Emley Altrincham

Report prepared by John Laidlar from his Alty Pages

Photographs by Alan Johnson

EMLEY (2) 3 ALTRINCHAM (0) 1

Unibond Premier League Match, played on Saturday, 7 April, 2001, at 3p.m.

SCORERS

6 mins: Darren DAY (Emley 1 Altrincham 0)
31 mins: Darren DAY (Emley 2 Altrincham 0)
60 mins: Rod THORNLEY (Emley 2 Altrincham 1)

77 mins: Mark WILSON (Emley 3 Altrincham 1)

REFEREE: Mr Graham Salisbury (Penwortham)

ATTENDANCE: 686

TEAMS

7.4.01	EMLEY	versus.	ALTRINCHAM
3pm	Claret and blue shirts and shorts	---.	Red and white striped shirts, black shorts and socks
1.	Paul CUSS	1.	Stuart COBURN
2.	Steve NICHOLSON (capt.)	2.	Adam FARLEY
3.	Simon JONES	3.	Gary SCOTT
4.	Andy WILSON	4.	Terry BOWKER
5.	Gary HATTO	5.	Mark MADDOX
6.	Paul DAVID	6.	Steve HAWES (capt.)
7.	Darren DAY	7.	Jason GALLAGHER
8.	Miles THORPE	8.	Ian CRANEY
9.	Robert TONKS	9.	Steve FINNEY
10.	Wael NAZHA	10.	Rod THORNLEY
11.	Nicky WOOD	11.	Paul EDWARDS
12.	Mark WILSON	12.	Richard LANDON
14.	Ryan CROSSLEY	14.	Stuart SCHEUBER
15.	Rory PRENDERGAST	15.	Danny MURPHY

BACKGROUND
This was Altrincham's first visit to the Belle Vue stadium which Emley share with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is a strange ground in that one end has an impressive, modern multi-storey block of hospitality suites, complete with balconies, whilst the other is a traditional open terrace. Down the flanks there is another open terrace on one aspect and a long, covered stand, with some terracing in front of it on the other. There are no covered standing facilities at all.
SUMMARY
Two years ago, Emley stood between Altrincham and the Unibond Premier title at Moss Lane but today it was Altrincham who were a potential obstacle to Emley's title pretensions. The final score, today, flattered the Yorkshire side who simply took virtually the only three real chances that they had in the game. Emley went ahead after six minutes when the poorly marked Day scored at the second attempt after Coburn had done well to save his initial header from a left-wing cross. When Bowker slipped over on the greasy surface, Day finished well to put Emley 2-0 up after 30 minutes. Between these goals Altrincham had more than matched their hosts. Altrincham then dominated the first half-hour of the second half. In this period, Edwards's header came off the underside of the bar, Hawes's shot was deflected over the bar, Thornley scored with a header (60 mins) and Cuss finger-tipped another Edwards header just over his own bar. Altrincham then committed suicide when a poor goal-kick from Coburn came back to Farley who woefully underhit his back-pass, allowing Wilson to nip in for an undeserved third goal (77 mins). Referee Salisbury failed to clamp down on Emley's customary cynicism in defence, only showing one yellow card (to Emley's Jones).

TEAM NEWS
Rod Thornley returned to the Altrincham side after work commitments kept him out in midweek. However, Steve Porter's injury, sustained at Colwyn Bay, ruled him out whilst Danny Murphy was again only fit enough to sit on the bench. Also on the bench was Stuart Scheuber, who was preferred to Keith Mairs. Gary Scott moved up to the starting line-up at left-back, with Adam Farley at right-back. Emley were without leading scorer, Simeon Bambrook, as he was starting a three-match suspension.

FULL-TIME: EMLEY 3 ALTRINCHAM 1

Photographs by Alan Johnson

	The palatial hospitality suite which doubles as a grand stand for the home supporters? I did not see Alty fans there but perhaps they did not know this facility was available
A corner to Alty with the TV gantry in the background
	Rod Thornley in action
A fierce header from Paul Edwards just fails to find the net
	The keeper is beaten but the ball is high
Another great save by keeper Paul Cuss who had a good afternoon

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