idgamerd

Altrincham 0 - 2 Weymouth

ATT: 895

Goals:
(5)
(90)

This was a competitive game from start to finish. We largely failed to cope with the powerful Weymouth forward Chuckie Erribenne though and this proved to be the difference between the sides. His flicked header in the 5th minute gave Weymouth the lead, and he got his brace by robbing Deasy of the ball in the last minute of the game and slotting home. We created a few chances ourselves, especially in the second half, but Weymouth always looked the most dangerous side and probably deserved their win.

idgamerd

Stevenage 5 - 1 Altrincham

ATT: 2169

Goals:
(20)
(31)
(41)
(44)
Gilhaney 45
(75)

We looked wonderful for 15 minutes, and should have been 3-0 up but for some good keeping and some wasteful finishing. After that though, Stevenage scored with their first chance and our heads dropped totally. We were then inept until we scored on the stroke of half time. We were much better after a rollocking from me at the interval, but went down to a deserved thrashing in the end.

idgamerd

After the Stevenage thrashing, I sat down and talked heart-to-heart with my assistant, Dalton Steele. I was unsure about carrying on with Alty, and I thought I had taken them as far as I could. With the difficulty of signing players to a part-time team so evident, I questioned everything we had at the club.

At the end of some very heartfelt exchanges between the two of us, I resolved to carry on. What we did decide to do though was to Go back to a 4-1-3-2 formation, and abandon wingers. Since Adam Smiths departure, we don't seem to have the same penetration out wide. I also failed in about a dozen bids for a target man to accompany the pacey Gilhaney up-front, so wingers are going to be less effective. We decided on a few subtle differences though on the formation we had used when I first came to Altrincham though, as that had ultimately proved unsuccessful.

idgamerd

Altrincham 2 - 0 Crawley

ATT: 529

Goals:
OG 59
Murphy 81

This was a tight affair with early pace setters Crawley. The own goal was from a left wing cross and I thought Stewart had actually headed it in. It turned out to be the defender under immense pressure. Murphys goal, his first ever for Alty in a competitive match, was a beauty from the edge of the area that fizzed in. We did deserve the win, as we looked more dangerous going forward than Crawley, but overall it was a close game.

idgamerd

Northwich 1 - 2 Altrincham

ATT: 444

Goals:
Murphy 1
Griffiths 30
(79)

Again a close encounter, but we were more dominant. This is starting to look very good for us, compact and tight in defence, and expressive going forward. Gilhaney is injured currently but different people are now weighing in with goals, such as 2 in 2 from Murphy.

These two wins have restored my faith slightly in what I am building at Alty. I still want to move on, I still want to progress, and it's still very difficult to attract players, but I am more positive about sticking it out until the right offer eventually comes along.

idgamerd

Cambridge United 1-2 Altrincham

ATT: 1954

Goals:
Gilhaney 77
Klein-Davis 82
(90)

This was so close, and whilst it was marginal, Cambridge were the better side. However, we defended excellently throughout and were creating chances. We were definitely more clinical in front of goal, and both finishes were tidy and well placed. Conceding a late goal left us with a nervous couple of minutes, but we held on. We maybe got away with one here, but who cares, I like winning games!

idgamerd

Altrincham 1-0 Torquay United

ATT: 2538

Goal:
Gilhaney 26

Another one where probably the better team on the day didn't win. In front of by far the largest home league gate of the season so far, we got away with another sneaky win. Gilhaney was again the best player on the pitch though, and he continues to prove he is one of the best strikers at non-league level. Quite how I have managed to keep hold of him I do not know.

idgamerd

Altrincham 1-1 Accrington Stanley

ATT: 2259

Goals:
(27)
TJ 77

This is one of the closest and tightest games I have ever been involved in. Both sides attacked wonderfully, but defended better. Despite the fact that on paper it looked like a dour one-all, this was a game full of skill and endeavor, and a credit to non-league football. This game deserved to be a draw, as neither side deserved to lose it, so I was delighted when TJ popped up with our equaliser.

idgamerd

Dagenham & Redbridge 1-2 Altrincham

ATT: 740

Goals:
Klein-Davis 17
Laight pen 42
Spender OFF 71
(81)

This was a game separated very much into two parts, pre and post sending off. We totally dominated proceedings up until Spender committed his professional foul and was deservedly sent off. We should actually have put the game to bed much earlier and gone on to get a few more, but as is always our way we didn't. A very nervous last 20 minutes during which time we conceded one, but managed to hold out for what was a narrow win that could have been so much more.

idgamerd

The table having completed 10 games looks very rosy for Altrincham, as is as follows:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Crawley | | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 8 | +10 | 23 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Grays | | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 15 | +5 | 22 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Altrincham | | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 22 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Woking | | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 8 | +12 | 21 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Aldershot | | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 21 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Weymouth | | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 19 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Stevenage | | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 17 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Southend | | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 16 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Kidderminster | | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 15 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Morecambe | | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 16 | -2 | 15 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | York | | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 14 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Scarborough | | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 14 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Rushden | | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 13 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Kettering | | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 13 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Gravesend | | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 12 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Dag & Red | | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 12 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Cambridge | | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 10 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Torquay | | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 16 | -5 | 10 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Hinckley | | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 9 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Forest Green | | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 8 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Tamworth | | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 8 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Accrington | | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 21 | -5 | 7 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Northwich | | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 18 | -13 | 4 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Lewes | | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 21 | -18 | 3 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

Third place and only a point off top was not where I expected to be, but I fully intend to make hay while the sun shines and the longer we can keep picking up wins and points, and stay in and around the promotion and playoff places the better our season will become.