we’ve got a big project but with the support we will give to Kev (Maher) we want to turn this club around and bring back some glory days...
'Looking in at the last few years it has been sad to see'...
Bentley won back to back promotions while with Blues between 2004 and 2006 but has missed being involved in full-time football since retiring. Bentley combined managing Canvey Island, who currently top the Isthmian North table, with a role in Stevenage’s education development programme...
'My passion is full-time football and that’s what I worked hard for as a player', said Bentley. 'Since coming out of it it’s been tough to be honest with you... but my life has gone full circle now really.
'I worked my way up as a player and now it’s gone that way again with coaching. I dropped down to Canvey and it was a great learning curve for me as a manager.
'But now I’ve got the opportunity to step up again into the National League with Southend and I’m really happy to be here'///
Bentley will work closely alongside assistant coach Darren Currie and head coach Kevin Maher, who he played alongside while with Blues....
'We’ve been in a few days now and it’s been positive,' said Bentley. 'It’s a good group of boys but they’re fragile at the moment and you can sense what’s been happening... There will be opportunities for lads who might not have been in the squad...
'It was always going to be difficult at Dagenham...' said Bentley. 'It’s a project and people need to be patient... but it might take some time. Hopefully we get that time and we will need backing from everyone...
'We need to identify who we want in terms of the playing squad we’ve got now,' said Bentley."
Due to a number of injuries at his parent club, the midfielder now returns to Cambridge with immediate effect".
The Shaymen took the lead on the 12th minute when Matty Warburton delivered a text book corner into the box which Kieran Green headed past Elliot Justham in the Dag & Red net...
Warburton said... 'It was a tough out there today, up there with the toughest we’ve had because Dagenham are a very, very good side who move the ball around well...
'I practise shooting, yeah! But corners we will do every now and then,' he admitted. 'I don’t look to pick anyone out, but more put it into a decent area and when you have lads like Kieran Green who are willing to break their neck to get in there, then you have every chance of scoring...
'No one comes here and gets an easy ride. You can see that with how much the fans are growing in numbers and noise each week...#
'It’s probably the first time in a couple of years that I have enjoyed my football. Coming here with the belief that the Gaffer and Chris Millington have put in me to play every week has boosted me as a person'".
Paul Hurst's men look to maintain their 100% record in front of a capacity home crowd this weekend following a disappointing result at Wealdstone".
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were given their first taste of non-league football since their takeover of Wrexham earlier this year.
The two stars turned up at York Road to see their team in action, but were left devastated as the Welsh side were beaten 3-2.
Deadpool star Reynolds shared pictures from the game to his 39 million Instagram followers, writing 'Football is a beautiful, heartbreaking, soul-deadening, evil and gorgeous game and I’m never sleeping again.'
The two took ownership of the club in February and have made a £2 million investment...
Wrexham fan Andy Gilpin told the PA news agency... 'We saw them in the stand. Obviously that gave everyone a big boost – they’re there, you can see them, they were waving to the fans...
'Showing up at Maidenhead away which isn’t the sort of Hollywood entrance really... and to see two Hollywood stars there in the middle of the home stand, we were just gobsmacked you know.'"
And the Daily Post added that "Wrexham AFC's celebrity owners were in high spirits as they witnessed a thrilling night of National League action at Maidenhead's York Road Ground but the match did not have the Hollywood ending they might have been hoping for...
The club they took over last February suffered another setback in their quest for promotion as Phil Parkinson's side slipped to a 3-2 defeat.
The Dragons got off to a disastrous start with Maidenhead racing into a two-goal lead with Ferdinand and Mingi firing the hosts ahead before Wrexham's Bryce Hosannah received a red card.
With the situation looking desperate for Phil Parkinson's side, that man Paul Mullin, so often Wrexham's saviour this season, pulled a goal back...
In the 58th minute Jordan Davies struck home brilliantly to put the Reds back on level terms.
Wrexham then went in search of a winning goal but were caught out in the 75th minute when Josh Kelly cut inside onto his right foot and tucked it away to put the hosts back in front.
The ten men of Wrexham huffed and puffed and desperately tried to get something from the game...
They [the owners] will almost certainly be attending Saturday's home clash with Torquay United".
Sean (29) has not been named in a matchday squad for Alty this season and has recently been playing on loan at Warrington Town.
Right: Sean, playing for Alty at Spennymoor in 2018.
Sean rejoined Altrincham on 21 May 2018, having first signed for the club, from Colwyn Bay, in May 2014...
Prior to rejoining Alty, he had had another spell with the Bay, and had also played for FC Halifax Town where he was part of their promotion squad from Conference North. Earlier, he also spent time with Stockport County, Vauxhall Motors, Hyde and Skelmersdale United.
Sean was surprisingly released by Altrincham at the end of the 2014-15 season and he joined Hednesford Town for 2015-16.
By the start of 2016-17 season he had moved on to AFC Telford United but, in mid-November 2016, he signed for Warrington Town where he became an important figure in their reaching the promotion play-offs in 2017-18. That summer he joined Altrincham and was impressing in the Alty midfield when his season was interrupted by injury in late October 2018.
But after returning to fitness he reclaimed his starting place and continued as a first-choice central midfielder at the start of 2019-20 before an ankle injury sidelined him in January 2020.
Sean was injured at Eastleigh in the third game of 2020-21 and was sidelined into 2021. He had made just ten starts by the end of the 2020-21 campaign.
Having not been named in any of the first four matchday squads of 2021-22, it was announced that Sean had gone on loan to former club Warrington Town and he made his second debut for them on 25 September 2021.
Away from Alty Sean works as coach with Liverpool FC and the Jamie Carragher coaching school.
In total, Sean made 89(+29) appearances and scored once for Altrincham.
We would like to thank Simon and Mark for their hard work, integrity, and dedication to the club during their tenure, including last season’s 18-game unbeaten run.
In the interim, First Team Coach Dave Conlon will take the helm, with the support of the wider coaching staff.
No further comment will be made until a new appointment has been made".
But through the first half, against the odds, the makeshift home side far outshone a Solihull side which, apart from two early long range pots over the bar, created nothing and were very much second best before the break.
Alty took a 15th minute lead...
Match report here.
Only double-jabbed players who had tested negative for Covid, and were not injured, were able to play against the Moors.
Alty were without eight players (Hampson, White, Thompson, Digie, Leitch-Smith, Dinanga, Mooney, Jackson) who had all also missed last Saturday's game, as well as four more (Mullarkey, Whitehead, Colclough, Kosylo), who had been in the squad at Eastleigh who were now either injured or sidelined for other reasons.
Into the squad came Tom Walker and Barry Baggley, on loan respectively from Stockport County (and ex-Harrogate Town) and Fleetwood Town. A third emergency signing, defender Kwame Osigwe (ex-Bolton Wanderers) was on the bench where Alty reserve Sean Higgins also made his first-team squad debut.
Two of those players started...
Known as Barry Baggley, Barry Thomas Crowe joined Alty on loan from Fleetwood Town and made his debut the same day against Solihull Moors on 26 October 2021 and scored his side's goal that day. (Alty fans of a certain age will remember another Barry Crowe who featured for Alty nearly 20 years ago).
Barry Baggley had been with Northern Ireland club Glentoran before joining Fleetwood in 2018/19 and had made five appearances for the Lancashire coastal club before his arrival at Moss Lane. He was Fleetwood's youngest ever player in an EFL match.
Barry has represented Northern Ireland at under-17 level.
He made his first team debut for Bolton Wanderers in 2015 before moving on loan to Bury in 2016, prior to being released by the Trotters in summer 2017. After a spell at Stockport in National League North in 2017-18 he moved on to FC United of Manchester and then Salford City.
He was loaned to Stockport, now in the National League in 2019-20, before joining AFC Fylde and then Harrogate Town (2020-21). Harrogate loaned him to Notts County and then Stockport County whom he rejoined in July before his arrival on loan at Altrincham.
There were two other players making their Alty debuts on the substitutes' bench. They were...
Full-back Sean joined Altrincham FC Reserves in summer 2021 after being released by Oldham Athletic, a club he had joined after being with Wigan Athletic. In December 2020 he went on loan from Oldham to Stalybridge Celtic but did not play for the first team at Bower Fold.
After joining Altrincham, he was sent out on loan to Trafford FC in the NPL Division One West.
Kwame is a centre-back who was with Bolton Wanderers until summer 2020.
And top of the table Grimsby Town also met defeat, at Wealdstone, another club towards the wrong end of the table.
Southend Council councillors voted almost unanimously in favour of the development at Fossetts Farm on Monday. Almost 1,500 homes will also be built on the site, in the north of the town that has been granted city status.
Club owner Ron Martin said the new stadium 'would fulfil Southend United's ambitions for the next 100 years'.
The 27-hectare (67-acre) site around Fossetts Farm, which includes Southend United's current training grounds, is mostly undeveloped green belt land. The new stadium will include a 107 bed hotel and at two corners, will have high-rise residential blocks of 182 homes.
A fan plaza with cafes and bars is also planned and 30% of the 1,461 homes proposed on the wider Fossetts Farm site are allocated to be affordable.
The club's current home at Roots Hall will be redeveloped into 502 new homes for rent once it has relocated.
Local resident Peter Walker opposed the plans... 'The club has absolutely no need for a stadium any larger than Roots Hall,' he said. 'It has been many years since Southend United regularly drew crowds in excess of 5,000'...
The decision on the club's stadium will next go to the government for approval".
Capped three times by his country in games against Ghana, South Korea and Scotland, the 29 year old has experience playing top-flight football across Europe.
Trafford has represented IFK Mariehamn, Turun Palloseura and later Kuopion Palloseura... in Finland. He has also played in the Ekstraklasa (Poland) for Korona Kielce and Sandecja Nowy Sącz before a brief return to Scandanavia with Finnish outfit Rovaniemen Palloseura.
In 2017 he came to the UK signing a three-year deal with Inverness and featured just short of 100 times... before a season with Hamilton in the Premier League...
'I like to be a holding midfielder and as soon as the gaffer called me saying this is a position that they’ve been looking at bringing in, you don’t turn it down...
'I’ve played all around the world in different cultures, different people from all over and have that ability to get into the group quickly and help as a leader and be a team guy'" he said.
Manager Phil Parkinson said, "The deal gives us a chance to take an extended look at him, and to see if he can force his way into the team in the coming weeks and months."
Scouting and feedback indicate he is an exciting winger who we hope lights up the Walks with some dazzling displays...
Jayden’s arrival is timely with the current injury list at the club. We can confirm that both Junior Morias and Daniel Bowry are close to returning to action. Pierce Bird continues his recovery but is still a few weeks away.
There is still no news on when we can expect Cameron King to be back in action. The club wishes to confirm that they look forward to Cameron’s return. However the club ask that fans and media respect Cameron’s privacy at this time".
In fact, following a home defeat to Weymouth, six of the ten subsequent games have also been against lowly opposition. Those six matches include four wins; a home win over Southend United and three away victories at Aldershot Town, King's Lynn Town and, in the FA Cup, Hereford. In addition there have been two away draws at Wealdstone and Dover Athletic.
Whilst there have been impressive wins for the Moors over Torquay United, Boreham Wood and FC Halifax Town, those three standout victories have all been at home.
So, whilst the Moors went above Alty on Saturday and now occupy seventh place, their game at Altrincham is against the highest placed hosts that they have faced this season, apart from Dagenham & Redbridge.
The largest attendance in 2021/22 season so far for a league match involving Altrincham has been 2,882 for the Tuesday night home match versus Grimsby Town. The lowest has been 1,013 for Wealdstone v Altrincham.
Gaffer Mark Bower... had this to say, 'We are excited to get Simon [right] in, with the injuries we have had in the centre of the park, we knew we had to act. Getting someone of Simon’s calibre in, with his experience and know how is a massive signing for us.'"
Simon was amongst several other ex-Robins last night as BPA beat Blyth Spartans. Luca Havern scored the first goal in a 2-1 win with Nicky Clee and Dylan Mottley-Henry also in the starting eleven for the Yorkshire club.
The Mariners are looking for a fifth-consecutive National League victory against opposition that has only won two matches this term.
After completing 90 minutes against Yeovil Town on Saturday, Paul Hurst revealed... 'There are a couple of lads we need to check on... John McAtee and Harry Clifton, in particular. We need to check on those but, hopefully, it isn't anything that will keep them out of the game tomorrow...
'It's more fatigue, we think (McAtee's injury). We always want the players to report anything'...
Ryan Taylor missed Saturday's match with Yeovil Town and won't feature in either match this week after testing positive for COVID-19.
After searching for another striker in the transfer market earlier this month, Hurst insisted the club remain open to further additions, without it being a priority".
The Dragons beat minnows Marine AFC at Nantwich last Tuesday evening in an FA Cup replay and followed that up with an impressive away victory over Barnet on Saturday...
Dragons boss Phil Parkinson remains keen to play down the significance of the recent tactical switch from five at the back to four; the Reds have looked a far more cohesive unit since the change.
After the Barnet game, Parkinson said 'It's still early days, we've changed it around a bit but its important to remember we played with three centre backs at Aldershot (in the abandoned game) and we should have been 5-0 up at half time so it's all about the players on the pitch at the end of the day.
'Having said that we've scored five goals in two games since the change so we're obviously very pleased about that.'
On the Maidenhead game Parkinson said... 'We'll give Maidenhead the same respect we gave Barnet, we'll think long and hard about team selection'...
It has been widely reported that the club's owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds will be making their first appearance at the Racecourse this weekend for the Torquay game".
The Cards got themselves in front first before Sam Barratt was able to equalise, and Kelly was able to get the Magpies level again with a wonderful strike in the 75th minute.
In front of the raucous home supporters, Barratt nodded in the game’s winner...
'It was a great win,' said Kelly... 'I think we were on the ropes a little bit. But, as soon as the red card happened, I could see us winning all day...
'As soon as we scored [the equaliser], everyone just lifted us. It got us all going and then we felt confident the third goal was always going to come...
'I feel like we’ve been a bit unlucky here and there, and we weren’t really putting 100% in [our last few games]. But the FA Cup game has been a turning point for us'".
The Shaymen suffered their first defeat in ten games on Saturday, losing 1-0 at Solihull Moors, while Dagenham and Redbridge beat Southend 3-0 at home.
'Points on the road come here and there, points at home are a must, and it's a must that we go and get points at home on Tuesday night', Wild said.
When asked what he is expecting from Dagenham and Redbridge, Wild said 'An athletic, good footballing side who move the ball really well and I'm sure will cause is lots of problems.'"
His first game in charge ended in a 3-0 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge and perfectly underlined the problems Maher and his coaching team have now taken on... As Saturday showed, this is a Southend team which, quite simply, is nowhere near good enough.
The team lack the quality, creativity, pace and athleticism to threaten most teams at this level. And there remains an incredibly soft under-belly too...
Staying up is now the main goal for the remainder of the campaign... Maher and his coaching team, consisting of Darren Currie and Mark Bentley, is a positive appointment...
With so much going wrong, where on earth do you start?
A trip to the treatment room will be among the first things to do... Goalkeeper Steve Arnold and defender Nathan Ralph were both hugely missed at the weekend...
If Arnold remains sidelined then Blues need to a bring in a replacement on loan as Harry Seaden struggled between the sticks on Saturday... Seaden was also let down by those in front of him at Dagenham and defensive reinforcements are drastically needed.
Blues are still crying out for a commanding, no-nonsense centre-back along with an energetic midfielder...
Maher could also have decided upon the immediate future of his on loan players, with Hamzad Kargbo, Benji Kimpioka and Matt Dennis all failing to make the squad against Dagenham...
Stan Collymore, the former Blues striker, has spoken well with supporters during a series of Zoom calls and does seem to have the enthusiasm and the expertise to help the club... Collymore is keen to become head of football operations and does appear to have a lot to offer but the club must come first...
Absolutely everything must go into avoiding yet another relegation, which could ultimately kill the club."
Southend United CEO Tom Lawrence added that "I have started discussions with Stan Collymore with a view to engaging him in a formal capacity. I am very grateful for the assistance Stan provided during the recruitment of the new Coaching Team...
Everyone at the Club wants Stan to continue to support us on the journey we have embarked on... I hope to have concluded negotiations in the next week or two. I’ll provide another update once the deal is done."
"Eastleigh played their game really well but we turned the ball over far too much and put pressure on ourselves.
"We had our chances but they took theirs and deserved to win", he concluded.
The Spitfires had sixteen shots, nine on target, whilst Alty managed seven, of which four were on target.
Speaking to press and media officer Brian Flynn, after the game, Parkinson added that he was "Really disappointed we couldn't come away with a draw". The interview can be viewed on Alty TV.
On Saturday the Moors went above Altrincham thanks to a 1-0 win over FC Halifax Town. They are now seventh in the National League whilst Alty are ninth.
After the game, Solihull Moors reported that the "Moors produced a tremendous defensive display once again as they went on to end FC Halifax Town‘s impressive unbeaten streak in a tight affair at Damson Park.
Callum Maycock‘s first goal for the Moors secured the three points for Neal Ardley‘s side who move into the play-off places with the victory.
Manager Ardley made one change to his starting line-up from the previous league game; a 0-1 win against King‘s Lynn Town.
Tyrone Williams came into the team f0r Adam Rooney, who was amongst the substitutes...
Moors hadn't lost in their last four, while Halifax were on a nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions...
The Moors' defence has been fantastic lately and hasn't conceded in the last four games. The solid defensive form continued in the first half as they Shaymen weren't able to test Ryan Boot in goal...
Neither goalkeeper had much to do before the half-time whistle, and it was goalless...
Moors made a dream start to the second half... In the 52nd minute, Halifax went high up the pitch with their team and lost the ball; Moors recovered the ball and countered quickly. James Ball played a terrific pass up the right flank for Andrew Dallas, who ran after it.
The forward did everything right as he found Maycock in the centre. He finished the chance excellently and gave the home side a lead...
Halifax grew back into the game and pressed for an equaliser" but it ended 1-0.
Solihull Moors: Boot (GK), Williams, Howe, Gudger, Cranston, Barnett, Maycock, Maynard, Sbarra (Donawa 90), Ball (Storer 84), Dallas (Newton 68). Unused subs: Rooney, Osborne.
The Heed's league fixture on Saturday, against Brackley Town, was postponed owing to Covid at the Northamptonshire club.
But on Sunday they lost 4-0 to AFC Fylde Youth at the Manchester Health Academy. That followed two other wins in high-scoring league fixtures.
Last Sunday (17 October) they edged a seven-goal match away to Curzon Ashton with their goals being scored by Hussain (2) Morton and Rodgers-Morris.
Their line-up in Tameside comprised Lucas Aldcroft, Archie Benton, Amaar Hussain, Aidan Kelly, Jayden Matthew, Louis Morrison, Ryan Morton, Harlan Rodgers-Morris, Joel Trevor, Michael Vale and Nathan Wall. The substitues were Angus Bailey,
Joe Holt and Ben Lawson.
A fortnight earlier on 3 October , in another away league match in Tameside, they trounced Hyde United 8-0.
Amaar Hussain again scored a brace, as did Louis Morrison and Watson. The other goals came from Ryan Morton and Jayden Matthew.
The Altrincham squad was goalkeeper Ryan Forde and outfield players James Cook, Liam Evans, Amaar Hussain, Aidan Kelly, Ewan McGeady, Louis Morrison, Ryan Morton, Harlan Rodgers-Morris, Nathan Wall and Danny Watson. The substitutes were Angus Bailey, Dylan Giblin, Ben Lawson, Jayden Matthew and Joel Trevor.
Altrincham's Will Hall played again on Saturday for Ramsbottom United as they ended a run of seven games without a win by beating Newcastle Town 4-0.
There is no doubt which Alty man played in front of the biggest crowd on Saturday and it was none of those on the pitch at Eastleigh. It was James Berry-McNally who came on as substitute for Macclesfield FC in front of 3,221 spectators as the renascent Silkmen beat Padiham 3-0. And it was Berry who netted the third goal in a 3-0 win, with the game into added time.
Three former Altrincham strikers who were also in action on Saturday failed to score; they were Joe Piggott, who played for AFC Fylde, Sefton Gonzales for Clitheroe, and Josh Amis for Warrington Town.
But a defensive "old boy" Joe Bunney was on the mark, as he netted for his Warrington Rylands side when they drew with Glossop North End.
A brace from Sam Ling and a goal from Mohammed Sagaf helped Daggers get back to winning ways at Victoria Road and push them back up to fifth in the National League table.
'I thought we were excellent from start to finish, we controlled the game for the majority of it, we had a spell after the third goal where I thought Southend had a bit of the play for 10-15 minutes, but we stayed strong and limited them,' McMahon said...
'We were well on top and it was about remaining on top for the whole game. I thought the players performance in terms of professionalism was excellent.
'Callum Reynolds was outstanding for us in the middle of the back three, I think that was probably his best performance...
The former Ebbsfleet manager also praised both sets of fans... 'I thought it was an excellent game and a good advert for the division.'”
The hosts struck twice within 14 second-half minutes to win the contest of the two ‘Countys’, despite a penalty converted in the dying stages by substitute Ben Whitfield to halve the deficit.
The Hatters showed three changes from the FA Cup starting line-up against Stamford a week earlier. Liam Hogan, Scott Quigley and John Rooney were recalled, replacing, respectively, the injured Zeki Fryers, who was ruled out through injury, Arjan Raikhy and Whitfield. Newly-arrived Hatter Antoni Sarcevic, whose transfer from Bolton had been announced the previous day, was named among the substitutes alongside Whitfield...
Sarcevic took his County bow a little earlier than he might have expected, entering the fray five minutes ahead of the break, following an injury to Madden...
Notts... went on the attack upon the resumption... Within nine minutes of the re-start the Magpies were ahead, with Wootton atoning for his two earlier missed chances by firing home after being fed by Vincent...
The Magpies had their tail feathers up and, within another eight minutes, they had a second goal after another through-ball from Rodrigues found Vincent who, on his league debut, finished with composed aplomb...
A foul by Rawlinson on Sarcevic, deep into added time, earned the Hatters a penalty, which Whitfield converted for a late consolation".
Altrincham took a sixth minute lead when Jake Moult hooked the ball into the roof of the net following a Kosylo corner...
Match report here
Eastleigh made one change from the side that knocked out Folkstone Invicta of the FA Cup on Tuesday night with Harry Pritchard replacing Josh Hare.
After a succession of early corners, Jake Moult fired the visitors into the lead on four minutes.
It was almost two for Altrincham moments later when Thomas Peers's dangerous ball across the face of goal ran just past the boot of Matthew Kosylo...
The Spitfires thought they had drawn level when Jake Hesketh’s effort from the edge of the box crashed off the underside of the crossbar, but the officials deemed it to have not crossed the line.
Eastleigh’s dominance continued as did their hunt for a goal before half time with Whelan, Ben House and Barnett all going close to finding the net.
An injury to Tom Broadbent on 36 minutes forced Strevens into making an early change, with club captain Danny Hollands coming on in his place.
The change saw Strevens’ side switch from a back five to a back four...
Eastleigh had seven corners during the first half which gave Whelan plenty of practise... He was rewarded six minutes into the second half when his corner from the right found the head of Hollands, who crashed the Spitfires back on level terms...
Whelan put Eastleigh ahead on the hour mark with a spectacular free kick from 25 yards out...
Altrincham sprang back into action in the final 10 minutes of the game, twice going close to finding an equaliser."
On Saturday the Moors went above Altrincham thanks to a win over FC Halifax Town.
There was little to choose between the sides. Town were comfortable for most of the game, yes they lacked a cutting edge when it mattered, but there was plenty to admire about the visitors' display... The result could have been different.
Jack Vale made his first start for Town after his match-winning cameo on Tuesday, starting on the right of Halifax's front four, with Jamie Allen on the left...
Andrew Dallas, a summer transfer target for Pete Wild, had a couple of early half-chances for the hosts, while Matty Warburton had a couple of sighters from outside the box, and there was one from Kian Spence...
Solihull were being nullified effectively by The Shaymen, unable to get their dangermen into the game and on the ball...
On the odd occasion Town did knock it longer, it was trying to play in Waters down the sides of Solihull's less pacey centre-backs, a tactic which almost worked as the hosts' defenders dealt uncomfortably with the probing passes...
The first-half never caught fire though: one shot on target was testament to that...
When the goal came there had been little sign of it, but following a sedate start to the second-half, Maycock was left in acres of space in the box to convert a low cross from the right by Dallas...
But the fact they had yet to have a shot on target was more of a concern at 1-0 down that it had been at 0-0, especially by the 60th minute mark which meant it had been seven hours since Solihull last conceded...
The Shaymen's first effort on goal, was comfortably saved by Ryan Boot after 64 minutes... It was a compliment to The Shaymen that Solihull keeper Boot was booked for time-wasting as the hosts tried to run down the clock...
Solihull: Boot, Williams, Howe, Gudger, Cranston, Maycock, Maynard, Sbarra (Donawa 90), Ball (Storer 84), Barnett, Dallas (Newton 68). Subs not used: Rooney, Obsorne."
Ashley Hemmings put Kidderminster Harriers two-up before Dylan Mottley-Henry scored a consolation for Bradford (Park Avenue) who lost 5-1.
After a goalless first-half, Mo Sagaf opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after getting on the end of a low ball into the box by Dagenham’s captain, Angelo Balanta.
Four minutes later, Sam Ling powered a header home from close range before Ling completed the onslaught by nodding in another two minutes later to wrap up the points.
It was far from the start that club legend Kevin Maher would have wanted after taking over the managerial hot seat in midweek, but he’ll have learnt a lot about the task that faces him as Blues boss following today’s defeat to the Daggers.
Maher’s first task as manager was to make three changes from the side that beat Chertsey Town in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend with John White, Shaun Hobson and Abu Ogogo coming in for Nathan Ralph, Harry Phillips and Will Atkinson...
Kevin Maher’s charges, who were backed by just shy of 1,400 travelling Southend fans, went close...
[3-0 down], Southend were shellshocked as Dagenham continued to send wave after wave of attack towards the Blues goal, going close to adding a fourth... as the Daggers ran out comfortable winners".
Danny Rowe opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 20 minutes after Boreham goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore brought down his former teammate Kabongo Tshimanga.
Tshimanga then doubled the lead just before half-time with a stunning strike from the edge of the box.
Ex-Spireite Will Evans, who was sent off late on for a second yellow card, halved the deficit in the second-half when his long-range effort slipped through Scott Loach’s fingers.
Victory means the Blues remain unbeaten on home soil so far.
'It was a really good performance against a team who had only lost one game and we are building some momentum at home now,' Rowe said. 'It is three wins on the bounce and a great reaction from the disappointing performance against Woking...
'I love driving in my car into the stadium here with that expectation on my shoulders, that is what I thrive on, hopefully I have recruited players of the same ilk and I think you can see that.
'We have got a squad that can play physically, can play technically and open up the pitch and we can counter and run so we can play in different ways...
'We tried to open the passes and lay it into the strikers and both goals came from that'".
The Mariners secured a fourth consecutive victory... to move four points clear at the summit.
A first-half penalty from Lenell John-Lewis and a late strike from John McAtee was [sic] the difference, in what was a hard-fought encounter at Blundell Park.
With Town perhaps not at their fluent best, Hurst conceded he was a little disappointed by their display, though pleased to record another win...
'We got the victory but we weren't as fluent as I would have liked,' Hurst said.
'We had some moments in the game and spells but not as much as I'd have liked. We had to defend a lot of longer balls at times and that perhaps broke the flow of the game...
'Overall, I don't think James McKeown had real saves to make. A little disappointed but that's probably harsh when we've kept the run going and added another clean sheet which we probably deserved.'"
The Spitfires made a meal of winning their FA Cup tie last week. Trailing 0-3 at home to Folkestone Invicta last Saturday, they secured a 3-3 draw before squeezing past the Kent club 3-2 after letting at 2-0 lead slip in the midweek replay. With their opponents reduced to ten men after 54 minutes, Eastleigh nevertheless needed a 115th minute winner in extra time.
Their last league game was a 2-1 away win at Wealdstone, where the Eastleigh side comprised...
As well as regular attendnace at games, Anthony's involvement with the club included his acting as Membership Secretary of TASC, The Altrincham Supporters' Club, and his turning out for the Supporters in their annual football matches against the Altrincham FC Staff.
Our condolences are extended to this family and friends.
Altrincham FC has announced that "Anthony's funeral will take place on Thursday 4th November and his hearse will stop at 2pm outside The J.Davidson Stadium for those Alty fans who knew Anthony to pay their respects".
On Saturday 9 October, they lost a high-scoring Cheshire FA Amateur Cup second round match 5-3 away to Cheadle Heath Nomads Reserves.
The Altrincham line-up comprised goalkeeper Ryan Forde and outfield players, Mackenzie Alan Cookson, Lewis Billingsley,
Millen Brown, Niall Butchart, Sam Corbishley, Rhys Cosquer, Fenton Green, Joe Haggerty, Raheem Mercurius and Logan Taylor.
The substitutes were Dionicio Bohe, Matthew Sumner and Lewis Waller, whilst the scorers were Cookson, Taylor and Sumner.
The following week, on 16 October, Alty Reserves lost in another eventful game, this time of five goals. Away at neighbours
Broadheath Central on Salisbury Road, the hosts won 3-2.
This was a Cheshire League Premier Division match in which Alty started with Lewis Billingsley, Niall Butchart, Sam Corbishley, Rhys Cosquer, Bryan Hamo, Raheem Mercurius, Matthew Sumner, Troy Taylor, Lewis Waller, who scored both goals for Alty, and Tyrese Ndienguila.
On the bench were Scott Johnston, Ali Khral and Logan Taylor.
Antoni captained Bolton to promotion from League Two last season in his first year at the University of Bolton Stadium, scoring eight times in 35 appearances from midfield.
It was his second successive promotion from League Two, having finished in 3rd place with Plymouth Argyle in 2019-20, and the fourth time in his career he has earned promotion from the fourth tier.
The 29 year-old began his career at Woodley Sports, where he played alongside County captain Liam Hogan, before going on to have spells at Crewe, Chester and Fleetwood Town...
After a brief spell at Shrewsbury Town Antoni moved down south to Plymouth Argyle, where he soon became a fan favourite...
