Altrincham preview

After Saturday’s defeat away to Conference side Kettering, FC United make the short trip to Altrincham’s Moss Lane, for their second game against Blue Square Premier opposition in four days. Craig Phillips provides this preview...

The venue shouldn’t be anything new for Reds fans as we’ve played at the ground on numerous occasions; including last season memorable FA Cup game against Trafford.

But the two teams have met once before, at the beginning of the 2006-2007, with United going down 3-1 to Altrincham in another pre-season friendly.

Manager Karl Marginson won’t be too dismayed by Saturday’s performance against the high flying Kettering as the Reds got to feel with a new look line up, and even troubled the opposition net on numerous occasions with Nick Robinsons disallowed goal in the early part of the second half.

Whether Margy sticks to Saturday’s line up or changes things around a little remains to be seen and he will want to know his options and his best starting 11 before the real games begin.

Perhaps one of the more recognisable names from the local non-league clubs, Altrincham just managed to hold onto their conference status last season.

The Robins originally finished in the relegation zone and should have been facing a season in the Conference North, but due to the well documented financial troubles at Halifax, Alty were given a reprieve as the Yorkshire side were relegated.

That incident was the third time on the run that Altrincham had saw there relation reversed due to the situations of other clubs in the league and the Robins will be looking to improve on that this season.

The club were originally formed back in 1903 and were founder members of the NPL, but their recent history begins in 1979, when the club were founder members of the Alliance Premier League, which went on to become the Conference. The Robins won the league in the first two seasons, but both times missed out on election to the football league because at that time the Conference champions didn’t receive automatic promotion to the football league.

By the time the automatic promotion ruling came into force Altrincham were finding themselves lower down the league and haven’t looked like pushing for the top spot since.

The Robins have always had a good affiliation with the FA Cup and perhaps their best result would be the 2-1 win over Birmingham City at St Andrews in 1986, becoming only the second non-league club to defeat a first division side in the cup. The team also held Tottenham Hotspur to a draw at White Hart Lane in 1978.

After yet another relegation reprieve last season Altrincham will be looking to perform better this season and know that they need to improve their finishing position of 21st if they are to progress as a club.

The club have made moves in the summer and brought in three players in the shape of Chris Denham, Dale Johnson and Anthony Danylyk, while club captain Darren Tinson has left Moss Lane to join our fellow Unibond Premier new boys and old friends Nantwich Town.

Tuesdays match is Altrincham’s fourth of an eight game pre-season programme and so far they have beaten Abbey Hey (5-1) and Trafford (4-0), with Chris Senior scoring six goals in those two games. The Robins will be looking to continue the rich vein of form before their season opener away to Woking on August 9.

It’s a 7.45pm kick off with admission priced at £7 adults and £2 for under 14s/OAPs. So get yourself down that football ground for what promises to be another entertaining fixture.