Altrincham 5 Accrington 2

Brief report by John Laidlar from his Alty Pages. where a full report can be found

Photographs by Alan Johnson

ALTRINCHAM (3) 5 ACCRINGTON STANLEY (0) 2

UniBond Premier League Match, played on Sunday, 25th March 2001, at 3p.m.

SCORERS

1 min : Rod THORNLEY (Altrincham 1 Accrington Stanley 0)
13 mins: Steve FINNEY (Altrincham 2 Accrington Stanley 0)
42 mins: Rod THORNLEY (Altrincham 3 Accrington Stanley 0)
68 mins: Simon CARDEN (penalty) (Altrincham 3 Accrington Stanley 1)
81 mins: John COLEMAN (Altrincham 3 Accrington Stanley 2)
89 mins: Adam FARLEY (Altrincham 4 Accrington Stanley 2)

90 mins: Rod THORNLEY (penalty) (Altrincham 5 Accrington Stanley 2)

REFEREE: Mr S. Coffey.

ATTENDANCE: 681

TEAMS

25.3.01	ALTRINCHAM	versus.	ACCRINGTON STANLEY
3pm	Red & white shirts, black shorts and blue socks	---.	Yellow shirts, blue shorts and socks
1.	Stuart COBURN	1.	Jamie SPEARE
2.	Jason GALLAGHER	2.	Steve CARRAGHER
3.	Steve PORTER	3.	Steve HOLLIS (capt.)
4.	Terry BOWKER	4.	Robbie WILLIAMS
5.	Adam FARLEY	5.	Jonathan SMITH
6.	Steve HAWES (capt.)	6.	Paul BURNS
7.	Danny MURPHY	7.	Simon CARDEN
8.	Ian CRANEY	8.	Jimmy BELL
9.	Steve FINNEY	9.	Mark CERAOLO
10.	Rod THORNLEY	10.	Paul MULLIN
11.	Paul EDWARDS	11.	Russell PAYNE
12.	Gary SCOTT	12.	Duncan ROBERTSON
14.	Richard LANDON	14.	John COLEMAN
15.	Keith MAIRS	15.	Brett BAXTER

BACKGROUND
After last week's encouraging win over Droylsden, Altrincham fans were anxious to see the effect on the team of Mark Ward's replacement by Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote. Accrington for their part had not won in their last four league games.

SUMMARY
Altrincham played some good football, particularly in the first half, buoyed up by a goal after only 47 seconds and a second after 13 minutes. A third came just before the interval as Accrington posed little threat to Coburn's end. However, a double substitution at half-time, followed by the player-manager's appearance on the pitch saw Accrington enjoy a little more of the game, without looking too dangerous until Edwards was adjudged to have conceded a penalty after 68 minutes. This was converted and then Coleman pulled another one back nine minutes from the end. However, Altrincham scored two goals in the last minute to restore a more accurate margin to the scoreline. With "Free Kids" vouchers and also free entry for adults accompanying children, it was to be hoped that an entertaining match would be served up to encourage repeated visits by newcomers to Moss Lane. Seven goals, including two penalties, should help towards this end.

TEAM NEWS
This was Bernard Taylor and Graham Heathcote's first first-team selection since the sacking of Mark Ward, though they did signal continuity with their use of most of Mark Ward's first eleven in Wednesday last's Reserves' match. In fact, apart from the enforced absence of the suspended Maddox, only Stuart Scheuber was omitted from the last team selected by Mark Ward, Keith Mairs being preferred as the midfield substitute. This was the first league or cup match in which Scheuber did not play; he had made 45 consecutive appearances this season. The unexpected face in the squad was Dickie Landon, although he had been sighted at Moss Lane before last Wednesday's reserves' match, having left Vauxhall Motors after just two games there. Despite newspaper reports to the contrary, Rod Thornley was fit to play. As for Accrington, Steve Hollis was also fit to play after injury whilst Paul Mullin was free of work commitments and able to play, too. However, Jay Flannery was suspended, so the captain's mantle passed to Hollis. Assistant manager Jimmy Bell started the game, but manager John Coleman named himself only as a substitute.

FINAL SCORE: ALTRINCHAM 5 ACCRINGTON STANLEY 2

Photographs by Alan Johnson

	Steve Finney scores Alty's second goal
A swinging save from Accrington's keeper Jamie Speare
	Bumps-a-daisy
A contortionists save
	Find the ball?
Free kick. was it a goal?
	A shot from Adam Farley (out of picture0 scores Alty's 4th and his first for the club
Penalty, Richard Landon was about to take it but sportingly gave the honor to Rod Thornley to give him a chance to score a hat trick. Rod made no mistake driving the ball to the left, the keeper went right, got his fingers to the ball but it went in. Your photographer guessed wrong and was expecting a shot to the left of the keeper.

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