Antoni moved back up north to join recently relegated Bolton Wanderers, where he was immediately named as the club’s new Captain... He quickly became a key part of the Bolton midfield as Ian Evatt’s side recovered from a slow start to the campaign... to clinch promotion...
He has made a further 14 appearances in League One so far this season, scoring three times, but now makes the move to Edgeley Park...
Director of Football Simon Wilson said... 'This shows our supporters again that everyone at the football club is relentless in our ambition to together take this club forward, and will not stop.'”
The former Shrimpers striker had been hoping to be appointed the club’s head of football operations.
But Collymore has now updated the situation and revealed the club and himself are ‘a distance apart.’
Collymore said 'From day one in this process, CEO and coaching team procured on the back of my input, it's been important for me to have clarity in any role I have as clarity is what makes any job work.
'So a "Head of Football Operations" title plus a clear remit to have roles and responsibilities nailed down to the letter benefits Southend United in what they can be guaranteed to get and me knowing what my roles are. The club and I are a distance apart on roles and responsibilities and are a distance apart on renumeration for those roles...
'I want to protect the club at all costs... We'll revisit the situation early next week to see if we can agree a deal,' said the 50-year-old...
'If we can't, we can't, that's just life and certainly nothing to be sad or negative about, a new excellent CEO and three excellent coaches at the club I hope would be added to the 1992/3 survival as proof that I'm always here to help.'”
Former Weymouth boss Mark Molesley has tempted Yates to National League counterparts Aldershot Town on a full-time basis...
after more than four years away from the club when he fulfilled a player/manager role.
And the triangle continues as Molesley, who led Weymouth to back-to-back promotions in 2019 and 2020, was Matthews's successor in 2017...
The Terras said, 'Robbie was a pivotal part of the club's return to the National League and will be missed... The club have acted swiftly to recruit Terras legend Jason Matthews with immediate effect.
'Jason returns to the club following spells at Bath City, Chippenham Town and more recently Bracknell'".
The Irishman stepped away from the pitch late last season as he took up a coaching role at the club in May...
'The lads are doing great and developing along great, so as I say, I'm happy enough doing what I'm doing, and the lads are doing great.
'Matty Palmer has probably been our best player this year, so that puts me out the window. Then you've got Ed Francis developing behind him, so the lads are going along just nicely, I think. So nothing really there for me to be putting my neck in or anything, you know.'
When pushed further on whether he will only play if absolutely required, he insists 'That was always the understanding, that I'm there if needed'...
Notts just put a stop to their three-game losing run by beating Yeovil Town 2-0, a result they followed up with a 4-0 win over Tamworth in an FA Cup replay".
The Mariners boss admitted that several positive tests could lead to some absentees this weekend but the match will go ahead at Blundell Park. Hurst did not name the players affected.
Town are looking for a fourth successive National League victory to continue at the top of the division...
'We have got some COVID in the camp, unfortunately,' Hurst told Grimsby Live... 'I think there is an inevitability about it, looking at the wider picture... We have done everything we can to make sure it doesn't spread. It's a different example from what we encountered at the start of the season...
'It's not an excuse or anything tomorrow, whatever happens... We're still looking forward to the game and playing in front of another good crowd. The difficulty is that we have had an illness around which isn't COVID.
'Not every illness is COVID, that's a difficulty at this time of year. The most important thing is that the people who have it are looked after'".
Torquay are on a bad run at the moment and they were very poor at Havant & Waterlooville where they lost their fourth qualifying round replay 4-2, following two away defeats in the league...
[On Saturday] they will be taking on King’s Lynn Town in front of an eager and excited ‘Community Day’ boosted crowd...
Gary Johnson said, 'It’s an important game, none of them are mugs in our league, we know that, so it’s going to take a big effort and a big turnaround from only two days ago to make sure we get a result.'
It is a good job that Johnson brought in 20 year-old central defender Perritt from Accrington Stanley and 18 year-old striker Armstrong from Queens Park Rangers last week, because the squad is thin on the ground at the moment, especially with Dan Martin now banned for three games after his antics at Havant.
The fitness of Ali Omar was being assessed this morning... His replacement, Martin, received a straight red card for a reckless challenge...
Johnson said...'It is good that we have got the new lads and we are looking forward to getting them involved at some stage...
The defeat at Havant on Wednesday was the low point of the season so far. There were mistakes all over the park and despite being 2-1 up at half time, they really only played well for the last five minutes, before pressing the self-destruct button in the second half. It was embarrassing.
'It was very quiet on the coach home, they were all very disappointed,' said Johnson. 'We had to mention a few things to them. We were disappointed with them because there was some stupid stuff going on that cost us the game'...
If Omar is fit, he might only make the bench anyway - with Perritt a possible starter alongside Joe Lewis, in either a back three with Ben Wynter or Dean Moxey, or back four. The fans are calling for Armstrong to be thrust straight in, with Klaidi Lolos or Dan Holman the other choices up front. As for the midfield, pick three or four from Armani Little, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Jake Andrews, Chiori Johnson, Keelan O’Connell and Gabby Rogers".
The two teams have lost just once each this season...
Given the Spireites’ injury list, the fourth-placed hosts face a tough task against the visitors who occupy second spot.
'It is going to take an almighty effort tomorrow considering our situation, including in the stands, we need to pull together,' Rowe said...
'When you come into top of the table clashes in any competition, both boxes matter, it comes down to the smallest details in games like this,' he explained...
'We are looking forward to putting on a showcase tomorrow, we want to play in our way, it is going to be the biggest test so far in terms of the opponent breaking up our rhythm'...
He added, 'The clean sheets they (Boreham) have got is impressive, they have got a similar foundation to us, that is why both boxes will count tomorrow.
'They will have many numbers behind the ball so it is going to take different ways to overcome that so we need to be strong and make sure we are strong in both 18-yard boxes.'”
The Scottish under-19 international, who has been with Fulham since the age of eight... has become a regular in the under 23 starting line-up over the past couple of seasons. McAvoy, who has made eight appearances and scored three times at under 23 level so this season, will go straight into Wealdstone’s squad for their meeting with Weymouth tomorrow.
He joins Fulham goalkeeper George Wickens on loan at the Stones."
The sides last met, behind closed doors, on 10 October 2020 when the score was 1-1.
Altrincham started well and took an eleventh minute lead through Yusifu Ceesay, who netted from about eight yards after a Williams corner had come back out to him.
Williams was then put out of the game by Payne's reckless challenge, through the back of the Alty midfielder (37 mins). The offender only saw yellow, for a red-card offence, which left Williams being helped off the pitch with what looked like a right-ankle injury.
The Spitfires got level in added time when a corner pinged around the Altrincham penalty area before coming to Miley to score from right of centre, about ten yards out. So half-time was reached at 1-1.
In the second half Alty matched their opponents but neither side created very much, though Jake Moult did have to clear one effort off the line. Alty also lost Andy White to injury in the second half.
Overall Altrincham were certainly deserving of their draw.
Alty's squad comprised 1. Tony THOMPSON, 24. Joel SENIOR, 2. Andy WHITE, 25. Toby MULLARKEY, 4. Ritchie SUTTON, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 15. Matty KOSYLO, 8. Sean WILLIAMS, 23. Tom PEERS, 10. Josh HANCOCK, 11. Yusifu CEESAY. Subs: 7. Dan MOONEY, 30. Simon RICHMAN, 3. Connor HAMPSON, 5. Tom HANNIGAN, 17. Curtis MILLER.
Hopefully Toby Mullarkey will be available after his concussion lay-off but Tony Thompson will remain sidelined so Matt Gould should start in goal. Senior, Sutton, Moult, Kosylo and Hancock, with Mullarkey, were the six starters at Eastleigh last season who also started Alty's most recent game this season.
Substitute Millenic Alli’s 59th-minute goal gave a strong Stockport side a 1-0 first-round win, Chester coming closest to scoring when Jack Redshaw’s first-half penalty hit the post after Jude Oyibo had been fouled.
Joint-managers Johnson and Bernard Morley... [deployed] a 3-5-2 with Oyibo and Darren Stephenson as wing-backs."
The Halifax Courier reports that "James Dean... drowned in a stream in a 'tragic accident' after entering woodland in a 'paranoid state' after being reported missing, an inquest heard.
Ex-Halifax Town [and Alty loanee] striker James Dean, 35, was reported missing by his family on May 6 and tragically found three days later face-down in the water in a secluded woodland.
He had been struggling with his mental health for several months and would at times use cocaine to 'suppress his demons', the inquest heard...
Detective Inspector Tracey McMurdo, of Lancashire Police, said that there was no evidence to suggest he had taken his own life.... The family had said when he had taken cocaine he would use water to cool himself down...
Consultant radiologist Dr Simon Beardmore took a CT scan of James, which showed evidence of death by drowning. A toxicology report showed evidence of cocaine use 'very close to death' which could have affected James' heart and brain functions, the inquest heard.
Coroner Richard Taylor said he believed that James' death was a 'tragic accident' and returned a conclusion of accidental death."
Ex-Torquay player Joe Oastler gave Havant an eighth-minute lead, but Chiori Johnson and Klaidi Lolos struck just before half time for the Gulls.
Scott Rendell and Tommy Wright scored in the final 10 minutes for Havant.
'The travelling fans were let down definitely today, in quality and in passion,' Johnson told BBC Radio Devon. 'For five minutes we gave it a go, but we were well short'...
Torquay missed out on making the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in four years".
The midfielder was part of Scott Parker's squad during pre-season and was regularly part of the matchday squad during the early weeks of this campaign.
Having been an unused substitute on three occasions, Glover made his senior competitive Cherries debut when he came off the bench during the second half against Norwich City in the Carabao Cup in August...
With senior players now fit again and new signings arriving in his position, Glover has not featured since and has now moved to the National League to gain more match minutes...
Glover... previously spent time out on loan at Weymouth and Hemel Hempstead.
Paul Hurst's biggest decision this weekend could well lie at right-back as Grimsby Town look to continue their 100% start to the season at Blundell Park.
The Mariners will be backed by over 6,700 supporters at home to Yeovil Town, where the National League leaders will seek a fourth successive league victory...
Who should start at right-back? Ryan Sears has occupied that position for the last four matches, with Michee Efete suspended for three of those.
The summer acquisition had been a star performer for Town in the opening weeks of the season but a moment of ill-discipline saw the defender red-carded against Bromley...
Efete will be in contention to return this weekend after three weeks out of action... It seems unlikely that Efete's misdemeanour will be held against him after serving his three-match ban and that leaves Hurst with a real selection dilemma ahead of the weekend.
Sears hadn't had a look-in prior to Efete's suspension but has performed admirably since, with the defence keeping three clean sheets in his four matches.
,P.
Despite two goals and an assist, Crookes is likely to return to the team at left-back and that could also play into Efete's favour, should Hurst look to balance the skillset of his two full-backs...
It would be harsh for Sears to be ousted, given his performances in recent weeks."
On Tuesday, Eastleigh were taken to extra time by lower league opponents, Folkestone Invicta, who had led the Spitfires 3-0 at one point in Saturday's original tie in Hampshire.
"A late winner in extra time from Ben House booked Eastleigh into the next round of the Emirates FA Cup after a 3-2 victory away to Folkestone.
The Spitfires took a first half lead thanks to Tom Whelan with the hosts also going a man down just after half time...
Tom Whelan gave the visitors the lead at 24 minutes, kicking home from a dangerous cross by Vincent Harper...
Josh Vincent was given his marching orders, much to the dismay of there Folkestone faithful, after being shown a second yellow card for challenge on House.
At 58 minutes, Hesketh doubled the Spitfires lead with an exceptional piece of play, turning his defender and slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
Yusuff pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute after tapping in from a yard out following a dangerous break from the Invicta attack.
Scott Heard levelled the scores after hitting home a volley from a fantastic ball from midfield with just 12 minutes remaining...
With penalties looming, House struck home from close range to give the Spitfires’ the win".
The Daily Echo adds that "Eastleigh boss Ben Strevens saw his side need extra-time to progress past Isthmian League Premier Division Folkestone Invicta 3-2 in the FA Cup but insisted 'The main thing is we’ve got through'...
Strevens’s side earned their place in the first-round proper when Ben House netted the winner after 115 minutes.
Strevens told the club website, 'It’s just the magic of the FA Cup and the main thing is we are in the first round now. We have made proper hard work of it.
'At 3.45pm on Saturday, [losing 0-3] I was probably the worst manager going. The players were probably the team that would get embarrassed the most in the FA Cup by getting a giant-killing. Somehow on Saturday they turned it around to get the draw, and somehow we managed to get through on Tuesday in a game which we made hard work of.
'At the moment it just seems like every mistake we are making or every opportunity just seems to be going in the back of our net'".
The Shrimpers have announced Kevin Maher as head coach with Darren Currie assistant head coach and Mark Bentley first team coach.
And Lawrence revealed... 'I thought it was important that we followed a structured approach to identify candidates that fell within our defined success criteria...
'Amongst other things, the coaching team needed to be technically excellent, pro licence holders, have a good work ethic and knowledge of The National League. An affiliation with Southend United was a nice to have, but not a prerequisite.
'The coaching team we have appointed meet the success criteria and will help us achieve our objectives. They will, together, help create a high performing culture, something that has been absent for several years...
'Of the exceptional candidates we interviewed to lead the coaching team, Kevin stood out,' said Lawrence.
'His plan for the future is aligned with the club’s vision and his passion to help us get back to the EFL shone through'".
Yeovil won 2-1 in a shoot-out that featured no less than FOUR missed penalties from their opponents but substitute Knowles was responsible for the very worst spot-kick for the Glovers.
Knowles stepped up for what looked set to be the winning penalty and got it all wrong. He sliced his effort so horrendously wide that it hit a pitchside steward, knocking his hat off.
The security guard wasn't in any pain though, instead celebrating with his fists clenched like Sir Alex Ferguson when Manchester United scored back in the day.
Footage of the penalty has been posted on social media, garnering over 300,000 views on Twitter.
Luckily his blushes were spared ever so slightly as the next penalty from Weymouth was leathered over the bar by striker Brandon Goodship, giving Yeovil the win and sending them into the next round".
After a 0-0 draw last Saturday, Town were 1-0 winners on Tuesday evening in the replay.
Winger Jamie Allen... said 'We knew tonight would be tough because Pontefract were going to come at us, and they did that – fair play to them. But, the main thing is that we’re in the First Round, and we know what Maidenhead are going to come here and do'...
'You’d expect us to be a lot fitter because we’re training full time,' Allen started by saying. 'In the first game at their place, Ponte were cramping up after 30 minutes; we expected that to happen today. But, it didn’t, so hats off to them because they carried on going for 90 minutes, and they put us under a a bit of pressure. But, we got the job done; it’s another clean sheet; and we’re in the next round'..
'The Gaffer said to me today, that he wanted to start me for my pace,' Allen stated.'.. 'But it was my first start, so it was difficult because I’m not match fit yet... I need to fight for my place, and when I get it, I need to keep it.'”
Tuesday's replay between Gateshead and Marske United ended 3-2 to The Heed.
Tuesday 19 October, 4th Qualifying Round Replays.
The Nash sacked Cunningham on Monday after the Spireites beat them 4-0 at the Tameside Stadium on Saturday... Cunningham had guided them to sixth in the National League North...
The club has now issued a statement...
'Unfortunately, over the weekend, the board became aware that Steve and his assistant Damien Crossley had been in talks with another club about their managerial position, without the knowledge of the club, together with a serious breach of club discipline and at a time when we would have expected that the focus would have been on the upcoming FA Cup tie against Chesterfield FC. This was confirmed to us in subsequent discussions with Steve.
'As a board, we felt that this action undermined the trust that had been in place between the club and manager. Sadly, we felt that we were left with little choice other than to find a new manager to take us forward'".
Former Blues midfielder Kevin Maher remains favourite to replace Phil Brown in charge at Roots Hall.
But Collymore, who was part of a four man panel to pick the new boss, has revealed the new man will be given the title of head coach...
'It would be easy to solely focus on a manager/head coach and be dragged into "Messiah" syndrome,' said Collymore. 'The club favours the head coach model; works with the players, motivates, leads and organises them'...
'There were several excellent candidates in this regard but the panel, four very different men as discussed, were unanimous on one candidate’s quite stunning in-depth analysis of the club, playing staff and what he'd do to change outcomes from day one...
'We haven't solely been interviewing head coaches however. Assistant head coach, head of recruitment, head of football operations, first team coach and scouting are also positions that would create a football department.
'It addresses quickly the lack of recruitment success in recent years, a non existent scouting network, giving the head coach the required quality team'...
But Collymore knows it will be a tough challenge. 'It is a complete restructuring of a football club,' said Collymore. 'And as such it comes with risk, turbulence and great challenges...
'The messiah employed as the benign dictator to oversee every part of the club is dead...
'I spoke to the players before, at half time and after the game,' said the former England international. 'I told them that I felt the way some of them had been treated was appalling...
'I promised them this would change and that their working environment would improve immediately, they would be listened to, helped and improved as footballers and human beings. A promise...
'But please, please throw the last Southend United messiah in the bin and close it. We are now a modern, progressive, adult football club that will work transparently in a system to make sure we take steps forward together, not two forward and five back'".
Meanwhile the Echo confirms that "Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the Queen has agreed Southend will be granted city status following the killing of MP Sir David Amess...
Blues Chairman Ron Martin called it a ‘fitting tribute’".
So Southend will become the only club in the National League explicitly named after a city. Notts County come closest to the same distinction being named after the county in which their home city is located.
The 32 year-old made his first start of the season in the FA Cup this weekend, netting from the spot in a resounding 5-0 victory.
John-Lewis has divided opinion amongst supporters after his wasteful finishing in front of goal, whilst others were impressed by his strong hold-up play...
It was the first 90-minute game John-Lewis has played this term...
'He'll be disappointed that he hasn't scored more than the one goal that he got,' Hurst told Grimsby Live...'Hhe wasn't going to get bullied at the top end of the pitch and he gave us a platform to play from.
'He did some good things, just the finishes he will be disappointed in some ways. It's the first time he has started for a while so we have to take the positives from it'".
Jordan, who is a defender by trade, will be looking to build on his previous playing experience at this level, having spent time playing within all three professional levels in the Vanarama National League.
The young defender joins having spent time with South side Eastbourne Borough (on loan), fellow National League side Weymouth FC (on loan) and most recently National League North side Gloucester City before deciding to move on to join us here at Aldershot Town.
The 22 year-old joins the Shots having previously graduated through Championship side AFC Bournemouth’s academy...
Jordan joins Aldershot Town to add competition for places within the back-line".
And now Curzon Ashton have ushered boss Steve Cunningham out of the door after Town knocked them out of the FA Cup on Saturday...
But Nash fans are shocked at the dismissal of Cunningham given they are punching above their weight in fifth in the National League North.
After Saturday’s match Cunningham revealed that an admin error had forced former Spireite Jack McKay to miss out on playing against Chesterfield.
In a statement on Monday afternoon Curzon said 'Curzon Ashton FC have relieved Steve Cunningham from his duties as manager. The club sincerely thank him for his hard work and efforts over the past 18 months.'"
And it is former Blues midfielder Maher who now appears to be in line to take charge, with betting now being suspended on him getting the job. Maher spent 10 seasons with the Shrimpers as a player, making 455 appearances before leaving in 2008.
The 44-year-old skippered Blues to two successive promotions... The midfielder went on to play for Gillingham and Oldham Athletic before returning to Roots Hall as the club’s under-23 coach in 2015.
Maher stayed with the Shrimpers until 2019 when he joined Bristol Rovers... and he remains assistant manager at the League Two side."
For weeks, Devonshire has been keenly feeling the pressure from the media and the Magpies’ faithful to get the team back to winning ways having not tasted victory in all competitions since August 28...
'I’m pleased we’ve won for the fans today,' said Devonshire.
'We’re 10 games in and people have been quite critical, they've been on our backs. I’ve been finding it difficult to hear really; it’s a hard league we’re in.
'The boys are part-time, and these things can happen. We know we haven’t been right, and we haven’t got to be told. Right now, we need everyone behind us, and pulling in the right direction...
'It ain’t about what I’ve done today, it’s about the players,' he added... 'In a few games lately, we have let ourselves down...
'I love this club and I just want us to do as well as we can.'"
A reduced service applies during Tuesday but normal service should be resumed this evening. In the meantime, apologies for the inconvenience caused.
But he ended up spending more than eighty minutes on the pitch, including added time, as the team's goalkeeper!
"You've got everything in front of you... So, I wouldn't say it was pleasant...
"You're on the ball, there's only you between a potential attacker and the net...
'The gaffer asked a few people on the bench if they fancied it. I don't think anybody did. I was doing a warm-up. I came back and he said "Do you fancy it?" I said,"I'll go in if you want me to". That was it. I got the pink shirt on, and the gloves on, kitted up and out I went...
'Moulty (Jake Moult) threw me a bottle at the start of the second half and I dropped it! That was quite funny.'"
Hampson went on to make several good saves and was beaten just once as Alty emerged with a 1-1 draw.
The previous eight away ties have been:
Spitfires looked set for a shock exit from the famous cup competition against a Folkestone side who sit two divisions below them in the non-league pyramid.
However, trailing 3-0, Ben Strevens's men stormed back to draw 3-3 with Ryan Hill and Tyrone Barnett on target before Christian Maghoma rescued the tie deep into stoppage time...
Victory over Folkestone would book a trip to Boreham Wood".
He said, 'Not the result we wanted, obviously. We don’t want a replay but, where we’re at, it wouldn’t hurt to have another game and get back on the pitch to work on a few things... We have to step out and perform better on Tuesday.
'I thought we controlled the game, to be honest. We created some good chances in the first half, hit the bar, but in these FA Cup games away from home you really need to put one of those away.
'They (Tamworth) worked unbelievably hard, defended very resolutely, so credit to Tamworth, but we gave them little bits of momentum, free-kicks and needless things that got their back up... We missed some big, big chances, which is disappointing.
'It's very easy to show no repost [respect?] to the opposition but they’ve got 11 players working very hard and this is the FA Cup, you see Premier League teams struggling against League 2 teams and it doesn’t always make sense.
'We didn’t do enough to the win the game so we’ll go again on Tuesday'".
Phil Parkinson's side struggled to a 1-1 draw at their 8th tier hosts and were grateful to Jordan Davies for a 94th-minute free kick which crept in off the post...
The Dragons struggled throughout most of the game and Marine will feel aggrieved that they weren't able to hold on...
Marine started the better of the two sides and the first half saw Wrexham enjoy a fair amount of possession without ever really threatening and the Merseysiders looked to hit Wrexham on the counter-attack which brought them some joy without ever really testing Rob Lainton, who was unfortunately injured after a collision and was replaced by Kristian Dibble.
Half time was greeted with a smattering of boos from the away end with Dragons fans unhappy with the way their team played. The second half continued in much the same vein until Marine took the lead in the 78th minute with a headed goal from the impressive Owen Watkinson...
That seemed to spark Wrexham into action and the remainder of the game saw the Red Dragons camped in the Marine half but just as the clock was ticking down into the final minute Wrexham won a free-kick and Jordan Davies struck a delightful shot in off the near post to save Wrexham from what would have been an extremely disappointing exit from the FA Cup.
With the Racecourse pitch still not ready for action, the Tuesday night replay will take place at Nantwich Town's Weaver Stadium".
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the incidents involved a small number of people both prior to and after the 1-1 draw...
Fixtures between Weymouth and Yeovil are considered a derby and so can lead to increased tensions when the sides meet.
The match on Saturday ended 1-1 following a last gasp strike from Terras Tom Bearwish in the fourth minute of injury time, meaning the teams will now play a replay".
Miller came off the bench for the second half and scored the equaliser for Andy Hessenthaler’s side in the 61st minute after Olly Mehew had given The Southern League Premier Division South side an eighth-minute lead.
Whites finished the Fourth Qualifying Round tie with 10 men after player-coach Reda Johnson was sent off just 18 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute...
It was Yate who opened the scoring, and with their first attack, when the unmarked Mehew tapped home captain Dave Sims-Burgess’ cross...
Miller got his side back on level terms when he scored from close range following good work by the impressive Cosgrave.
Johnson saw red not long after following an earlier yellow card.
The team from Gloucestershire looked to take advantage of their extra man and almost won it in stoppage time when Sam Kamara’s shot from outside the box whistled just wide of Adam Parkes’ post.
Earlier, Millwall loanee Junior Tiensia came back into the side after missing the past four games through injury in place of injured midfielder Koby Arthur."
The town of Marske is located on the coast near Redcar and Middlesbrough, whilst Gateshead play at the International Stadium, a venue frequented in recent years by the Robins. The Heed remain in the National League North this season.
Altrincham have never faced Marske United before.
Founded in 1956 the club moved up from the Cleveland League to the Teesside League which they won twice. On the second occasion, this earned them a place in the Wearside League. They won that league in 1996 and the following year joined Division Two of the Northern League. They immediately won promotion to Division One but were relegated in 2004.
They regained Division One status in 2010 and were Northern League champions in 2011-12, but the club declined promotion to the national system. But when they won the Northern League again, in 2018, they accepted promotion to Division One East of the Northern Premier League, the same level as Trafford who compete in the West Division.
As for their opponents on Tuesday night, Alty have twice met clubs from Gateshead in the FA Cup. In 1974-75 season they hosted phoenix club Gateshead United in Round Two and won 3-0 in front of 3,200 at Moss Lane.
And in 2010-11 in the Fourth Qualifying Round they hosted the current Gateshead club but lost 0-2 in front of just 797 spectators.
However, the last out of the bag, they were assigned a match at Marske or Gateshead in the North East.
Emirates FA Cup First Round. Matches to be played on the weekend of 6 November...
After a largely scrappy first half-hour dominated by repeated long throws from Southport's Tharme, the hosts took a 35th minute lead when Carver headed home a Watson cross from the left (35 mins)...
Right: Tom Peers was on the mark in the FA Cup once again on Saturday.
But Alty responded to secure a place in the Round One draw. It was their fourth game to end 3-2 or 2-3 this season.
Match report here.
The Mariners, who play three levels below Phil Parkinson's men, were the better side throughout the contest and good value for their 78th minute lead.
It was a hugely disappointing performance by the Reds who conceded yet another goal from a set-piece when Marine netted.
But Davies scored with a superb free-kick deep into added time to snatch a draw and a replay on Tuesday at Nantwich Town because The Racecourse pitch is being relaid.
Parkinson named a full-strength side, making one change from the team that started the last game against Chesterfield 11 days earlier with Liam McAlinden taking over from Devonte Redmond in the Reds' midfield...
Danny Shaw's header was kept out by Rob Lainton and Niall Cummins went in late on the Reds' goalkeeper who was flat out.
But referee Garreth Rhodes only showed Cummins a yellow card and although Lainton managed to walk off and didn't require the stretcher brought on by medical staff, there was no way he could continue because of the head injury.
Christian Dibble came on for Lainton...
Wrexham had been second best but the visitors almost took the lead as Jake Hyde's goalbound header from Jordan Davies' corner was cleared off the line by a defender...
There needed to be a big improvement after the break... but Marine took a 78th minute lead from [a] corner. Doyle delivered the set-piece and Owen Watkinson found the back of the net with a glancing header...
But Wrexham equalised deep into injury time through Davies's fantastic strike to set up a replay".
The BBC adds that "Wrexham goalkeeper Rob Lainton was knocked out and suffered a broken nose...
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson felt Cummins should have been sent off by referee Gareth Rhodes. 'The lad's just booted him straight in the face,' Parkinson said... 'I haven't seen the challenge [again] yet but with my own eyes, I wasn't happy with the lad going for the ball'...
Lainton was not taken to hospital, but is doubtful for Tuesday's replay against Marine.
'There's a protocol we have now got to follow because he was knocked clean out,' Parkinson added... Lainton was knocked out during Wrexham's draw at Bromley in November 2020, when both sides left the pitch while he received extensive treatment.
The midfielder was stretchered off ten minutes into the second-half during the Linnets’ FA Cup tie against Peterborough Sports.
'He is in hospital with a suspected broken leg at the moment,' Rowe said after Chesterfield’s 4-0 win against Curzon Ashton...
'I have been monitoring his performances, he was looking fitter and stronger and was ready to come back'".
'Yeah, I think on the balance of play,' Wild said when asked if he thought it had been a fair result. 'Both teams had their chances, the pitch is a leveller but that's no excuse, we should take our chances and unfortunately we haven't done today, and their keeper's made some great saves.
'But they've had their chances through the game, I can't pay them enough respect in how they've done things, how they've been accommodating and the spectacle they've put on today...
'I thought we had a lot of the ball but they sat in a low block and we had to try and break them down. We did three or four times but we didn't put the ball in the back of the net...
Wild added 'I thought two or three of them (Town players) weren't as good as they have been. But they can't be brilliant every week, but the pressure's on now.. and some will crumble under the pressure and some will go "Right, well I'm not giving up my shirt".
'And I now have a couple of decisions to make for Tuesday, which is great.'
Town improved after the introduction of substitutes Jamie Allen, Elliot Newby and Martin Woods as second-half substitutes...
'(We brought on) a bit more direct (players), players who run at them and (they) hurt them more when they came on. Putting Jamie down the middle gave us more of a physical presence, whereas Billy's (Waters) more of a sneaky one'...
Wild and assistant boss Chris Millington both had words with the officials when walking off the pitch at half-time, questioning the decisions to disallow goals from Billy Waters for offside...
'That's what you get when you get officials from lower leagues don't you?' said Wild."
Both goalkeeper Matt Gould and centre-back Ritchie Sutton have returned from their respective loans at Nantwich Town and Alfreton Town and both seem likely to start.
It will be Gould's first involvement of the season, whilst Sutton has played just sixteen minutes for Alty this season.
It is expected that new midfielder Danny Whitehead, loaned from Port Vale, will also be involved at some stage but winger Ryan Colclough would seem to be unlikely to be involved after missing recent games with illness.
It would not be surprising to see manager Phil Parkinson rest some of his regulars and give run-outs to fringe players and those returning to injury who may now be match fit. However, as of last Tuesday there was still a significant defensive injury list, including Kennedy Digie, David Fitzpatrick and Andy White. At Southport, Shaun Densmore, Connor Hampson and striker Tom Peers, a regularly used substitute who has yet to start a game this season, would appear to be amongst the most likely candidates to step in.
