ALTRINCHAM FC MATCH REPORTS


Return to News Page


ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH (0) 1
OLDHAM ATHLETIC YOUTH (3) 6

FA Youth Cup, Round One Proper
on Thursday, 1 November 2018, at 7.45pm


LINE-UP:

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks): 1. Oliver CULKIN, 2. Callum GRAHAM, 3. Patrick SAVAGE, 4. Luke SOWERBY, 5. Josh MEHTA, 6. Elliot COLEMAN, 7. Louie BARRETT, 8. Jack RYAN, 9. Ben ELLIOTT, 10. Billy MATTHEWS, 11. Dontai GABIDON (c). Subs: 12. Lloyd GARDNER, 14. Raheem MERCURIUS, 15. Cade PRESTON, 16. Darren EVANS, 20. Liam BLACKBURN.

OLDHAM ATHLETIC YOUTH (Blue shirts, white shorts and socks): 1. Ellis Allen, 2. Jack Williams, 3. Charley Leech, 4. Dec Baldwin, 5. Harry Norris (c), 6. Jack Grundy, 7. Jayd Swarby-Nevin, 8. Reece Gaskell, 9. Max Norman, 10. Ryan Scholes-Beard, 11. Harry Robinson. Subs: 12. Kyle Wych, 14. Ryan Pickford, 15. Sam Amankwaa, 16. Andy Hackett, 17. Kefeel Sheriff.


REPORT

Despite winning the game's first corner, through Coleman's fine ball to Gabidon, Altrincham fell behind after just three minutes. Oldham worked the ball into the Alty box where Culkin dived forward to cut out a through ball shot but it ran loose from his grasp to Norman, who netted the match's first goal.

After each side had won a further corner apiece, the visitors' captain Norris headed home a left-wing corner which had been missed in the air by the Alty defence (11 mins).

Alty supporters feared the worst after these two early setbacks but, apart from two more corners for the visitors, they reached the half-hour mark without further damage. They were indebted to Culkin for a fine save before Grundy was booked for the visitors (30 mins).

Good play from Robinson then forced Culkin to make two excellent saves in quick succession, with the referee having ignored a linesman's offside flag in the build up (34 mins). After the busy Culkin had again saved his side, the home keeper was beatebn on 38 minutes when Norman was left unmarked and made it 3-0 (38 mins).

Shortly before half-time, Oldham keeper Allen was fortunate not to lose the ball when Elliott tackled him as he attempted to dribble clear (42 mins).


Half-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 0
OLDHAM ATHLETIC YOUTH 3

Altrincham brought on Mercurius for Matthews at the interval and they went on to enjoy their best spell of the game over the next fifteen minutes. Elliott, who had been well shackled by Oldham, now got in a good shot but it went narrowly wide (52 mins). Nevertheless, Oldham added a fourth goal just before the hour-mark. Scholes-Beard got into the box where Culkin saved well but the ball ran loose to Norman, who netted easily to complete his hat-trick (59 mins).

Despite this setback, Alty kept going as Coleman played in Gabidon but the left-winger's shot was blocked by the keeper (63 mins). Preston now replaced the injured Mehta for Altrincham, shortly before Pickford and Amankwaa came on for Athletic's Norman and Scholes-Beard (65 mins).

The interruptions to the game continued as Evans replaced Ryan for Alty (69 mins) and Sheriff came on for the Latics' Robinson (76 mins).

Next, a quick run into the box by Williams forced a good save from Culkin (79 mins). Alty then survived a header from an Oldham corner which a home defender cleared off the line. However, Oldham added a fifth goal in the 84th minute when an Alty pass went astray and Williams surged forward with an impressive turn of speed and netted.

Watched by a good crowd of 259, including a hardy Oldham fan who went bare-chested on a freezing night at Moss Lane, the game looked to be over at 5-0 as added time began. But added time was to witness two more goals. Shortly after Coleman had been booked for kicking the ball away, the biggest cheer of the night came when Gabidon scored a fine consolation goal. Out of nothing, his shot from outside the box went in off the underside of the crossbar (90+1 mins).

But, from the restart, Oldham had the final word as they swept forward with Williams's blistering pace getting him up the left. From his lay off, Pickford netted the visitors' sixth goal.

Oldham were well deserving of their win but Altrincham had not let their heads drop despite falling behind so early in the game. Oldham now face an away trip to play Sunderland.


Full-Time: ALTRINCHAM FC YOUTH 1
OLDHAM ATHLETIC YOUTH 6