Hucknall Town 0 Altrincham 0

in UniBond Premier League

23 March 2002.

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

Recent form contradicted the relative league positions of the two teams with Hucknall having taken 25 points from their last 12 games and Alty being without a win in their last six league and cup matches. Former Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town star Phil Starbuck has transformed the team's performance since he arrived as player-manager. A number of improvements to the Watnall Round ground were noted and the Altrincham fans received a friendly welcome from their hosts. The attendance was the largest for a league game this season at Watnall Road apart from the huge gate brought by neighbours Burton Albion.

An unfamiliar Altrincham line-up enjoyed little success against a resolute Hucknall defence in the first half, especially in the air where they got little change, but their own defence also performed well to keep out Ricketts and Burke. However, it was Altrincham who enjoyed much the better of the second half, forcing Hucknall onto the defensive but the Robins were unable to make the breakthrough that would have given them a welcome three points. This was only the second goalless draw for Alty this season.

Altrincham's line-up was an unfamiliar one with a league debutant (Vernum Rowland) and four recently loaned players in the squad, with a total of just three league starts amongst them. Of the loan players, both Barry Shuttleworth (from Macclesfield) and Marc Whiteman (from Bury) started the game whilst Gareth Strange (from Accrington) and newcomer Andy Tunnicliffe (from Manchester City) were on the bench. Gary Scott had limped off on Tuesday night and his hernia problem prevented him for starting today. However, Mark Maddox was back from injury and Steve Hawes returned after suspension, though his captain's armband was retained by Mark Sertori. The main news, however, was that striker Carl Furlong had been sacked by the club after his sending off last Tuesday in the Cheshire Senior Cup Final. This had been his third red card this season. Murphy, Gallagher, Adams and Taylor all remained sidelined by injury and Neil Ryan was serving a one-match suspension for five bookings. The unlucky Lee Poland, with 15 goals to his name this season, was on the bench. Hucknall have seen many personnel changes since we met them earlier this season and the ins and outs were epitomised by the picture on the front of the matchday programme which depicted our old friend Leroy Chambers, who has moved on to Frickley via Bradford since appearing for Hucknall this season. The Hucknall player manager Phil Starbuck was in midfield whilst Gary Ricketts, a relative of Bolton's Michael, was also in the starting line-up.

This was my first visit to Hucknall Town as I was hospitalized last year. It is a very friendly club with a small but busy social club which has the cheapest whisky around. Good parking close at hand, remember Burton Albion and for a small club, several interesting innovations. The England Wales rugby game was being broadcast on the tannoy when we arrived and they video all their games for training purposes and possibly in the future for sale, not that any one would have wanted to buy a video of this game as there was little action worth photographing.

The man with the video

Stuart Coburn makes a fine save

The last line of defense. Mark Sertori heads clear watched by Marc Whiteman, on loan from Bury (No11) Rod Thornley (No 10) and Kevin Hulme (No 7)

A real mix up involving Rod Thornley and Kevin Hulme

Phil Starbuck (No 4) Hucknall's player manager clears  with a header from a corner

Marc Whiteman and Rod Thornley are watched by Karen and Grahame Rowley, co-editor of Robins Review the Alty match day program

Barry Shuttleworth, on loan player from Macclesfield

Waiting for a corner its also a very colorful picture

Andy Turnicliffe, on  loan from Manchester City makes his debut as a substitute, filmed by the man with the video

Captain Mark Sertori (No 5) shows what needs to be done to Ian Craney, Kevin Hulme and Marc Whiteman from left to right

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