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

DROYLSDEN 0 – 2 ALTRINCHAM

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER - Saturday 9 February 2008

Report by Gary Owen

Although many may now feel that Droylsden's fate is doomed, Bloods boss Dave Pace refused to accept that this was the end for his team. "Whilst we have lost today, we can still come round the back door. There are 17 games left to play, so there's lots of points to play for. Yes, it's a massive hill to climb, but it's not over until it's over, and we can't throw the towel in."

On his team's performance, he added "we lacked desire today, but we did carve them open for our chances, whereas their goals were down to three individual mistakes by us – but it was a cute spin by Little for his goal, and it was their day today."

The game itself was a scrappy affair, with chances at a premium and the ball spending lots of time in the air from the firm pitch. In the first half, the clearest chances fell to Droylsden – both to Jamie McGuire, but he could only toe poke tamely at Stuart Coburn on 11 minutes, with Terry Fearns well placed in a square position. Then moments before the break he forced Coburn to tip his header over the bar from a central position after Jody Banim had twisted and turned to clip the ball into the box.

In between these, Colin Little curled a shot wide for the visitors and Conall Murtagh had Coburn in action once again, this time tipping his 22 yard free kick over the bar.

Just before the break, Banim and McGuire combined to set Fearns free, but his shot on the spin was hooked over his shoulder and over the bar.

Within a minute of the re-start, Altrincham made the hosts pay for those missed chances, as James Jennings was allowed time to fire a low cross into the box. Droylsden failed to clear, and Robbie Lawton shot into the bottom corner giving Paul Phillips no chance from 16 yards.

Little and Chris Senior both threatened, before the former doubled Alty's lead on 72 minutes, when he spun clear of his marker to give himself a free header at the far post from Jennings' free kick.

As expected, The Bloods pressed, but failed to significantly test Coburn.

Banim left Warren Peyton and Jennings in his wake, but he could only fire straight at the Robins' custodian from an acute angle. Ashley Burbeary then shot wide, and Banim clipped the Alty bar in added time, but a failure to convert chances was ultimately Droylsden's undoing, with Alty finding the net when the opportunity presented itself.

TEAMS:

DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Roche (Cryan, 78'), Halford, Strong, Dugdale, Murtagh (Ellis, 67'), Mackin, Denham, McGuire, Banim, Fearns (Burbeary, 53').

Subs not used: Morris, Munroe.

ALTRINCHAM: Coburn, Shotton, Jennings, Tinson, Young, Lawton, King, Peyton, Toulson, Little (Logan 87'), Senior (O'Neill 79').

Subs not used: Scott, Cahill, Lane

Referee: Mr. David Webb (County Durham) [9/10]

Attendance: 1178