UniBond Premier League
26 April 2003
Frickley Athletic 0 Altrincham 3
Summary and other details by John Laidlar. His full report is in the Official Site
SCORERSThis was the last league match of a season which, at one point, had looked like being Altrincham's last in the UniBond Premier, either through the club folding or being relegated. So, although the result today would mean that Altrincham would, at best, finish in mid-table, it was with a sense of achievement that the season was coming to its conclusion.
Frickley, too, were thankful to have reached the end of a season in which for many weeks they had looked doomed to the relegation play-offs only for a late surge to take them clear of danger.
The game was played on a sunny afternoon but on a hard and bobbly pitch. It was good to see that both teams played in their first-choice striped kits. Either the UniBond League has changed its rules as issued at the start of this season or the referee chose to ignore them, for Rule 9 states that "If the home team plays in traditional striped shirts then the away team cannot play in traditional striped shirts irrespective of whether or not there is a clash of colours". This has always seemed a very odd restriction, anyway.
TEAM NEWS
Altrincham welcomed back Chris Adams from suspension and this allowed Barry Shuttleworth to move to central midfield where Ian Craney was, for once, absent. Ian started on the bench. For Frickley, Morris's rib injury had improved sufficiently for him to play but Robinson was suspended and regular no.6, Paul Marquis, was also missing.
SUMMARY
Altrincham gained a comfortable win against Frickley in a game that never reached the heights on a very bobbly pitch. Peter Band got the opener when he knocked the ball home after the keeper parried a Rod Thornley shot (5 mins). After Thornley had failed to convert two more good first-half chances, Peter Band added a second after 51 minutes, rolling the ball in from the right of the goal. Steve Lunt wrapped it up seconds from the end with a well-taken drive.
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| A crowded goal mouth but keeper Mark Samways take control |
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| Keeper and Rod Thornley in a duel |
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| Gary Talbot in a tangle |
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| peter band head to head |
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| Keeper splits Rod Thornley and Peter Band |
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| Barry Shuttleworth and Paul Robertson lose out in a heading duel |
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| Barry Shuttleworth takes on three |
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| Stephen Lunt leaves the keeper on his back and the defense stranded as he goes for goal |
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| Stephen Lunt (15) is congratulated |
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| The team applaud Alty's traveling fans |