Colwyn Bay 2 Altrincham 3
UniBond Premier League
28 December 2002.
Summary and other details by John Laidlar. His full report is in the Official Site by John Laidlar.
ATTENDANCE: 447
Colwyn Bay had beaten Altrincham 2-1 eighteen days earlier in the President's Cup, on a freezing cold night in front of a small crowd of diehards. Today saw Colwyn Bay's second highest gate of the season witness this League match played on a dull but dry afternoon on a pitch whoch had been well watered by recent rain.
TEAM NEWS
Colwyn Bay had beaten an experimental Alty side in the recent UniBond President's Cup encounter and it was another unfamiliar Altrincham team which lined up today at Llanelian Road. Top scorer Rod Thornley was out injured, as was centre-back Gary Talbot, fellow central-defender Mark Maddox was suspended, whilst Gary Scott had not recovered from the tendon injury suffered on Boxing Day. So, Chris Adams, who himself had to pass a late fitness test, played in an unaccustomed central defensive role, alongside Peter Band. Danny Murphy was making only his second start after a long injury lay-off, whilst Dave Gardner and Barry Shuttleworth were both making only their second starts in an Alty league game. Craney and Murphy started the game as Alty's front men. To add to this unaccustomed team formation, Jordan Burke was making his Alty debut after a transfer this week from NW Counties' side Flixton. Neil Ryan was a welcome but surprise inclusion on the bench after missing the last ten league games through injury.
The Bay's player-manager Colin Caton named himself on the bench, but the familiar ex-Altrincham faces of Marc Limbert and Carl Furlong were both in the starting line-up. Carl was the Bay captain whilst Peter Band assumed this role for Alty in the absence of Thornley and Talbot. The Bay, who had unluckily surrendered a two-goal lead on Boxing Day against Ashton, were without James McIlvogue and Colin Webster today.
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| Dave Gardner, in his second game for Alty, demonstrating his dazzling runs which created havoc in The Colwyn defence |
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| Danny Murphy forces his way past the outstretched hand! of the defense watched by new comer Jordan Bourke |
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| Peter Band who seemed to be in all the action watches his shot just miss the target |
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| Peter Band in action again with Mathew Boswell, Bay's keeper who kept up a good natured exchange of views the the Alty faithful behind his goal |
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| He is here again, this time with a gleam in his eye as he is about to head home the equalizer |
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| The celebrations in front of Alty fans is moved on by the linesman |
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| More celebrations follow sub Andy McDonald wining header |