The club adds that "After his playing career ended Terry started as an became Academy Director at Crewe Alexandra, in 1992 and spent 14 years as a youth coach at the club before joining the Academy Staff of Blackburn Rovers. He set up the Merseyside-based TMS (Technique/Movement/Skill) football school in 1996. He later managed the Blackburn Rovers Youth team that reached the 2012 FA Youth Cup Final, and was appointed caretaker assistant manager to Gary Bowyer. He was re-appointed assistant manager from June 2013 to 2015.
Southport's line-up.last time out, was: 1. Cameron Mason, 2. Charlie Oliver, 3. Jack Doyle, 5. Adam Anson, 6. Doug Tharme, 9. Jordan Archer, 11. Marcus Carver, 14. Chris Doyle, 15. Josh Hmami, 16. Dylan Vassallo, 18. Jack Bainbridge Subs: 7. Connor Woods, 12 Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, 17. Niall Watson, 13. Tony McMillan, 8. Charlie Munro
At the time, Tony lived in Sale. He has faced Alty for several clubs including Warrington Town, Runcorn and Stalybridge Celtic as well as Southport.
First-choice keeper nowadays at Southport is Cam Mason who spent many years at Curzon Ashton. Striker Jordan Archer has also faced Alty before and he is in his second spell at Haig Avenue, having signed from Boston United.
He has also played for EFL clubs Bury, Port Vale as well as Maidenhead United, Chester FC and Stockport County.
Another familiar face is forward Marcus Carver, who spent four seasons with Chorley, having started out at Accrington Stanley.
Less familiar, but one to watch, is young Niall Watson, son of manager Liam.
The Stoke Sentinel adds that "Port Vale midfielder Danny Whitehead has joined Altrincham on a month’s loan.
The 27 year-old was transfer-listed at the end of last season and, although the transfer window has closed for the Football League, players are still allowed to move to the National League.
Whitehead joined Vale on a free from Salford in August 2020 and has made 20 appearances, but only nine league starts".
The Spireites rejected the request from the Shrimpers, who are looking for a new boss after sacking Phil Brown... Rowe, who is under contract until summer 2024, said 'I will put it to bed, I have got no interest in going anywhere else.
My future is definitely here and I want to achieve here. I am loving my time here as a manager. I have got a great working relationship with the board. I have signed the contract that I have for the length of time for a reason.
'I am fully committed to seeing that out and fully committed to wanting to achieve here at the club. I am blessed to be the manager of this football club and I am settled in the area'...
Rowe said they are in the ‘progress stage’ now and the next step is to ‘achieve’. 'The only way you can achieve here for the level we are at and where we should be as a club is a medal around your neck and that is what we are all striving for and we are not scared or put off by not achieving that milestone,' he said.
'When we came in the first objective was to inspire everybody and I think we have done that. The attendances reflect that. Everybody is back in terms of loving their club again and following the team home and away. Now we are trying to transform into that number one spot which is why this league is so difficult and promotion is so difficult.
Less happy news in the Derbyshire Times is that "Chesterfield have been dealt a double injury blow with midfielders Curtis Weston and Saidou Khan ruled out for around six or seven weeks.
Both of them had to come off in the win against Southend United last Saturday. The pair join Haydn Hollis, George Carline, Jack Clarke, Tom Denton and Akwasi Asante in the treatment room as the injuries mount up for 'Town'.
Manager James Rowe said 'We have just got Curtis’ scan back and it is not good news. He will be out for a lengthy period of time, six-seven weeks, so that is disappointing. And it is the same for Saidou as well, exactly the same timeframe, so two more injuries... They are not muscle injuries, they are from challenges.
'It is a poor challenge on Curtis, I have watched it back, it is probably a disgraceful tackle really from the lad from Southend. It was completely unnecessary, from the side and high and it was not even given as a foul so it is baffling really...
'We can’t keep picking up these injuries... We are not in a position to add at the moment. I need to give the players a chance who have been on the periphery of it a little bit. We can’t lose anybody else for the long-term.'
However, there is some better news on Fraser Kerr who hobbled off against Southend. Rowe said... 'He is okay and he is in for selection tomorrow... Other than Jack Clarke, where I take a little bit of responsibility for that one because where he is in his development, we were working on his power and that is the only muscle injury that we have had,' he told the DT.
'We have been stacking him up a little bit in the gym, doing some power work, some intense sprint work etc in pre-season and also at the start of the season. We lost him obviously to that muscle injury which I was disappointed about and which is unusual for our medical department, we are normally bang on... Other than that I think we have been very unfortunate with the injuries that we have picked up...
'Out of the 11 games we have had six very, very good performances, probably three good ones and then two poor ones but, in the main, we have performed very well this season'”.
Barrett, 23, parted company with Barton’s Bristol Rovers last month and this week signed a two-year deal with Lynn.
'He’s clearly got the talent for that, it’s just can he knuckle down and show the discipline and desire needed to play in the league,' said Barton on Barrett’s exit. 'It saves the club a bit of money and it allows Josh [Barrett] to get on with his career because he’s a talented boy no doubt about that, but he’s got a lot of work to do to salvage his career as a professional footballer.'
Painful words, perhaps, but Barrett, who signed for Rovers in January 2020 from Reading,- believes his controversial former boss is right. 'Obviously me getting to know him he is not what everyone thinks he is,' said Barrett. 'He is a good guy and I think I was able to talk to him personally, because he knew what was going on with me, the other things that were going on, so he was brilliant with me...
'Obviously I was struggling with my injuries... But he is spot on. I can’t disagree with that... just getting back to it and being able to play as much as possible and forget about all the injuries'...
Barrett made five Championship appearances for Reading in 2019-20 before his nightmare spell at Rovers".
Press and Media Officer, John Edwards, writes that "The 27-year old, a versatile, energetic central midfielder, has joined the Robins in time for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Southport and has been given the all-clear to play in the competition, if selected.
He arrives at The J.Davidson Stadium... eager to revitalise a career that began in spectacular style at Stockport County a decade ago. Such was his impact in his first two seasons at Edgeley Park... that West Ham signed him for an undisclosed fee in June 2013... He made just one appearance for the Hammers... before leaving Upton Park for spells with Accrington Stanley, Macclesfield Town and Wigan Athletic.
On rejoining Macclesfield, he helped them reach the 2017 FA Trophy final... and then proved one of the driving forces behind their promotion to the Football League...
On signing him for Salford City in May 2018, when they were still in the National League, the Ammies' manager at the time, Graham Alexander, said...'It was his overall play that made him one of the best players at this level.'
In August last year, he signed a two-year deal with Port Vale to be reunited with his former Macclesfield boss John Askey... but opportunities... have proved harder to come by under current Vale manager Darrell Clarke, leading the Stretford-born midfielder to pursue the option of a loan move".
Footnote: Whitehead came through Stockport's youth system as a strike partner of former Alty forward Josh Amis. His appearances against Alty include scoring a goal in County's 4-3 win at Moss Lane in the Cheshire Senior Cup, in 2011. Danny will become the 22nd player named in an Altrincham matchday squad and the eighth debutant this season.
Left: Tony Thompson (right), pictured with Steven Drench, who recently returned to Altrincham as goalkeeping coach.
Before Tuesday night at Yeovil, six players had actually started every game, Thompson, Mullarkey, Senior, Hannigan, Mooney and Moult, but the latter three had each been substituted in one or more of the previous games.
Right: Joel Senior.
In fact, no fewer than TEN defenders or goalkeepers have now been hit by injuries which either were incurred last season but have continued into the current campaign or have picked up injuries in pre-season or the 2021-22 campaign itself.
Underlining the disruption this season to the defence, apart from Thompson and Mullarkey, the other eight players named below have made a collective total of just six starts and five appearances from the bench between them this season. And even more striking is the fact that those eight players have just two instances of completing ninety minutes between them, (Bunney and Densmore once apiece).
Southport have defied the odds twice already this season with excellent replay wins against Chorley and Spennymoor and will need to be on top form once again to beat the in form Robins.
We played each other in the FA Cup in 2019-20 with Altrincham coming out on top in a 3-1 win. Earlier the same season Southport had recorded a 2-1 win. That was before Altrincham hit form and went on to win promotion in the same season.
Apart from Thompson other Southport connections include Neil Sorvel, Brad Jackson, Andy White, Steven Drench and David Fitzpatrick".
Of the last twelve encounters at Haig Avenue, Southport have won seven and drawn three but Alty's only two victories both occurred in their last three clashes with the Sandgrounders.
As for matchday arrangements, Southport add that "Matchday Programmes must be ordered here before 8pm Friday to guarantee a printed copy.
A cash turnstile will be in operation at each end of the ground but we strongly recommend buying a ticket in advance to avoid the queues here. Tickets can also be bought from the Club Shop ahead of the game by card or cash but it does get busy so again, please buy in advance when possible".
Right: Alty's debutant keeper Dave Cummins leaves the field ahead of Gary Talbot and Chris Adams.
It is eleven years since Altrincham played a game on today's date and back in 2010 it was Fleetwood Town who were the visitors to Moss Lane for a Blue Square Bet Premier match which Alty won 1-0. We reviewed that match last years so we go further back now to the next most recent match on 16 October, and that was in 2004.
On that date in 2004, as in 2021, Altrincham were playing an FA Cup tie. In 2004 it was a Third Qualifying Round Match at home to Hucknall Town. And another parallel to 2021 is that in 2004, as now, Alty were having goalkeeper problems, with Stuart Coburn out of action and Richard Acton cup-tied. In fact, Altrincham were fielding their fourth different goalkeeper in their last four games (Stuart Coburn, Ian Senior, Richard Acton, Dave Cummins).
The new incumbent between the uprights, Dave Cummins, had been signed on the eve of the match on non-contract forms from Trafford FC. He had been Trafford's first choice last season before suffering a 60-day suspension which ruled him out till after the start of the season. He had therefore not played for Trafford's first team that season.
Hucknall included former Alty captain Chris Timons in their starting line-up.
The match ended in a 3-3 draw as Altrincham failed to capitalise on an early two-goal lead and then, after getting ahead again 3-2, conceded a late equaliser. And Alty were to lose the replay at Hucknall and exit the competition.
In the original tie, Marcus Hallows fired Alty ahead from close range after 11 minutes and, a minute later, Colin Little headed home a second. After Hallows had struck the upright, Danny Bacon pulled one back for the visitors as he and Talbot went for the ball from a pass by Ricketts (28 mins). Town levelled after 32 minutes when stand-in Alty keeper Cummins did well to beat out a Todd effort only for Bacon to score from the rebound.
After 39 minutes Colin Little got a foot to the ball ahead of the Hucknall keeper from a ball into the box by Aspinall to make it 3-2 (39 mins). Alty seemed to be holding on for victory until, two minutes after right-back Aspinall had limped off, the ball was rolled across the goalmouth from the left and, despite a defensive scramble and Rose's effort to clear, it trickled into the net for the equaliser which the tannoy credited as a Rose own goal (83 mins).
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Dave CUMMINS, 2. Stephen ASPINALL, 3. Stephen ROSE, 4. Mark MADDOX, 5. Gary TALBOT, 6. Peter BAND (capt.), 7. Colin POTTS, 8. Eddie HUSSIN, 9. Marcus HALLOWS, 10. Colin LITTLE, 11. Chris ADAMS. Subs: 12. Peter WRIGHT, 14. GARY SCOTT, 15. Rod THORNLEY, 16. Stuart WRIGHT, 17. Kieran LUGSDEN.
Now the new turf has now arrived and is being laid. The club said 'The decision to re-turf was taken following concerns after our first few home games, that work in the summer has not delivered a playing surface to the standard we believe is required...
'To allow the new turf the maximum amount of time to become established, any potential replay in our FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie against Marine will instead take place at Nantwich Town'".
'It needs to be someone who has the ability to come in and change the mindset of the players and protect them,' said Prior. 'I didn’t feel like that happened with Phil and I didn’t feel like he protected the players... [The owner] Ron’s talked before about someone who eats, sleeps and breathes Southend United but that’s rubbish in my eyes. That should be a given...
'Ron, historically, didn’t have a reputation for changing managers but that’s there now. But by what he says on the Zoom call there’s a good budget so I do think it’s still an attractive job. It needs somebody with incredibly thick skin that cannot get distracted by the stuff going on off the pitch...
'The only way the fans can change it is by literally staying away from the club,' said Prior... 'If you fear going to the game and you’re a supporter then think about what the players are going through too. They will be playing with fear and that’s not because of the fans’ reaction... It’s the most toxic thing that you can have, 100 per cent'...
'I came into Manchester City just after their downward spiral,' said Prior. 'The legacy of that was that we changed at the ground, got on a mini bus and went to a school to warm up there because the atmosphere at the ground was so hostile to the players that they created something where the team wouldn’t warm up on the pitch as they created negative emotions before the game'".
A correspondent published in the Southend Echo tells us that "October 25 ... is the date when the planning application for the new stadium at Fossetts will be determined by councillors...
Green belt issues could be problematic. I do appeal to councillors to keep their cool at all times. The best outcome is for planning consent to be given and then the Blues can confidently march on to the Championship where a big club like Southend truly belongs.
Alternatively, refusal will mean that a proud club, founded back in 1906, will face oblivion which will bring misery to so many fans here in Essex and scattered across the world... If the final vote goes in our favour then a Roots Hall Roar would be appropriate to express our gratitude to those who have worked so hard on this planning application over the last four years".
Town have won seven of their first 11 games and sit third in the National League. Other factors like recruitment and tactics have also played a huge part in Town’s exciting start, but their core values are the driving force.
'The wider group came up with a number of things and..' says assistant manager Chris Millington... 'The senior players narrowed it down to those three core things... We measure everything we do against those three core objectives and values... Then we go below that, and once you scratch the surface, we go into more detail around what that actually looks like within our play... Are we approaching those things and successfully living up to the three core values and objectives we want to measure ourselves against?...
'The thing that pleases me most is I think the lads are getting what they deserve out of games more often that not,' he said... 'I think we’re maybe a little bit ahead of where I’d have predicted in terms of our style of play, but I’m not necessarily surprised... The lads who were retained and decided to stay, we felt we’d done a good body of work coaching them and we could start to develop that, refine it a bit, and it would help the new players coming in because there was already an understanding within the group of what we want to do...
'I think... having a core of players who have been with us since last season, some of them were with us the season before, and they understand the way we work, our methods and the information we’re getting across.
'So in a club where there’s a bit of stability and a bit of time to plan slightly longer-term, we’re starting to see the benefits of having that... I think people will be able to look at us and see that we look to break lines, we look to break forward, we look to play a possession-based game.
'Out of possession we’ve got a good intensity on the turnover, on the transition we press aggressively, and when we need to we can get into a good compact shape and be difficult to break down'...
Millington says another pleasing feature of the season so far has been the impact of the squad’s younger players, like Jay Benn and Kian Spence."
Right: Connor Hampson (left) with the man he replaced, goalkeeper Tony Thompson, pictured in pre-season 2019. Shaun Densmore is the other Alty player.
But, on Tuesday night, after a 218 mile midweek trip to get to Somerset, Connor Hampson, a primary school teacher who plays part-time for Altrincham, did just that and he went onto make several noteworthy saves as the full-time Glovers failed to beat him more than once in a 1-1 draw at Huish Park.
His feat was all the more remarkable as, just seven minutes after Hampson had put on the goalkeeping gloves, Alty also lost their ever-present centre-back Toby Mullarkey meaning that midfielder Jake Moult had to move into the back line. Nevertheless the makeshift defensive unit, led by their captain, Moult, and the experienced Tom Hannigan kept their opponents out, aided by full-backs Brad Jackson and Joel Senior.
29 year-old Connor has now made 109(+17) appearances and scored six times for Altrincham since joining, initially on a month's loan, from Stockport County on 2 November 2017. He had been at Edgeley Park since February 2017, when he had joined from Curzon Ashton. Connor had previously been at the Tameside Stadium since 2011.
At the start of 2019-20 he acted as captain in the injury absence of Jake Moult. Injury limited Connor's appearances for the latter period of 2020-21 and, until this last week, he had been unavailable in 2021-22, following a hernia operation.
He will be available for selection against Southport on Saturday in the Emirates FA Cup".
Nantwich Town "confirm that Matty Gould has been recalled by Altrincham following an Injury to their goalkeeper Tony Thompson.
Gould joined the Dabbers at the back end of the last month and his excellent performances have helped the Dabbers enjoy a four-match unbeaten run. Matty has played five games for Dave Cooke’s men in which he has only conceded two goals and kept three clean sheets.
Despite only being at the club for a short space of time. Matty has made a huge impact and he has been pivotal in our upturn of form. We are very sorry to see him go but we wish him all the best at Alty and maybe we will see him back at the Optimum Pay Stadium one day.
Nantwich Town would also like to wish Tony Thompson a speedy recovery from the injury he sustained in the Robins’ 1-1 draw against Yeovil last night".
Manager Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Ritchie Sutton will also return from his loan spell at Alfreton Town, in time to play on Saturday at Southport.
In the National League North they are yet to win after seven games. But this conceals the fact that they are unbeaten at Haig Avenue in five matches across the FA Cup and the National League North. They have secured draws at home in the league against Gloucester City, Gateshead and Kidderminster Harriers, their only home league matches this season.
Their other four league matches, all away from home, have ended in defeat, at Spennymoor, AFC Fylde, Brackley and York, all of whom constitute strong opposition.
In the FA Cup it is a different story as their only wins this season have come in FA Cup replays, at Haig Avenue, against Chorley and Spennymoor Town
So, despite their place at the bottom of National League North, Altrincham can expect a tough game when they arrive at Haig Avenue on Saturday.
The National League strugglers, who dropped out of the Football League for the first time in 101 years in May, sacked Phil Brown and his assistant Craig Fagan on Saturday after a 4-0 defeat to Chesterfield left them fourth from bottom.
Rowe has transformed the Derbyshire club’s fortunes since arriving from Gloucester City 11 months ago. He left Gloucester undefeated at the top of the National League North, and then took Chesterfield out of the relegation zone and into the play-offs last season.
Southend hope Rowe can do a similar job for them, having struggled in the fifth tier, and made a formal approach to Chesterfield on Tuesday night asking permission to hold talks with the 38 year-old.
Rowe has earned a reputation as a manager who can get results playing good football, and has a win ratio of 35 wins in 57 games in the last calendar year.
Although he would be working with a bigger budget at Southend, it’s understood that the terms of the deal would still have to be right for him to swap a team bidding for promotion for one at the other end of the table".
Meanwhile Yorkshire Live claims that at Southend "Darren Currie is the current favourite with the bookmakers. The nephew of Sheffield United legend, Tony, spent last season in charge of the under-23s while Paul Heckingbottom stepped up to look after first team affairs following Chris Wilder's departure. He is evens for the job, according to BetVictor.
Joint second favourite at 4/1 is former Sheffield Wednesday star Graham Coughlan, who was joint coach at Shirecliffe last season with Currie".
The... Northern Premier League Division One North West outfit [are] managed by former Chester manager Neil Young...
Reds' boss Parkinson himself and assistant Steve Parkin ran the rule over their opponents in last night's home game with Kidsgrove Athletic...
Said Parkinson 'Me and Steve were going to see them play on Tuesday, I have been to the ground before in pre-season so we know what to expect. We have had them watched the last couple of games as well so we know what they are all about but it will be good for me and Steve to go and have a look at them and get to know all the players, and prepare for this game as professionally as we always do...
'A lot of people will be looking at it with our profile and Marine's pedigree in the FA Cup,' said Parkinson..;. 'If we can get through, then the attention won't be quite as big afterwards because everybody is always looking for that cup shock'...
If the game ends in a draw, the replay next Tuesday will be held at Nantwich Town. The pitch at The Racecourse is being relaid".
The defeat came just days after the same result at Boreham Wood, which was a massive disappointment...
Johnson wasn’t happy after the game at Bromley, of course, and said he would be telling his players to report for duty the following day.
'The players have reacted well, as you would expect them to with the work that we have given them', said the manager. 'Call it what you like; punishment, motivation, to some it will have been fun and to some it will have been horrendous.
It is just getting that bond back between them, there is a lot of team stuff going on, it has been like an SAS recruitment week'...
The manager said 'I like the FA Cup. I don’t think every team in the cup respects it'...
Johnson says he and his coaching team have been looking for players to add to the squad, but have come up against a few obstacles, with the kind of players they are targeting not necessarily the kind of players that want to move to Devon and play in the National League themselves...
Johnson said 'We are still trying hard... We haven’t brought anybody in but we are definitely looking at it, for sure... We don’t know whether we haven’t got it right, though it doesn’t look like that at the minute, but it did go well for a couple of our games and you have got to be careful, you have got to work with the ones you have got as well because however many people you bring in, the ones you have got are still going to be part of the squad.
'You have got to make sure that you are still trying to get the best out of those that are there. And eventually some people will realise they are not getting a game and need to move on.'”
Saturday's clash also sees defender Ryan Fryatt, who played 350 games in a blue and gold shirt, back on his old stamping ground.
Gash was with Lynn for four years, helping the club to back-to-back promotions... The 35-year-old left Lynn at the end of last season after being unable to commit himself to full-time football in the National League...
'When I go back it might be a nice reception for me, but there's only one thing on my mind and that's to win for Peterborough Sports... I can't see myself going mad or celebrating against a club that I have so much love and respect for, especially the fans there', he said...
'I still talk to Mike (Clunan) and he does my books for me as well'".
Less happily, the Lynn News adds that "A former King's Lynn Town footballer has admitted drug supply offences.
Rory McAuley, who left the Walks outfit last month, will be sentenced at a later date following a hearing at Norwich Crown Court... McAuley, 31... pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine during April and May of this year... He also admitted counts of possessing 496 grams of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property".
The Mariners have named largely the same side since losing to Bromley, which has resulted in a three-match winning run. In that time, Town have started to see partnerships flourish, with Luke Waterfall and Ryley Towler excelling as a pair at centre-back.
Likewise, Alex Hunt and Ben Fox have impressed as a central midfield duo, whilst John McAtee and Ryan Taylor continue to dovetail nicely in attack...
Hurst, though, has insisted he has confidence for any player to step into the XI... 'I've obviously got Giles Coke, who is a very good player, he adds competition... Harry (Clifton) has found himself playing a little bit wider too but he can go into that central midfield or if we change formation and play three in there...
'The lads that have played the majority of games should be full of confidence.'"
Hessenthaler hopes a win against the Southern League Premier Division South outfit, which would be their first this season, can help kick-start their campaign.
So the £9,375 in prize money up for grabs this Saturday would be a welcome boost, as would a spot in the first round which could result in a draw against a Football League team that could provide a further boost to the club’s coffer...
Hessenthaler also hopes some of his injured players will be back... 'Harry Ransom is looking at seven to 10 days out but he can’t play in the FA Cup anyway because they (parent club Crawley) wouldn’t give us permission,' the Whites boss revealed...
'Seth Twumasi, fingers crossed, it's just bruising to the knee and hopefully he will be back for Saturday. Koby Arthur played against Barnet but he had to come off, so that’s a bit of a worry... Henry Woods is doubtful for Saturday with an abductor problem and Ryan Hanson started running last Saturday.
'It was good to see Travis Gregory back, although he was forced to play at right-back, and Marshall Wratten did all right when he came on. He has only had two days’ training... We would like to think that we will have a few more options this weekend'...
Hessenthaler thinks his squad are giving their all... 'We just need to score first and that might settle us down. We have only scored two at home but we have got to keep going'">
Match report here
Less than ten minutes later, the visitors levelled through former Glover A Jay Leitch-Smith. Adding salt into the wounds, the Glovers would have two goals not given after the ball seemingly crossed the line after dangerous corners.
After a lack of attacking threat against Notts County, Darren Sarll looked to add some attacking impetus against the Robins. Grant Smith began in goal, whilst forward-thinking full-back Jordan Barnett started at the left side of defence. Max Hunt partnered Josh Staunton in the centre back roles whilst Dan Moss started at right-back.
Dale Gorman and Matt Worthington started once again in central midfield, whilst there was an increase in attacking numbers, with Tom Knowles, Adi Yussuf, Quigley and Ben Seymour all starting, looking to break the Glovers’ goal drought...
In the opening stages, Knowles’s throw-ins caused havoc for the Alty defence...
Altrincham were forced into a change between the sticks as Thompson was replaced by left-back Hampson as the visitors had no goalkeeper on the bench.
Looking to take advantage, Town flooded the box on set-plays...
Testing the makeshift goalkeeper would’ve been on the agenda at the break, with the Glovers capitalising in the 57th minute through Quigley. Gorman sent a stinging free-kick on target which Hampson spilled, only for Quigley to turn the ball home.
However, just seven minutes later Yeovil Town were dealt a sucker-punch as Leitch-Smith capitalised on a lapse in concentration to poke the ball beyond Smith...
With five minutes to go, Staunton thought he’d headed Town ahead, as the ball seemingly dropped over the line once... but the referee was unmoved".
Yeovil broke the deadlock just before the hour when Quigley finished after Hampson spilt a free-kick.
But the visitors were level with 25 minutes remaining as Mooney’s low ball presented Leitch-Smith with a simple finish.
Hampson was the hero again as he made another fine save at a corner as the visitors held on for a point...
The cash strapped club received a financial windfall and were able to repay an £800k debt to Sport England, who had previously bailed out the club in the way of financial loan.
A fixed and floating charge was removed at Companies' House as Sport England were repaid £800,000. 'Charge number 0711 3379 0004 was removed after repayment by YEOVIL TOWN HOLDINGS LIMITED'.
Yeovil Town is set to be taken over this week, and the financial payment is a clear demonstration that finance is coming into the cash-strapped football outfit with a take over pending".
The goals coming from Owen German, Louie Williams, Charlie Mitchell, Yusuf Adeniyi and 15 year old George Raftery.
Yusef Adeniyi... was on the mark in both U17s games against AFC Blackpool & Clitheroe FC. Yusef came on as a seconnd half substitute in that first team pre-season game in July which finished Ashton United 0 Altrincham 2.
Squad: 1. Noah Tyson, 2. Charlie Mitchell, 3. Nate Donachie, 4. Tom Jones, 5. Owen German, 6. Ciaran Kelly, 7. Sam Chambers, 8. Charlie Beehan, 9. Louie Williams, 10. Mike Comber, 11. Yusef Adeniyi. Subs: 12. Edward Igeze ,13. Adam Lynch
14. James Kelly, 15. Sam Murphy, 16.George Raftery
This follows on from a 4-2 victory over Clitheroe FC at Manchester Health Academy with the goalscorers being Yusuf Adeniyi. Adam Lynch and James Kelly (2).
Squad: 1. Sonny Wright, 2. Charlie Mitchell, 3. Nate Donachie, 4. Tom Jones, 5. Owen German, 6. Ciaran Kelly, 7. Edward Capper, 8. Charlie Beehan, 9. Louie Williams, 10. Mike Comber, 11. Yusef Adeniyi. Subs: 12. Kieran Baguley, 13. Adam Lynch, 14. James Kelly, 15. Sam Murphy, 16. George Raftery.
He told BBC Radio Humberside, 'We have engaged with the local council and we're discussing with local sites. We're probably a couple of months away from assessing the options. Not all the cards are ours so we are taking direction from the council on the most appropriate locations...
'We're committed that it will be in the town centre. It won't be an out-of-town location, we want it to be a community asset that the whole town can be proud of and utilise... The timescale is years rather than months (to actually move)... These things always take longer than you think. But the decisions will be sooner than that.'
Equally, Town are looking at investment into Blundell Park, starting with the Osmond Stand of the ground. With supporters consistently reaching a 6,000 gate at DN35, the owners are interested in a strategy to extend the capacity... He explained, 'At the moment, we have a little bit of capacity that we're not selling. We have to look at the orientation of the ground overall and the allocation of seats.
'I said at the beginning of our tenure, it was pointless looking at altering the stadium or new stadiums without filling the ground. If we continue in this vein, it will be hard not to look at those things'".
Also from the Grimsby Telegraph we learn that "Will Bapaga... the on-loan Coventry City winger has impressed in recent weeks after an initial slow start to life at Blundell Park...
Bapaga netted in last week's wins over Altrincham and Dover Athletic before a red card ruled him out of the trip to Woking at the weekend...
'I have settled in amazingly, everyone has been good with me and it’s going well,' he told Coventry's official site. 'The gaffer is a calm guy, and he is a good coach to play under and the team has a good team spirit, and everything is going good so far.
'It took me a couple of games to get used to the league as it is physical, and the ball is always in the air, and I have been kicked around a lot but in every league, you have to adjust. Everything is going to plan right now; I’m scoring and I’m playing now and we are doing very good in the league.
'It was one of the best moments I have felt so far' (scoring against Altrincham)...
Bapaga's decision to leave Coventry on loan in search for men's football was not an easy one. The young, skilful winger was hit by COVID-19 in his early weeks at the club, whilst the physical adjustment was an initial shock to the system, he admitted...
'I had to work very hard to get into the lineup as I wanted to give my all but when [after having Covid] you physically can’t do it, it’s hard.”
'We’ve got a list and we’re already talking to them,' Martin told talkSPORT. 'I guess by the end of next week we will have chosen somebody... [ex-manager] Phil Brown and I got on very well for five years,' said Martin. 'When I brought him back I thought he would be motivated and he seemed to be but I’m not sure he needs it as much anymore.'
Martin will be joined by chief executive Tom Lawrence, director Gary Lockett and ex-Shrimpers striker Stan Collymore in picking the next manager...
Said Martin, 'I’ve got the managers wrong and I really hope we’ll get it right this time. We’ll be making the decision more by committee this time rather than me alone. I haven’t stopped funding the club throughout but I’ve obviously chosen the wrong managers and something has gone wrong'...
Martin insists he will not be leaving any time soon. 'I’ll continue to support the club but there will come a time when I will elegantly leave and sell it to people who will support the club too,' said Martin. 'I just don’t want to walk out and leave it and it will fail... When it’s on a sustainable footing then I’ll find a new owner...
'I would confess I may have taken my eye off the ball at some stages and lockdown didn’t help but I reflect on it,' said Martin. 'I used to micro-manage the club and I haven’t been doing that. But I’ve got a CEO in now who is very, very good.'"
