Russell 25, Ellison 33

Drummond 18, 73

Attendance: 1159

cby Mike Crockett

ALTRINCHAM took a point from this red-blooded battle with Morecambe, and could have taken a lot more.

A goal in each half by Stewart Drummond cancelled out first-period strikes from Keith Russell and Kevin Ellison.

Russell's first goal of the season was a long time in coming, whilst Ellison's eleventh establishes him as the natural successor to the prolific Leroy Chambers.

However, neither of them could outshine Brendan Burke, who had his most effective game yet in an Alty shirt.

Burke's star performance was cut short, however, as he was substituted on 57 minutes after a collision with Morecambe skipper Dave McKearney, which left the ex-Stalybridge striker with concussion.

As has been the tendency of late, Altrincham went 1-0 down in front of their home crowd, courtesy of Drummond's first on 18 minutes.

But, as has been said in these reports before, the team seem to be reacting to this better than earlier in the season.

The frontline rose to the occasion in the best fashion, by going two-one up in the space of eight minutes.

Burke was in the thick of both goals, feeding Ellison who squared the ball for Russell to convert; and crossing for Ellison again who netted all by himself.

Jason Gallagher could have fired Alty into a two-goal lad on 43 minutes when, after a 40 yard run, he could only watch his half-chance rocket wide. Ex-Altrincham striker Niell hardy also had a half-chance for the visitors on 45 minutes with a scorching volley which Greygoose gathered gratefully.

By this point, there was a passion and inventiveness about Altrincham's play, and they brought it into the second half.

Their best chance of the second period saw Ellison find himself clean through, but his piledriver only found the right-hand post , with Morecambe keeper Banks well beaten.

Drummond got his second out of almost nothing.

A well worked 1-2 with Morecambe's top scorer Justin Jackson seemed to have left the player with little options, but he astounded everyone with a well taken shot.

Both sides committed all three substitutes in a frantic second half, as they searched for the match clincher.

Stalemate prevailed however, as the sides cancelled each other out and ended up sharing the points.

Both teams had chances to win, but neither manager has any real reason to criticise his players, as both teams put in good performances.

Altrincham: Greygoose, Hodson, Adams, Gallagher, Timons, Talbot, Hawse, Burke (sub Landon 57), Russell (Lovelock 84), Power (Kielty 86), Ellison.

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