Behind the goals  by

Alan Johnson

  Stevenage Borough 1 Altrincham 1 

Nationwide Conference

29 January 2000

The last time Alty visited Stevenage was in March 1997 and we left with heavy hearts realizing for the first time we were on a down ward slope to the UniBond. It was not the fact  Alty lost 1-2 it was how it the way it was done. Alty were down 1-2 when the Stevenage goalkeeper fouled in the area and was sent off. Stuart Terry our regular and consistently successful penalty taker shot wide giving the replacement keeper no problems. Terry never took another penalty for Altrincham. Another Stevenage player was sent off but despite playing against 9 , who packed their goal, and a non-regular keeper Alty could not score one to level or indeed 2 to win.

It was was with some trepidation we visited Boro as Alty have yet to beat them, in 7 encounters Boro have won 6 and one was a draw. However there was some hope they have not won since December 18th having lost 4 of their last 7 matches.

1762 saw this match which, as is the norm at Stevenage was segregated. They like many other clubs, including Altrincham put their priorities in order, while the home fans are under cover the away ones (their guests) are not! 

The trepidation was justified as on 89 minutes Altrincham were losing 0-1 but then Richard Landon managed to be in the right place at the right time and leveled the score. Note this was not in injury time so he is improving!

Bernard Taylor's resources are being stretched, with Phil Power still on the injury list and Mark Maddox suspended, Taylor brought Scott Wilson into the starting line and introduce Mike Murrell (or possibly Burrell from the reserves or signed from Barrow depending on who you talked to!)  as a substitute. To add to his problems Kevin Ellison, who became largely ineffectual and may be nursing an injury as he was replaced after 57 minutes.

On a sunny afternoon there was a very strong wind which while it was in Alty's favour in the first half was variable and made decent football difficult for both sides. Stevenage showed why they have not won a match for some time and overall did not play well. Their top scorer as well as that of the Conference, Carl Alford was injured  and not available for selection

Altrincham were completely in charge for the first 25 minutes and should have been two up but three times during the match an inch closer with the shot would have resulted in a goal as the upright (2 X) and the cross bar were hit. Stevenage's keeper Chris Taylor also pulled of some fine saves to keep them in the match as did Dean Greygoose for Altrincham, particularly in the last 20 minutes. Kevin Ellison spectacular overhead kick was tipped over the bar and Gary Talbot's volley hit the cross bar   

On 29 minutes Gavin Price was brought down and held the ball as he thought he would be awarded a free kick instead Mark Maynard the referee awarded Stevenage a free kick for handling the ball. This was taken by Michael Love from just outside the area, it was picked up by Richard Leadbeater who gave Dean Greygoose no chance . This was completely against the run of play but Stevenage took their chance and Alty did not take theirs.

Alty continued to create chances but to no avail. just after half time Kevin Ellison was unlucky to see his chip go the wrong side of the post but went off on 57 minutes. In the meanwhile Stevenage occasional attacks were held by the defence or by good saves by Dean Greygoose. On 69 minutes Leadbeater got round Gary Talbot and was on his way to the goal but was pulled back by Talbot. The referee had no hesitation in   showing him a red card. 

Taylor reorganized his forces, brought Landon on and ignoring the possibility of a second Boro goal, gambled with three up front including Leroy Chambers who was showing his willingness to get stuck in and Gavin Price who was having a good game, one of his shots hitting the upright. The gamble paid off on 89 minutes a high cross from Danny Adams fell to Richard Landon, a real scramble occurred, he shot, it was saved and dropped by the keeper and Landon shot the weakest of shots just between the upright and the right leg of the the keeper - but they all count. 1-1.

Immediately Landon went  back into defence and the 10 Alty players packed their goal for a memorable draw, which some say should have been a win. This draw extends Altrincham unbeaten run to  this season's Conference record of 13 and creates a season's Conference record for Richard Landon by scoring in each of the last 5 consecutive matches. Not bad considering in several of these he came on in the last 20 minutes.