Nevertheless, the Southend Echo adds that in a statement "'The Shrimpers Trust continues to hold Ron Martin responsible for the slow painful decline of OUR football club... We will not forget the position that Ron has put the football club in until we have a sustainable, stable club which operates at a standard we deserve.
“Could this change happen under Ron Martin? Possibly, but unlikely without a radical change of governance.'
The Trust helped to promote an online poll which saw 95 per cent of the 1,811 votes saying they had no confidence in Martin’s running of the club...
And the Trust also wants fans to play their part by creating the best possible atmosphere at Roots Hall. 'On the call with Stan Collymore, he also called for a ceasefire on the protests,' said the statement. 'Conversely, we understand the passion in our fan base and the need to protest to make feelings known... The atmosphere around Roots Hall is toxic and the Trust now urges our fans to create the best possible matchday environment for the new management to prosper and deliver improved performance.
'This is not letting Ron Martin off the hook; this is giving Southend United the best possible chances to survive this season. Do we really want to be part of the problem?'"
In similar vein, from the other side, the Southend Echo we learn that "chairman Ron Martin has called on supporters to stop protesting against his running of the club...
He said 'I understand their frustration, disappointment and anger. But protesting against me, right now we need a moratorium and a period of peace to allow new management to come in and we need to win some football games. I’ll think we’ll do it. I’ll continue to support the football club financially but just bear with us and let’s work as a club.
'Let’s stay as a club and work together, not against each other... 'I understand the fans protests and they have a right to do that,' said Martin. 'Maybe it’s lockdown, there’s a lot of anger and tension right now... I don’t think it helps the players on the pitch when there are protests...
'For all the people that are making a lot of noise in the stadium, I get an equal number of people saying the opposite,” said Martin. "Don’t let us down, keep at it, don’t listen to those idiots". I’m not saying they’re idiots and they’ve got a right to protest but it won’t change anything. What we need is positivity around the place and we haven’t had that for a long time...
'The club is not sustainable and it has never been at Roots Hall,' said Martin. 'It can’t compete. We have very advanced plans for its relocation and the plans will be considered this month by the council. We have the funding in place and I want to deliver its future. I know I can deliver its future infrastructure.
'I can’t guarantee its future on the pitch but I can provide the infrastructure for it to succeed. We’re tangibly close and I will do that, I’m not a quitter...
'I own the ground its on and there needs to be a future built for the club so it can succeed without me. I can deliver that... If I stepped out today then they wouldn’t be able to meet the obligations within weeks. Not everyone wants me to go and If I walked away it would probably go bust.'”
The Magpies had been looking to build on their goalless draw at Yeovil Town in mid-week but instead produced one of their poorer displays of the campaign...
Assistant boss Peters insists the club has the right manager and characters in the dressing room to turn things around and says ‘It’s just a matter of time’ before they get back to winning ways.
However, he also admitted the players confidence had taken a hit following a run of six defeats in eight matches and, but for the display of goalkeeper Rhys Lovett on Saturday the margin of victory for Altrincham would have been much greater.
United started the season with a couple of impressive victories...
'Although we were tough to beat in the first half, we never really looked like scoring,' Peters admitted in a post match interview with BBC Berkshire. 'When we came in at half-time, we asked them to be a little bit more aggressive in their press and to try and get a little bit further up the field but, in the end, the opposite happened, and they (Altrincham) grew into the game a lot more. Rhys has had to pull off a few saves, so they deserved their 2-0 win.
'There are always things you can learn, but you only want your goalkeeper to be man-of-the-match if you come away with a victory. That just shows we've allowed the opposition too many attempts on our goal and essentially, that's the reason we lost...
'Players are coming in and out and until we find the right formula'...
Much of the squad... were at the club last season but they do seem to be missing the guile in midfield of James Comley and the goalscoring prowess of Josh Coley and Danilo Orsi-Dadomo...
Said Peters... 'The gaffer is always looking out for players who can improve and bolster the side. Some of our players are just a little bit low on confidence, their ability isn’t shining through at the moment but when it does, we’ll win more games than we lose.
'The gaffer will identify some players who he'll want to have a conversation with. He'll pull them aside and let them know they're doing fine, and it will come. While there are some others that just need training, repetition of the same thing over and over again'".
You can follow the action via Radio Robins.
Yeovil Town state that they "will look to bounce back from Saturday’s disappointing result as Altrincham visit Huish Park (7:45pm).
After a defeat at home to Notts County, Darren Sarll and his players will be desperate to right the wrongs from Saturday and start climbing the National League table once again.
Since turning full-time in the summer [not the case!], Altrincham have enjoyed a positive start to the season, currently sitting in 8th place, most recently beating Maidenhead United 2-0 at Moss Lane.
Speaking after Saturday’s defeat to Notts County, Darren Sarll said 'We deserved that (negative) reaction from the supporters, we’ve brought that onto ourselves with a lack of bravery in possession. These young lads will have to get through it.
'It was just so weak, in possession we’ve been trying to add an extra pass, but we may have to change that.'”
And, underlining how the goals have come from all quarters, none of the scorers has netted more than once in any individual game.
Above: A-Jay Leitch-Smith scores against Dover Athletic.
On the opening day of the campaign, last-season's runner ups were despatched at Plainmoor and The Gulls have now lost five times this season.
Notts County were unbeaten before they lost to Altrincham , which started a run of three successive reverses for the Magpies.
Dagenham and Redbridge were league leaders and unbeaten at home when they faced Alty but after being beaten by the Robins at Victoria Road, they have now lost three on the bounce.
Defenders Connell Rawlinson and, Kyle Cameron both suffer[ed] injuries which saw the Magpies bring in Ciaran Brennan, despite the return to popular centre back Alex Lacey who has since picked up a knock himself.
The injuries coincided with a run of poor form for Notts, as they lost 3 games back-to-back...
Said Notts County, head coach Ian Burchnall... 'Alex Lacey was probably the lowest risk to get back on the pitch but, after those two games in quick succession, he was really struggling on Wednesday, so we just decided that we couldn't risk it today we had to rest him...
'Connell Rawlinson should be back ready for the FA Cup game, Kyle Cameron's back, he came through that really well.'
Due to an injury to Sam Slocombe, Notts brought in highly-rated youngster Anthony Patterson...
'Adam Chicksen's playing through, He's got a bad rib injury, he came off. To be honest, he was in a lot of pain before the game', he said...
'Joel Taylor pulled up with just a tight groin yesterday, so again, we need to treat him'", he ended.
Both chances [?teams] wasted opportunities to break the deadlock before Town's late winner, with Woking passing up two clear-cut opportunities to edge ahead in the first half....
'The heartbreaking thing was I thought we battled very well again, we should have scored,' Dowson told Woking FC's YouTube channel. 'We missed some great chances in the first half, we missed a free header and Inih (Effiong) went around the goalkeeper. Some great skill and crosses across the box that the front two need to be there for.
'I felt we missed that cutting edge in the final third. The back three were immense but the goal is sloppiness. We have to clear the ball better down the left and it's a good strike but where is our midfielder?... They're a very good side but I feel like we're becoming 'nearly men'. We've been very good in the last few weeks and the opposition we've played are very good but I'm sick of little things making us the 'nearly men'...
'We didn't create in the final third, if you create those chances, you have to score the goals. They had a couple of chances but that strike is the difference of us being a top two or three side, which I think we're very close to.'"
Duncan will remain involved at the Football Club in the position he previously held as Academy Manager".
Lancashire Live reports that his dismissal from Southend means that "Brown has now been sacked from jobs in each of the top five divisions in England". It adds that "with PNE mid table in the third tier, he was axed to add to earlier departures from Derby County and Hull City while he's also lost his job at Swindon Town and now twice at Southend.
Brown's major achievements as a manager were leading Hull to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2008 while he also tasted success at Wembley with Southend in 2015".
Terras’ manager Stock is presiding over a seven-game winless streak, but in this game Weymouth started brightly.
Omar Mussa had the best opening inside the first 10 minutes, only to see his effort cleared off the line. Halifax had limited clear openings until Jordan Slew tucked home at the back post in the 33rd minute.
The contest ebbed and flowed with minor chances for both sides until Kian Spence settled the outcome nine minutes from time.
Speaking after Weymouth dropped into the relegation zone, Stock said, 'We started, again, very well. We had an opportunity with Omar and, if he puts that away again, I keep saying it, it would be a different story...
'Even up until when they scored the first goal, it was quite an entertaining game... It was in the balance until one quality ball flashed across our box and Slew’s tapped it in. For all the hard work the lads have put it, we’ve come up short.
'But you look at the performance and we’ve done well... From box to box, our general play was good. I just think we’ve lacked again in both boxes@".
Town have twice reached the National League play-offs under Bosomworth...
'We're all frustrated sometimes by the decisions you have to make based on the funds you haven't got, but so long as I feel that we're pushing Halifax in the right direction then I'm more than happy, as it stands, to continue,' he said...
'Our desire to get into the Football League has not diminished but the job has got more difficult'...
Bosomworth accepts that Town are competing in a totally different environment to the National League they first joined under Neil Aspin in 2013. 'The ante has been upped for sure,' he said. 'Wrexham, Stockport and Chesterfield are the headliners in that respect, but you've got Notts County who will be big spenders because they attract big crowds. That's what makes the difference really from the likes of ourselves.
'If you're getting gate receipts of more than a million pounds, then it gives you more clout. But it's not just those teams, you've got Dagenham and Redbridge, Bromley and Solihull Moors, there are a lot of big spenders elsewhere. The clout's got bigger and the depth of it has got greater.
'The mantra was that we want to get FC Halifax Town into the Football League and to join where Halifax Town AFC had been. The landscape's changed beyond all recognition from the 12 or 13 years ago when Halifax Town AFC were in the Conference...
'I think you could take the top half of the division and stick it in League Two and it would compete very well. Some of the budgets being spent are bigger than those in League Two and one or two in League One'...
Bosomworth is positive about the financial state of the club though, and says 'The most important thing is we need to get the fans through the gate... We've seen a general increase in the numbers coming in, but we've also been blessed by Altrincham, Southend and Stockport having good travelling support...
'Season tickets have held up well from last year, we've virtually sold the same number... We need to get the hardcore of support between 2,000 and 2,500 to show real progress'...
Bosomworth said 'We applied for the Sport England loan and it was accepted, but we were only offered half the amount we originally asked for. We'll shortly be in a position where we talk more about the detail on that... Some clubs have already spent that money, some have spent most of it and are still working with. We're a mixture of both, we've spent some of it and are using some to hopefully make up for the time it takes to get people back on board after not going out watching sport live, to get the bug again or to feel confident again to come to the games'...
Bosomworth admitted that, without the loan from Sport England, Halifax and other clubs would have been struggling... With costs rising, it was a reluctant but necessary decision to increase admission prices...
'"At the end of the Boreham Wood game the other week, the average age of the team was just under 23 years old, which is outstanding. There's people who help alert us to these players but it's having the time to go and have a look.
We have to do our due diligence on players before we sign them but obviously Pete is busy with the team and the fixtures, which absorb a lot of time, so it's difficult to get out and see those players...
'We do feel that there's a couple of areas we want to strengthen on the pitch,' he said... 'We've probably had four strikers who have joined rival teams... We perhaps need to bring one more experienced defender in, but having said that, we've brought Jesse Debrah in and he's done very well and he'll be given every chance'...
On Town boss Wild, who Bosomworth appointed in summer 2019, the chairman said 'We're punching above our weight, and we're doing that because Pete works really hard and he's got good people around him... I think he's doing a really good job'...
Wild recently completed his masters in sports coaching, something Bosomworth admires about the Town manager".
Perhaps the most noteworthy fact was that Saturday's gate of 2,091, following on from Tuesday's gate of 2,882, seems to have been the first time Alty had hosted more than 2,000 spectators for consecutive home league games since 1991 when the club was pushing for the league title and drew 2,361 versus Sutton United followed by 2,524 for the next home league match, versus Northwich Victoria on 2 May 1991.
The same feat had also been achieved a few weeks earlier for the successive visits of Barnet and Fisher.
This time, however, the "double" took place within the same week. Admittedly, a small factor in Saturday's attendance may have been the absence of rival attractions in the Premier League and Championship because of England's international in Andorra, but there is no doubt the club's popularity is on the rise.
Whilst last Tuesday's gate was boosted by 1,251 away fans, just 52 of the gate on Saturday were opposition supporters.
In addition, other "firsts" on Saturday were...
The son of former Altrincham player of the 1980s, Peter Densmore, Shaun followed his father into the England semi-pro international side.
A regular starter initially in central midfield, Shaun was named captain on the departure of Robbie Lawton in November, 2011, a role subsequently assumed by Jake Moult in 2017. Most of his appearances have been at right-back but he is also impressive in midfield and a capable left-back.
Following the resignation of manager Neil Young on 28 August 2016, Shaun, along with Alan Goodall and Jake Moult, was appointed to a joint caretaker-management role before the brief tenure of Jim Harvey.
In recent seasons his appearances have been impacted by a number of injuries but he has always proved dependable when he has played. In addition to his 299 starts he had also made 37 appearances from the bench and scored 29 goals.
“I wanted to join the club as I’ve played against Altrincham many times over the last few seasons and never had an easy game against them. “Phil Parkinson has achieved good things with this squad and I wanted to be a part of it as soon as I knew that he was interested in taking me to the club.
“We also play attacking football which is suited to my game and was another important factor in joining the club.”
He paid tribute to former club, Chester FC where “I grew so much as a player and as a person while working with Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley... The atmosphere was great within the group of players as a whole and the fans at the club are the best fans that I have played under so far in my career.
“I only have great memories of the club and wish everyone at Chester nothing but success"...
Brad concluded “I am also enjoying working with my current manager at Altrincham, Phil Parkinson, too. I have learned a lot from him during my short time at the club.”
The historical record is:
Previewing the game, Sports Mole says "Altrincham will be looking to continue their positive start...
Yeovil occupy 15th, having collected 10 points from their first eight fixtures.
Yeovil, who finished 16th in the National League last season, will enter Tuesday's contest off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Notts County on Saturday, and the club are now winless in their last four in the league. The Glovers were last victorious in the National League away to Stockport County on September 11, losing to Chesterfield, Boreham Wood and Notts County since, in addition to drawing with Maidenhead United...
[They are] two points clear of the relegation zone, but they have three games in hand over a lot of teams around them... Phil Parkinson's side have now won four of their last five in the league, only losing to leaders Grimsby during that run, so the visitors will be full of confidence...
The fact that they are only four points off fourth-placed Chesterfield with two games in hand is an indication of the strength of their opening to the 2021-22 campaign".
With no one else playing in midweek, a win for Alty would move them up to fifth place.
Curtis Miller's Trafford bowed out of the FA Trophy at Shawe View, losing on penalties to Bootle.
Right: Curtis Miller.
Paddy Lacey played for Chester FC against Kettering, Craig Mahon and Craig Hobson played for Curzon Ashton, whilst Danny Mitchley netted for Skelmersdale.
An Echosport poll, which has already attracted more than 1,300 votes, has 81 per cent of supporters agreeing with Ron Martin’s decision to part company with Brown...
'Phil Brown had to go after that but the mood of the crowd showed that far more needs to change,' said Andy Moorhouse. 'If Ron thinks that will placate things for a while he is completely wrong. The only highlight today was the reaction of the Chesterfield fans which was nice to see.'
The visiting supporters joined in with chants for Martin to quit the club and also held up ‘Martin Out’ banner which was passed to them by Shrimpers supporters during the latter stages of the second half.
Brown was dismissed as manager, along with his assistant Craig Fagan, shortly after the 4-0 defeat came to an end'...
Southend fans halted play during the second half to protest against Martin... [Supporter] Tom Livermore said, 'I just don’t see how any new coach would want to walk in to that atmosphere'".
BBC tells us that "Former Southend United striker Stan Collymore has offered to work for free to help them improve their fortunes...
'There's a loser's mentality at the club, but if I get involved for free or paid, part time or full time, it will be arrested tomorrow morning, I guarantee it,' he told BBC Essex. The former striker, who played for Southend in the 1992-93 season, was involved in Tom Lawrence joining the club this year as chief executive, and said he has continued to offer chairman Ron Martin his help since July.
'I've said to him "get me involved in the club, no money Ron, no money",' the former Liverpool player said... 'I will go and watch games, I will get two exceptional recruitment specialists to get you players in budget, I will get you a manager or managers in front of you that can play attacking, open, front-foot football, that have integrity.
'If I can deliver Southend United what I promise tomorrow, Monday, Friday and then in two or three or six months' time and the club are in a healthy position, then we'll sit down and talk about a longer-term involvement... What I'm seeing now is the slow death of a football club,' he added...
The performance and result aside, Saturday was another damaging day in the recent history of Southend United. Phil Brown's recruitment policy has been questioned since the season began, with a number of experienced players unable to halt the club's slide and his team selection becoming increasingly erratic.
He admitted he may need 20 games to understand the National League and what is required to compete in it but after a promising start he watched his side drain of confidence and he either lacked the ability to turn it around or, more likely, did not have the resources to do so...
More than 3,000 season tickets were sold before the season; an amazing number given the miserable viewing served-up by those pulling on the Blue shirt... Neil Smith and Darren Currie have already been linked to the job, but the truth is, without a proper structured plan in place and an end to the constant off-field dramas, it is difficult to see how anyone could be expected to work the miracles required.
The club is a mess, with the chairman pushing on with his plans for a new stadium while Roots Hall slowly falls into a dilapidated state".
He said 'Weymouth set up well to frustrate us, and when they had the ball they played okay. But, all-in-all we controlled the game and played well in patches, albeit we were a little flat'.
He added 'The gaffer told us at half time that we needed to up our tempo and I thought we upped it at times in the second half. Then we got our second goal, but when Weymouth changed their formation, it made it harder for us but we kept the clean sheet'...
'I’m so, so, so happy to be back,' he said with a smile...'I’ve been sat at home on the sofa just flicking through the scores on my phone to see if the team is winning... but I want to be a part of that, so I’m happy to be back'...
The next week for the Shaymen will see trips to Ilkley Town and Pontefract Collieries in the West Riding County Cup and Emirates FA Cup respectively. .. He stated 'We don’t disrespect any team at any level, because anybody can beat anybody'".
Head Coach, Ian Burchnall expressed his relief after beating Yeovil Town 2-0 away... but [it] comes at a time when fixtures are becoming increasingly harder on paper, with Stockport County next up...
Ian Burchnall said 'Very relieved, yeah, especially after the kind of week, or so that we've just had really disappointing results and the nature of them as well... We stayed very calm and then, even after two nil, you see, we kept the ball in their half, instead of stressing, and I think we just saw the game out in a much more mature way'.
Notts County forward, Ruben Rodrigues has stepped back into the spotlight initially after the suspension to team-mate Cal Roberts, by becoming the club's current highest goal scorer in the National League with 6 goals.
'Four in his last three, he could have had more today... I thought he defended very well for us, from the front and found the spaces between the lines very well'".
"But it was a comfortable victory against a decent side that make it difficult for teams.
"We should've been in front in the first half but for some good blocks by them but it was great play by our wide players for the goals in the second half.
"And after we went in front they gave us a lot of space and that allowed our lads to get in, behind".
Match report here
Above: Alty line-up before kick off. Left to right, Shaun Densmore, Tom Hannigan, Josh Hancock, Joel Senior, Matty Kosylo, Dan Mooney, Toby Mullarkey, Marcus Dinanga.
Yeovil Town reported that The Glovers "were left frustrated once again as Notts County were the 2-0 victors at Huish Park.
Goals in either half from Ruben Rodrigues were enough against a Yeovil side that struggled to create clear-cut opportunities all afternoon.
Darren Sarll made three changes to the side that drew with Maidenhead United on Tuesday evening. However, the rearguard remained unchanged as Grant Smith remained in goal, whilst Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton and Jack Robinson lined up in the back four.
Looking for energy in the middle of the park, Matt Worthington was brought in to do just that alongside Dale Gorman. There was a debut for Luton Town loanee Dion Periera on the right flank and Tom Knowles began on the left. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton returned to the side to partner Joe Quigley..
Notts County took the lead in the 17th minute, after the Yeovil midfield sat off, Ruben Rodrigues danced through the side and saw his deflected effort squirm beyond Grant Smith...
In truth, chances were few and far between for Yeovil...
The second half started with Yeovil enjoying a lot of the ball, but the hosts were able to hit on the break... It took 75 minutes for a chance of real quality to fall Town’s way. After Charlie Wakefield beat three Notts defenders, Ben Seymour broke into the right channel and fired an effort on goal, this was punched into Pereira’s path by Patterson but the Luton loanee used his hand to get the ball under control.
As Yeovil were starting to build up steam, the hosts provided a sucker-punch on 80 minutes as Rodrigues headed home his second goal of the game... It was ultimately a comfortable afternoon for Notts County who ensured Yeovil Town’s winless run would be extended to four games.
Yeovil Town: Smith; Robinson, Moss, Hunt, Staunton, Robinson; Gorman (Rose), Worthington, Knowles (Wakefield), Pereira; Lo-Everton (Seymour), Quigley. Subs not used: Barnett, Yussuf".
Kyle Perry was sent off for two yellow-card offences when his Kettering Town side drew 0-0 with Chester FC.
On Saturday "Southport went down to a 3-1 defeat to York and stay rooted to the bottom of the table.
The scoreline flatters the home side but in the end nobody could deny them the victory... and could have been 2-0 up after just five minutes.
After weathering the early onslaught Southport came more into the game... Former ‘Port player Matty Brown gave the home side the lead on 29 minutes.
Far from letting the heads drop Southport came straight back through a penalty on 32 minutes after Jordan Archer was hauled to the floor. The referee decided it only warranted a yellow card rather than red. Josh Hmami took over penalty taking duties and slotted home to make it 1-1...
York looked much better in the second period... before they took the lead through Akil Wright who had a free header from close in. 2-1... The impressive Olly Dyson sealed the win in the 85th minute with a tap in with Southport pushing forward to make it 3-1...
Line Up: Mason, Oliver, J Doyle, Anson, Tharme, Archer (Watson 64), Carver (Woods 79), C Doyle, Hmami (Buckley Ricketts 64) Vassallo, Bainbridge".
The setback saw the sub-standard Shrimpers slip to 20th in the National League standings, just above the drop zone on goal difference.
But the miserable match will long be remembered for the protesting Blues fans who came onto the pitch to vent their fury against chairman Ron Martin and halted play for more than five minutes in the second half.
In stark contrast, the game started slowly before promotion chasing Chesterfield opened the scoring in the 19th minute, with Danny Rowe on target.
Rowe, who scored at Roots Hall for Bradford City last season, was again on target against the Shrimpers... The goal came just seconds before Blues’ fans protests against club chairman Martin with sections of the Roots Hall faithful holding up red cards to make their feelings clear.
The Shrimpers soon came close to drawing back level... In reply, Rowe... was not to be denied for long as he doubled Chesterfield’s lead in the 40th minute..
Blues hit back with Nathan Ferguson firing over from just inside the penalty area...
In a bid to improve, Blues boss Phil Brown made a double change at the break with Rhys Murphy taking the place of Hamzad Kargbo and Terrell Egbri coming on for Kimpioka...
Chesterfield made it 3-0 with a well-worked goal.
Rowe... played in Jeff King whose fine right wing cross was fired home at the far post by Saidou Khan.
The Shrimpers made their third change in the 61st minute with Sam Dalby replacing Will Atkinson. But Chesterfield remained on top and made it 4-0 in the 73rd minute, with Rowe completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot...
However the Spireites’ fourth goal sparked protests from the Shrimpers faithful, with around 100 fans coming onto the pitch to protest against Martin.
The supporters made their way across to the dug-outs leading referee Tallis to lead both teams off the pitch for more than five minutes.
But once play resumed Chesterfield continued to threaten with both Laurence Maguire and King going close to scoring during 14 minutes of stoppage time before fans also came onto the pitch at the final whistle to protest."
As reported yesterday, manager Phil Brown and his assitant were sacked after the game.
The Grimsby Telegraph says that "Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst felt his side were good value for their victory as a last-gasp Harry Clifton winner secured a 1-0 win at Woking... extending their winning run to three matches.
A hard-fought game seemed to be heading for a stalemate, only for boyhood Town lad Clifton to rifle the ball from the edge of the area and send the travelling 900 fans home happy...
Woking had beaten promotion rivals Dagenham and Redbridge, Notts County and Chesterfield in the build-up to the match.
Yet Hurst felt his side matched Woking's physical threat and defended well, whilst remaining a threat at the opposite end of the pitch.
'Woking have been on a fantastic run themselves, you can see how they make it hard for teams,' Hurst said. 'I did feel at 0-0 we got on top of the game, it was on a knife-edge. They are a really big team and a threat from set-pieces, we did well from those and made it difficult for them.
'At half time, we heard a message that they thought they were out-working us. I don't think they have that capability. I think, as a result, we got on top of the game. Our pressure in terms of territory and ball possession paid off.'
Max Wright made his return for Town and supplied Clifton with the assist for the winner after over a month on the treatment table".
Lynn who named an unchanged starting XI from Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Barnet started the game looking to continue their fine form which has seen them pick up 4 points from 7 on the road[?]...
With Lynn pushing... their first real shot on target came in the 42nd minute...
Second half and Lynn were straight out of the blocks looking for that first goal...
The number 64 will be a number burned into the mind of young striker Joe Taylor as he would come on for his first appearance in the league for Lynn after a outstanding 21 goals in 13 matches for Wroxham FC. Taylor wouldn’t take long to get the crowd roaring as his burst of pace got him away from the Solihull defender and push Lynn high up the pitch...
Solihull however would find a winner after the referee gave a very soft... free kick for a point blank hand-ball on Taylor. The ball was floated towards the back post and nodded down and, after a few seconds of pinball, would see Danny Newton poke it beyond the helpless Jones in net.
Heartbreak at the death for Lynn who now lie 20th after 10 games".
Despite Boreham Wood’s domination, it was the Daggers who came out of the blocks quickly by forcing a succession of corners...
The second half started brightly for the hosts and almost straight away, Will Evans had a shot cleared off the line. Then on forty-nine minutes, they took the lead. A Mafuta shot was deflected into the path of Fyfield who finished well beyond Elliot Justham...
On fifty-nine minutes, Wood doubled their lead when Marsh picked out Josh Rees who slammed his shot home... The visitors were struggling to get a foothold in the game and chances for them were few and far between...
It was a thoroughly impressive performance from Luke Garrard’s men. They recovered from a shaky start and very quickly got a foothold in the game. The Boreham Wood manager has got his team playing with such confidence that it is hard to find any fault with them. To be second in the league after eleven games in quite an achievement..
It was great to see the impact that the increased attendance had on the players today. There is a real buzz among the players and supporters going into the big FA Cup tie at Barnet next Saturday".
The home fans ran onto the turf again after the full-time whistle before it emerged that Southend manager Phil Brown had been sacked.
The travelling Chesterfield fans showed their support for Southend’s protests throughout the game.
Town’s first-team coach Danny Webb said Chesterfield could not afford to feel ‘sorry’ for Southend and had to get the job done.
'It was a fantastic performance,' Webb explained. 'It is nice to score four, get a clean sheet and the three points. I thought the general play was excellent and we did the horrible stuff well... We knew that this place was on the edge a bit in terms of their fans and what they are going through at the moment. We thought that could work in our favour if we got that first goal.
'It was a great first goal from Rowey and after that it was one-way traffic... The gaffer’s main point at half-time was to kick-on and not sit in. We did exactly that'...
Webb played for Southend himself and his dad David managed the club. 'It is a sad situation which Southend are in but we can’t come here and feel sorry for people and the players did that today,' he said.
'There are some good people at Southend and, to be fair to their fans, when they did come on the pitch they did not give our players any grief...
'That is now one defeat in 11, 22 points, so that is two points a game, it has been a really good start.'
Rowe scored two classy goals before grabbing his treble from the penalty spot... 'Even his penalty is unbelievable in terms of how hard he hits it,' Webb said. 'Away from his goals he won headers, he worked back, tackled and he sprinted. That is the stuff you need to win promotions, you need all your players to be doing that'...
The only downside of the afternoon from a Chesterfield point of view was injuries to Fraser Kerr, Saidou Khan and Curtis Weston who all had to come off".
Dean Bennan’s side started quickly and found the net after two minutes ... However the linesman had raised his flag for offside.
After some continued pressure, the Bees broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when Mason-Clark beat a defender to pick out Ben Richards-Everton at the back-post. The towering centre-half headered back across goal to Mason Bloomfield who nodded in from close-range.
Dover responded and tested Aston Oxborough...
Dean Brennan’s side doubled their advantage just before the hour-mark when the ball was played into Bloomfield who showed his strength to hold up the ball and play through Powell. The Bees’ 30 year-old took it in his stride before calmly slotting low past the Dover ‘keeper.
The Whites pulled one back in the 64th minute when Aaron Cosgrave found space on the edge of the box to get his shot away into the bottom left corner, past the outstretched arms of Oxborough.
Andy Hessenthaler’s side almost levelled the scoring in the 70th minute".
In a match ultimately light on clear-cut chances, Jordan Slew burned Weymouth’s good early work with a neat finish at the back post 33 minutes in.
Halifax had half-chances to extend their lead either side of the break and Weymouth did not often enough work Town keeper Sam Johnson.
The resulting effect saw Halifax seal victory through Kian Spence with eight minutes remaining, Weymouth unable to respond.
While this was an upgrade on Tuesday’s loss at Bromley, Weymouth’s poor form has dipped them into the relegation zone.
Weymouth boss Brian Stock made three changes to the side that began the 3-0 loss at the Ravens in midweek. Dropped to the bench were skipper Josh McQuoid, Brad Ash and Taofiq Olomowewe. In came Cameron Murray, Tom Bearwish and Josh Leslie-Smith.
Weymouth had plenty of attacking options on the bench, with strikers McQuoid and Ash plus winger Ahkeem Rose all at their disposal.
Winless in six games, Weymouth were in need of a good start...
Halifax took the lead in the 33rd minute. In truth it was Halifax’s first move of any real quality as Tyrell Warren pinged in a delicious ball to Slew who finished well at the back post...
Waters and Warburton were both off-target... before Spence applied the finishing touch to securing the three points. There was a touch of misfortune to the goal for Weymouth as the cross in bounced awkwardly for Leslie-Smith, allowing Spence to fire home...
