Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

ALTRINCHAM 3 – 2 DROYLSDEN

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER - Saturday 22 September 2007

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods came away empty handed from Moss Lane on Saturday, and can have few complainst. The failure to secure anything from this vital clash at the bottom of the table leaves Dave Pace's men with just Northwich Vics below them.

Overall, this was a lacklustre display from the Butcher's Arms boys, and it was disappointing to see that they could not carry the spirit shown at Kidderminster on Tuesday night into this crucial fixture.

All started well for Droylsden, though, as Jody Banim's 9th minute penalty was too strong for Alty's third choice ‘keeper, Russell Saunders, after Chris Denahm was adjudged to have been tripped by home debutante, Sean Clancy.

However, that was all Droylsden had to offer for the next half hour, as Colin Little went close and the livewire Chris Senior found the side netting from a long Ryan Shotton throw for the hosts.

The Robins continued to search for the equaliser, and Paul Phillips lost out to Senior, but Carlos Logan saw his shot blocked with Phillips stranded.

Denham teased the Alty defence, and curled his effort wide, but seven minutes before the break, Alty struck level. Gareth Morris gave away a needless free kick, and Little stole a march on the Droylsden defence to steer home Gareth Whalley's free kick at the near post.

It was much the same after the break – Daniel Warner was caught in possession and Steve Halford had to be quick to dispossess Senior as he bore down on Phillips' goal.

At the other end, Robin Gibson robbed the napping Alty defence of the ball and fed Banim, who rounded Saunders, but Shotton prevented his strike from reaching the unguarded goal.

Altrincham then lost both Whalley and Saunders in quick succession, and with no ‘keeper on the bench, Jake Sedgemore took over in the sticks. Surely this was good news for the Bloods – 1-1 with half an hour to play, and no recognised goalkeeper in opposition.

However, the hosts rallied well around their stand-in, and Saunders' replacement, Colin Potts set-up Little for his second with his first contribution. The substitute winger showed a clean pair of heels to cross into the box, which the Bloods failed to clear, leaving Little the opportunity to steer past Phillips, which he duly did to put The Robins 2-1 up.

Altrincham continued to look threatening, particularly through Senior, who beat Garry Burke, but lost his footing at the vital moment.

The Bloods finally managed to put the stand-in Alty ‘keeper under some pressure through Terry Fearns, and Halford's follow-up volley was hooked clear, but on 71 minutes Senior went one better, when he rounded both Burke and Phillips to tap home Alty's third.

Six minutes later, though, Banim won and converted his second penalty to set-up a grandstand finish. Banim flashed a free kick towards Sedgemore, but it was defelected over the bar, and Burke headed a Tandy corner kick wide when well placed.

Deep into stoppage time, Denham's strike hit the post and then the back of Sedgemore, but instead of going into the goal, it fell to Fearns, who converted, but he was correctly flagged offside.

Hence, it was all too little, too late really for The Bloods, with Sedgemore having a relatively easy time for his half-hour stint at goalkeeper.

On performances like this, against fellow strugglers stripped to the bone, it is becoming more difficult to see where Droylsden might achieve a victory in this league.

The next three games don't come much tougher – Burton Albion, Torquay United and Oxford United - before the next potential “six-pointer” against fellow promotees, Farsley Celtic at the Butcher's Arms on Tuesday week.

ALTRINCHAM: Saunders (Potts, 61), Lane, Clancy (Peyton, 50), Shotton, Tinson, Lawton, Owen, Whalley (Sedgemore, 54), Logan, Little, Senior.

Subs not used: O'Neill, Berkeley.

DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Cryan, Warner, Halford, Burke, Morris (Stephens, 62), Lynch, Gibson (Fearns, 62), Denham, Banim, Salmon (Tandy, 25).

Subs not used: Talbot, Senior (G/K).

ATTENDANCE: 1,187

REFEREE: Mr. Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)