The draw prevented Altrincham from going backwards in their bid to escape relegation but the results of other matches means the status quo remains - Alty are still 17th and still are only 4 points above the relegation zone. In modern parlance this coming week contains two mega matches for Altrincham. While most of their rivals are involved in the FA Trophy Alty will be playing some of their games in hand., against Hednesford away on Saturday and Telford at Moss Lane on Tuesday . The later is a crucial six pointer. A win could relieve the pressure, with Telford in good form it should be a very good game.

SUPER SUB STRIKES AGAIN

Stevenage Borough 1 v 1 Altrincham

By MARK HARRIS

Robins chalked up their 12^th draw of the season and continued their unbeaten league run with a battling performance at Broadhall Way on Saturday.

Once again, the Alty hero was Richard Landon, whose last minute equaliser brought him the seasonal record of having netted in each of his last five Conference matches, with three of his strikes having come in the last minute. Even more impressive is the statistic that Landon has not started one of those matches, and indeed has played just 108 minutes football in that period.

Whilst the record books get re-written however, the important facts for Alty fans are that Bernard Taylor’s men again had top dig deep into their reserves of character and discipline to overcome two body blows. They had dominated the first half against a Stevenage side which led the Conference earlier in the season, inflicting a 0-1 defeat on Alty at Moss Lane back in August.

Having hit post and bar during the first period, Robins went behind on 27 minutes, very much against the run of play. Indeed, this was Borough’s only real chance of the half. It began when Gavin Price seemed to be fouled, only to be penalised for handball when he picked the ball up in expectation of the referee’s whistle. Instead, Stevenage took an excellent deadball which was steered adroitly into the bottom corner by LEADBETTER. 0-1.

The current Robins squad may be battling to keep its head above the relegation whirlpool, but possesses enough spirit to secure Conference football for next season without causing too many sleepless nights for the Moss Lane faithful. On Saturday, another new face was on view in the shape of striker Mick Morrell. Morrell scored the last goal Robins conceded in the UniBond whilst with Guiseley, and arrives at Moss Lane following a spell at Macclesfield and a falling-out with Guiseley boss Bobby Davison. His contribution, after replacing Kevin Ellison, was to set up the Alty equaliser.

Although a centre forward by trade, manager Taylor cast Morrell in a wide role, and a surging run down the right on 89 minutes saw him beat the Borough full back only to be pulled down. Stephen Hawes’s free kick was well cleared, but only as far as Danny Adams, whose centre was hoisted deep to the edge of the six yard box, where LANDON pounced on indecision by keeper Taylor to blast the ball home from short range. 1-1.

It was a goal which looked unlikely when Alty suffered their second body blow of the afternoon. On 67 minutes, Robins were still chasing an equaliser when Leadbetter burst through the defence with Greygoose to beat. Gary Talbot pulled the Borough man back, and a red card was the only possible result. Reduced to ten men, Alty went for broke, playing a three man defence with Simeon Hodson switching to the middle, flanked by Chris Timons and Adams. Alty were already without the suspended Mark Maddox.

This swashbuckling approach was not without its perils, and Dean Greygoose pulled off three fine saves to keep his team in contention. Enter Richard Landon in place of Scott Wilson, and the stage was set for another re-run of the late, late show.

Elsewhere in the Conference, results hardly went Alty’s way, and they now find themselves just four points off the drop zone, but with games in hand. One of those is played out against Telford, and with many of Robins’ rivals engaged in FA Trophy duty this coming Saturday, the visit to out-of-form Hednesford could not have been timed better.

The absence of Phil Power and Shaun Goodwin have cut Bernard Taylor’s squad resources to the bone, but the manager will take encouragement from the return to full fitness of Leroy Chambers and Gavin Price. In the continued absence of Brendan Burke, the new pairing is shaping up nicely, with Price again hitting the woodwork at on Saturday.

Points are vital this week, and a haul of four from the two fixtures would create a welcome bit of daylight between Altrincham and those below them.

ROBINS: Greygoose, Hodson, Adams, Timons, Talbot, Gallagher, Hawes, Wilson (sub. Landon 69 mins), Chambers, Price, Ellison (sub. Morrell 55 mins)

Subs (not used) Lovelock, Hulston, Senior

[Home] [Back to latest news]  [Back to Results]