Their performance was just enough to beat Weymouth who improved on the Bromley defeat but failed to pose Halifax goalkeeper Johnson serious problems.
The Terras slipped to a fourth consecutive loss, dropping into 21st in the process".
Above: Substitute Tom Peers wrapped up the 2-0 win and he is seen here during the match with Josh Hancock.
Against obdurate opponents who, nevertheless, troubled Tony Thompson in the first half more than Alty occupied his counterpart, half-time was reached with the game goalless. Alty had started well but had not maintained their impetus.
Eleven minutes after the break Shaun Densmore threaded a superb ball forward to Mooney whose low cross, from the right, was slid into the net by Matty Kosylo.
Despite Altrincham dominating the second half they could not find a second goal till the ninetieth minute when substitute Brad Jackson produced a fine cross from the right which, emulating Kosylo's goal, Tom Peers slid in to put in the net to make it 2-0.
Match report here
After the game the club said, "Southend United can confirm that Phil Brown and Craig Fagan have been relieved of their duties effective immediately.
The search for a new manager starts today.
The club will be making no further comment at this time".
Maidenhead's only previous visit, on Saturday, 28 November, 2020, ended in a 2-0 home win, thanks to second-half goals from Hancock and Peers.
After a bright start from Altrincham, the visitors came into the game and had slightly the better of the first half after about fifteen minutes had been played. But a floodlight failure halted the game for a twelve minute period on 31 minutes.
But the quality improved in the second half with Alty having the better of things and becoming much the better side. The vistors had to change their keeper Ashby-Hammond at the break, as he needed stitches.
Altrincham then took the lead from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute. As Hancock got into the box, left of goal, he nodded the ball down to the advancing Colclough who was brought down and Hancock netted the resulting spot kick.
Substitute Tom Peers made the game safe when he finished off a fine move up the right by Smith and Senior in the 79th minute. Coincidentally the refeee for that match was the man who officiated at Moss LAne last Tuesday against Grimsby, Stephen Copeland.
Unavailable for Altrincham for the match, were the injured Andy Dales, Sean Williams, Toby Mullarkey, Simon Richman and Dan Mooney, whilst Connor Hampson had been added to the list following a knock in midweek. However, Andy White returned to the starting eleven as did Tom Hannigan, Joel Senior and Yusifu Ceesay.
Maidenhead manager Alan Devonshire did not travel having had a hip replacement operation but hoepefully the former West Ham star will be present complete with his trademark cap!
Alty lined up as follows: 1. Tony THOMPSON, 2. Andy WHITE, 4. Ritchie SUTTON, 4. Tom HANNIGAN, 24. Joel SENIOR, 6. Jake MOULT (c), 29. Alistair SMITH, 15. Matty KOSYLO, 11. Yusifu CEESAY 10. Josh HANCOCK, 9. Fisayo ADARABIOYO. Subs: 19. Joe ROBBINS, 20. Shaun DENSMORE, 23. Tom PEERS, 34. Ryan COLCLOUGH. 12. Curtis MILLER
Just five of those players started last Tuesday's game.
Maidenhead started this season with two wins but have not won since, in seven matches.
Their line up in a goalless draw at Yeovil last Tuesday comprised: 26 James Holden, 24 Alan Massey, 15 Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi, 7 Josh Coley, 3 George Wells, 17 Reece Smith, 5 Manny Parry. 14 Rohan Ince 10 Orsi-Dadomo, 19 Ryan Upward, 8 James Comley. Subs: 2 Kyran Wiltshire, 11 Dan Sparkes, 12 Brad Keetch, 18 Alfie Egan
'They gave is all the respect in the world with the way they worked and closed us down... a bit like Sutton United did last season...
'Their organisation and work-rate separated them for a lot of the teams we have faced and it took that second yellow card to turn the game in our favour...
'We took full advantage with the substituions we made and the change to our shape, with the full-backs going really high, and it nearly paid off...
'The atmosphere was dynamite, both sets of supporters made it really special, but we are so disappointed'"
The 28 year-old joined Altrincham after spending 2020-21 season playing both at National League club Hartlepool United and EFL relegation club, Grimsby Town.
With five Altrincham defenders out injured as the 2021-22 season got under way, Joe was signed by Phil Parkinson on 24 August 2021, having made his only pre-season appearance, three days earlier, behind closed doors against Huddersfield Town "B".
His Alty league career started in the second fixture of the season, at FC Halifax Town, and he went on to play the full match against Notts County and also started against King's Lynn Town before limping off in the second half.
In addition to those three starts he played 70 minutes as a substitute against Wealdstone.
So, in all he made 3(+1) appearances.
Ryan Morton was the hat-trick hero and Joel Trevor was also on the mark for the squad that was coached by Neil Sorvel, Phil Parkinson and Matt Gould. The Academy have won three of their first four games.
Altrincham sit second in the league...
Match Squad: Ryan Forde, Owen German, Tom Jones, Joel Trevor, Adam Lynch, Ryan Morton, Liam Evans, Ewan McGeady, Joe Cooney, Harlan Rodgers-Morris, Joe Holt, Louis Williams, Yusuf Adeniyi, Sam Balogan, Alfie Houghton
Previous results were:
During the interview with Brian Flynn, Ross talks about his career in football to date, including academy coaching experience at Wigan Athletic and Tranmere Rovers, alongside spells as manager of Middlewich Town and Lostock Gralam.
Ross also discusses his brief at The J.Davidson Stadium in terms of facilitating the player pathway to the first team".
Altrincham's most recent game on 9 October was in 2010, a best-forgotten 3-0 defeat at Histon, which we recalled this time last year. Three years earlier, Alty had drawn 0-0 at home to Burton ALbion on 9 October 2007.
Burton had voluntarily moved from the National League South to North as they believed it was an easier route to promotion and so it proved in the following season. For Alty 2007-08 was to prove to be their third successive reprieved season, as they finished 21st but the demise of Halifax Town enabled them to stay in the Blue Square Premier (now National League).
Left: The effort put in by Warren Peyton was clear to see as he left the pitch after the game against Burton, followed by Carlos Logan.
This 2007 match was played on a Tuesday night when Altrincham took a deserved point against Burton, who had arrived looking to extend their 12-game unbeaten run and who were, as yet, undefeated away from home. For their part Alty had won two of their previous three games but they remained in the relegation zone.
Burton started well, attacking with pace against an Alty side which gave the ball away too often in the opening stages.
But the home side gradually settled and enjoyed the better of the 20 minutes before half-time, whilst Burton lost two players injured in the first 45 minutes. The second half was a slightly tamer affair but Alty withstood some late pressure thanks to a hardworking team performance. Future Premiershop defender Ryan Shotton, on loan at the time from Stoke City, was named Alty Man of the Match for the second successive game.
Alty were again without the injured Gareth Whalley and Stephen Rose, and Val Owen was added to the absentee list for this match. Jake Sedgemore replaced Owen in central midfield whilst Carlos Logan came into the starting line up at the expense of Pat McFadden on the left flank. Goalkeeper Stuart Coburn joined the bench as he recovered from injury.
ALTRINCHAM: 13. Richard ACTON; 15. Chris LANE, 5. Darren TINSON (capt), 16. Ryan SHOTTON, 3. Gary SCOTT; 7. Robbie LAWTON, 6. Jake SEDGEMORE, 11. Warren PEYTON, 22. Carlos LOGAN; 9. Colin LITTLE, 19. Chris SENIOR. Subs: 4. Karl MUNROE, 1 Stuart COBURN, 12. Joe O'NEILL, 17. Colin POTTS, 18. Pat McFADDEN.
The Southend Echo tells us that "Southend United manager Phil Brown insists he enjoys working with Simeon Akinola.
The Shrimpers' striker seemed destined to leave the club before being handed a surprise recall against Eastleigh on Tuesday night.
But, despite trying to move Akinola on, Brown stressed he does like the 29 -year-old.
'Having dealt with Sim since I arrived at the football club it’s been a chequered relationship, to say the least, but I like him,' said Brown.
'There’s something about him I like and I don’t know whether or not it’s the intelligence levels. He’s got a degree in engineering and an interesting background... but the most important thing is when he crosses that white line he has to have my interest and vice versa.'
Akinola started Tuesday night’s 1-0 win against Eastleigh... and the forward lasted an hour before being taken off.
'Of course he was going to be ring rusty on Tuesday and he’s playing alongside a player making his full debut,' said Brown. 'You would probably look at that and ask what am I doing but it was a 90 minute game-plan including the impact subs who certainly did impact the game in a massively positive way'".
Akinola has faced Altrincham in the past, scoring for Braintree Town against The Robins.
The midfielder has missed the last three matches... due to injury. Striker Stefan Payne is suspended but Oyeleke could return...
Manager James Rowe said 'It was too much of a risk on Tuesday. He is fully in training'...
Results on the pitch have been disappointing with just two wins from nine games leaving them 18th in their first season in the National League.
Following back-to-back relegations out of the Football League, the Shrimpers, managed by experienced former Hull City boss Phil Brown, are playing non-league football for the first time in 101 years. On Tuesday night, after a 1-0 home win against Eastleigh, Southend fans invaded the pitch to call for chairman Ron Martin to sell up.
'I am sure our supporters and people here within the club can find some similarities to what they are going through and what we went through as a club before my tenure in terms of their league position and happenings off the pitch with pressure on the owner,' Rowe said.
'We can’t be fooled by that, they have still got some good players in the squad and they can pick up a result anytime like they showed against Eastleigh on Tuesday. They performed well on Tuesday, they are not giving in, they changed their shape a little bit and they deserved their win in the end.
'It is not going to be us turning up and turning them over. We perhaps need to learn... that we need to start the game better. They have got some dribblers, they have got some pace in their team, they changed their front two and the two experienced ones who came on for the last half an hour had a real impact on the game as well.
'They have got experience through the spine, some exciting players and they can change their shape at any time and players to fit in different positions so we have got to be fully aware of that. But... we have got nothing to fear at this level. We are a good team, we play in different ways'".
Also from the Derbyshire Times comes news that
"Chesterfield’s George Carline is set to be out for five months with a serious knee injury he suffered in the draw against Wrexham.
The wing-back, who was voted the Spireites’ player of the year last season, was stretchered off late on at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old will have surgery on Saturday.
Town boss James Rowe said it was an ‘horrendous’ tackle and a ‘blatant’ red card...
'How the lad stayed on the pitch I will never know and to not even be given a foul for it is an absolute disgrace,' Rowe said... 'I feel for the boy because he has actually hairline fractured his knee in the tackle. He was in pain at half-time but he wanted to stay on which sums up his character. He has gone back out and the knee has just fell [sic] away. It is a completely fractured knee cap so it is a long-term injury and he is out for five months...
'The surgeon said he has never seen anything like it in terms of a professional sports person. He is a top surgeon who deals with a lot of players at a lot of levels. It is more an injury you get an impact from in say a fatal car crash. His knee is completely severed off'...
Rowe highlighted a ‘flaw’ in the ‘scandalous feedback process’ for officials at National League level in that there is only one camera angle for them to look back at the game... 'I just find the feedback process scandalous...
'The National League level, for me, is getting more professional. There is more finance and better players are coming into it from higher levels as well and the game is getting faster, quicker and the quality in standard is much higher than when I started five years ago so the environment needs to improve...
'There are great strides being made in many areas but I do feel on the officiating that it is not up to speed... We have not been given the grace of playing 11v10 and we have suffered badly'”.
After signing a contract extension in August, the 22 year-old has headed to Huish Park in order to get regular game-time under his belt.
Pereira follows in the footsteps of Josh Neufville and Gabe Osho, who both spent time with Yeovil last season, and could feature up to six times in the month of October.
He impressed for the Hatters with a cameo role off the bench versus Stevenage in the Carabao Cup earlier this term and has been an unused substitute six times in the Sky Bet Championship, after making his debut as a late substitute on the final day of last season at QPR".
The Mariners have been scouting to add a new forward to their ranks but with players close to returning to first-team training, those plans have slightly cooled.
With Ryley Towler and Alex Hunt both on loan deals until January, Hurst has admitted his squad could change in the New Year.
That, as well as the improving health of his squad, could rule out the necessity of any imminent arrivals...
'We're not looking too urgently,' Hurst told BBC Humberside. 'We're not being complacent, there is a thought in my mind that we're in a good place as a squad. I don't want to bring someone in and they're not involved.
'I'm at a point where we nearly have a fit squad and then there are players that can't make the matchday 16 and I'm conscious of that'"
21 year-old Joel (right) was signed on 29 September 2020 after joining Altrincham for the 2020-21 pre-season. He had started out as a youngster with Oldham Athletic who released him at the age of 15, leading to a spell playing at Sunday-league level. His career was rebuilt via NW Counties football at Maine Road FC, followed by joining FC United of Manchester in National League North and then Curzon Ashton at the same level before he moved to Premiership club Burnley who later released him.
He made his league debut on 10 October 2020 at Eastleigh in the third game of 2020-21 season and established himself as first-choice in that position. He lifted several end of season awards including Manager's Player of the Season and he was the scorer of the Goal of the Season, scored against Chester in the FA Trophy. On 1 July 2021 it was announced that Joel had extended his contract.
Because of injuries to left-backs Andy White, Connor Hampson, David Fitzpatrick and Joe Bunney this season, Joel has several times had to play at left-back rather than on the right during this campaign. And he had proved his versatility with a consistently high level of performance.
It was all the more remarkable for having occurred on a very wet Tuesday night in a match against non-local opposition.
Since 1979-80, there has been at least one official league gate which was higher than last Tuesday's. That was for Altrincham v. Barnet on 30th March 1991, when the gate was officially cited as a round 3,000 and may have been higher.
Above: The packed away end at the JDS before kick-off on Tuesday night.
Of course, there have been higher attendances at Moss Lane than last Tuesday's at numerous FA Cup ties since 1979.
Clearly the 1,251 Grimsby supporters boosted the gate but, nevertheless, there was an admirable midweek turn out of 1,631 home fans who travelled to cheer on their local team.
Meanwhile on Tuesday at Wrexham, a capacity crowd of 9,147 saw the home side snatch a late equaliser against Chesterfield.
At the other end of the scale, on the same night, just 648 turned up at Crabble for Dover Athletic v Aldershot Town.
After 10 matches in the new season, Hurst has already spotted clear differences in how the league has evolved in the last five years, with more teams opting for a possession-based brand of football.
'I think in general, a lot more teams are looking to play a different style of football,' Hurst told Grimsby Live. 'I think they try to play out from the back a little bit more and that's a consequence of academy football and the way we see it on TV. Some do it better than others, with more success but I think that is the biggest difference.
'I still think the league itself, although we didn't have 4G surfaces because they weren't allowed last time I was here, it does show up some very different challenges.
'There are only a couple of part-time teams, different atmospheres, different grounds in comparison to any other league. That's what is intriguing and different.
'I think the mentality of the players has to be strong. When teams come to us, they will enjoy the atmosphere our fans create. At the same time, we have to flip that in our home games where it plays into our favour and we use it to inspire ourselves...
'We want to make it difficult for the opposition but overall, we're seen as a pretty big scalp at the minute. However long it lasts for, whether it's a couple of games that we're top of the league, which adds motivation for the opposition to beat us'".
The former AFC Wimbledon, Inverness and Hamilton front man signed for the Cards in the summer and impressed in the opening fixtures this term when forming a link with Tahvon Campbell...
Assistant manager Ian Dyer [said...] 'We were disappointed obviously with the tackle. He has had an operation and unfortunately he's going to be out for a while, we are talking several months'...
The Cards beat Dagenham & Redbridge 1-0 on Tuesday night (October 5) to make it three wins in a row and Dyer said 'We had to show different attributes of our game. We have been free-scoring with flowing football and here we had to roll our sleeves up and do it the hard way. They will be up there, they are a really strong side so to keep them, the top goalscorers in the league, to no goals and to win the game, that's massive credit to our boys'".
June's play-off finalists have won just three of their first 10 games. 'When you're in what they class as non-league they don't want their player going from a Championship club, for instance, and playing in non-league,' Johnson told BBC Sport.
'They haven't seen much of "non-league", as it were, but in my opinion League Two and the National League are very close now, as you can see by how well Sutton are doing, how well Harrogate are doing and how well Barrow have done'...
In the past month former goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald has returned to Plainmoor, while winger Alex Addai has signed a short-term contract.
'The stigma is we're still classed as non-league,' added Johnson... 'There are bigger teams in our league than there are in League Two and some in League One but the agents want their players to play in the Football League. You can get the real young ones and you can get the old ones, probably playing his last few games, but you want that middle range of 23 to 28 year-olds.
'But that's not easy'", he concluded.
Michael Doyle is being lined up for a return to Notts County's first team after head coach Ian Burchnall admitted he can help the Magpies learn the art of game management.
Doyle was appointed as the club's assistant head coach in the summer meaning he took a significant step back from his role as a player. But the Irishman, who still has the shirt number eight, has been told to get his boots ready as Notts aim to end a run of three successive defeats...
'We have discussed it and it's not necessarily that we need Michael to play every game but there might have been a moment against Halifax where he could have come in and settled the environment,' he said. 'A lot of what we do will come from the way in which we train and I've said to Doyler "maybe you need to get back on the training pitch and help the players understand from a coach on the pitch".
'He did that so well at the back end of last season, he understood what I wanted... Doyler will coach the players to understand that... He is still fit and in certain moments can give us something'".
The Sandgrounders will now host Altrincham on Saturday, 16 October in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round.
Southport already have tickets on sale.
He suffered a double compound fracture of the leg while typically trying to prevent a shooting opportunity for opponents Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale last month.
He was still sitting up in a London hospital after surgery, trying to come to terms with his misfortune, when news reached him of fund-raising efforts by both Wealdstone and Alty to help his rehabilitation...
It can now be revealed that the final amount is a grand total of £2,492, generated courtesy of Wealdstone's various initiatives and an Alty appeal...
In a subsequent tweet, Connor's mum Amanda announced the family's intention to travel over from South Yorkshire for the Maidenhead United game on Saturday and added she was keen to meet and thank the Alty medical team who cared for her son during the long wait for an ambulance to arrive at Wealdstone's ground, namely sports scientist and therapist Ryan Murray and strength and conditioning coach Ryan Spencer.
We're happy to oblige, Amanda, and not only are the two Ryans looking forward to meeting you, they can't wait to catch up with Connor again and get an update on his recovery, which is already showing signs of going well.
The midfielder has had a follow-up appointment in Leeds, after being transferred there, and the consultant who saw him delivered a positive assessment of the alignment surgery after examining x-rays".
Congratulations to all the winners!
Following their 3-2 win at Altrincham, the Grimsby Telegraph reports that Grimsby Town "claimed their second win in four days, beating Altrincham 3-2.
Despite Altrincham's fightback, which saw Town surrender two goals, Paul Hurst's side clung on for all three points.
It was a performance with two different sides; free-flowing football and resilience to defend with ten men, backs against the walls....
Bapaga's red card stunned the away fans and it's easy to see why Hurst was left perplexed at the decision. 'We won the game but I wasn't happy with it,' Hurst told the media... 'The referee has admitted that a handball kept John McAtee's header out (in the first half at 1-0) although he probably should have scored anyway. He said he was too close to the player for it to be a red card or a penalty, I don't get it. If that is too close, surely Will (Bapaga) is too close.
'The lad throws it at his head, realistically. There was something about Will jumping but he's thrown it at his head, let's not kid ourselves. There was two fouls by Will all night and he gets sent off and it caused a nervy ending.'...
With Hurst instructing his players not to allow Altrincham time to build from the back, John McAtee often led the press and it forced the hosts to play more direct, which didn't suit their style of play.
Town, by contrast, were calm and composed in midfield, with Ben Fox and Alex Hunt controlling the midfield battle...
It shouldn't be understated how easily Town adapted to their surroundings... Town's football was sublime. Moss Lane is a tough place to go. Altrincham were unbeaten at home prior to Town's arrival but they played like the home side and asserted themselves in the game from minute one...
This, with no disrespect, was a much larger test of his team's promotion credentials than beating Dover Athletic 6-0 at home. They passed with flying colours".
On Tuesday the Magpies travelled to Yeovil and came away with a point from a goalless draw. The Maidenhead Advertiser told us that they "ground out a well-deserved point in adversity...
Alan Devonshire suffered a blow pre-match when Ryan Upward, selected in the starting XI, suffered a back-spasm and was replaced just before kick off by Charlee Adams.
The Magpies also had to play out the final twenty minutes with ten men after new signing Jay Mingi, otherwise impressive on debut, was sent off for receiving two yellow cards. Mingi, the on-loan Portsmouth youngster, was one of six changes made by Devonshire following the weekend defeat by Kings Lynn Town.
The visitors enjoyed the better of the first period... The experienced Nathan Blissett was causing problems for Darren Sarll’s team...
A scrappy second period was short on quality attempts on goal, albeit Barratt tested Smith in the opening seconds of the half....
The game became if anything even more of a dog-fight after Mingi... was dismissed for illegally halting a Yeovil break from deep in their own half...
Thereafter, Maidenhead stayed firm... Devonshire’s men held out for the draw and were warmly applauded by the vocal 34 travelling supporters who made the long midweek trip".
Ian Burchnall says the melee that broke out after Halifax's victory over Notts County 'was no big deal'. Staff and players from both sides became embroiled in pushing and shoving at the full-time whistle...
Order was eventually restored as the teams made their way back down the tunnel following a fiery encounter that saw Tom Bradbury sent off for appearing to raise his hands at Ruben Rodrigues in the second half...
'I didn't see red,' he said. 'Things were said to me on the touchline that I wasn't happy with. I was polite to everybody but then I don't think I deserved that... Things were said in the heat of the moment. There was a bit of handbags at the end, but it was no big deal.'
To compound Burchnall's misery, Notts looked to have a legitimate goal ruled out for a foul at 2-2 when Ciaran Brennan headed in a set-piece... 'I've seen it again,' he said. 'The referee said there was a foul on the goalkeeper but I can't see it...
'I said after the Woking game how physical they were attacking the ball. We did that but it's a foul on us. I was disappointed because I felt we had a winner there. Still, after that, we've got to ensure we don't lose the game."
And the Nottingham Post adds that "Ian Burchnall hit out at Notts County's lack of game management as they blew a two-goal lead...
Tom Bradbury was sent off for the hosts to leave Notts the simple task of defending a two-goal lead. But Jordan Slew hit a long-range effort to make it 2-1 before Billy Waters hit an equaliser.
It was then left to Matty Warburton to curl in a winner in stoppage time to leave head coach Burchnall exasperated.
'It was just a crazy game,' he said. 'It was hugely, hugely, naive from us after the sending off in the way we played. The management of the game was junior football. We got so caught up in the nonsense. There was a lot of nonsense on the touchline with the sending off and too many people got dragged into that. We lost our focus on what we should be doing and that favoured them...
'With the very last goal, we were so desperate to win the game, and I understand that, we leave ourselves wide open... It's an unbelievable strike from the kid, but we should never be in that position'".
Southend were without victory in seven games, having lost the last four, and despite the win to stop the rot a mass protest against Martin was staged by fans on the pitch at full time.
Nathan Ferguson’s second half strike earned their first win since the opening day of the season, and put a dent in Ben Strevens and the Spitfires’ hopes of continuing to climb up the table.
Although they [Eastleigh] have one game in hand, they are now seven points adrift from the top seven despite a makeover of the squad and a number of high-profile signings being made during the summer... and travelled to Southend in the hopes of extending what was a decent run...
Strevens named an unchanged side from the one that drew 1-1 with high-flyers Boreham Wood...
Ferguson broke the deadlock with a thunderous strike from the edge of the area into the top corner, leaving only just over 20 minutes to respond... but there was to be no equaliser".
Supporters chanted and held up banners, temporarily halting the game, before invading the pitch after full-time.
In May the Shrimpers dropped out of the Football League for the first time in 101 years, with plans to sell Roots Hall to planning developers.
'It's not nice to see a chairman's name getting bandied around,' Brown said...
Southend's first home win of the National League season came in front of just 3,342 fans on Tuesday and saw them move out of the relegation zone.
Brown told BBC Essex 'It [the protests] didn't just affect the players, I think it affected the game, because the linesman on the far side was having an issue, hence the reason it took so long for the game to restart [after Southend's goal].'"
A 1-1 draw against Barnet doesn’t tell the full story of a game of many chances for the Linnets, a missed penalty and gilt-edged scoring opportunities at each end in the final 60 seconds.
It ended a run of four home losses on the bounce, but the Lynn boss knew it was an opportunity spurned.
'Should have been more,' he said. 'I think we created numerous chances and we have got to be better in front of goal. It’s two points dropped and it is a shame because I thought the performance was high, coming back from a setback as well, going a goal down, their attitude was superb, we took the game to them and created numerous golden chances, but to win a game of football, you have got to take one of them.'
Lynn went behind early but levelled through skipper Michael Clunan midway through the first half but it was Gold Omotayo’s missed penalty and Ross Barrows’s failure to put away the rebound that left Culverhouse frustrated.
'If you are brave enough to go and take it you have got to score, because there are other people who want to; so he has got to score that and the rebound he should score,' he said...
But they were much better in the final third against Barnet, who were indebted to keeper Sam Sargeant on numerous occasions...
Barnet caretaker boss Dean Brennan added 'King’s Lynn asked a lot of questions of us, and I think we came up trumps with that... At the end we could have pinched it ourselves. We showed a lot of character, worked our socks off once again and that’s all we can ask of our players'".
Attacker Jordan Slew scored FC Halifax Town’s first goal in the game and spoke to Shaymen TY... He said 'It was tough when Tom Bradbury got sent off because you don’t think about winning at that point but wow, I’m actually lost for words. This was one of the most incredible games I’ve been involved in'...
There was a little anti-climax after Jordan’s goal, as the attacker was subbed off straight away...
Before Jordan joined the Shaymen, he was part of a successful Morecambe side last season which clinched promotion from League Two to League One..
He explained 'A game like this today wouldn’t have had the same juice without the fans, and they were fantastic. Of course, we know the fans aren’t supposed to jump over the fence, but them doing that at the end is what football is all about; you can’t help your emotions and that’s why we all love football.'".
The visitors started well before Altrincham enjoyed a good spell towards the middle of the first period. But the Mariners took a 27th minute lead when Mullarkey's headed clearance was seized upon by the visitors and Bapaga rifled a rising shot into the roof of the net.
Heavy rain poured down at the interval and through most of the remainder of the game. It was to be the first ten minutes of the second half which settled the outcome, as Altrincham conceded twice.
Right: Alty's "huddle" before kick off against Grimsby Town.
In the 48th minute, Hannigan tried to dribble out of defence but lost possession. The ball was then played into the box from the Grimsby right. With a Grimsby man lurking, Mullarkey, stretching, did well to divert the low cross towards his own goal where Thompson did equally well to prevent an own goal, as he dived at at full stretch to his right. But the ball ran loose for Taylor to make it 0-2.
Then a superbly worked goal, twice involving the impressive McAtee, culminated in Clifton scoring to make it 0-3 in the 55th minute.
Moments later, Bapaga then got himself stupidly sent off through a second yellow card for blocking a throw-in and the rest of the game saw Alty launching wave after wave of attacks at the ten men. Nevertheless, the visitors remained dangerous on the counter.
Mooney then scored a fine goal, after a one-two with Hancock, to make it 1-3 (65 mins). And when Moult bundled the ball home from a Colclough corner (74 mins), Alty looked capable of a remarkable comeback. But a mixture of slowing the game down and solid defending allowed the ten men to hold on to the three points.
After a disappointing start to the league campaign, the performance & result was a real shot in the arm for manager Nick Pearce and his assistant Chris Redfern, who will hope that this important victory can provide a platform to build on going forward.
In their league campaign in the NW Regional League Division One South, the season has started with four defeats.
Hurst has both Hunt and Ryley Towley (Bristol City) on loan and indicated that he would like both to remain at the club, saying 'We wouldn't be looking to do that yet, not because they're not good players, even if they have dips in form, they've shown us what they can do.
'I really hope it doesn't happen and I'm touching wood, they could pick an injury and rule them out for months and therefore, we would have to look at a different option in the loan market or permanently... What I'd like to do, is for them to continue to perform well and if we are in a good position in January, I'd hope the players would like to try and see a job through.
'Some of that decision will be mine, some of it is the players and of course the parent clubs, which is out of our hands. We will monitor, we are out watching other games still should anything change'...
Hunt has made 8 appearances for Grimsby so far this season, starting all of those and scoring once. Since moving to the club he has has only missed one game, as he was an unused substitute against Bromley.
The midfield[er] has featured nine times in the Championship for the Owls and will hope that an impressive loan spell in the National League will see him given increased chances back at Hillsborough next season".
Unfortunately, due to technical issues outside of both parties' control, the broadcaster’s cameras will now visit Hayes Lane to show Bromley take on Torquay United.
Our fixture against the high-flying Daggers will still go ahead as planned this Saturday, kick off 3.00pm.
Blues take on Eastleigh... looking to end a run of four successive defeats.
And Brown wants the club’s fans, who chanted for chairman Ron Martin to quit the club at Solihull Moors on Saturday, to be supportive of his side.
'The players need as much support as they can get,' said Brown.
'If the fans don’t like me then that’s all well and good and if they don’t like Ron Martin then that’s all well and good but come and support the players whatever you do.
'I understand the frustrations of the supporters but I don’t want to have to fight them to win a game of football... The players aren’t doing anything wrong...
'One supporter had a go at me at Solihull from behind the dug-out, saying stop blaming the players but I’m not blaming the players,' said the Blues' boss. 'I’m trying to support the players the best I can and I will only ever blame a player when they’re not working hard but I do think they’re working hard at the moment...
'We’ve got good enough players but we’ll cut our cloth accordingly and play in a certain way to try and get us over the line'".
The Mariners' winger is yet to feature this season after picking up a knock during a pre-season friendly against Hyde.
Scannell recently rejoined the group after recovering from that knock but is now set for a scan after hyper-extending his knee in training.
'Ben (Fox) is fine, as we hoped, there has been no reaction, it was just a precaution for him to come off', he told Grimsby Live. 'Everyone else came through unscathed. The only one that wasn't in the squad was Sean Scannell, he hyper-extended his knee last week'.
