South Shields 1 Altrincham 1

Match report by Alty player Harrison Howells

After the Academy North group started the season with a loss from their first game, they were determined to put that result behind them as they embarked on the long journey up to South Shields for their latest National League fixture.

The game started with Altrincham sitting in, trying to cut out any passing lanes in the final and middle thirds of the pitch.

Shields had some early pop shots from around the 18 yard box, but new first year goalkeeper Max Beddow reacted well to deny the home side.

After these early chances, Alty solidified into their shape and found much more of the ball, with Remi Raymond playing some brilliant over-the-top passes.

This spell allowed the Robins to create a few chances, Jack Chandler causing serious problems for the defenders and almost winning a penalty for his efforts.

Alty finished the last 10 minutes of the half pressing higher up the pitch and winning the ball back in very dangerous areas.

Chandler set Harrison Howells away, but he unfortunately volleyed the shot over the crossbar.

Some tricky play on the left hand side by Charley Jarrald saw him deliver an inviting ball across the face of goal that was just waiting to be touched home in what was a positive end to the first half.

Alty started the second half on the front foot from the off, playing some good passing patterns around the South Shield press.

Some great play by Max Whittle gave Vlad Shtyhlian the chance to let off a menacing shot which sailed wide.

Although it was still 0-0, Alty 100% looked like they had a goal in their sights, not least when a great threaded ball was played straight across the face of goal by Shtyhlian.

It was on a plate for anybody to get a touch and divert it in, but no-one was on hand to finish it off.

Substitutions of Kyran Webster for Jarrald and Isaac Mannion for Howells were made around the 60-minute mark. Looking to make an instant impact, Mannion was taking on his full-back every time he received the ball, which is exactly what was required, getting the better of him on multiple occasions.

This led to a shot inside the box for Whittle, which unfortunately whistled past the near post. Nothing was hitting the back of the net for the young Robins.

Additional substitutions of Mo Suwareh for Shtyhlian, Kian Lecky for Blyth Bywater and Will Knowles for Tom Whyte were then made, and Alty continued to show a real determination to break the deadlock.

Raymond produced another precise threaded pass to put Chandler through, one-on-one with the keeper, and there was no mistake this time, as he slotted home Alty’s second goal of the season.

South Shields were still very much in the game, though, and went in search of an equaliser.

As a consequence, gaping holes began to open up in their back line, and Webster had a great chance to double the lead when the South Shields goalkeeper played a short clearance into his path.

The shot was hard but not accurate enough to beat the keeper, and South Shields had a lifeline.

In the dying embers of the game, Alty began to play some loose balls and were guilty of risky defending in certain areas.

The young Robins went out to press, but South Shields popped it around and created a huge chance which was converted at the near post, thwarting Alty's ambitions of taking all three points home with them.

Even so, the boys can take many positives from their performance and also learn a lot from the 90 minutes.

Match day squad:

Max Beddow

Kyran Webster

Jack Chandler

Charley Jarrald

Harrison Howells

Vlad Shtyhlian

Tom Whyte

Oscar Cooper

Kian Lecky

Remi Raymond

Blyth Bywater

Mo Suwareh

Issac Mannion

Will Knowles

Lucas Edwards

Max Whittle