Words Theo Bunting Picture Jonathan Moore

York City 1 Altrincham 0

Altrincham began on the back foot in this National League under-19 Alliance fixture, with York having the majority of the possession.

Most of the chances also went their way in the opening stages, but good defensive work from Watts and Mattison kept the scoreline at 0-0.

Halfway through the first half, the deadlock was eventually broken by a reversed pass through to the York number nine, who slotted the ball away into the far corner.

York's pressure continued, and they should have made it 2-0 after a scramble in the Alty box fell to a York player five yards from goal, but the outstretched leg of Bunting saved the day for the young Robins and kept the deficit to just one goal.

After the break, Alty came out with a much higher intensity, pressing the York back line and forcing errors which would continue throughout the rest of the game.

Alty’s chances continued, with good work from Renshaw as he beat his man and put a dangerous ball across the face of goal.

It so nearly yielded an equaliser as Lavin met it with a finish that was blocked on to the post and out for a corner kick,

As a measure of the pressure Alty were exerting, they had three corners in quick succession, all leading to chances that should have found the back of the net.

Dangerous deliveries from Watson seemed to fall to Alty players every time, with one of these efforts cleared off the line, as the York goal led a charmed life.

Around the hour mark, Alty's first substitutions were made, with Taafe replacing Hough and, soon after, Knowles going on for Mannion.

It was more of the same from Alty as we entered the final 20 minutes. Great hold-up play from Martin throughout this second half provided Alty with a number of chances, but again none of them found the back of the net. Alty’s third substitution came around this time, with McNamara replacing Lavin.

Tensions were rising, entering the final 10 minutes, as York tried to hang on to their lead by attempting to keep possession in the Alty corners.

It was an exercise in frustrating the young Robins, who had controlled the second half but ultimately found their rhythm eluding them as challenges began to fly in all over the pitch from both sides.

As frustrations grew, Weston was shown an unlucky red card by the referee with two minutes left to play, and Alty were unable to fashion one last chance to force their way back on terms.

Despite the result, there were excellent phases of play from the young Robins, who could have secured a positive result, if only chances had been converted.

Squad on the day:
Theo Bunting
Ben McNamara
Henry Watts
Harry St Romaine
Charlie Hough
Jimmy Taafe
Kian Mattison
Joe Weston
Harry Watson
Ryan Knowles
Isaac Mannion
Harley Renshaw
Noah Lavin
Jacob Martin