'There was some concern around it, some swelling, a bit of fluid. He's going for a scan today... He and Joel (Grant) have been the ones that haven't featured or been available...
'They will be competition to add back to the squad, it's unfortunate for those two but... it's rare you have a full squad to select from'".
For Altrincham it was the eighth successive away draw in the competition, following ties at the following clubs...
So, being drawn away in those seven previous away ties, has been far from a disaster, as Altrincham have lost just three times in those games.
The striker has picked up four bookings in his seven appearances so far this season. The 30 year-old will have to sit out one game if he receives one more yellow card before the cut-off point which is match number 23.
This would mean Payne would have to avoid being booked again until January 8 to escape a ban.
A player who receives ten yellow cards before game number 37 is handed a two-match ban...
He is currently the only Chesterfield player on four yellow cards and at immediate risk of suspension.
Football website transfermarkt.co.uk lists the Spireites as being bottom of the National League disciplinary table having collected 28 yellow cards this season, eight more than any other team. However, they have not received any reds.
The struggling Shrimpers head into the game on the back of four successive defeats.
And, in a bid to get back to winning ways, Brown is keen to bring in a defender and winger Ricky Holmes.
'We’ve made enquiries to about five or six different clubs regarding bringing a centre-half in but that’s nothing different, I’ve been saying that for long enough now,' said Brown.
'I’m also interested in bringing Ricky Holmes in but whether or not I can get that one over the line before Tuesday night is another question.' Holmes, who made 14 appearances for the Shrimpers last season, joined Farnborough Town in the summer after failing to agree a new deal with his hometown club".
In the Maidenhead Advertiser, "Kane Ferdinand insists Maidenhead United’s players must work harder in training to improve themselves in attack and defence following their loss to King’s Lynn Town.
The Magpies' midfielder opened the scoring inside four minutes on Saturday... assisted by Shaun Donnellan.
But despite the hosts’ dominance in the first half, they became a completely different outfit in the second and conceded two goals moments after the interval as the Linnets took control of the tie.
A draw would have been satisfactory at full-time, and Sam Barratt appeared to have sent his side on course for one with his converted penalty kick in the 90th minute.
However, Brett McGavin capitalised on the Magpies’ brittle backline almost immediately from the restart to ensure the Linnets would travel back home with maximum points...
Said Ferdinand after the match, 'We were 1-0 up at half-time and well in control of the game; there wasn’t any real danger. From my point of view, we conceded some easy goals which allowed them to take the lead...
'We can’t give away the goals we’re giving away and expect anything. We were playing 4-4-2 so we had two strikers on the pitch who should’ve got some goals... I think we need to work on our corners and getting more bodies in the box. We’re obviously still not good enough from a defensive point of view too.'".
After seven successive away draws, Altrincham were keen for home advantage this time around, but they got an eighth away tie instead!
The draw produced a tie at either Spennymoor Town or Southport. The clubs played out a goalless draw in Co. Durham on Saturday and replay on Tuesday at Haig Avenue.
Whilst Altrincham have not met Spennymoor Town, nor its forerunner Spennymoor United, previously in the FA Cup, they have had several encounters with Southport in the competition. The most recent clash was just two seasons ago at Haig Avenue.
Although Grimsby have had just one promotion and one relegation in that period, over the last decade Grimsby have been relegated twice and been promoted once.
The sides have met six times with Altrincham only losing once; three matches have been drawn.
And the current Grimsby Town manager Paul Hurst has faced Alty before.
However, he has left the club and rejoined it since Alty last met the Lincolnshire club. He first managed them against Alty in 2011, and again in both 2014-15 and 2015–16 seasons, when they won promotion from the National League to League Two via the play-offs. That was despite Alty beating the Mariners 2-1 at Moss Lane in thir promotion season, in a match marred by Alty centre-back Tom Marshall breaking his leg.
The clubs' previous league meetings in the Hurst era were as follows:
So, this will be Grimsby's first visit to the J. Davidson Stadium since that August 2015 meeting.
The club was relegated back to the National League in 2021 after five seasons in the lower half of EFL2 when they finished, each season, as follows...
Above: Grimsby Town and Altrincham take to the field in August 2015.
Grimsby's first relegation to non-League in their history had come before Hurst was in charge, in 2010, when they reluctantly joined a handful of clubs to have competed in all five of the top divisions in English football.
They only met Alty during three of their six previous seasons in the Conference, owing to the Robins' relegation in 2011. Grimsby regained promotion under Hurst, through the play-offs in 2016.
Hurst's first spell in charge started in March 2011 when he was appointed, along with Rob Scott, as joint-manager, the duo having enjoyed some success at Boston United. Grimsby were losing FA Trophy finalists in 2013 and also lost in the League play-offs. From September 2013, Hurst took sole charge of the managerial role.
Another play-off position was achieved by Hurst in 2015 but the Mariners lost in the Final to Bristol Rovers in a penalty shoot-out. However, in 2016 Hurst took the club back to the Football League and, once more, led the club to the Trophy Final but, for a second time, they lost.
However, Hurst then left to manage Shrewsbury Town, in October 2016, before taking over at Ipswich Town in May 2018, where he only lasted until October of that year. Next, came a return to Lincolnshire to manage Scunthorpe United in May 2019 but, again, he only lasted for a few months in charge, leaving in January 2020.
Whilst Hurst was away from the club, the Mariners ran thorugh a succession of managers, including Marcus Bignot (November 2016 to April 2017), Russell Slade (April 2017 to February 2018), Michael Jolley (March 2018 to November 2019), Anthony Limbrick (caretaker), and Ian Holloway (December 2019 to December 2020). Hurst returned to the club on 30 December 2020 but was unable to prevent its second relegation to non-League status.
However, both face Tuesday's clash in good form, with Altrincham having won at Dagenham on Saturday and The Mariners fresh from a 6-0 home demoliton of Dover Athletic.
The Grimsby Telegraph says that "Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst knows a tough week lies ahead for his side after they climbed their way to the top of the National League...
First up is a trip to Moss Lane, with Altrincham having helped Town climb to the summit after their late winner at Dagenham & Redbridge at the weekend.
Speaking after Saturday’s win, Hurst said 'No disrespect to the opposition (Dover), but we know there’s going to be tougher tests to come. Certainly Altrincham, having beaten the team that were top of the league, and they could go top with the games they’ve got in hand, so they’ve started the season extremely well, and that’s our next challenge.'
Asked whether he’d make any changes for Tuesday, Hurst replied 'Truthfully, it’s a bit too early for me to decide on that. Obviously winning 6-0, there’s a big push to go with the same team, but I’ve said it before, I’m not influenced by that. I think it’s a very old school mentality and thing to say to keep the same team just for whatever reason. Yes, you’ve won, but was every one of those performances really good?
'A lot were on Saturday, I have to say, but there are still some things to consider and, again, giving respect to the opposition, there might be something I see when I watch a bit more of them that might influence the decision. I’m not going to say too much about the result, but we’ve started the season well, there’s no getting away from that...
'I’m not playing it down, I think we’ve given ourselves a great platform, I’m delighted for the fans with five wins in a row at Blundell Park to maintain the optimism that was right there from being relegated, as silly as that sounds.'”
Scoring five away from home were Trafford, who beat Kendal Town 5-1 with Curtis Miller and Darius Palma both on the score sheet.
The last league match on this date was in the Skrill North, now National League North, when Altrincham beat Guiseley 4-1 at Moss Lane.
Having been play off contenders for the previous three seasons, Guiseley arrived for this match in an uncharacteristic 17th place in the league, with three players suspended and with new manager Mark Bower, seeking his first win in his fifth game in charge. Altrincham started the game in third place, having lost just once that season in the Skrill North.
Facing The Lions was an Altrincham squad still reeling from being knocked out of the FA Cup by Trafford but which included two former Guiseley players in James Walshaw and, on the bench, Danny Boshell, who was returning from injury.
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 4. Jake MOULT, 5. Gianluca HAVERN, 6. Scott LEATHER, 7. Brian SMIKLE, 8. Simon RICHMAN, 9. James WALSHAW, 10. Damian REEVES, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs: 12. Carl RODGERS, 14. James LAWRIE, 15. Danny BOSHELL, 16. Kyle PERRY, 18. Adam REID.
Above: James Walshaw nets from the spot to make it 1-1.
Very early in the game, Guiseley went forward up the inside left channel and, with Altrincham players appealing for a freekick, Swain was allowed to get to the by-line, from where he cut the ball back for Potts to score comfortably (3 mins).
This signalled half an hour of poor football from Altrincham. Passes went astray, freekicks were conceded with regularity, unpressured players lost possession cheaply and there was a lack of urgency in their forward movements. During this 30 minutes Drench was not tested at all in the Guiseley goal.
When it became apparent that Rodgers and Lawrie were not taking part in the interval kick about, it suggested that changes were in the offing for the second half and so it proved. These two subs came on for Smikle and Doughty. What was more surprising was that Rodgers slotted into the right side of the now three-man back line and Denmsore was pushed into right midfield. Lawrie slotted into the "hole" behind the two strikers.
The changes had the desired effect as Walshaw was tripped inside the box. He got up to hit his penalty kick into the top of the net (50 mins).
The equalizer lifted Altrincham and after a ball had deflected off central defender Clarke, to Walshaw, the former Guiseley striker fired Altrincham ahead (53 mins). Altrincham were like a side transformed. From a corner, Walshaw headed the ball back across goal to Reeves who scored from close range (59 mins).
Next, a Reeves shot was blocked but Walshaw swept the loose ball into the net to complete his hat-trick (66 mins).
In short, after a disappointing first half, a tactical switch and change of personnel at half time had prompted a devastating 16 minute spell in which Altrincham had netted four times.
It was actually the Stones who started the brighter of the two teams... The hosts then opened the scoring... when Keelan O'Connell found Lapslie's stealth run to the far post, leaving the central midfielder to nod in from a few yards out.
Torquay's lead was extended on 18 minutes. Experienced striker Holman held the ball up well in the Stones box before slaloming his defender and smashing an effort into the top corner...
An air of luck shrouded Torquay's third goal. Dan Martin's cross took a big deflection off of Charlie Barker and looped over Wickens, with Little arriving on the end of it to poke in.
Holman again took advantage of a napping Stones defence and got on the end of a through ball, he rounded Wickens and went down, despite a clear hand to the ball from the keeper, the referee Lloyd Wood pointed to the spot... Little stepped up to take and blasted his penalty way over the bar... Torquay centre back Lewis... [then] found the top corner from 30 yards out.
Wealdstone made a slight improvement going into the second half...
The fifth goal came in further calamitous circumstances. Wickens tried to play a short pass to Barker but it was intercepted by Holman and he slotted past the keeper".
Manager Andy Hessenthaler’s side was 5-0 down at half-time before the table-topping hosts added a sixth with 20 minutes to play.
Hessenthaler labelled the performance as 'unacceptable'. He said those 60 plus Dover fans who made the 475-mile round trip didn’t deserve to see that.
'Let me start by saying that I thought that it was an absolutely outstanding effort by our fans who made the long journey and who, in truly horrendous conditions, stayed to the bitter end and clapped the players at the final whistle.
That’s true fans for you and believe me, we owe them and every other Dover fan for what we produced on the day.
'The way we lost the game was unacceptable and we should all be hurting after it.'
Although the final scoreline doesn’t suggest it, it was Dover who started the better of the two teams in front of the near 6,000 strong crowd.
Hessenthaler said 'I said before the game we needed to start well and silence the crowd and we did for the first 15 minutes or so. We played some positive football and created some decent chances and they (the crowd) were quiet. However, that changed when Harry (Ransom) was booked and they were calling for him to be sent off – that changed the tempo of the game.
'It was like waving a red flag at a bull; they came charging at us and we couldn’t handle it and, once we conceded that second goal, our heads dropped and we cannot afford to do that.
'The gulf in the size of the clubs really showed and they looked fitter and sharper than us but, as a group, we made too many errors defensively through a lack of experience and naivety. We’ve got to keep fighting, but on Saturday we didn’t show anywhere near enough fight against a massive club in this division'...
Hess added 'People probably wondered what was going on when they looked at the team I’d picked, but we have two massive home games to play this week against Aldershot and Barnet. We need to win those games, so I wanted to freshen the side up a bit and give people like Kahle (Da Costa) and Matt (Bentley) a go'.
The manager also named Yannis Drais on the bench for the first time. The 27-year-old French midfielder... made his debut as a second-half substitute, replacing Da Costa as Hess changed shape. Drais arrived on non-contract late last week after training with the side for a couple of weeks".
Ruben Rodrigues had opened the scoring for Notts with a terrific finish as head coach Ian Burchnall's side dominated possession. But they couldn't find a second goal and in the last 20 minutes fell apart when ex-Magpies forward Inih Effiong scored via the inside of the post.
Moussa Diarra then headed in a second before another ex-Magpie, Tahvon Campbell, scored twice to cap off what was a miserable afternoon for the hosts.
Leigh Curtis writes that 'For 70 minutes, Notts were in control having pressed hard to find a second goal that would have been just reward for their domination with the ball... Woking were still very much in the game.
Eventually, the equaliser came as they managed to bulldoze their way through Notts' defence to pull level through Inih Effiong.
At that stage, with 20 minutes to go, there was still plenty of time for Ian Burchnall's side to find a second but nobody expected the subsequent chain of events...
In what turned out to be a chaotic eight-minute spell, two further goals were conceded from set-pieces which was a shock given Notts have defended them well this season. In fairness, there are mitigating circumstances in the fact that two of their best headers of the ball, Kyle Cameron and Connell Rawlinson, both missed this game through injury.
The fourth goal was immaterial really as Notts had committed plenty to attack in the hope of salvaging a result...
Notts fans have clamoured for a physically imposing midfielder in the last two seasons, one that prowls midfield like a pitbull on postman watch... The debate as to whether Notts are too nice in midfield was doing the rounds again on social media... You do feel they would benefit from a proper dog of war...
[Woking scorers] Campbell and Effiong both endured forgettable loan spells during their time at Notts with the latter's time at the club last season being particularly disappointing. But of course, they would return to haunt Notts as Campbell took his goals tally to eight for the season while Effiong grabbed his second in as many games".
In the NL Paper, manager Ian Burchnall opined, "We knew all about Woking, they are 'long ball, long ball, set piece' and they do it very well. Our defending wasn't good enough".
The Reds stormed into a two goal lead after some incisive attacking play saw Jake Hyde and then Paul Mullin put the Welsh side in control at half time.
Conditions worsened during the interval and the referee had no option but to abandon the game 5 minutes into the second half with pools of water gathering across the field.
Reds' boss Parkinson wasn't best impressed with the effort (or lack of) by the Aldershot ground staff to clear the standing water from the field.
'You can't do anything about the conditions but I would have liked to see more effort from the Aldershot ground staff, I think everyone's seen that they're 2-0 down and they're making no real effort to keep the game on.
'It was a magnificent first half performance and apart from the two injuries it was a real good half for us.'"
But all of that seems a million miles away right now and such was the sadness I felt in the aftermath of Saturday’s setback at Solihull Moors I genuinely felt I could have cried.
Perhaps the saddest thing of all was that the defeat, the shot-shy performance and slumping to another new low is perhaps to be expected every Saturday at this stage...
What followed the hosts’ second goal could well be the strangest thing I have ever witnessed in my 33 years watching Southend. Blues fans behind the goal angrily chanted for under-fire chairman Ron Martin to quit the club and also aimed a number of obscenities in his direction.
But Martin bizarrely opted to leave the directors box and headed behind the goal, to stand right next to the fuming fans, midway through the second half. Martin’s emergence enraged the supporters even further and he was soon led away by Solihull’s security staff before it also appeared he was talked out of heading back for a second time...
Perhaps the Blues' chairman thought it was a show of strength or a sign of not hiding away from the mounting criticism. But his bizarre behaviour was misguided and downright dangerous given the already hostile atmosphere...
Suddenly, writing pre-match previews, injury updates or transfer rumours seems pretty much pointless for a club in crisis. But make no mistake about it, things could still get worse. Because, after suffering back to back relegations, the Shrimpers are already facing another fight to stay up and dropping down into National League South is more than possible given the current climate...
The whole club is gripped by all-conquering negativity... There is no sudden solution where that is concerned but the fault lies solely at the feet of Martin... Blues are something of a laughing stock in footballing circles nowadays and the club’s reputation now lies in tatters... What was once a proud club is now a toxic embarrassment with no signs of promise or any signs of positivity".
The BBC quoted manager Phil Brown as saying "We're facing oblivion, if truth be known, and we have to put it right [against Eastleigh] on Tuesday."
3 October, 2021
Daggers' manager Daryl McMahon told the NL Paper, "We were winning in the 86th minute so losing after conceding two goals is a bitter pill to swallow. Maybe we should have held onto the win and we have been playing so well.
"But I thought Altrincham were superb in the second half".
"It was a tussle mentally, as well as physically, because we came up against the best attack in the league.
"We were brave with our substitutions and we showed we have goals in our team. We got our rewards in the end".
Dagenham started well but Altrincham took a 10th minute lead when Mooney fed Senior who advanced up the wing and his cross was diverted into the roof of the net.
Daryl McMahon’s side started the game the better of the two... Despite that, the visitors took the lead after a Joel Senior cross was accidentally converted by defender Callum Reynolds after taking a wicked deflection...
Mauro Vilhete was on hand to draw the Daggers level, after Josh Walker was able to get past his man and drive towards the near post, cutting the ball back across the face of the goal towards Mauro who was able to convert from close range!
The Daggers started the second half well... Dagenham somehow failed to make it three after Myles Weston had a shot from 5 yards saved and his follow up header was cleared off the line.
Dan Mooney had Altrincham’s first real chance of the second half, his strike from the edge of the penalty area trickled just wide of Justham’s goal.
Ryan Colclough followed that up... with near pin-point accuracy as his strike cannoned off the crossbar.
Altrincham controlled the game from there... Altrincham did eventually equalise through substitute Josh Hancock, after Ryan Colclough laid the ball off to the midfielder, his effort beating Justham and levelling the scoring.
Dan Mooney finally got the goal he was after with the last kick of the game, as the ball was squared to him in line with the penalty spot, which was enough for him to strike past Justham."
Grimsby Town report that "A first-half goal blitz sent Grimsby Town on their way to an emphatic victory over Dover Athletic which took them to the top of the National League.
The Mariners scored five without reply in a superb 20-minute spell and went on to add a sixth after the break as the division's bottom club endured a tough afternoon in the heavy rain at Blundell Park.
Dover had actually made a bright start to the game and were further buoyed when John McAtee missed the chance to put Town ahead as his penalty was saved by keeper Adam Parkes.
But after Luke Waterfall opened the scoring on 26 minutes, McAtee doubled the hosts' advantage before Ryan Taylor made it 3-0 from the second penalty of the game.
Will Bapaga capped a fine display with his first goal for the Mariners, before Taylor grabbed his second of the game in first-half stoppage time and Waterfall also completed a double for himself when he made it 6-0 with 20 minutes left to play.
Three changes were made to the Town starting XI following the midweek defeat at Bromley, with Ryan Sears coming in for the suspended Michee Efete as Alex Hunt and Taylor replaced Giles Coke and Erico Sousa.
James McKeown started behind a defence of Sears, Waterfall, Ryley Towler and Adam Crookes, while Bapaga, Ben Fox, Hunt and Harry Clifton made up the midfield and McAtee supported Taylor in attack.
Despite picking up an injury in midweek, Sousa was deemed fit enough to take a place on the bench, where he was joined by Coke, Lenell John-Lewis, Seb Revan and Shaun Pearson...
The Mariners were given an opportunity to take the lead on 23 minutes when Bapaga was brought down inside the Dover penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. McAtee could not capitalise though, as his penalty was saved by keeper Parkes...
They did not have to wait much longer to open the scoring. A shot from Bapaga was deflected for a corner and Hunt's delivery from the flag was met by WATERFALL, who guided a header past Parkes and into the net...
And just after the half-hour, the Mariners doubled their advantage through a superb solo effort from McATEE...
Town were now firmly in control and they added a third goal on 33 minutes after being given their second penalty of the match... TAYLOR stepped up to beat Parkes... As the game moved into added time as this time, BAPAGA created space to shoot and slotted past Parkes.
Incredibly, there was still time for more as the Mariners made it a five-goal first-half haul...
John-Lewis replaced Taylor and Sousa came on for McAtee as Town boss Paul Hurst made a double-substitution on 65 minutes...
The Mariners had a sixth goal as Hunt's pin-pooint delivery found WATERFALL, who headed down into the bottom corner of the net for 6-0...
Dover, to their credit, had continued to play the game the right way throughout the contest and despite the scoreline, came out of it with plenty of credit as they looked for a late consolation goal...
And with Dagenham and Redbridge falling to defeat in their home match against Altrincham, the win took Town above the Daggers at the summit of the league table".
Heavy rain before and during the match meant the playing surface became difficult to play on and referee Sukhvir Gill blew his whistle in the 51st minute with Wrexham leading 2-0.
That wasn't the end of the contest as Gill evaluated whether the game could recommence and Wrexham players and staff did their best to improve the sodden areas, using squeegees to push water off the pitch.
But the work was to no avail as there was no let-up with the rain and the match was officially abandoned.
Manager Phil Parkinson made three changes from the side that started the 2-1 defeat at Stockport County the previous weekend.
Bryce Hosannah, who joined Wrexham from Leeds before the transfer window closed, was handed his debut in the right wing-back role in place of Tyler French. Jordan Davies and Jake Hyde were both available after recovering from injury.
Davies took over from Liam McAlinden in midfield and Hyde came into attack in place of Jordan Ponticelli...
But the Reds received a blow when captain Luke Young was forced off with an injury in the ninth minute and was replaced by Devonte Redmond...
However, Wrexham took the lead after 22 minutes. Redmond's ball into area was knocked down by Davies and Hyde fired home...
But Ben Tozer was stretchered off after going down in his own area so Lainton donned the captain's armband in the absence of the centre-back and Young.
The game reached stoppage time when Wrexham made it 2-0. Gill awarded a penalty for a high boot on Hyde and Mullin smashed home the penalty."
The Leader Live adds that "Wrexham's co-chairman has taken to social media to blast the decision to postpone game at Aldershot...
And Rob McElhenney, the club's co-chairman, took to social media to react to it all. He tweeted, 'I’m watching our PLAYERS MOP THE FIELD to continue the game. I’ve never seen anything like it.
"Official statement from the co-chairman: 'We need to get out of this ******* league.'"
After back to back relegations, Blues are now in bottom three of the National League standings following a fourth successive setback.
And the frustrated travelling contingent of Shrimpers supporters made their feelings known, chanting for under-fire chairman Ron Martin to leave the club.
Martin went behind the goal to confront the angry fans but it was yet another dire 90 minutes for Phil Brown’s side."
The Echo adds that "The hosts went in front in the 29th minute, courtesy of an own goal from Shrimpers defender Shaun Hobson... while under pressure from Danny Newton...
Blues rarely looked like scoring as boss Brown was shown a yellow card by referee Tom Bishop for protesting against a foul not being given...
After the break, a well struck Cranston free-kick cannoned back off the crossbar before Moors made it 2-0 in the 54th minute, with Ball on target from the penalty spot.
The penalty was given after Sbarra went down in the box following a challenge from Jason Demetriou and Ball made no mistake...
Blues boss Brown responded by making two changes with Sam Dalby taking the place of Rhys Murphy and Matt Dennis replacing the on loan Benji Kimpioka.... Josh Coulson then had to be taken off with a nasty looking injury.
But, with Blues already having made all three substitutes, the visitors saw out the closing stages with 10 men."
The goal came exactly 60 seconds after Sam Barratt had dispatched a penalty kick to send the Magpies ostensibly on their way for a share of the spoils. However, upon the restart, the Linnets struck the final blow to secure maximum points.
At full-time, manager Alan Devonshire couldn’t look further past his side’s defensive frailties. He said 'I’m gutted. To get back to 2-2, we’ve got to finish the game off. Our defending was awful. You can’t defend like that and expect a result. It’s Sunday morning football. The two goals we let in after half-time were criminal.'
Maidenhead had fired themselves into the lead with a replica of a goal seen in the side’s clash against Grimsby Town a week prior. In the fourth minute, Kane Ferdinand put himself in a prime position to nod in Shaun Donnellan’s superb ball into the box...
Devonshire’s men, however, did take their foot off the gas as the first half ended with the Linnets’ earning the lion’s share of possession but ultimately using it to no avail.
Nevertheless, Ian Culverhouse’s team talk did pay dividends as his side were able to take their chances, notably two of them, swiftly after the interval. In the 47th minute, substitute Malachi Linton was able to keep his cool and punted in a near post finish past a stunned Rhys Lovett.
Then, two minutes later, Ross Barrows was able to beat Lovett to a long ball and compose himself enough to slide it under the onrushing Magpies ‘keeper, the score 2-1 in the 50th minute. Adding injury to insult, Lovett required medical attention upon trying to deny the Linnets’ forward.
The goals didn’t appear to dissuade the home side from attacking, but it did leave them vulnerable at the back... The Magpies’ weight in attack eventually broke the visitors’ backline in the 90th minute when referee Scott Jackson pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Barratt who squeezed in the spot kick to send the home side on their way to a draw.
But, in a moment of utter disbelief, King’s Lynn Town made a beeline straight for goal and McGavin made no mistake with his finish to grab the victory within the six minutes added at the end of normal time".
Ian Burchnall rued a mad eight-minute spell as Notts County were heavily beaten by Woking at Meadow Lane. The Magpies were in front in the first half when Ruben Rodrigues finished off a superb move.
But in a disastrous final 20 minutes, former Notts striker Inih Effiong pulled Woking level before Moussa Diarra headed in the second.
Another former Magpies forward Tahvon Campbell then sealed the win for the visitors with two clinical finishes.
And head coach Burchnall said 'We lost the game in eight minutes, not 20. For the first 45 minutes, I thought we were good. We controlled the game. We created a lot and I don't think they had one single shot... I felt like we were going to get a second.
'I am so disappointed about the nature of the goals. They go long and they pick up a second ball in the box and hit it home. And then the next two are set-pieces. We knew they were going to be good at them. We are hurting. We missed key players like Kyle Cameron who has been so valuable to us.
'But we have to step up. We can't afford to give teams like this such unnecessary goals from set-pieces. It's really hard to get back into it... The last goal just comes from being all over the place trying to get back into the game.'"
Brad Jackson will be serving the second instalment of his three-game ban. Brad had been filling in in the back four because of long-term injuries to full-backs Shaun Densmore, Andy White, Kennedy Digie and Connor Hampson. And with left-back Joe Bunney seeming to suffer a knock on Tuesday night, it was fortunate that left-back David Fitzpatrick had recovered from injury to substitute for the tall defender in the second half against King's Lynn Town. He is presuambly fit enough to start at Dagenham.
Whilst Bunney (right) may have joined the list of injured defenders on Tuesday, Densmore, White and Hampson are believed to be well on the road to full fitness.
In 14 (+2) appearances for Altrincham he scored five goals. He joined County after a spell with Chorley.
Jordan Hulme takes the plaudits from John Johnston at Altrincham.
The 27 year-old winger... made 36 appearances for the club across two disrupted seasons. He also chipped in with three goals...
John made four starts and three sub appearances this term, scoring once, a late penalty in defeat at Kidderminster Harriers in August.
Increased work commitments for JJ has seen him take the move back into part-time football with a side based more locally to his job...
The winger had this to say following his departure... 'I’m absolutely gutted it hasn’t worked the way we all wanted it to. These things happen in football sometimes, and it would have been easy for me to sit there and still pick up a wage but that’s not the person I want to be known as. The money will be used for the team and hopefully it gets the club back to where they belong.
'It is nothing personal to Chester, but the travel and also workload in my job has become too much, as well as missing out on quality time with my family which for me will also come first. I want to thank Jonno and Bern for the opportunity to bring me to a club like this and for being so understanding about the reasons I wanted to go.
'I’m signing more local to me where I know the Manager and the Chairman and it is an opportunity for me to go and enjoy my football.'”
JJ's former team-mate Jordan Hulme who made 132(+7) appearances for Altrincham and netted 70 times, before leaving on the eve of the 2020-21 season, has joined Ashton United on loan from parent club AFC Fylde.
The NPL reports that "The striker joins the Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division club on a one-month loan deal from the National League North side... and bolsters Michael Clegg's attack ahead of their game with Warrington Town this Saturday".
Altrincham's most recent game on 2 October was in 2010 against the now defunct Rushden & Diamonds, at Moss Lane. The match in the Blue Square Bet Premier ended in a 2-2 draw.
Howard Watts and Mike Garnett's Through the Years records remind us that before that, the last game on 2 October was an FA Cup Second Qualifying Round match in 2004 at home to Farsley Celtic, which Alty won 4-1.
Above: Marcus Hallows leaves the pitch, to applause, clutching his Man of the Match award.
Altrincham were without left-back Chris Adams, injured, but goalkeeper Stuart Coburn had recovered from his dead-leg to play, though Kurt Edginton had been re-signed to sit on the bench. Also present was Ian Senior who had also re-joined Alty as further goalkeeping cover. Mark Maddox was back in the side after being injured against Nuneaton whilst Gary Scott was on the bench after missing seven league games through a knee injury.
The eventually wide margin of victory did not look likely till Farsley tired in the second half. Indeed, the visitors had taken the lead after 21 minutes when the referee ignored a hold on Hussin and the ball went forward to Stammar who finished well.
Alty levelled when Marcus Hallows drove home a low shot after a defensive error (26 mins). Alty improved in the second half though they laboured at times till Hallows got his second, a tap-in from Peter Wright's pass (64 mins). Marcus had scored 6 in his last 6 league and cup games, at this stage.
Eddie Hussin nodded a third (81 mins) before Colin Little drove home the fourth in added time. In the end the win was comfortable with Stuart Coburn, who had recovered from injury in time to play, having little to do.
ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks): 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Stephen ASPINALL, 3. Barry SHUTTLEWORTH, 4. Mark MADDOX, 5. Gary TALBOT, 6. Peter BAND (capt.), 7. Colin POTTS, 8. Eddie HUSSIN, 9. Marcus HALLOWS, 10. Colin LITTLE, 11. Stephen ROSE. Subs: 12. Niell HARDY, 13. Kurt EDGINTON (gk), 14. Peter WRIGHT, 15. Gary SCOTT, 16. Stuart WRIGHT.
