Source: FOOTYMAD
A day in Alty with Alty
I hope the events of today's trip to Altrincham aren't a taster for what's to come this season with a delayed start and a problem outside the ground delaying the return home as well. Alex MacDonald - opened the scoring My lift forgot to pick me up leaving me stood around for some 50 minutes before the rescue party arrived and we were eventually able to get the show on the road, with the message board's DavetheVicar, the retired Reverend Alty, on board, and after a lunch stop on the way we were there for around 1:45, even before the turnstiles had opened. The usual "Let's spot the new signings" once inside the ground but warming up were six of the young players who have recently signed deals - namely Alex-Ray Harvey, Alex MacDonald, Wes Fletcher, Dominic Knowles, Mehdi Lazaar and Joe McKee - although three of them weren't used in the game. Eddie Howe had said ahead of the game that he'd probably play two different teams, one in each half, and that's exactly what happened. For the first half, Lee Grant was in goal behind a back four of Tyrone Mears (who captained the side), Michael Duff, Andre Bikey and Brian Easton. Alex-Ray Harvey and Chris McCann had the midfield positions whilst Ross Wallace was on the right and Alex MacDonald on the left. Chris Eagles had a central role behind Martin Paterson. This was the line up that gave us the best football of the afternoon. We were much the better side in the first half and there were particularly good performances I thought from Alex Mac, Wallace, Pato and Alex-Ray. It was MacDonald who opened the scoring. He linked up well with Paterson and once clear made no mistake to give us the lead in the ninth minute. That lead was doubled ten minutes later and again Pato was involved, this time getting the ball in for Eagles who stole in well ahead of the defenders to finish an excellent move. Paterson was causing them all sort of problems and was almost on the scoresheet himself. He was played in by Eagles on the right hand side of the box and hit his shot just wide of the far post. He wasn't to be denied though and got the goal his performance deserved twelve minutes from the break when MacDonald played him in. He was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and took the ball past him in his stride before sliding the ball into the empty net. At that point you wondered just how many we might get and had Wallace's effort found the net we might have had to close the book on the goal of the season. Easton played the ball across to him just outside the box. It came at him too high but he managed to hit this stunning left foot volley that just flew over bar. But it was Alty who nearly got the last goal of the half when Chadwick hit the foot of Grant's post just before the referee brought the first half to an end. Martin Paterson - deserved his goal It was the end for those Burnley players and on came Brian Jensen with a back four of Kevin Long, Leon Cort, David Edgar and Danny Fox. The midfield two were now Marvin Bartley and Dean Marney, with Wade Elliott right and Wes Fletcher left. Up front was Chris Iwelumo with Jay Rodriguez. Incredibly, just four minutes in, the 3-0 lead had been reduced to just a single goal as Chadwick scored twice, but serious questions have to be asked about how we conceded them. Cort hesitated and I'm not so sure what the Beast was doing for the first and then, after a poor throw out, we left Chadwick totally unmarked to score a second. It really was a poor start to the half but in fairness they never really threatened again. We were never able to find the same levels in the second half but we did eventually start to put them under some pressure. Jay Rod had a shot that went just wide and midway through the half we made sure of the win when Elliott, probably our best player in the second half, found Iwelumo with cross from the right for him to head home. There were other opportunities and Long saw an header brilliantly saved by the keeper but it all ended at 4-2. "Relegation form," I heard one fan say as we left the ground whilst slagging off individual players. I didn't bother to say anything but its 9th July, it's the first pre-season friendly and it's all about getting the players back out on the pitch playing football. That we turned in some decent stuff at times, predominantly in the first half, is a nice bonus. It will be better on Tuesday and will continue to get better as we get closer to the new season. Relegation form? Promotion form? You won't get any clues on either possibility from a friendly at Altrincham four weeks before the season starts. That was it; apart from the aforementioned Rev Alty not being able to find the car after the game thus delaying the return home. He's driving on Tuesday. Should I really be looking forward to Bury? Today's teams were; Altrincham: Stuart Coburn, Chris Lynch (Brian Summerskill 45), Mark Lees, Adam Flynn (Anthony Danylyk 45), Ryan Brown, Simon Richman, Robbie Lawton, Shaun Densmore, Nicky Clee (Paul Jones 45), Nick Chadwick (Kevin Gall 61), Damian Reeves (Michael Jukes 45). Subs not used: James Coates, Steve Hall, Matt Fearon, Jake Barnabas, Sam Langford. Burnley (first half): Lee Grant, Tyrone Mears, Michael Duff, Andre Bikey, Brian Easton, Alex-Ray Harvey, Chris McCann, Ross Wallace, Alex MacDonald, Chris Eagles, Martin Paterson Burnley (second half): Brian Jensen, Kevin Long, Leon Cort, David Edgar, Danny Fox, Marvin Bartley, Dean Marney, Wade Elliott, Wes Fletcher, Jay Rodriguez, Chris Iwelumo. Subs not used: Dominic Knowles, Mehdi Lazaar, Joe McKee. Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester). Attendance: 1,253.
