Burscough 0 Altrincham 3.
UniBond Premier League
15 October 2002
Summary and other details by John Laidlar. His full report is in the Official Site by John Laidlar.
BACKGROUND
After Monday's dismissal of manager Bernard Taylor, this was Altrincham's fans' first opportunity to see how the players would react to the off the pitch changes and the managership of Graham Heathcote.
After a 7-game unbeaten start to the season in which no goals were conceded, Burscough had, more recently, not won in their last four games and conceded seven goals in those matches. Meanwhile, Alty were without a win in their last eight league and cup games and in the current UniBond Press Release top the "Failed to Score" chart with 7 goalless league performances this season. However, a good omen was that the referee was Mr G. Foulkes, who officiated in the Altrincham v Hyde game which Alty won earlier this season.
In their first game under Graham Heathcote's managership, Altrincham put in an excellent team performance to withstand a lot of Burscough pressure. They also suffered the early loss of Danny Murphy through injury as they became the first side to win this season at a ground where the home side had only previously conceded one goal during the league campaign. Fielding the returning Chris Adams and debutant Sean Smith Altrincham scored from their first real attack after 14 minutes when Jason Gallagher netted from close range after Ian Craney's shot had been parried. Determined and organised defending kept Burscough at bay until Ian Craney scored two cracking goals in the last ten minutes to make it 3-0 to Alty. This was a vastly improved performance compared with Saturday's Cup exit at Guiseley, (who incidentally lost 5-0 at Witton last night).
| Graham Heathcote could not have had a better start to his new role of manager. But it was a cold evening, very poor lights and for the first time ever in my experience the small Alty "choir" were not singing because "The not singing was NOT because Bernard has been sacked (as we needed a fresh approach) or indeed that Graham was in charge but with the dealing of the whole matter and what is happening at the football club at this present time. The meeting will be a good place to get questions answered so make sure you all attend please". A quote from one of the regular singers Gary Warrington who is upset with what he perceives is going on at the club.It seems a pity they withdrew support for the players because of affairs off the pitch just at a time when a revival may have started. |
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Grahame girds his loins for the battle ahead |
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One of Ian Craney's two goals |
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Left back Chris Adams brought back into the team showed how effective a true left sided player can be |
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From l/r Chris Adams, possibly Ian Craney, the scorer of the goal, Chris Young and debutant left winger Sean Smith celebrate. |
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Graham Heathcote in good voice from the bench |
