Summit meeting ends in defeat

Danny Jones for Hollinwood is fouled tackling for the ball. Photo Paul Sterritt JOHN GILDER

Hollinwood 0, Old Alts 1

HOLLINWOOD were unable to narrow the gap on Old Alts at the top of the FBT Manchester League First Division table at Chapel Road.

They went down to the only goal of the game with seven minutes remaining.

It was rough justice for third-placed Hollinwood, who deserved at least a point for their work.

Hollinwood’s day didn’t get of to the best of starts when regular goalkeeper Ashley Hall had to cry-off in favour of gaolkeeping sub Andrew Morrissey - the team’s regular centre-back.

But this was as tight an encounter as you will ever see between two sides with promotion aspirations, neither keen to give anything away.

It was a match of limited goalscoring opportunities, but when the Hollinwood defence failed to deal with an 83rd-minute Old Alts flag-kick, resulting in a winning goal for the Altrincham-based side, there was little Morrissey could do about it.

Heaven knows he was miserable then, as were his team-mates in what was a crucial six-pointer.

Hollinwood official Gareth Evans said: “The longer the game went on, it seemed that the first goal would be the winner - and so it proved.”

Ruben Abrue was a constant thorn in the side of Old Alts and worked hard to force an opening.

Sadly, Abrue was unable to add to this season’s seven-goal tally.

Talking about six-pointers — and again just to prove it really wasn’t Hollinwood’s day — the resignation of fellow Division One side Wigan Robin Park means that their record has been expunged and Hollinwood will have six points taken off them having beaten the Lancashire side twice this season.