County v Altrincham: Match Thread (17/12/2016)

We should be winning this game pretty comfortably. I'll say 3-0 Lloyd hat trick.

Any 'buzz' around the incoming players and the sacking of Harvey can't hide just how bad Alty are.  There was no getting away from the fact that they're a side destined for the drop. They were outbattled and outplayed from the off and I would say they only got into the game at all for about 10 minutes overall.  They fouled almost as bad as Marine but had less threat about them.  You wouldn't want to be one of their poor fans, that's for sure.

But unlike in other games when we've dropped our performance to that of the opposition (such as against BPA and Marine), today was different. We were completely 'at it' from the off and instead of frantic play to create sporadic chances, we looked like we would keep the ball better and work chances by passing between the lines.  Yes, sometimes that'll mean an underhit pass out of defence into midfield etc. but ultimately it paid off handsomely as we built and built and grew confidently into the game.

When the first goal came after 25 mins, it was another great link up between Ball and Lloyd. The former splitting their defence with a lovely ball and Lloyd finishing confidently. It was similar to the Tamworth goal.  There seemed to be more fluidity about the shape today, Felix often quite central up top but then working hard out of possession to cover the right.  Ball was getting in tackles and looked a lot more physical all round, and when added to the attacking aspect of his game he really looked like the kind of player we would hope he can be week-in, week-out.  A really good show from him today.

At HT, Alty were forced into 2 changes - I say forced but it wasn't injury, both had bookings and they needed to bring on the 8'4 McDonald to try to get to grips with Big K.  All they had been able to do in the first half was foul him - as usual, K received 1 foul for every 10 actual fouls whilst the opposition were given a foul if K so much as breathed.  At least the ref had a smiley face while he was officiating though! Within 10 minutes, McDonald was also in the book.

More tests of their keeper continued although nothing particular that shouted 'amazing stop!'  In fact, he looked slightly dodgy one or two times and one had already almost squirmed in through poor handling.  McDonald then committed the clearest of yellow card fouls on K, was summoned to the ref.  Surely he was about to be shown his second yellow?!  Oh, what's this?  Another Alty player coming to distract the ref?!  Yep, another player got involved asking about what he considered an earlier foul... the ref seemed to completely forget he called McDonald and after a 2 minute explanation to the other player, didn't even say anything to McDonald.  

The game really needed putting to bed.  As awful as they were, there was always a risk from having a shirt-tugging giant on the pitch that they would grab something totally undeserved from a set play - probably given against K breathing.

Around the 75th minute, Ball was angry that Lloyd didn't tee him up for a simple goal - Lloyd apologised for trying to go alone.  But, within minutes, all was forgotten.  The ball was worked quickly from centre to the progressing Ross who put in a beauty of a first-time cross.  It was met by Ball with a super headed finish.  

Game over?  No, not yet.  There was still time for 'beast mode' - CMW came on to help deal with McDonald's move to centre forward and we searched for a third.  We were now glimpsing a team not only confident but looking to turn the dominance into a scoreline that actually reflected the game - every little helps with the goal difference, boys!  And they didn't disappoint.  From a corner, we had excellent movement and people looking to win the ball.  It got nodded back to CMW who headed against the bar.  (Aside from a couple of poor deliveries, we were much better with movement on corners - good stuff)

In the 90th, the ball got played to Minihan (now in the advanced right role).  He was in a similar position in the box to last time out when he hit over the bar.  Today, he hit it equally well but kept it down enough to make the net do a Merry Christmas Cheadle End jig.  Fantastic.




With Dux off after a bit of a tussle in front of us (looked like a finger in the eye or a knock around the eye), Minihan then slotted in at left back for his third position of the 90 minutes.  We saw out the game with 10 men without issue and the almost 4,000 in attendance (how good is that?) stood to applaud a fine display.

The most improved display was from Ball but the best display was from Lewis Montrose who was magnificent today. He won battle after battle, both on the floor and in the air, tidied up the second balls and when others got into difficulty, kept the ball moving along the deck into midfielders and full backs, and ran the ball as accomplished as a winger. Truly brilliant stuff from him.

Absolutely superb from start to finish, 3 very good goals and great performances all around. The only criticism is that we didn't score more!

Only 3 points off the playoffs.

In Jimbo we trust!

Altincham quick report:Pity they couldnt get the scorer right...

STOCKPORT COUNTY 3 ALTRINCHAM 0
Altrincham could have no complaints as they sank their seventh successive league defeat and are now 13 points away from safety in the table. Making just one change from the side that had played so well for much of the game at Blyth last Saturday, Alty gave new signing Gary Jones his debut in midfield in place of the injured Simon Richman.

Altrincham started fairly well but County soon got the upper hand, though their opening goal owed everything to a very dubious decision from the junior of the assistant referees who failed to flag what looked to be an offside Lloyd. The Stockport man was allowed to play on and finished well with a shot, from the left, past Deasy in the 26th minute.

Alty made a double change at the break with McDonald coming on for Goodall and Clee for Hobson, both the replaced players having received yellow cards in the first half. But the visitors failed to trouble the home defence whilst County wrapped up the points when Ross headed home a fine cross from Ball in the 77th minute. County could have added more before they finally did so in the first added minute when Minihan rifled home a shot from right of goal.

Report to follow.

Your Lottery ticket numbers, please, Harrogate! 

thanks for the excellent report herm. i'm still on my winter break - haven't been in ages. today i set off about ten minutes later than i should, realised that those bastards were playing at home, and sat in traffic approaching elland road for a while. at a quarter past two, and still not on the motorway, i gave up. in the past i'd have carried on, caned it on the motorway, and with a clear run would only have missed fifteen or twenty minutes, but it wouldn't have done much for my stress levels.

sounds like alty were crap, but it's good to hear about us putting a team away without much fuss. really surprising attendance as well - often it drops off a bit in the games approaching christmas. good also to see a couple of scorers other than danny one-man-show (his native american name). nice one sam!