Altrincham 4 Colwyn Bay 0

in UniBond Premier League

2 February 2002.

Summary and other details by John Laidlar. His full report is in the Official Site by John

This was Alty's first home league game for six weeks and only their second in thirteen and a half weeks. Indeed, such has been Alty's league inactivity that Colwyn Bay have played nine more league games than Altrincham to date. Alty won the reverse fixture 5-2 at Llanelian Road early in the season. After a week of gales and heavy rain, the pitch was in remarkably good condition though the corner by the pylon at the Golf Road End was very wet and the ball did not run smoothly there. Before the game, Michael Le Vell of Coronation Street opened the new shelter for wheelchair-bound spectators, which had been constructed thanks to the fundraising efforts of Alty in Exile Co-ordinator, Jacqui Forster and the physical efforts of her husband, Russ.

There could have been more goals in the second half of this game after Altrincham had taken a 3-0 interval lead. As it happened, Alty missed a number of chances and an own goal by ex-Robin Stuart Scheuber was the only addition to the score (70 mins), whilst Stuart Coburn made a couple of fine saves to keep the Bay frustrated. Ian Craney had opened the scoring when a Furlong shot was blocked and fell for him just outside the penalty area (18 mins). Furlong added the second when he converted a Thornley cross (26 mins) and Thornley then scored from the spot after being upended after 38 minutes.

Danny Murphy was not in today's squad, his place in the starting line-up going to Carl Furlong who joined Rod Thornley up front. Into the squad came Barry Guildford who had sat on the bench at Runcorn recently but was yet to make his debut after his arrival from Marlow Town and football in Vietnam and Australia. Altrincham deployed Ryan in midfield and Scott at right back rather than vice versa, as had occurred at Marine last Tuesday. Two familiar faces were in the Bay line-up, Stuart Scheuber and Marc Limbert, who had both had spells at Moss Lane

Goal scorer Carl Furlong being congratulated by Kevin Hulme and Steve Hawes

Colwyn's Paul Smith beaten by a shot anxiously watches as the ball goes on the right side, for him,  of the goal post

Mark Satori, Kevin Hulme and Carl Furlong wait for a corner watched by ex-Alty player Stuart Scheuber (No 2)

With 3-0 up at half time I decided its was time to give Alty's defense a chance of photographic glory. Neil Ryan, Mark Maddox, Mark Sertori and Steve Hawes wait for a corner

Mark Maddox and captain Steve Hawes look anxious

Mark Maddox seems to like having his picture taken

Stuart Coburn and Mark Maddox are worried about something

Man of the match, Steve Hawes receives his presentation from representatives of Match  sponsor Hillcrest Homes

Russ Woodward, an Alty in Exile and builder of Andrews shelter also tries his hand at photography. His photos demonstrate quite graphically how lucky we were that the match was played. There was a large pool of water this side of the goal mouth in which a ball would land and stop dead much to the surprise of the defense and attack. In this photo Russ has captured the ball going to the back of the net for Ian Craney's goal

Rod Thornley's penalty captured by Russ

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