Altrincham 1 Runcorn FC Halton 1
UniBond Premier League
18 January 2003
Summary and other details by John Laidlar. His full report is in the Official Site by John Laidlar.
Altrincham went into the game on the back of a fine performance at Kettering in the Trophy in midweek and after three successive league wins. Runcorn had seen little action in 2003 thanks to the fixture computer and the weather.
Altrincham fell behind just before the interval to a Lee Parle goal, when the Runcorn player stole into the box to the right of goal and got the better of Stephen Rose. Altrincham created more chances than the visitors during the game but only converted one, a superb 20 yard strike by Ian Craney after 65 minutes. Dave Gardner was a constant threat on the Alty right and deservedly lifted the Man of the Match award. Rod Thornley picked up a thigh strain in the warm-up and the team-sheet had to amended to allow new signing Tony Sullivan to start in place of the Alty captain. He had a fairly quiet game before being subbed after 62 minutes. Alty dropped to 13th in the table but have now lost just once in their last 9 league games.
Alty captain Rod Thornley suffered a fairly serious thigh strain during the warm-up and limped off to be replaced on the team-sheet by new signing Tony Sullivan, who had originally been named as a substitute. Andy Tunnicliffe replaced Sullivan on the bench whilst Gary Talbot, Barry Shuttleworth, Neil Ryan and Steve Lunt remained sidelined by injury. Runcorn, too, had injury problems with Chris Price and Kevin Leadbetter missing but new signing, Mike Harris made his debut after joining from Trafford. Ex-Alty players Matty McNeil, Dave Gamble and Neil Whalley were in the visitors' line-up, whilst Richard Acton and Ian Craney were former Runcorn players in the Robins' side. Assistant manager Whalley was making his first start for some time but player-manager Liam Watson remained on the bench.
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| Mike McGuire of CJM Transport the Match Sponsor receives his certificate |
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| The new hoarding over the popular side advertises Chairman Geoff Goodwin's coach company |
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| Debutant Anthony Sullivan and Sean Smith in action |
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| Peter Band wins a heading duel |
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| That must have been one of those incredible near misses |
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| Ex Alty player Matt McNeil with Peter Band and Mark Maddox |
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| Sean Smith tries to get round some solid defense |
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| Man of the Match, Dave Gardner being presented his award by a representative of the match sponsor CJM Transport |