FC Halifax Town 1 Altrincham 2

Match report by Alty player Jack Chandler

The Academy North group travelled to West Yorkshire after their 1-1 draw last week, looking to improve on their previous two games.

The match started with a similar squad from last week but set up to press and be more aggressive, letting the other team make mistakes.

In the early stages of the game, it was even between two teams who were sharing possession, with no major chances being created. Both teams were settling into the match.

The Robins started to have more of the ball and created a few half-chances, without really testing the Halifax keeper or getting the final ball right.

But a brilliant move by the captain Lucas Edwards, stepping in and playing a pass to Max Whittle in the pocket, led to Alty taking the lead.

The ball was played back to Lucas, and when he then linked up with Issac Mannion with a quick one two and drove through two players into the Halifax area, he was brought down for a clear penalty.

Harrison Howells expertly dispatched the spt-kick straight down the middle, with power high into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.

After this, Halifax gained a foothold in the game and were hunting for an equaliser, Alty soaking up a lot of pressure and Max Beddow making a few key saves.

Eventually, right near the stroke of half-time, Halifax finally found a way through with a lofted ball that was finished nicely at the back post.

Alty had the ball and were playing nice football for the remainder of the half but went in at half time at 1-1 with the rest of the game open.

Altrincham picked up where they left off at half-time by keeping the ball for the first 15 minutes without really creating anything.

Two substitutions around the 60-minute-mark saw Kyran Webster come on for Jack Chandler and Blyth Bywater for Kian Lecky.

The game turned a bit scrappy, with both teams in search of a winner, but the Robins had a few very good chances from close range that were not taken.

Down the other end, some vital blocks by the Alty defence denied the home team, as did more important saves from Beddow.

Whittle and Mannion were brought off after both having good games for Mo Suwareh and Will Knowles.

Wester had a great run down the left wing that ended in a brilliant shot at the near post that was just tipped out for a corner. At this point, Alty were starting to play the ball about again.

The corner was played short by Edwards to Remi Raymond, and, after an exchange of passes, Raymond put a pinpoint cross in to Vlad Shtyhlian, who volleyed it in past the keeper to put Altrincham 2-1 up with only 10 minutes left.

For the rest of the game, Alty were again soaking up pressure, trying to secure the three points.

There were some very important tackles to break up play from Mo Suwareh and the rest of the midfield, while a vital block by Edwards stopped a shot from just inside the box.

With added time finally winding down at the end, the boys were able to win the game and collect their three points.

A good performance through the 90 minutes from the Altrincham Academy lads, who will be hoping to build on their success in next week's game.

Squad on the day:

Max Beddow, Kyran Webster, Jack Chandler, Harrison Howells, Vlad Shtyhlian, Tom Whyte, Oscar Cooper, Kian Lecky, Remi Raymond, Blyth Bywater, Mo Suwareh, Issac Mannion, Will Knowles, Lucas Edwards, Max Whittle.