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16/02/2019
High flying Alty brought down to earth!
Whaley hadn’t played for over a month and probably didn’t really expect to get too much from the visit of Top of the table Altrincham Reserves who in that period had played 4 games unbeaten putting them well clear of the pack.
Due to the enforced layoff Darryl pretty much had the rare luxury of a full squad to choose from albeit some of them, for various reasons, hadn’t kicked a competitive ball in months. So the home side had plenty of options with Gregory, Langford, Gemmell and young O’Donnell all on the bench and with one cup final in the bag and another semi-final scheduled for February 2nd at Knutsford everyone wants a piece of the action.
Having said all that the home side, kicking towards the park end, were equal to their noisy opponents from the off and although neither created many chances the game was nip and tuck but with most of the action in the middle third. Credit the referee who for the most part managed to distinguish actual foul play from play-acting but even so things did still get a bit tetchy so much so that George Langford, having not started a game since November 24th 2018, replaced a frustrated Broome on 20 minutes to give the home side a better chance of finishing the game with 11 players;
Sam Leadbetter broke the deadlock after 10 minutes; chasing the ball down from the right towards the Altrincham area the defender got to the ball first but panicked under pressure and misplaced a back pass leaving Sam, now at full pelt, to nip between the two - round the keeper and tap the ball home.
The equaliser arrived only minutes before half time when, after some good football, a striker found himself free on goal and from 12 yards blasted the ball goal bound. Tattersall somehow managed a reflex save and got a strong hand on the ball only to see it ball drop back to the same player who then coolly lobbed the then stranded keeper.
Second half and still nip and tuck this entertaining game still lacked many clear cut chances and seemed to be drifting towards a draw. The home side did however always look dangerous at set-pieces with Sutton and the impressive Toseland more often than not getting something on the ball at the back post. Dodds chasing a ball down the left towards the Taxal end earned a corner and it was no surprise that it was Toseland who popped up at the far post to drive the ball through a crowded 6 yard box to put the home side ahead 2-1.
Altrincham pressed for the final 10 minutes but, apart from another fantastic match saving last minute save by Tattersall, failed to dent a resolute Whaley defence. All in all a very satisfactory performance with everyone contributing to the 15th unbeaten game on the trot. On the down side the influential Jamie Kay received a red after a heated ‘conversation’ with a an opponent in the last few minutes and is now doubtful for the semi-final at Knutsford.
Tattersall; Bailey; Toseland; Kay; Dunn; Gilbride; Broome; Sutton; Drayson; Dwyer; Laedbetter
Langford(20); Gregory(70); Gemmell; O’Donnell; |
