Altrincham 1 United 1
Torquay were held to a draw by Altrincham in a match that, considering the conditions, had some decent chances with the Gulls forcing nearly twenty corners but were pegged back after taking the lead through Kevin Hill.
Terrible weather conditions met the United team and supporters at Altrincham, strong winds and rain were going to test players and supporters alike in an afternoon fit for ducks... wearing waterproof clothing!
Paul Buckle was forced into one change where the suspended Jody Banim was replaced by Kevin Hill wide on the left with Chris Zebroski coming back in on the opposite wing. Lee Phillips and Roscoe Dsane continued their partnership up front as United looked to cement their place in the play-off positions.
Altrincham had much the better of the first half, with the wind behind them, and forced United on to the back foot. Lone striker Colin Little came close twice in the first five minutes but both times Mark Ellis was in the right place to deflect the ball away. United were struggling to get a foothold in the game which was mainly due to the weather conditions rather than the opposition!
Chris Zebroski was looked much more comfortable on the right of midfield and it was his direct play that lead to United's first corner but the resultant set piece came to nothing. It was another set piece for Torquay that almost finished with the game's first goal; a corner from Kevin Nicholson was met by Lee Phillips and his header was on target but was deflected over for a corner, the following corner ended with Nicholson hitting a decent shot that fell to Chris Zebroski but he couldn't find a finish. Kevin Hill's return to first team action almost brought a first half goal but for Chris Hargreaves ever willing approach to football! A long cross field ball to the far post was being lined up by Hilly but he was thwarted by a header in front of him by Hargreaves whose attempt went wide after timing his run well.
United were starting to impose themselves on the match although the weather was always a big influence on proceedings. Midway through the half Kevin Nicholson hit a Lee Mansell touch off from a free kick narrowly wide and the only chance of note from the home side was a decent long range effort from Tansey that wasn't far wide of Simon Rayner's goal. Roscoe Dsane was denied by another deflection after being put in by Mansell and Chris Zebroski was causing plenty of problems for the Alty left back when he sent over two excellent crosses that were too good even for his own team mates as the ball fizzed across the home goalmouth.
The one moment of concern for United came near the end of the first period when a high ball was misjudged by Chris Todd but the ball sped through on the slippery surface and was gratefully gathered by Simon Rayner. The final minute of the half brought a yellow card for Roscoe Dsane after what seemed a foul tackle but not much else and the last word of the half was United's with Lee Mansell hitting a shot that was deflected for a corner which was defended before the referee put and end to the first 45 minutes.
The second half began with no improvement in the weather but United were straight on the front foot. Two Kevin Nicholson corners were both nearly converted; the first by Kevin Hill and the second by Altrincham centre half Tinson who sliced the ball over his own crossbar.
United's corner count was mounting but it was a move in open play that produced the first goal. Kevin Hill collected a long ball to the far post and as Coburn tried to close down the Gulls midfielder but Kevin was quick to chip the ball over the 'keeper and the presence of Tinson was not enough to stop the ball going in and give Hilly his second goal of the season and United the lead.
United weren't holding back and pushed for a second goal that surely would have sealed the win; Kevin Nicholson forced his way to the by-line before pulling a good ball back across the six yard box but the ball was cleared. Colin Little has basically kept Altrincham's heads above water this season with his goal tally and it was the veteran front man who brought the home side back into the game on 65 minutes; United couldn't clear their lines and substitute O'Neill crossed from the right and Little controlled the ball before slotting home from 12 yards giving Rayner no chance.
United produced a strong response with a brace of shots from Hill and Hargreaves as the conditions on the pitch became almost unplayable in places with a lot of surface water. The next decent chance fell to Little but his shot was blocked well by Chris Todd and just four minutes later O'Neill should have scored from a header but he directed his effort over the crossbar. The final stages were almost end to end football as United threw on Elliott Benyon in an attempt to secure a win. Chris Zebroski had a shot well saved by Coburn and Tinson cleared off the line after Chris Hargreaves had got himself on the end of a cross by Lee Phillips but time was ticking away and a winning goal was just out of United's reach. The final whistle brought a confrontation on the pitch involving most of the coaching and playing staff of both teams that was eventually calmed down by the officials. The conditions certainly didn't help either side but after taking the lead and creating some good chances United may well be a little disappointed not to have come away with all three points.
