Match Report by Jack Chandler 

Picture by Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 0 Chesterfield 2 

Altrincham's National Youth League group were at home again after their 5-1 victory against Burnley the week prior, looking to carry their form into this cup game against Chesterfield.

Alty were set up to press from the outset, taking what they had worked on in training into this game to try and be more aggressive winning the ball back.

Early on, the Robins were on top, keeping possession of the ball, calmly playing around the back and progressing the ball through midfield.

Alty created chances by using the wide areas to play balls into the box, but it was to no avail with no one able to convert.

Chesterfield didn’t have much success in these first 20 minutes, only having one good chance with a free-kick just outside the box that was blocked by Knowles in the wall.

Around 25 minutes into the game, as Alty tried to play out, Watts took a loose touch and was dispossessed by a Chesterfield attacker, who was promptly pulled down just outside the box in an effort to prevent a goal.

The result of this was a straight red card for the Alty player, leaving the Robins with 10 men for the remainder of the game.

When Chesterfield won a free-kick in a similar position soon after, a change of taker was all that was needed for the visitors to open the scoring.

For the last 10 minutes of the half, Altrincham were looking better, finding their way back into the game, getting on the ball more and getting the press right, leading to shots from Renshaw and Gonzalez and a headed attempt from Martin.

There were no changes for Alty at half-time, but a coming together at the end of the first half saw the Chesterfield keeper replaced ahead of the restart.

Alty were able to smooth things over at half-time and were looking to compete to try and get back on level terms.

Around 10 minutes into the second half, Renshaw was changed for Whittle.

Alty were starting to create more chances and went close with a great passage of play that started at the back with Fallon and Hough and continued with the ball being played into the midfield to Webster.

Further forward, Gonzalez and Will Knowles combined out wide to play a ball into the box to Martin, whose shot looked bound for the bottom right corner of the net until a great save by the keeper preserved Chesterfield's lead.

Still looking good, Altrincham created more chances, with Martin again going close, but being a man short was beginning to take its toll.

The Robins' task became even greater when, with around 25 minutes left, Chesterfield doubled their lead from a corner.

Chandler was then replaced by Ryan Knowles on the left-hand side, but there were signs that Alty were understandably starting to tire.

They needed to try and find a way back into the game, and a triple substitution was made to try and spark a comeback, with Martin, Hill and Will Knowles coming off for Lavin, Antoniades and St. Romaine.

The Alty lads worked hard all the way until the end of the game, but no success came of it as they bowed out of the cup.

Squad on the day: 
Louie Fallon
Harry St. Romaine
Will Knowles
Henry Watts
Jacob Hill
Charlie Hough
Chris Antoniades
Jimmy Taafe
Kian Gonzalez 
Kyran Webster
Noah Lavin
Jacob Martin 
Ryan Knowles
Harley Renshaw 
Jack Chandler
Max Whittle