Lucas weaves his magic to keep Alty cup ko hopes alive

Words John Edwards | Pictures Sean Walsh

Lucas Weaver capped another eye-catching display with a late winning goal as Altrincham staged a stirring second-half fightback to keep themselves in with a chance of reaching the National League Cup knock-out stages at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Victory was imperative for Alty's prospects of staying in the competition, but it didn't look altogether likely when, after a low-key start by both sides, Wolves under-21s went in front just after the half-hour mark.

A straight red card for their skipper two minutes later threw Alty a lifeline, and the Robins grabbed it with both hands in a second half of mounting pressure on the away goal.

Alty levelled with a stunning strike from on-loan left-back Kacper Pasiek in the 67th minute, and they made sure of second place in the group in the 77th minute after Weaver stooped to conquer, ducking down to head home a chest-high bouncing ball from close range.

Whether the Robins will remain in second place is another matter entirely. Oldham face Manchester United under-21s at Boundary Park tomorrow (Wednesday) evening and Rochdale host Wolves under-21s on Tuesday February 11th, and a win for either home side would spell the end of the road for Alty.

Should that be the case, the Robins will have bowed out with their heads held high after a rousing second-half performance full of individual excellence, with Weaver a constant threat on the right, Pasiek an attacking revelation on the left and new signing Regan Griffiths looking increasing assured and accomplished in central midfield.

After a quiet opening quarter-of-an-hour, Lewis Banks had to be at his most alert to prevent Ethan Sutherland putting Wolves ahead.

The Wolves winger worked enough space for a shot from the left corner of the six-yard box and looked odds-on to open the scoring until Banks stepped in to block the danger with a timely intervention.

After adhering to the competition rules governing the minimum number of regular first-teamers to be included in the starting line-up, manager Phil Parkinson soon decided enough was enough, with an Isuzu FA Trophy tie looming, and withdrew three of them from the firing line.

We had been playing for just over 18 minutes when Alex Newby, Joe Nuttall and Tom Crawford were taken off as a precaution for Saturday, to be replaced by Weaver, Jake Bickerstaff and Griffiths.

Griffiths' first involvement on his Alty debut was to be hacked down near the halfway line, but, as a mark of the tough streak that complements his smooth passing style, he bounced straight back up, none the worse for wear.

Weaver's pace almost created an opening in the 21st minute as he sprinted to the bye-line on the left and pulled the ball back for Bickerstaff to hit a first-time shot that was blocked.

Pasiek did brilliantly in the 29th minute to lay on Alty's best chance so far.

Intercepting the ball inside his own half, he skipped past two challenges before releasing a pinpoint pass that sent Weaver surging clear.

Credit to Alty's flying winger for leaving his marker floundering with a lightning burst of speed, but he will have been disappointed with a finish that was curled beyond the advancing keeper but wide of the post.

Wolves made the most of their escape by taking the lead two minutes later, as the ball fell to Sutherland in the area and he curled a left-foot shot inside the far post.

If they were ahead on the scoresheet, though, they found themselves at a disadvantage numerically in the 33rd minute after centre-back Alfie Pond was given his marching orders.

Pond lost the ball midway inside his own half to the bustling Bickerstaff, who had a clear run at goal until being hauled back by the Wolves skipper in an act of desperation that brought the inevitable punishment of a straight red card.

Alty so nearly levelled matters in the 50th minute after Bickerstaff brilliantly sent Weaver sprinting clear down the right flank with a perfectly measured through ball.

Weaver's pace was again too much for Wolves' covering defenders, but he was unable to capitalise with a right-foot shot from a tight angle that drifted wide of the far post.

With Griffiths and Owen German tidy and efficient in central midfield and Matty Kosylo and Bickerstaff probing tirelessly further forward, Alty were throwing everything at forcing an equaliser.

Finally, it materialised in the 67th minute, and what a moment it was for Pasiek.

A corner from the left was only half-cleared, and Alty's on-loan full-back pulled it down out of the air before crashing a shot that hit the back of the net before keeper Josh Gracey could move.

Wolves were on the rack, and it came as no surprise when the Robins deservedly went in front in the 77th minute.

Griffiths, so impressive at the heart of midfield, let fly from distance, and when it spilled from Gracey's grasp, Weaver was on to it in an instant with a stooping header from close range to give Alty a lead they could so easily have extended, as Kahrel Reddin and Weaver both went close in the final few moments.

Once again, our thanks go to our match sponsors McAuliffe Group for their generosity in enabling us to offer free admission to the ground for everyone.

Altrincham - Randle, Banks (Golden 46), Cooper, Newby (Weaver 19), Amaluzor (Reddin 46), Kosylo, J.Jones, German, Crawford (Griffiths 19), Nuttall (Bickerstaff 19), Pasiek. Subs not used - Baines, Fallon.

Goals - Pasiek 67, Weaver 77.

Yellow cards - none; red cards - none.

Wolves under-21s - Gracey, Okoduwa (Edozie 83), Hubner, Mabete, Pond, Voice, Lopes (Reynolds 83), Ashworth, (Whittingham 72) Fraser (Angel 69), Bradbury (Rawlings 72), Sutherland. Subs not used - Amos, Olagunju.

Goal - Sutherland 31.

Yellow cards - Voice, Reynolds, Whittingham; red cards - Pond.

Referee - James Westgate.

Attendance - 1,038.

 

Harvey Nichols Man Of The Match Lucas Weaver

 

Next Up

 

More cup action at The J.Davidson Stadium on Saturday as Eastleigh come calling in the Isuzu FA Trophy fifth round (3pm).

Tickets are on sale online right here - hospitality is almost sold out, with the few remaining seats for The John King Lounge available here.

2024/25 Half Season Ticket

Altrincham FC

2024/25 Half Season Ticket

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