TT MATCH PREVIEW – Altrincham (A) by Steve Harris

TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve Harris previews the game at The J Davison Stadium

ALTRINCHAM VS TORQUAY UNITED

Venue: The J Davidson Stadium, Moss Lane, Altrincham

Date: Saturday 22nd April 2023

Kick-off: 3pm

CURRENT FORM

Altrincham: W, L, D, L, L, D

Torquay: W, W, W, W, W, L

TOP SCORERS

Altrincham: Chris Conn-Clarke (9)

Torquay: Aaron Jarvis (18)

HEAD TO HEAD

Altrincham: 3

Draw: 5

Torquay: 5

ALTRINCHAM FACTFILE

Year founded: 1891

Nickname: The Robins or Alty

Last season’s league finish: 14^th in the National League

Notable honours:

National League (Alliance Premier League) champions: 1979-80, 1980-81

Northern Premier League champions: 1998-99, 2017-18

MANAGER: PHIL PARKINSON

Since he was appointed as Altrincham boss on April 28, 2017, Phil Parkinson has overseen two promotions in the space of three seasons, which has seen Alty return to the National League for the first time since 2016. In the 2017-18 season, Altrincham won the Northern Premier League title, and they followed up this achievement by winning promotion from the National League North through the play-offs in the 2019-20 campaign. They have since consolidated their place in the National League with 17^th and 14^th place finishes in the past two seasons and have gone full-time for the 2022-23 campaign.

After starting out as a player with Crewe Alexandra and Reading, Parkinson spent a year with Port Vale before making his name at Nantwich Town, who he captained to FA Vase glory in 2006, which was followed by promotions from the North West Counties League and the Unibond Northern League Division One.

He later took over as manager of Nantwich in 2015 and led them to the semi-finals of the FA Trophy in the 2015-16 season. He led them to the Northern Premier League play-offs in the 2016-17 campaign, where they were beaten by Spennymoor United.

PLAYER TO WATCH: JORDAN HULME

Skipper Jordan Hulme returned for a second spell at Alty in 2022 from AFC Fylde and was named captain for the 2022-23 campaign in succession to Jake Moult.

He initially joined Alty from Salford City in July 2017 and quickly became a cult figure among Altrincham fans. He left Moss Lane to join AFC Fylde ahead of the 2020-21 seaason, but he found himself loaned out to Ashton United and returned to Alty on loan in January 2022 – before making the move permanent in the summer of 2022

In the current season, he has scored five times in 29 appearances.

HULME STATS:

Position: Centre Forward

Date of Birth: 23rd November 1990 – 32 years-old

Place of Birth: Ramsbottom

Height: 1.83m

Former Clubs: Padiham, Ramsbottom, Salford, Fylde, Ashton United

NL Stats 22-23: Played 29, Goals 5, Yellow/Red Cards 6/0

OLD BOYS

Altrincham: Ben Pringle, Harry Perritt

Torquay: None

LAST MEETING

Torquay United 4-4 Altrincham

Saturday 22nd October 2022

Torquay United right back Dylan Crowe picked the perfect time to score his first goal for the Gulls, as they secured a point against Altrincham despite being reduced to ten men.

After trailing by two goals at half time, United overturned their deficit to lead 3-2 – but Alty drew level before regaining their lead after the Gulls had been reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Ross Marshall. It was then left to Crowe to strike deep in injury time to seal a point for United.

Altrincham took the lead in the sixth minute, when Ryan Colclough’s low cross was turned home by Chris Conn-Clarke.

On 23 minutes, Alty were awarded a penalty after Marshall felled Hulme. Marcus Dinanga stepped up to take the spot kick, but Lovett turned it behind for a corner.

Alty weren’t to be denied six minutes later when Dinanga doubled Altrincham’s lead when he tapped home after Lovett had parried a shot from outside the box.

Two minutes after the re-start, United pulled one back when as Brett McGavin corner picked out skipper Asa Hall who headed home.

The comeback was complete on 71 minutes when Dean Moxey’s blocked cross fell into the path of Will Goodwin, who squared it to Hall who slotted home to complete his brace.

Ten minutes later, United edged ahead as sub Tom Lapslie turned home a cross from Moxey with his first touch after replacing Hall.

However, with five minutes to go Alty skipper Jordan Hulme found the target with a shot on the turn to equalise.

Two minutes later, the Gulls were reduced to ten men when Marshall was dismissed for a challenge on Hulme. Alty then looked to make their numerical advantage count as Jake Cooper headed home to restore their lead.

But the Gulls were to have the final say when, in the final minute, Aaron Jarvis teed up Crowe struck a late leveller for the Gulls from 25 yards to seal a valuable point in ‘Gary time.’