January 30, 2023
LOAN WATCH
In a regular Monday feature, press and media officer John Edwards brings you up to date with how those Altrincham players currently out on loan fared over the weekend. Picture of Brad Jackson by Jonathan Moore.
Blyth Spartans 0 Buxton 3
Brad Jackson wasted no time making his mark on loan for Buxton, scoring twice and earning glowing praise from manager Craig Elliott in what was an important Vanarama National League North win for the Derbyshire side.
The versatile Alty midfielder, who can operate at full-back as well as further forward on the right wing, figured prominently in a bright start by the Bucks and laid on a chance for ex-Robin Connor Kirby, whose shot was saved.
It came as no surprise when Buxton broke the deadlock with a 36th-minute effort from Sam Osborne, and the visitors were good value for their 1-0 half-time lead.
They remained in the ascendancy in the second half and doubled their advantage in the 57th minute when Jackson controlled a pass from Tom Elliot and steadied himself before smashing the ball past the Blyth keeper.
A dinked effort from Jackson beat the keeper but just cleared the bar in the 74th minute, but there was no denying the on-loan Robin 10 minutes later when he seized on a loose ball inside the area and fired unerringly into the net to make it 3-0.
It rounded off a highly-satisfactory afternoon in the North-East for Buxton, with Elliott reflecting on the role played by Alty's Jackson, and saying: "I thought Brad and Sam Osborne were unplayable today, and I was really pleased for them and the rest of the lads."
Elliott would have been just as happy with a clean sheet, secured in no small measure by former Alty skipper Jake Moult, who forsook his customary midfield position to marshal an injury-depleted back line.
The win opened up a gap near the foot of the table, with 19th-placed Buxton now six points clear of second-from-bottom Blyth.
Boston United 2 Scarborough Athletic 2
A highly-impressive crowd of 1,726 filed into the Jakemans Community Stadium to see Zak Goodson contribute significantly to a valuable National League North point for Boston against promotion-seeking Scarborough.
It wasn't the best of starts for the Pilgrims, going behind to a Ciaran McGuckin header from a second-minute corner, but they replied in kind six minutes later when Luke Shiels nodded them level from a flag-kick of their own.
McGuckin restored Scarborough's advantage a minute from half-time, and the visitors looked on course to add a vital three points to their promotion push until Goodson intervened in the 79th minute.
Looking up from the right flank, the Alty youngster picked out Jake Wright with a pinpoint low cross that the Boston forward hammered past Scarborough's keeper to earn his side a draw.
Alsager Town 1 Maine Road 2
What a start for Robins youngster Dion Bohe, who announced himself with a goal on his debut for North West Counties League Division One South strugglers Alsager.
It was an all-Alty affair, at that, with young full-back Ewan McGeady creating the opportunity with a teasing cross that the Maine Road keeper couldn't hang on to, and his Robins team-mate Bohe pouncing on the loose ball and despatching it into the back of the net.
Alsager couldn't have wished for a better start than that 21st-minute breakthrough, but they were caught out by a Maine Road counter-attack as the visitors drew level before half-time.
McGeady was substituted in the second-half, and seventh-placed Maine Road went on to claim a winner to leave Alsager, who have also added Alty youngster Matty Sumner to their ranks on a month's loan, in the bottom three.
Glossop North End 1 Widnes 1
Widnes remain at the foot of the Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division, but there was no shortage of fight from Michael Ellison's side as they added a welcome point to their bid to climb the table.
Alty youngster Sharif Deans started for Widnes and helped to make sure they were on the front foot early on with a forceful run and cross that gave Steven Irwin an opportunity he fired over.
The first half finished goalless, despite Widnes having the better of it, but a breakthrough finally materialised in the 65th minute, when Jack Byrne headed home from a corner.
That should have led to a much-needed Widnes win, but luck was against them when a foul on the edge of the area was deemed to have been committed inside it, and Glossop converted the penalty to force a draw.
Mossley 2 Hanley Town 1
Third from bottom in the NPL West Division, Hanley are in desperate need of points, but they were up against it from the outset against fourth-placed Mossley, as the home side went ahead inside the opening minute.
It needed a positive reply, and Alty forward Eden Bailey did his best to provide one in the sixth minute when he got in behind the Mossley back line and was shaping to shoot when an offside flag stopped him in his tracks.
A disputed penalty made it 2-0 to Mossley in the 13th minute, but Bailey again led the response, forcing his way through with a fine run before firing narrowly over in the 19th minute.
Hanley pulled a goal back through Kieran Brown in the 90th minute but ran out of time in their efforts to build on the previous week's encouraging draw against Runcorn Linnets.
Northwich Vics 1 Prestwich Heys 0
After being on the bench for Thursday's remarkable Macron Cup tie at Barnoldswick Town - when Northwich overturned 3-1 arrears to win 4-3 - Alty full-back Joe Cooney found himself promoted to the starting line-up for this North West Counties League Premier Division fixture.
In a tight encounter, the Robins youngster's contribution to Northwich keeping a clean sheet proved crucial, as substitute Ryan Jackson popped up with a goal at the other end three minutes into added time to give the home side the points.
*Alty striker Ryan Morton missed Nantwich Town's 1-1 draw at Whitby Town with a slight injury, while midfielder Harlan Rodgers-Morris and striker Lewis Billingsley have been recalled from successful loan spells at Alsager and Ashton Athletic respectively. Harlan and Lewis both played for Alty Reserves in a 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra, with Billingsley (2), Sumner and 16-year old Academy player Joel Bailey among the goals.
