Words Chris Antoniades | Picture Jonathan Moore

Chester 2 Altrincham 0 

Altrincham's youngsters were looking for a fourth win of the season when they travelled to Chester for their latest National League North fixture.

The game started with both teams having their share of the ball and comfortably keeping possession, and though Chester attempted to deliver a few dangerous long balls, Alty defended them well. 

As Chester began to take control, they put multiple dangerous crosses into the box which caused Alty to concede several corners; however, these were also defended well. 

Chester kept piling the pressure on, and when their number nine found himself through on goal, it took a fine save with his leg by Robins keeper Bunting (pictured) to thwart an effort that was heading for the bottom left corner.

Around the half-hour mark, Chester attacked once again, this time down their right flank, and when a cross was parried out by Bunting, the home side were quicker to react as the loose ball was pounced on and slotted home.

Looking to respond, the young Robins attacked through Renshaw, who won the ball and played it to Lavin.

After driving forward, Lavin laid it back off to Renshaw, whose shot was blocked by a Chester defender. The rebound fell to Martin, who teed up Lavin for a shot that was also blocked in an unlucky spell for the young Robins. 

Alty kept pushing for an equaliser, pressing high and winning a corner that was delivered by Renshaw. A clearance to the edge of the area gave Weston the chance to hit a half-volley that flew narrowly wide as the first half ended with Chester holding a narrow lead.

The young Robins looked to battle their way back into the match at the start of the second half, with Mattison and Weston especially disrupting Chester’s attacks by winning first and second balls in the midfield.

Around the 50th minute mark, Alty looked to freshen things up, with Renshaw and Martin making way for Knowles and Herreman.

Alty started to grow into the match and created a great chance through excellent work by Rowe, who dribbled through Chester's defence down the left flank.

When his initial cross was blocked, he latched on to the rebound and struck an effort that just cleared the crossbar.

It was a near-miss that indicated a growing confidence in the Alty ranks, but they suffered a blow soon after when Watts, who had a solid game in central defence, was shown a red card, leaving them down to 10 men.

Around the 70th minute mark Rowlands was subbed on for Lavin, looking to gain defensive stability, but Chester were starting to gain control and make their numerical advantage count. 

Eventually, in one of several Chester attacks, one of their players was brought down in the box, and their number nine converted the penalty to make it 2-0 with 10 minutes to play. 

It didn't get any easier for the young Robins, as they ended up having to see out the closing stages with only nine players after Taafe went off injured, with no subs left.

In a way that was a credit to their fighting spirit, though, they didn’t go down without a fight and battled until the final whistle in what was always going to be a tough away fixture.

Squad on the day:
Theo Bunting
Raion Rowe
Kian Lecky
Jimmy Taafe
Chris Antoniades
Archie Rowlands
Henry Watts
Kian Mattison 
Joe Weston
Joshua Herreman
Harley Renshaw 
Issac Mannion
Noah Lavin
Jacob Martin
Ryan Knowles