The latest column for Altrincham Today from Altrincham FC manager Jim Harvey…
Whilst we were going out of the Emirates FA Cup last Saturday at Lincoln, Bradford Park Avenue’s victory at FC United of Manchester means that we have dropped to the foot of the table, so I am pleased that we are back in league action today with the opportunity to try to do something about that.
The people at Lincoln were very impressed with the way that we fought back in the FA Cup tie and it is a compliment to our boys that a team that sits second in the Vanarama National League, that’s almost two divisions between the teams, were running the clock down in the dying minutes of the game to preserve their 2-1 advantage.
Watch the highlights here: http://bbc.in/2eb4rry
We have reached the point where we really do need to start winning league games and it’s another local derby today as Salford City make the short trip across Manchester to play us at the J Davidson Stadium for a 3pm kick-off.
Apparently, this is the first time that Alty and Salford City have met and with there being no Premier League and Football League fixtures, there is sure to be another big crowd in attendance.
The player movement this week has revolve around central defenders. Danny Hall has left the club and young Sam Heathcote has gone on a month’s loan to Hyde United to get some games under his belt. We have brought in Luis Morrison-Derbyshire from Greenwich Borough on non-contract terms after he recently moved up to Manchester from London.
Luis has trained with us this week and he is a big, competitive and aggressive defender who is full of life and apparently is also a bit of a TV star having appeared on the Reality TV show ‘Love Island’!
Tom Hannigan will miss the game, having been injured in the first half at Lincoln. We thought that it was ligament damage on his other knee at first but fortunately, it has turned out to be bruising of the bone and he will be back in training next week, as will Craig Hobson, who is recovering from a bone fracture.
Alan Goodall is available again after serving his one match suspension and Wayne Thomas, who wasn’t allowed by his parent club to play in the FA Cup, is also a returning selection option.
We know that Salford will be coming for all three points, as they try to get back up amongst the leading pack, so it should be a good open game with no quarter given.
Fittingly, we will be playing in a one-off shirt to mark Remembrance weekend & the shirts will be auctioned following the game to raise money for the Royal British Legion.
Top image: Michael Ripley