Blyth Spartans 0 Buxton 3
Brad Jackson wasted no time making his mark on loan for Buxton, scoring twice and earning glowing praise from manager Craig Elliott in what was an important Vanarama National League North win for the Derbyshire side.
The versatile Alty midfielder, who can operate at full-back as well as further forward on the right wing, figured prominently in a bright start by the Bucks and laid on a chance for ex-Robin Connor Kirby, whose shot was saved.
It came as no surprise when Buxton broke the deadlock with a 36th-minute effort from Sam Osborne, and the visitors were good value for their 1-0 half-time lead.
They remained in the ascendancy in the second half and doubled their advantage in the 57th minute when Jackson controlled a pass from Tom Elliot and steadied himself before smashing the ball past the Blyth keeper.
A dinked effort from Jackson beat the keeper but just cleared the bar in the 74th minute, but there was no denying the on-loan Robin 10 minutes later when he seized on a loose ball inside the area and fired unerringly into the net to make it 3-0.
It rounded off a highly-satisfactory afternoon in the North-East for Buxton, with Elliott reflecting on the role played by Alty's Jackson, and saying: "I thought Brad and Sam Osborne were unplayable today, and I was really pleased for them and the rest of the lads."
Elliott would have been just as happy with a clean sheet, secured in no small measure by former Alty skipper Jake Moult, who forsook his customary midfield position to marshal an injury-depleted back line.
The win opened up a gap near the foot of the table, with 19th-placed Buxton now six points clear of second-from-bottom Blyth.
Boston United 2 Scarborough Athletic 2
A highly-impressive crowd of 1,726 filed into the Jakemans Community Stadium to see Zak Goodson contribute significantly to a valuable National League North point for Boston against promotion-seeking Scarborough.
It wasn't the best of starts for the Pilgrims, going behind to a Ciaran McGuckin header from a second-minute corner, but they replied in kind six minutes later when Luke Shiels nodded them level from a flag-kick of their own.
McGuckin restored Scarborough's advantage a minute from half-time, and the visitors looked on course to add a vital three points to their promotion push until Goodson intervened in the 79th minute.
Looking up from the right flank, the Alty youngster picked out Jake Wright with a pinpoint low cross that the Boston forward hammered past Scarborough's keeper to earn his side a draw.
Alsager Town 1 Maine Road 2
What a start for Robins youngster Dion Bohe, who announced himself with a goal on his debut for North West Counties League Division One South strugglers Alsager.
It was an all-Alty affair, at that, with young full-back Ewan McGeady creating the opportunity with a teasing cross that the Maine Road keeper couldn't hang on to, and his Robins team-mate Bohe pouncing on the loose ball and despatching it into the back of the net.
Alsager couldn't have wished for a better start than that 21st-minute breakthrough, but they were caught out by a Maine Road counter-attack as the visitors drew level before half-time.
McGeady was substituted in the second-half, and seventh-placed Maine Road went on to claim a winner to leave Alsager, who have also added Alty youngster Matty Sumner to their ranks on a month's loan, in the bottom three.
Glossop North End 1 Widnes 1
Widnes remain at the foot of the Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division, but there was no shortage of fight from Michael Ellison's side as they added a welcome point to their bid to climb the table.
Alty youngster Sharif Deans started for Widnes and helped to make sure they were on the front foot early on with a forceful run and cross that gave Steven Irwin an opportunity he fired over.
The first half finished goalless, despite Widnes having the better of it, but a breakthrough finally materialised in the 65th minute, when Jack Byrne headed home from a corner.
That should have led to a much-needed Widnes win, but luck was against them when a foul on the edge of the area was deemed to have been committed inside it, and Glossop converted the penalty to force a draw.
Mossley 2 Hanley Town 1
Third from bottom in the NPL West Division, Hanley are in desperate need of points, but they were up against it from the outset against fourth-placed Mossley, as the home side went ahead inside the opening minute.
It needed a positive reply, and Alty forward Eden Bailey did his best to provide one in the sixth minute when he got in behind the Mossley back line and was shaping to shoot when an offside flag stopped him in his tracks.
A disputed penalty made it 2-0 to Mossley in the 13th minute, but Bailey again led the response, forcing his way through with a fine run before firing narrowly over in the 19th minute.
Hanley pulled a goal back through Kieran Brown in the 90th minute but ran out of time in their efforts to build on the previous week's encouraging draw against Runcorn Linnets.
Northwich Vics 1 Prestwich Heys 0
After being on the bench for Thursday's remarkable Macron Cup tie at Barnoldswick Town - when Northwich overturned 3-1 arrears to win 4-3 - Alty full-back Joe Cooney found himself promoted to the starting line-up for this North West Counties League Premier Division fixture.
In a tight encounter, the Robins youngster's contribution to Northwich keeping a clean sheet proved crucial, as substitute Ryan Jackson popped up with a goal at the other end three minutes into added time to give the home side the points.
*Alty striker Ryan Morton missed Nantwich Town's 1-1 draw at Whitby Town with a slight injury, while midfielder Harlan Rodgers-Morris and striker Lewis Billingsley have been recalled from successful loan spells at Alsager and Ashton Athletic respectively. Harlan and Lewis both played for Alty Reserves in a 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra, with Billingsley (2), Sumner and 16-year old Academy player Joel Bailey among the goals.