Cheshire Live tells us that "Chester FC academy head coach Callum McIntyre paid tribute to his players after they beat Altrincham 2-0 in the FA Youth Cup at the Deva Stadium.
Goals from Reece Daly and Max Giani sent the Blues through in the second qualifying-round tie... [They] produced a resolute performance in front of a crowd of 306.
They took the lead in first-half injury time when Sol Ashworth’s long throw wasn’t cleared and Daly fired the ball home. They doubled their lead 11 minutes from time when Josh Maris supplied the through ball for Max Giani to score for the third successive round
McIntyre was delighted with the performance from a side who are young at under-18 level and were missing players including Max Buckley-Benbow who was suspended".
Club owner Mark Stott will step down from his temporary position as Chairman, after purchasing the club in January 2020, with Elstone working closely with the existing board and owner to deliver the club’s ambitions.
Elstone is one of the most experienced strategic leaders in British sport. His experience includes sports consulting at Deloitte with clients including the Scottish Premier League, Nike and Juventus, commercial and media rights exploitation at Sky Sports, leadership of Everton Football Club for almost a decade and most recently, Executive Chairman of Super League. He is currently engaged by PwC as a specialist industry adviser.
Stockport County Football Club Owner Mark Stott says... 'We’re delighted to welcome such a talented and experienced leader into the County camp... The fact that he already lives in Stockport and is part of the community is a huge bonus.'
Robert Elstone said, 'This is an incredibly exciting time to join County. The club has so much potential, and I am certain, an exciting future ahead'".
'I’m absolutely delighted with his attitude,' said [manager, Phil Brown.
'He’s worked hard to try and improve his game, he’s getting first-team coaching experience on a daily basis, he’s getting first-team exposure, albeit in a lower division than QPR, but that will stand him in good stead for when he goes back to QPR.
'Hopefully he will understand that and QPR will see a difference when he does return but he’s definitely still that project in the making. He’s a project that we want to spend as much time on the training ground as we can and try to get him as much exposure in terms of his minutes.'"
Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler has reassured his players 'it will come' as they continue their search for a first win of the season against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park...
Having been financially crippled by the pandemic... the decision not to continue with their season led to them being handed a 12-point deduction for the 2021/22 campaign, and having picked up just three from their first eight games, they sit 14 points from safety already...
But Hessenthaler still believes his side can beat the odds this season.
'Things are just not happening for us,' Hessenthaler said. 'The longer it goes on where we don’t win, it gets harder. We are trying to find a way to win and we have deserved to win a couple of games. We just have to keep going. We are doing the right things and we just have to believe that something will change for us and I believe that will be the case...
'We just need to get these wins under our belt. I’m not saying the confidence is low but the longer it goes on it gets harder.'
Hessenthaler added 'We can’t feel sorry for ourselves... The boys have been brilliant. The chairman [Jim Parmenter] has been great and the fans have been great... The fans are behind us and... they realise how hard the boys are working. They understand and they are with us'">
The Magpies will be looking to bounce back from their first National League defeat to Altrincham last weekend.
Sitting in sixth after four wins, Notts will take on 13th placed Woking as they head into the encounter in high spirits, after a 3-1 home win over Chesterfield during midweek.
Head coach Ian Burchnall has previously watched Alan Dowson's side on two occasions and is therefore prepared for a tough contest...
He told NottinghamshireLive 'They won 4-0 against Torquay away and Chesterfield away on Tuesday night, they put three past them. I've watched them in the game against Eastleigh and the game against Wrexham, they were very competitive away at Wrexham as well. They're very, very direct.'"
Torquay welcome Wealdstone to Plainmoor with former players Josh Umerah (he's scored five goals in eight games for his new club) and Matt Buse coming back for the day, before two away trips to Boreham Wood on Tuesday and Bromley next weekend.
Late goals have been the name of the game in the win against Southend United and draw at Chesterfield, who were top of the table when they played the Gulls, and four points from two games is a vast improvement from four points in six...
He said 'It's a long season and we haven't had an ideal start but we are now putting points on the board and the lads are gelling a little bit more...
'At the end of the season we want to be up and around it and we have got a lot of games to get up there. It has been very indifferent, very up and down, and it's not the start that we wanted, but I think we are now showing signs of good form in games and with a lot of fixtures this week we are hoping to put maximum points on the board'....
There has been a lot of talk about 'Gary [Johnson] Time' in recent weeks, with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans' winner as Torquay beat Southend 1-0 coming in injury time; and the two goals in the 2-2 draw at Chesterfield coming in the 88th (Armani Little) and 95th minutes (own goal from a Little corner)...
Johnson pointed out this week 'I want Gary Time to be the first five minutes, not the last five minutes. So we have got to try and change that as soon as we can.'
Hall said 'We would rather score after 20 minutes than 94... The Gaffer works a lot on the mental side of the game... and it shows because we did it last season...
'We want to be more entertaining and get the crowds back on side and get that feeling back that we had last year... Wwe want to get back to being the team that doesn't fear anyone, like we were last year.'
Lemonheigh-Evans was missing last week with a knock, but with Little returning after a short-term hamstring injury, Johnson only had to make one change... Tom Lapslie came on and forced the own goal that won the point at Chesterfield, so he might be pushing for a return".
Four successive defeats, and still without a home win, have left the Linnets in the National League drop zone ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Maidenhead.
This has led to some Linnets supporters taking to social media channels to voice their concerns at the club’s current form.
But Fernandez, who arrived at The Walks on loan from Stevenage in the summer, said 'We’re all hurting in that dressing room at the minute... The last 30 minutes at Altrincham on Tuesday night was the first time we’ve been outplayed and we know that we are better than that.
'Being in the bottom bit of the table frustrates us all, so it’s about rolling our sleeves up to start getting some results. We know as a group that we need to score more goals and that we need to stop conceding silly goals too, it’s about finding that balance...
'Apart from at Eastleigh, I’d say that in every other game this season we’ve been the better side in the first half...
'Maidenhead are a very good side who fight for the club and we’ve got to match them. We’re a really young team and that’s credit to the manager that he trusts us when we go out on the pitch... There’s still plenty of time for us to put things right...
'I know the levels of support haven’t been the same this season for whatever reasons but our supporters have such a big part to play.'
Fernandez, who turned 20 this week, made a dozen league and cup appearances for Stevenage and had a loan at National League South Oxford City last season. He has found himself in and out of the side in the early stages of the season...
'We’ve got a respectful manager who pulls you to one side and explains things to you'".
Last season, the Terras upset the odds to beat big-spending Stockport twice, most impressively 2-1 on the road... And following a 1-0 victory in the return fixture, Weymouth have the chance to extend their winning run over Simon Rusk’s men.
Stockport are down in 11th, having only scored six goals in eight games despite possessing the attacking riches of £250,000 man Paddy Madden, Ben Whitfield, Alex Reid and John Rooney.
But Weymouth boss Brian Stock feels goals will soon come for the non-League giants... 'Last year that was probably one of the highlights to beat Stockport home and away, which obviously they wouldn’t have been too pleased with... They’ll take a lot of confidence from coming from 1-0 down against Wrexham to win the game... and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they start hitting the back of the net.
'We just need to make sure that isn’t (today) and we’re concentrated...
'I’m very much a believer in playing attractive, attacking football but one of our main focuses is what we do when we lose the ball. We need to be that little bit better defending set-plays. We’ve conceded too many over the last few games.'
With first team opportunities limited at St James Park, a move across the Devon/Somerset border seems the perfect fit for two young players with obvious talent, but who need game time... Clubs from the top tier of the non-league ranks have never really committed to taking a Grecian, until now.
'I cannot guarantee them consistent game time and both players need to play,' Taylor said... 'We felt the best avenue for them to do that was a short loan spell at a good level... We are so grateful to Yeovil and, finally, we have found a National League team that actually wants to take some of our young players and we couldn’t wait to get it done because it is something we have been short of at this club for a number of seasons'...
Seymour, 22, enjoyed a productive loan spell in National South with Dorchester Town, where he scored a number of goals, but he has struggled to take that next step into the City first team... while 21-year-old Dyer has enjoyed productive spells at Bideford and Tiverton Town (twice)...
Taylor added 'We want to build relationships with the local non-league clubs.... We think the two players will improve what Yeovil already have at the moment. It is a gruelling league and they will probably have a certain amount of games and a certain amount of opportunities in quick succession... Seymour especially has been a regular substitute this season...
'If it is working after a month, then it can be extended, but it will only be extended if they perform well'".
Last season's game at Victoria Road, which took place in December 2020, ended in a 1-0 win for Altrincham, thanks to a Jake Moult goal. Before that match it had been 13 years since Altrincham had last played at Dagenham. In the intervening period The Daggers had been as high as two rungs up the footballing ladder in League One (briefly) whilst Alty had been as low as two rungs lower down the Pyramid (equally briefly) in the Northern Premier League.
When the clubs met last year, by coincidence, Altrincham had arrived in east London in eighth place in the National League, just as they are today, but Dagenham in 2020 were then lying in a perilous nineteenth position. However, they only had six fewer points than Alty and possessed two games in hand. They recovered to finish twelfth, amassing thirteen points more than Altrincham by the end of the season. Nevertheless, few tipped them to do so well this time aroun, and the same can be said of Alty.
Altrincham's previous visit to last season had been in Dagenham's promotion season of 2006-07, a campaign in which Alty finished 21st but avoided potential demotion because Boston United were demoted from League Two to Conference North for financial reasons at the post-season Conference AGM.
The match in question at Dagenham took place on Saturday, 14 April, 2007.
Above: Taylor nets the Daggers' first goal. Alty were playing in their blue away kit.
After playing well in the first half, Alty were second best in the second half of a game played in very warm conditions which tested the part-timers. Following a short corner, Taylor headed the Daggers ahead (11 mins). But a fine goal from 20 yards from Colin Little levelled things (21 mins).
Little was unable to convert two other chances, but Alty deserved to reach the interval level. However, Dagenham stepped up a gear after the break and Southam put them ahead, converting a rebound after goalkeeper Richard Acton had done well to parry a shot from the left (58 mins).
A silly foul by Karl Munroe gave the Daggers a penalty which Moore converted (81 mins). It was the third successive Saturday that the central defender had conceded a penalty! Saunders made it 4-1 when his low shot went in off the post (88 mins).
For this game, Alty were without the injured midfielder Val Owen, goalkeeper Stuart Coburn and forward Chris Senior, but defender Stephen Rose had returned to action after suspension. Rod Thornley started up front with Joe O'Neill shifted to right midfield.
ALTRINCHAM: 13. Richard ACTON; 20. Stephen ROSE, 17. Karl MUNROE, 4. Peter BAND, 11. Warren PEYTON; 12. Joe O'NEILL, 7. Robbie LAWTON, 6. Steve BUSHELL, 14. Lewis CHALMERS; 9. Colin LITTLE, 10. Rod THORNLEY. Subs: 2. Steve ASPINALL, 3. Gary SCOTT, 5. Gary TALBOT, 18. Pat McFADDEN, 22. Andy SCOTT.
"We need too many chances to score a goal", he said, whilst also praising his team.
Wright had been back training with Blues for the past few days...
'Josh is not training with us today,"' said Brown. 'He’s got an opportunity to train and sign somewhere else in the National League, I believe. There’s a possibility he’s doing that today or tomorrow.'
Wright made 26 appearances for the Shrimpers during the 2017/18 season".
And the Southend Echo adds that "Phil Brown insists he has never lost interest in bringing Ricky Holmes back to Blues.
Holmes, who made 14 appearances for the Shrimpers last season, joined Farnborough Town in the summer after failing to agree a new deal with him hometown club. But Brown would still like to sign the 34-year-old if possible.
'Where Ricky is concerned he’s signed a deal with Farnborough and I don’t really want to go into that side of things,' said Brown. 'But I’ve never shown anything but interest in Ricky Holmes and if that’s a possibility again then I’d like to explore that avenue.'"
Town led at half-time thanks to Saidou Khan’s wonder strike but they conceded three after the break, including two late on, to lose in Surrey. The defeat leaves the Blues second in the National League table, one point behind leaders Dagenham and Redbridge.
Rowe’s men are not in action this Saturday and next face Wrexham away on Tuesday (October 5).
'We are allowed to lose a game, we have lost one in nine, we get a bit of a mini-break now and we set our stall out for Wrexham and make sure we get to those standards... Why wouldn't I be confident? The form has been good in general since I have been here for 10 months and this season. We have lost one in nine. We have collected 18 points from nine games so that is two points a game.'
Chesterfield will be hoping to have injured midfielder Manny Oyeleke back for the trip to Wales. 'I think it is clear in the last two games that he has been a big loss for us,' Rowe added.
Meanwhile, fellow midfielder Jim Kellermann has been recalled from his loan spell at Tamworth".
Efete made contact with the face of Corey Whitely in retaliation, with the Bromley man making the most of it... Referee Matthew Russell... was left with little choice as he sent Efete off...
'From where I was, it looked like it was (a sending-off),'[manager Paul] Hurst said... 'I thought it was a bad tackle... I thought there were some disappointing, shall I say, decisions on the evening'...
The sending-off compounded the Mariners’ misery on a night when they saw their unbeaten start to the season ended... They host bottom club Dover this weekend.
'I’m disappointed, of course, but at the same time I was kind of pleased with how the players kept going, I don’t think they jacked it in'".
The Linnets midfielder returns on Saturday after serving a one-match suspension for collecting five yellow cards in his first seven games of the season. It means he missed the disappointing 4-1 defeat at Altrincham... and manager Ian Culverhouse will be pleased to have him back in the fold for another difficult away game, at Maidenhead.
Coleman made nine appearances for Lynn last season on loan from Brackley... He chose to return to The Walks, much to Culverhouse’s delight.
'I think Ethan has got a hell of a future,' said the Linnets boss. 'It is a testament to him to come back here as well because I know he was tempted with a lot of offers after the month or two he had here. But he wanted to learn, he is a sponge, everything is about developing his game and going that extra step'...
The nature of Coleman’s defensive midfield role means he is always living on the disciplinary edge...
'He is being punished every time he goes to the floor,' said Culverhouse. 'That is part of his game. He will learn as he goes along. He breaks a lot of things up for us, sits in front of the back four or five and is a good shield for us in there'...
Culverhouse will hope defender Pierce Bird is available to face Maidenhead, especially as Tyler Denton limped off in midweek".
The 26 year-old has netted seven times in his first eight games for Halifax... more goals so far this term than he managed in the whole of the previous campaign with Torquay...
'It’s been going well, I think it’s mainly just having the freedom to play, to be starting every week, which allows you to get that consistency,' he said...
'It’s just a thrill that you can’t put into words. There’s no better feeling, you almost get addicted to that feeling, which is why you want to score as many goals as you can'...
Waters’s latest goal proved decisive in Town’s 1-0 win at Aldershot last Saturday...
'Second-half they probably had the better of the game but defensively we’ve been solid all season, starting with Sam in goal, who’s been unbelievable, and the back four, whoever they’ve been, it works its way right up through the team.
It was a good grinding win on Saturday, which is nice because we’re winning different types of games...
'I’ve always been more of an instinctive finisher... All my goals have been a little bit different. The tap-ins are always my favourite... I’ve got Warbs (Matt Warburton) playing in the number 10 role, he’ll go and link the play a lot which allows me to not have to come to feet as much, allows me to stretch (teams) and get into those positions where I know I’m probably going to be most dangerous..
'It’s great I’ve scored seven so far but I could have had 10 or more because of the amount of chances we’re creating...
'I’ve played all over but up-front would usually be my preferred position, and I think it was one pre-season game where the gaffer said "I’m going to play you down the middle because I know you want to play there".
SATURDAY FIXTURES
Saturday 30 October 2021
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reports that "Mark Bentley jumped at the chance to return to Southend United, despite the size of the task he is now facing.
Yeovil Town "confirm that Lewis Simper has been recalled from his loan spell by Cambridge United.
FC Halifax Town "defeated Dagenham 1-0 at the Shay...
League leaders Grimsby Town "look to bounce back after suffering defeat during midweek as Notts County make the journey to Blundell Park on Saturday...
Being in awe of Hollywood actors seems to be a default position for some football fans as Get Reading reports that "Maidenhead United's fans were given a shock when the Hollywood A-list owners of their opponents turned up to cheer the team on.
FA CUP
Tuesday 26 October, FA Cup 4QR
27 October, 2021
SEAN WILLIAMS REJOINS WARRINGTON
Altrincham FC has announced that "Popular midfielder Sean Williams has left Altrincham and joined Warrington Town".
CHESHIRE NEWS: STOCKPORT SACK RUSK
Following a home defeat to Barnet last night, Altrincham's neighbours Stockport County have issued a statement saying that "Following a difficult start to the season, the board have made the decision to part company with Manager Simon Rusk.
Simon will leave the club with immediate effect alongside Assistant Manager Mark McGhee, as the club restructures its coaching staff focused on future success and progression.
ALTRINCHAM 1-2 SOLIHULL MOORS
Altrincham had to make a large number of changes for Covid-related reasons. "Half the squad are unavailable" said Phil Parkinson before kick-off after he had had to bring in three new players today (Walker, Osigwe and Baggley) as well as reserve Sean Higgins.
FOUR NEW FACES FOR ALTY
There were four new faces in the Altrincham squad on Tuesday night against Solihull Moors.
BAD NIGHT FOR BIG MONEY
Tuesday produced a night of shocks for big-spending Wrexham and Stockport County who both lost to lowly clubs in the National League (Maidenhead United and Barnet respectively). Wrexham's US owners were reportedly in attendnace for their reverse.
MIDWEEK FIXTURES
Tuesday 26 October
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The BBC confirms that "A plan for Southend United's new 22,000-seater stadium, first submitted four years ago, has been granted planning permission.
Wrexham "announce the signing of midfielder Charlie Trafford on a short-term deal following a successful trial... The Canada-born midfielder joins the club having last played with Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premier League... in May 2021.
Meanwhile, King's Lynn Town "confirm the loan signing of Jayden Davis from Millwall... on a one-month loan...
26 October 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: SOLIHULL MOORS
Solihull Moors visit Altrincham tonight (Tuesday) on the back of a seemingly impressive run comprising just one loss in their last ten matches, but that reverse was a 5-1 spanking at Dagenham.
Before Alty fans get too worried at Solihull's good run of results, delving into those scores reveals that in Solihull's ten league games prior to their home win over Halifax last Saturday, their opponents included all seven of the currently bottom placed clubs in the National League!
FOUR-FIGURE GATES
A quarter of the 2021-22 season was completed on Saturday and, for the first time since 1979, all of the first eleven league fixtures involving Altrincham were watched by four-figure attendances. In 1979 the twelve opening league matches reached this level of attendance before an away match at AP Leamington broke the sequence.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Earlier this month, Bradford (Park Avenue) reported "the signing of experienced midfielder Simon Richman!...
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Grimsby Telegraph reports that "Grimsby Town will have to check on the fitness of Harry Clifton and John McAtee ahead of Tuesday night's trip to Wealdstone.
In the North Wales Daily Post, we learn that "Wrexham AFC head into Tuesday night's away match at Maidenhead United with renewed optimism after a couple of impressive performances over the past week has [sic] reignited their season.
According to the Maidenhead Advertsier, "Josh Kelly lauded Maidenhead United’s fans for 'lifting' the side who fought back from losing positions twice before going on to snatch maximum points from Woking at the weekend.
In the Halifax Courier, "Town boss Pete Wild says it's a must that his side pick up points in their home game with Dagenham and Redbridge on Tuesday night.
The Southend Echo says that "If Kevin Maher had not realised the size of the task facing him at Southend United, he does now!...
25 October, 2021
"BEATEN BY BETTER SIDE" SAYS PARKINSON
After his side's 2-1 defeat at Eastleigh, Alty manager Phil Parkinson conceded, "We were beaten by the better team and, sometimes, you have to take your medicine", reports the NL Paper.
NEXT OPPONENTS: SOLIHULL MOORS
Altrincham host Solihull Moors on Tuesday for a National League fixture, which will be televised by BT Sport.
The first half was clear evidence of why the two sides have been so hard to get a victory against lately. Neither side managed to create a clear-cut chance in the first 45 minutes, but both had some good moments and fought hard...
ALTY'S FA CUP MATCH FINALISED
The authorities have confirmed that Altrincham's First Round FA Cup match at Gateshead will take place on Saturday, 6 November, with a 3pm kick-off.
DEFEAT ENDS GOOD MONTH FOR YOUTH TEAM
After the disappointment of bowing out of the FA Youth Cup at the end of September, it had been a good month for the team in October.
ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES
Former Alty forward Craig Mahon is currently acting manager of Curzon Ashton following the surprise dismissal of Steve Cunningham last week.
MIDWEEK FIXTURES
Tuesday 26 October
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Newham Recorder tells us that "Dagenham & Redbridge manager Daryl McMahon [was] ‘very pleased’ as his side sealed a 3-0 victory over local rivals Southend United.
In front of nearly 7,500 spectators, Stockport County "in the wake of their FA and Cheshire Senior Cup successes, resumed National League action in Nottingham, but saw their five-match winning run in all competitions come to an end...
24 October, 2021
EASTLEIGH 2-1 ALTRINCHAM
After a bright start, Altrincham were ultimately second best in Hampshire.
EASTLEIGH VIEW
Eastleigh
Jake Moult gave the visitors the lead from a corner inside the first five minutes.
Ben Strevens’s side fought back with substitute Danny Hollands drawing his side level before Whelan’s wonder goal claimed all three points for the Spitfires.
NEXT OPPONENTS: SOLIHULL MOORS
Altrincham host Solihull Moors on Tuesday for a National League fixture, which will be televised by BT Sport.
The Halifax Courier reports that "Callum Maycock's goal condemned FC Halifax Town to their first defeat in ten games as they lost 1-0 at Solihull Moors.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Alistair Smith scored for Sutton United in the last minute to make it 2-2 at Rochdale but they lost to an added-time goal.
SATURDAY RESULTS
DEFEAT FOR RESERVES
On Saturday, Altrincham FC Reserves lost 4-2 away to Winstanley Warriors FC in a Cheshire League Premier Division fixture.
MIDWEEK FIXTURES
Tuesday 26 October
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Southend United report that "Kevin Maher’s first game in charge of Blues ended in defeat as a three-goal, six-minute blitz from Dagenham & Redbridge earned them a 3-0 win at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
In the Derbyshire Times we learn that "‘Proud’ James Rowe said Chesterfield are building some ‘momentum’ at the Technique Stadium after beating in-form Boreham Wood to climb above them into second in the National League.
According to the Grimsby Telegraph,"Paul Hurst has admitted there is room for improvement despite Grimsby Town's 2-0 victory over Yeovil Town.
23 October, 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: EASTLEIGH
Altrincham travel to Eastleigh today for a National League
ANTHONY WRIGHT R.I.P.
Altrincham supporters will be saddened to hear of the premature death of their fellow Alty fan, Anthony Wright, at the age of just 41.
RESERVES' REVERSES
So far in October, Altrincham FC Reserves have played twice but, unfortunately, have lost both fixtures.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Stockport County "announce the signing of Bolton Wanderers captain Antoni Sarcevic on a free transfer, with the midfielder signing a contract until 2024.
The Southend Echo claims that "Stan Collymore has thrown doubt on his future at Southend United.
The Dorset Echo confirms that "Weymouth legend Jason Matthews has returned to the Terras, replacing departed goalkeeping coach Robbie Yates.
The Nottingham Post reports that "Notts County assistant coach Michael Doyle, now 40 years of age, is coming from the gym and arrives around ten minutes later than scheduled, but all is forgiven.
We learn from the Grimsby Telegraph that "Grimsby Town's team selection against Yeovil Town will be impacted by a spread of COVID-19 within the camp, Paul Hurst has confirmed.
Devon Live reminds us that "New loan signings Harry Perritt and Sinclair Armstrong are likely to play their part as Torquay United try to put Wednesday’s painful FA Cup defeat to one side...
In the Derbyshire Times, "manager James Rowe has issued a rallying cry for Chesterfield fans to bring the noise for Saturday’s top of the table clash against Boreham Wood.
According to Hammy End, "Fulham defender Conor McAvoy has signed for Wealdstone on an initial one-month loan deal.
22 October, 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: EASTLEIGH
Altrincham travel to Eastleigh on Saturday for a National League fixture.
Eastleigh may have gone into the game as league leaders but this game did not say much for the overall standard of the National League at that point in the season.
ALTY OLD BOYS
According to Cheshire Live, "Anthony Johnson is reluctant to say he’s happy with any performance in a defeat, but there were positives for the Chester FC management from Tuesday’s Cheshire Senior Cup game at home to Stockport County.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
From the , we learn that "Torquay United's supporters were 'let down' by their side after their 4-2 FA Cup defeat at Havant and Waterlooville according to manager Gary Johnson.
The Bournemouth Echo confirms that Bournemouth "youngster Ryan Glover has joined Aldershot Town on loan.
The Grimsby Telegraph states that "The Mariners have both right-backs available for Saturday's National League clash, leaving Paul Hurst with a difficult decision to make
21 October, 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: EASTLEIGH
Altrincham travel to Eastleigh on Saturday for a National League fixture.
ALTY OLD BOY
Making his debut, on loan, from Crewe Alexandra, former Alty loanee Owen Dale scored for Blackpool as they beat Reading in the Championship.
FA CUP REPLAY
Wednesday 20 October, 4th Qualifying Round Replay.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reports that "Southend United’s chief executive Tom Lawrence believes Blues’ new coaching team will bring a high performing culture back to the club.
According to Sport Bible, Yeovil Town "played Weymouth in an FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie, with the game going all the way to penalties after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes of action
FC Halifax report that "The Shaymen booked their place in the Emirates FA Cup First Round after beating Pontefract Collieries...
20 October, 2021
GATESHEAD BOUND
Following tonight's replay at the International Stadium, Altrincham now know that they will travel to Gateshead in Round One of the FA Cup over the weekend of 6 November.
FA CUP REPLAYS
Wednesday 20 October, 4th Qualifying Round Replay.
NW NEWS
As reported here earlier, one of Altrincham's pre-season hosts, Curzon Ashton, have surprisingly sacked their manager. And now the Derbyshire Times elaborates, stating that "Curzon Ashton say manager Steve Cunningham had been ‘in talks’ with another club in the build-up to the FA Cup clash against Chesterfield.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reports that "Stan Collymore has outlined the change of structure being introduced at Southend United.
According to the Grimsby Telegraph, "Paul Hurst was pleased with Lenell John-Lewis's performance against Bromsgrove Sporting but admitted the striker could 'have taken the match ball home'.
Aldershot Town "announce that defender Corey Jordan has signed for the club!
19 October 2021
NW NEWS: CURZON SACKING
Altrincham played Curzon Ashton in pre-season but now the Derbyshire Times reports that "Southend United immediately got rid of Phil Brown after the Spireites put four past them at Roots Hall.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reports that "Kevin Maher is favourite to be Southend United's next manager... following Phil Brown’s dismissal 10 days ago.
We learn from the Maidenhead Advertiser that "Alan Devonshire said Maidenhead United’s game against Hastings United was less about bringing a halt to their substandard run of form, but an opportunity to give the supporters, who have been on the side’s back, reassurance and confidence.
UPDATE
Due to a hardware failure it was not possible to update this site in the normal way for Tuesday 19 October.
18 October 2021
CONNOR STEPPED UP
On Tuesday night Alty left-back Connor Hampson was named in a matchday squad for the first time in six months, as a potential substitute at Yeovil Town. He had been sidelined by a hernia injury and, at best, might have expected to spend a few minutes on the pitch in the Alty back four.
He told Alty TV that taking over from injured keeper Tony Thompson was "Horrendous! Never again! No,obviously if I was needed again, I would but I wouldn't say it was pleasant...
SOUTHPORT v ALTY HIGHLIGHTS
Southport have released highlights of last Saturday's FA Cup tie at Haig Avenue.
ALTY'S LONG AND WINDING ROAD
Sunday's draw for the First Round of the FA Cup dealt Altrincham a ninth successive away tie, at either Marske or Gateshead.
NEXT OPPONENTS: EASTLEIGH
Alty travel to Hampshire on Saturday to face Eastleigh. From there The Daily Echo tells us that "Eastleigh will head to fellow National League side Boreham Wood in the first round proper of the FA Cup if they can overcome Folkestone Invicta.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
According to the Nottingham Post, "Notts County head coach Ian Burchnall claims his side didn't do enough to win their FA Cup qualifying tie against Tamworth at the Lamb...
In the Daily Post, we learn that "Wrexham could consider themselves fortunate to gain a replay in Saturday's FA Cup fourth qualifying round at the Marine Travel Arena and it took a 94th-minute equaliser to spare their blushes.
We read in the Dorset Echo that "Police officers, dogs and mounted units were deployed to Weymouth FC’s away FA Cup qualifying match against Yeovil Town following reports of disorder.
Bottom of the National League, Dover Athletic report that "Ricky Miller’s first goal since his summer return to Dover ensured the club lived to fight another day in the FA Cup after earning a replay at Yate Town on Tuesday.
17 October 2021
THE OPPOSITION
Altrincham's FA Cup opponents in Round One during the first weekend of November will be decided on Tuesday night when Gateshead host Marske United in a replay of their Fourth Qualifying Round tie, which ended goalless at Marske on Saturday.
FA CUP DRAW
Altrincham went into the First Round draw, in which EFL One and Two clubs participate, hoping to avoid a ninth consecutive away draw in the competition.
FA CUP DRAW
Altrincham will go into the First Round draw, in which EFL One and Two clubs participate. Their number in the draw is 61. This time, the draw takes place as part of a half-hour programme on ITV 1 on Sunday, from 1.05pm
SOUTHPORT 2-3 ALTRINCHAM
ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Leader Live reports that "Jordan Davies scored a last gasp equaliser as Wrexham drew 1-1 against Northern Premier League Division One West side Marine...
In the Derbyshire Times we learn that "Joe Rowley has suffered a suspected broken leg in his last game for King’s Lynn Town after being recalled from his loan spell yesterday by Chesterfield.
