Each week throughout the coming season, Altrincham manager Neil Young will be giving us his views on the Robins’ progress.
My first two games in charge have both ended in 2-2 draws. They have both been difficult games against very direct teams that I would expect will be somewhere near the top end of the table at the end of the season.
In both games, there have been a lot of positives in terms of the performances and it has been a little bit of naivety, towards the end of each game, that has effectively cost us four points.
I think that most people felt that it was a fair outcome that our opening day encounter with Darlington ended all square but when you concede in the final minute of added time, there is always going to be frustration.
Watch highlights from the opening day draw to Darlington:
People can make their own minds up about the penalty that Darlington were awarded but the fact is that we weren’t able to defend a throw-in properly, which was particularly galling after we had defended so well for all but the last 10 minutes of the match.
We were also leading 2-1 at the Shay Stadium on Tuesday night with less than 10 minutes to play, when we have kicked the ball out of play unnecessarily, so that Sean Miller could be attended to, having been injured on the goal line.
As Sean was off the pitch, the referee played on and we were a man light. Within a minute, we had conceded and the goal has come from the area of the pitch that Sean was responsible for, although I have to hand it to Jordan Sinnott, it was a wonderful strike and he has won a point for his team, just minutes after coming on for his debut for Halifax, having left Alty in the close season.
I was very pleased with the way we defended in the second half at Halifax, particularly after losing Tom Hannigan, just before the interval, with medial ligament damage that looks like keeping him side lined for six weeks or so. I have been trying to bring someone in on loan, but have not been successful to date, ahead of today’s trip to Harrogate, who have installed a 3G artificial pitch during the close season.
I can’t say that I’m happy about playing on artificial surfaces… football should always be played on grass in my view, but we have to get on with it and try to get a positive result at another team that is expected to be in with a very good shout for at least a play-off spot.
Pictures: GR Photography and Michael Ripley Photography