The Halifax Courier reports that FC Halfax Town boss "Pete Wild thought it was a fair result after his side drew 0-0 at Pontefract Collieries...
16 October 2021
SATURDAY FA CUP FIXTURES
Saturday 16 October
BEFORE THE GAME AT SOUTHPORT
Altrincham face Southport at Haig Avenue on Saturday in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round.
With goalkeeper Tony Thompson ruled out for several weeks and Toby Mullarkey (right) necessarily sidelined by the concussion protocols, the visitors must make at least two changes.
SOUTHPORT FACES
It has been a couple of years since Alty met Southport, but whilst their fans will be well aware of Southport manager Liam Watson, his assistant is a relatively new face to the Sandgrounders' supporters, too, as he was only appointed in the past week. He is Terry McPhillips, who the club states "has been helping out since the departure of Jon McCarthy [and] has now been made permanent" assistant manager.
In 2016, he followed Gary Bowyer to Blackpool as a chief scout and assistant manager. He was appointed caretaker manager of Blackpool in August 2018 and after Gary Bowyer left the club in September 2018, he was made permanent manager. Terry resigned as Blackpool manager in July 2019".
The most familiar of Southport's current players to Alty supporters will include their two goalkeepers. Cover keeper is Tony McMillan (right) who played, just once in 2013-14, for Altrincham after joining on 21 March 2013. He arrived at Moss Lane only two days after playing in goal for Southport, for whom he had been first-choice keeper through the 2012-13 season. He had been sent off in his final match for the Sandgrounders, thus delaying his first involvement with the Altrincham squad till his one-match suspension, for handball outside the box, had been served.
DANNY WHITEHEAD INTERVIEWED
Altrincham FC press and media officer, Brian Flynn, has an Alty TV interview with midfielder Danny Whitehead, the new loan signing from Port Vale.
YEOVIL HIGHLIGHTS
Yeovil Town have some four minutes of video highlights from Tuesday night's draw with Altrincham.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 16 October
The Through the Years files created by Howard Watts and Mike Garnett remind us of the games played by Alty on the same date as this Saturday's visit to Southport, 16 October.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Unsurprisingly, the Derbyshire Times reports that "Chesterfield manager James Rowe has 'no interest' in leaving Spireites after... rivals Southend United made a formal approach to speak to him.
'I find it fascinating that six of the top eight in League Two have been in the National League in the last four years. That shows you that this is a very difficult league to get out of but once you do there is nothing to fear.'"
According to the Eastern Daily Press "New King’s Lynn Town signing Josh Barrett says his former boss Joey Barton was 'spot on' in his frank assessment of the midfielder’s future.
15 October 2021
ALTY SIGN LOANEE FROM PORT VALE
Altrincham FC has announced the signing on a month's loan of Port Vale midfielder Danny Whitehead. The Robins have a gap in that area of the pitch following the serious injury to Harrogate Town loanee Connor Kirby earlier this season and with potential replacement Sean Williams out on loan at Warrington Town.
ALTY'S LAST MAN STANDING
Altrincham's loss of goalkeeper Tony Thompson and centre-back Toby Mullarkey within seven minutes of each other in the first half at Yeovil on Tuesday night meant that two of the only three players to have played every minute of the current season, had lost that record, leaving full-back Joel Senior as the only man left standing with that unblemished history of completing every match from the kick-off to final whistle.
In addition to the broken leg for midfielder Connor Kirby suffered recently at Wealdstone, the injuries to Thompson and Mullarkey underline that Altrincham have had a desperate time with defenders' injuries in recent months.
SOUTHPORT PREPARE FOR ALTY VISIT
Altrincham travel to Southport on Saturday to play an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie.
Southport confirm that "high flying Vanarama National side Altrincham come to town... on the back of a long trip to Somerset for what sounded like a lively encounter with former ‘Port goalkeeper Tony Thompson taken off injured early in the first half and outfield player Connor Hampson taking over between the sticks. The game ended 1-1 with Hampson making a series of fine saves...
THROUGH THE YEARS
The Through the Years files created by Howard Watts and Mike Garnett remind us of the games played by Alty on the same date as this Saturday's visit to Southport, 16 Octber..
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Leader Live reports that "The returfing of The Racecourse Ground pitch is well underway... Work on the playing surface started on Sunday, with the original pitch ripped up.
The Southend Echo tells us that "Spencer Prior feels the vacant managerial role at Southend United is still an attractive job. But the former Shrimpers defender feels Phil Brown’s replacement must be thick skinned....
We learn from the Halifax Courier. that "A winning mentality, a professional attitude and being tactically aware; these are the three core values behind FC Halifax Town’s strong start to the season.
14 October 2021
CONNOR'S REMARKABLE COMEBACK
There cannot be many, if any, cases at any level of football of a team utilising a left-back, who had been out of action for six months, as a substitute who was required to play in goal for more than eighty minutes (including added time).
PARKINSON'S POST-MATCH VIEWS
Brian Flynn's post-match interview with Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson, at Yeovil on Tuesday, is on the official site of Altrincham FC.
GOULD AND SUTTON RETURN
Following the injury to Tony Thompson, Altrincham FC's twitter service has confirmed that the club has "recalled Matt Gould (right) from his successful loan spell with Nantwich Town.
FA CUP: SOUTHPORT RECORD DECEPTIVE
Like Maidenhead United and Yeovil Town, Alty's last two league opponents, this Saturday's hosts in the FA Cup, Southport, are on a poor run of league form. But their poor record is deceptive.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Daily Mail reports that" "Southend United have formally requested permission to speak to Chesterfield boss James Rowe over the managerial vacancy at Roots Hall.
In the Leader Live, we learn that "Phil Parkinson is leaving no stone unturned as Wrexham aim to avoid an FA Cup shock at the hands of Marine on Saturday.
Devon Live reports that "Gary Johnson says his players have 'reacted well' after the Torquay United manager cancelled the team’s Sunday off following the second 2-0 defeat on the trot at Bromley on Saturday... Torquay were second best...
We learn from the Lynn News that "Michael Gash has given an emotional interview ahead of his return to The Walks on Saturday. The frontman will face King's Lynn Town for the first time since leaving for pastures new with Peterborough Sports in the summer.
According to the Grimsby Telegraph "Paul Hurst has been pleased with Grimsby Town's continuity in recent matches but has reiterated his insistence on keeping his starting XI fresh.
From Devon Live comes news that "Manager Andy Hessenthaler admits Dover Athletic's home FA Cup tie against Yate Town is a huge match for several reasons.
13 October 2021
YEOVIL TOWN 1-1 ALTRINCHAM
Alty secured a great point amidst adversity in Somerset, losing their goalkeeper and a centre-half by the midway point of the first half and having to use an outfield player, who had not played at all for 18 games, in goal for 74 minutes plus added time...
YEOVIL'S VIEW
Following their 1-1 draw with Altrincham, Yeovil Town reported that "Joe Quigley’s second half strike was not enough for Yeovil Town as they drew to Altrincham at Huish Park.
After a goalless first half which saw Altrincham goalkeeper Anthony Thompson replaced by outfielder Connor Hampson [right], the Glovers struck ahead through Quigley just before the hour mark as he turned the ball beyond the makeshift goalkeeper.
OPPONENTS' TAKEOVER
Global 247 informs us that "On the pitch, Yeovil Town’s fans suffered another poor performance served up by manager Darren Sarll.
Stand-in goalkeeper Connor Hampson was Altrincham’s hero as he made several fine saves in the 1-1 draw at Yeovil...
ALTRINCHAM UNDER-17S
At Altrincham FC, press and media officer Brian Flynn reports that at Altrincham "The development squad travelled to AFC Blackpool on Sunday afternoon and came away with a 5-1 win.
TUESDAY SCORE
Tuesday, 5 October 2021
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Grimsby Telegraph reports that "Grimsby Town owner Jason Stockwood has revealed that an announcement over the location of the club's new training facilities is just 'months away'...
At a less happy club, the Southend Echo reports thta "Southend United chairman Ron Martin hopes to have chosen the Shrimpers’ next manager by the end of next week...
According to the Maidenhead Advertiser, "Alan Devonshire and Ryan Peters will be looking to lift the morale of the players this week after their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Altrincham on Saturday stretched the club’s winless run in the league to eight matches.
12 October 2021
BEFORE THE GAME
Altrincham travel to Somerset looking for a win at Yeovil Town which would propel them into fifth place in the National League. And, they would still have a game in hand over the four clubs above them should they succeed in earning a victory tonight.
ALTY v MAIDENHEAD HIGHLIGHTS
Alty TV has its customary high quality highlights available from the Altrincham v Maidenhead United match last Saturday.
TUESDAY FIXTURE
Altrincham's match in Somerset is the only National League fixture tonight.
11 SCORERS FOR ALTY ALREADY
Despite having only played only nine games this season, Altrincham's goals have already come from eleven different players, albeit one of them played for the opposition! As Alty have failed to score in two games, the haul of 18 goals comes from seven matches.
DON'T PLAY ALTY!
Three of the fancied teams in the National League this season must be rueing playing against Altrincham as the rot has set in after being beaten by the Robins.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Pride of Nottingham alerts us to the fact that "Notts County manager, Ian Burchnall had to patch up his side after the club was hit with several injuries to his first-team.
From the Grimsby Telegraph we learn that "Woking boss Alan Dowson was left ruing his side's wasteful finishing after insisting they deserved a share of the spoils against Grimsby Town...as Harry Clifton fired home from the edge of the area in the 87th minute.
Following the dismissal of the manager and his assistant after Saturday's 0-4 defeat at Roots Hall, Southend United "can confirm that Ricky Duncan will step down from his role as Director of Football with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the Dorest Echo reports that "Brian Stock urged Weymouth to capitalise on their opportunities after a 2-0 defeat at FC Halifax Town.
In the Halifax Courier we learn that at The Shay "David Bosomworth has been chairman for 13 years and overseen four promotions and an FA Trophy win at Wembley, but has repeatedly reiterated his biggest ambition is to lead The Shaymen back into the Football League.
11 October 2021
POST-MATCH INTERVIEW
Alty TV has a post-match video interview with manager Phil Parkinson following his side's 2-0 win over Maidenhad United.
ALTY "FIRSTS" LAST SATURDAY
There were a number of "firsts" for Altrincham Football Club last Saturday.
DENSMORE NEARS 400 STARTS
Should he start on Tuesday at Yeovil, Altrincham right-back Shaun Densmore will in one sense be making his 400th start for the club... but only if you include the subsequently void game against Chester City in 2009. Officially therefore, he will have to make two more starts to reach 400. Shaun made his first start of the season last Tuesday against Grimsby Town.
Now 32, Shaun signed for Altrincham initially on a month's contract on 12 September 2008 soon after being released by Everton. On 13 October 2008 he signed on for the rest of 2008-09 season, having impressed in a run of seven unbeaten games in the side.
BRAD JACKSON SALUTES ALTY AND CHESTER FC
World Football Index has an interview with Alty's Brad Jackson, who laid on the team's second goal on Saturday.
Asked about Altrincham, he explained that "I was very excited to join the club as I’ve wanted to test myself at National League level for quite a while. I have experience of National League North football and it felt like the perfect time to test myself at a higher level.
WE MEET AGAIN: YEOVIL TOWN
Apart from last season when Alty lost 2-0, Tuesday's visit to Somerset will be the first match at Yeovil for Altrincham in more than twenty years. On 21 August 1999 Alty lost 3-0 there.
CHESHIRE AMATEUR CUP
On Saturday, in the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup, Second Round, a team playing under the name of Altrincham & Hale lost 3-4 at home to Egerton FC. This outfit presumably incorporated Altrincham FC Reserves' players.
TUESDAY'S GAME
Alty travel to Yeovil on Tuesday night for a fixture postponed recently due to Covid in the Altrincham camp.
ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES
Amongst the Alty "old boys" and current players who are out on loan, three played in Alfreton Town's draw with AFC Fylde on Saturday. They were Connor Branson, Yusifu Ceesay and Ritchie Sutton
THROUGH THE YEARS: 12 October
The Through the Years files created by Howard Watts and Mike Garnett remind us of those games played by Alty on the same date as next Tuesday's match against Yeovil Town, 12 October.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reports that "Southend United fans have backed the dismissal of Phil Brown but insist it will not ‘placate their anger’.
There are happier times at FC Halifax Town who "recorded a win and a clean sheet yesterday afternoon against Weymouth. Defender Jesse Debrah... returned from injury to start in the win, and began by giving his thoughts on the match...
Pride of Nottingham reports that "Notts County returned to winning ways, after a spell of 3 defeats in a row as the Magpies lost to Altrincham, Woking and Halifax.
10 October, 2021
"ONE GAME AT A TIME" SAYS SORVEL
Folowing the win against Maidenhead United, assistant manager Neil Sorvel told the NL Paper, which featured Mike Ripley's fine photo of Tom Peers on its front cover, "We're very pleased but we don't want to get carried away. We're still taking it one game at a time and still looking to avoid the drop.
ALTRINCHAM 2-0 MAIDENHEAD UNITED
Altrincham moved up to eighth with a deserved win over Maidenhead United.
NEXT: YEOVIL TOWN
Alty face the long trip to Somerset on Tuesday to face Yeovil Town. On Saturday Yeovil lost 0-2 at home to Notts County, their fourth game wihout a win comprsing three losses and a draw. They lie fifteenth but have played only eight games, the fewest in the National League.
ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES
On loan from ALtrincham, Sean Williams, (right) netted a penalty for Warrington Town as they beat Stalybrdige Celtic 3-0 on Saturday.
FA CUP OPPONENTS: SOUTHPORT
Next Saturday, Alty renew their acquaintance with Southport, as they face the Sandgrounders in the FA Cup at Haig Avenue.
MIDWEEK FIXTURES
Tuesday, 12th October
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reports that "Southend United slumped to a depressing 4-0 defeat against Chesterfield during another painful afternoon at Roots Hall.
News from Southend's fellow relegated club couldn't be more different as they sit top of the National League.
KIng's Lynn Town "suffered their first defeat in 3 games as Solihull claimed all 3 points late on in a game of few chances, thanks to substitute Danny Newton who poked home from close range.
It's been a good season at Boreham Wood where "Luke Garrard made two changes to the Wood line up from Tuesday night with Josh Rees and Frankie Raymond coming in for Connor Smith and the injured skipper Mark Ricketts.
In the Derbyshire Times we read that "With the Spireites having hit four goals through Rowe and Saidou Khan, the second-half was interrupted for several minutes when Shrimpers fans invaded the pitch to protest against club owner Ron Martin.
At the other end of the league, Barnet "secured the first three points away from home this season, winning 2-1 at Dover Athletic...
In the Dorset Echo we read that "Weymouth suffered a fourth straight defeat as Halifax Town claimed a 2-0 win at the Shay to maintain their superb start to the Vanarama National League season.
9 October 2021
ALTRINCHAM 2-0 MAIDENHEAD UNITED
Altrincham finally secured the points with a 90th minute goal from substitute Tom Peers after holding a 1-0 lead from the 56th minute.
SOUTHEND SACK MANAGER
In a terse statement, reproduced in full below, Southend United announced that they had sacked manager Phil Brown following a 0-4 home defeat to Chesterfield. The match was interrupted by protesting Shrimpers fans.
SATURDAY FIXTURES
Saturday, 9 October 2021
BEFORE THE GAME
For the second time in a month the Magpies visit Altrincham but, this time, it is the Maidenhead species and not the one from Nottingham. The match can be followed on Radio Robins.
Consequently, fifteen minutes of added time were played before the break but the score remained goalless at half-time of a game largely lacking in quality at that stage.
ALTY "DEVASTATED"
Talking to press and media officer John Edwards in the Sale & Altrincham Messenger, after the 2-3 defeat to Grimsby Town, Alty boss Phil Parkinson said, 'The boys are devastated in there, really down about the result, but it just shows how far we have come... that we have been able to go toe-to-toe with a massive club with a Football League pedigree...
JOE BUNNEY DEPARTS
Just 45 days after his arrival at the club was announced, Altrincham FC announced the departure of left-back Joe Bunney. For work-related reasons he has joined Rylands, the resurgent Warrington team financed by the football agent, Paul Stretford.
Joe will be dropping three levels as Rylands play in the fourth tier of the non-League pyramid, the same league in which our neighbours Trafford FC compete.
ALTY ACADEMY UPDATE
Altrincham FC report that "The Altrincham FC Academy hosted Buxton in their 4th fixture of their UCFB National League (Division H) season.
The Robins triumphed over the Bucks 4-2 at Egerton Youth Club, Knutsford.
PATHWAY TO FIRST TEAM
Altrincham FC have "Ross Speight's first interview since taking over the managerial reins at Altrincham FC Reserves.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 9 October
Today, Saturday 9 October, Altrincham host Maidenhead United.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
According to the Derbyshire Times, "Chesterfield’s Manny Oyeleke is back in full training and could be involved against Southend United on Saturday.
Altrincham face a long trek to play Yeovil Town next Tuesday. Luton Today informs us that "Forward Dion Pereira has joined National League outfit Yeovil Town on a one-month loan.
According to the Grimsby Telegraph, "Paul Hurst has admitted Grimsby Town are already planning for the January transfer window which could discourage the club from signing a new striker.
8 October 2021
SENIOR SERVICE
Saturday's match against Maidenhead United should mark full-back Joel Senior's 50th appearance for Altrincham.
He has played all of his current total of 49 games from the start, except one appearance as a substitute, at home to Bromley last season.
ALTY TV HIGHLIGHTS
Alty TV has highlights from Tuesday's game against Grimsby Town.
TUESDAY'S GATE
Tuesday's attendance at the JDS for Altrincham against Grimsby Town was certainly one of the largest at Moss Lane for a home league match since the inception of a national tier of non-League football in 1979/80 season.
AFTER THE GRIMSBY GAME
After their trip to Altrincham on Tuesday, the Grimsby Telegraph reports that the Mariners' manager "Paul Hurst believes the biggest change in National League football since has been the style of football on offer in England's fifth-tier.
The Grimsby Town boss is back at this level since guiding the Mariners into the Football League in 2016.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Like Altrincham, Woking have been a surporise package this season and, unfortinately, like Alty they have suffered the loss of a key player with a broken leg as Get Surrey confirms that "Woking striker George Oakley is expected to miss the majority of the National League season after suffering a fractured leg against Chesterfield.
From the BBC we learn that "Torquay United boss Gary Johnson says plans to bolster his squad are being hampered by agents who do not want to send players to the National League...
The Nottingham Post reminds us that "The Magpies suffered a 3-2 defeat at the Shay on Tuesday night after leading 2-0 against 10 men in a fiery National League encounter
7 October 2021
ALTY TO FACE SOUTHPORT IN FA CUP
They may be bottom of their league table but Southport came from behind to beat Spennymoor Town 3-2 on Tuesday night in their FA Cup replay.
CONNOR'S VISIT
Altrincham FC "will welcome a special guest to The J.Davidson Stadium on Saturday when a grateful Connor Kirby makes an emotional return to the club to say a heartfelt thanks for all the support he has received since his season-ending injury setback...
ALTY MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS
Altrincham FC has announced that the winners in its latest Monthly Draw, for September 2021, were as follows:-
GRIMSBY REACTION
Highlights of the Altrincham v Grimsby Town game are here.
The Mariners secured their first-ever win at Moss Lane with a dominant display that saw them lead 3-0 by the hour-mark, only for Will Bapaga's controversial red card to change the direction of the match.
NEXT OPPONENTS: MAIDENHEAD UNITED
Alty's opponents this Saturday, Maidenhead United, are without a win in seven game and sit sevententh in the National League. This slump followed two wins at the start of the season including a 2-1 win away to FC Halifax Town.
They also recently secured a 1-1 home draw with Grimsby Town, Alty's last opponents.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Altrincham started something when they defeated Notts County, as they have now lost four on the trot.
The Nottingham Post reports that "Tempers frayed at the full-time whistle as the Shaymen came from two goals down to win 3-2 with 10 men
Meanwhile, Hampshire's Daily Echo says that "Eastleigh's improvement hit a roadblock with a disappointing 1-0 loss at future-threatened Southend United...
The BBC adds that "Southend fans protested towards Ron Martin after the match. Manager Phil Brown said it 'looks like the majority' of Southend fans want chairman Ron Martin out, as protests overshadowed their win over Eastleigh.
According to the Eastern Daily Press "Ian Culverhouse was left to rue the one that got away as King’s Lynn Town finally ended their home drought.
FC Halifax Town "pulled off an unbelievable comeback when 10-man Town came back from two goals down to beat Notts County 3-2 at the Shay.
6 October 2021
ALTRINCHAM 2-3 GRIMSBY TOWN
In front of almost 3,000 spectators at an ultimately sodden Moss Lane, Altrincham came back from three goals down but were unable to get an equalizer against an impressive Grimsby Town.
TUESDAY GAMES
Tuesday, 5th October
CUP WIN FOR ALTRINCHAM WOMEN
At Altrincham FC, press and media officer Brian Flynn reports that "Altrincham FC Women deservedly made progress in the Vitality Women's FA Cup Second Round Qualifying on Sunday, overcoming Ashton Lionesses 4-2 in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 174 to book a place in Monday's 3rd Round Qualifying Draw which has produced a second home tie against Norton & Stockton Ancients in a game scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 24th (2pm) at The J.Davidson Stadium...
NEXT OPPONENTS: MAIDENHEAD UNITED
On Saturday, Maidenhead United supporters will have their first chance to visit the J. Davidson Stadium. Their only previous visit was behind closed doors, last season, when on 28 November, 2020, Altrincham won 2-0 thanks to two second half goals, a Josh Hancock penalty and a goal from Tom Peers.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Before their Tuesday clash with Altrincham, the Examiner reported that "Grimsby Town manager, Paul Hurst has spoken about Sheffield Wednesday's on-loan midfielder, Alex Hunt and his desire to retain the 21 year-old beyond his loan spell, which is set to end in January.
Boreham Wood "confirm that our scheduled BT Sport game at the LV Bet Stadium Meadow Park against Dagenham & Redbridge this Saturday 9th October will no longer be broadcast live.
The Southend Echo reported before Tuesday's fixtures that "Southend United manager Phil Brown wants the Shrimpers' supporters right behind his team at Roots Hall tonight.
5 October 2021
NEXT OPPONENTS: GRIMSBY TOWN
On the eve of their visit to Altrincham news of Grimsby Town came from the Grimsby Telegraph which told us that manager "Paul Hurst has revealed Sean Scannell has suffered a setback after sustaining a knee injury in training.
FA CUP DRAW
As reported here yesterday, Altrincham were assigned an away tie against Spennymoor Town or Southport, who replay their previous round match today (Tuesday). The FA Cup draw for the Fourth Qualifying Round dealt the National League clubs the following ties.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Derbyshire Times tells us that "Chesterfield striker Stefan Payne is one yellow card away from triggering a one-match ban.
According to the Southend Echo, "Southend United manager Phil Brown is keen to add to his squad ahead of Tuesday night's clash with Eastleigh.
Maidenhead United visit the J. Davidson Stadium next Saturday.
4 October 2021
FA CUP DRAW: AWAY AGAIN
Altrincham enter the FA Cup at the Fourth Qualifying Round on 16 October. The draw for that round took place on TalkSport 2 this afternoon (Monday).
PARKINSON INTERVIEW
Phil Parkinson was interviewed by Brian Flynn after the win at Dagenham and the recording can be heard on the Altrincham FC website, against a background of torrential rainfall.
WE MEET AGAIN: GRIMSBY TOWN
Like Altrincham, Grimsby have had some ups and downs since the clubs last met in 2015/16 season. Alty have had two relegations and two promotions in the five completed seasons since 2015/16.
NEXT OPPONENTS: GRIMSBY TOWN
On Tuesday, for the second time in four days, Altrincham play the team which leads the National League. After winning away at table-topping Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, Grimsby Town are the visitors to Moss Lane on Tuesday night.
The Mariners face two more away games over the coming days...
ALTY OLD BOYS AND LOANEES
On Saturday, Jordan Hulme made his Ashton United loan-debut in a side which also included ex-Alty loanee Liam Tomsett, but they lost to Warrington Town for whom THROUGH THE YEARS: 5 October
As the Through the Years files created by Howard Watts and Mike Garnett remind us, next Tuesday's match against Grimsby Town is the first on 5 October since a 2-0 away win at Halesowen Town in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Brent & Kilburn Times makes no bones about it; "Wealdstone got thrashed 5-0 away to Torquay United with four first-half goals.
First half goals from Tom Lapslie, Dan Holman, Armani Little and Joe Lewis sealed the victory, with Little also missing a first half penalty for the Gulls.
Another team to take a hiding on Saturday was Dover Athletic as "Grimsby Town ensured Dover’s long trip to Lincolnshire was as miserable as the weather at a rain-soaked Blundell Park.
According to the Nottingham Post reminds us that "Notts County suffered their second successive defeat in the National League as the Magpies were beaten 4-1 by Woking at Meadow Lane.
In the Daily Post, we learn that "Wrexham AFC boss Phil Parkinson was left disappointed as his Wrexham side put on their best display of the season only for the referee to deem the Aldershot pitch unplayable shortly after half time due to extreme weather conditions.
The Southend Echo Chris Phillips lamnents that "In years gone by excitement, adrenaline and happiness were all sampled by those following the fortunes of Southend United.
"SUPERB" ALTY SAYS DAGGERS' BOSS
After his side had lost at home to Altrincham on Saturday, the Dagenham & Redbridge boss was very complimentary about the visitors to Victoria Road.
ALTY WERE "BRAVE"
After the win at Dagenham, manager Phil Parkinson told the NL Paper, "Ultimately, it came down to us sticking to what we believe and being brave.
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 2-3 ALTRINCHAM
A 94th minute goal by Dan Mooney (right) secured a wonderful win for Altrincham against the league leaders.
DAGENHAM STUNNED
After the game, Dagenham & Redbridge reported on how "The Daggers lose at home for the first time this season..,.
Less than 10 minutes later, the Daggers were ahead! This time, Matt Robinson was there to tap home after his original header ricocheted of the back of an Altrincham defender.
NEXT: GRIMSBY TOWN
Altrincham's opponents this Tuesday, for the second match running, are the National League leaders. This time, the opponents are Grimsby Town who hit six goals on Saturday.
ALTY OLD BOYS
Luke Waterfall, a former Alty loanee, scored twice for Grimsby Town on Saturday.
SATURDAY FIXTURES
Saturday, 2 October 2021
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Leader reports that "Wrexham's National League fixture against Aldershot Town was abandoned six minutes into the second half because of a waterlogged pitch at The Recreation Ground.
We read in the Southend Echo that "Southend United slumped into the National League drop zone after a depressing 2-0 defeat at Solihull Moors.
The Maidenhead Advertiser tells us that "The rain came down and Maidenhead United’s spirits were dampened when Brett McGavin scored in the 91st minute to snatch King’s Lynn Town a dramatic 3-2 victory at York Road...
According to the Nottingham Post "The Magpies were beaten 4-1 at Meadow Lane as they fell apart in the final 20 minutes .
2 October 2021
BEFORE THE GAME
Following good wins at home, against Notts County and King's Lynn Town, Altrincham visit league leaders Dagenham & Redbridge today. The visitors start one place outside the play-off positions in eighth and manager Phil Parkinson is unlikely to make unforced changes to an in-form side.
ALTY OLD BOYS PART TWO
Former Alty loanee, from Barrow, in 2016-17, Elliot Newby has joined FC Halifax Town on loan from Stockport County.
ALTY OLD BOYS
John Johnston who left Altrincham in January 2020 to join Chester FC, after 122(+7) appearances and 39 goals, has now signed for Kidsgrove Athletic. Chester FC "confirm that John Johnston has joined Kidsgrove Athletic on a permanent basis.
THROUGH THE YEARS: 2 October
Today, Saturday 2 October, Altrincham travel to London to face league leaders Dagenham & Redbridge.
FA YOUTH CUP EXIT
As reported here earlier this week, Altrincham FC Youth bowed out of the FA Youth Cup at Chester FC this week.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
Stockport County have announced that "Robert Elstone has joined Stockport County Football Club as Non-Executive Chair. The former, long-standing Everton CEO, Elstone marks the club’s biggest off pitch signing in decades, and demonstrates the club’s investment into its future success.
According to the Southend Echo, "Hamzad Kargbo has extended his loan spell at Southend United for a further month.
The Grimsby Telegraph reminds us that "Dover sit 14 points from safety after their first eight games...
From the Nottingham Post we learn that "Ian Burchnall is familiar with the threats Woking can pose when they visit Meadow Lane on Saturday..
According to Devon Live, "Captain Asa Hall says Torquay United want to be the team that fears no one - like they were last year - after picking up four points from their last two National League games.
Lynn News tells us that "Defender Luis Fernandez has assured King’s Lynn Town fans that the players are as hurt as they are at recent results.
In the Dorset Echo we learn that "Weymouth go into [their] clash with Stockport County looking to do a terrific treble over the Hatters.
A report from Devon Live says that "Exeter City manager Matt Taylor says he is excited at what Ben Seymour and Jordan Dyer can do for National League side Yeovil Town after joining the Glovers in a one-month loan deal.
1 October 2021
DAGENHAM PREVIOUSLY
League leaders Dagenham & Redbridge entertain Altrincham on Saturday.
AFTER KING'S LYNN: PHIL PARKINSON INTERVIEW
Altrincham FC has a post-match interview by press and media officer, Brian Flynn, with manager Phil Parkinson following the win over King's Lynn Town on Tuesday night.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NEWS
The Southend Echo reports that "Former Southend United midfielder Josh Wright has been given the opportunity to sign for another National League club, according to Shrimpers boss Phil Brown.
According to the Derbyshire Times, manager "James Rowe is confident Chesterfield will bounce back from their first defeat of the season... at Woking on Tuesday night.
And from another big club which lost its unbeaten record in midweek, the Grimsby Telegraph claims that "Michee Efete will be #dealt with after the Grimsby Town defender saw red on Tuesday night at Bromley... The full-back lost his cool and reacted badly to a hefty challenge.
From the Eastern Daily Press we learn that "King’s Lynn Town's Ethan Coleman has been tipped for a big future in the game.
The HAlifax Courier states that "There can’t be too many footballers better placed at the moment to ask about the art of goalscoring than Town’s Billy Waters.