Alty 1 Blackburn Rovers XI 0

2:24pm Tuesday 5th August 2008

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ALTY finished preseason with a flourish after rolling over a young Blackburn Rovers side.

Anthony’s Danylyk’s first half goal secured a sixth win in seven friendly matches, allowing Robins fans to dream as the start of a new campaign approaches.

It’s an unusual feeling for the Moss Lane faithful - rarely have summer signings and preseason performances inspired so much confidence at the club - but there’s a feelgood factor that just won’t go away.

The new Blue Square Premier campaign will provide the real test but it’s hard not to be impressed with what this new team has shown so far.

That said, the first half against Blackburn was a largely uneventful affair.

Both teams played some neat football, put together some good approach play but did little in front of goal.

Alty’s widemen both had half chances in the early stages, Alex Meechan firing wide after just 20 seconds and Lee Elam doing similar 10 minutes in.

But the most promising opening of the half fell to lively Blackburn winger Aaron Doran, although keeper Stuart Coburn quickly rushed from his goal to snuff out the danger.

Other than that, the hosts continued to provide most of the threat.

Colin Little missed a glorious opportunity, firing wide when he had a clear sight of goal, before Alty finally took the lead eight minutes before the break.

A well-crafted move opened up gaps in the Blackburn defence and Danylyk received a pass from Meechan before rifling a low shot into the corner of Jason Brown’s goal.

It could even have been 2-0 soon after but nobody was able to apply the finishing touch to Matt Doughty’s left wing cross as it whizzed across the face of goal.

Rovers finally got going after the break with Paul Gallagher spearheading their attack.

The young striker, who spent last season on loan at Preston and Stoke, blasted one effort wide of the post and then rattled the woodwork with another as the second half started in a more lively fashion.

At the opposite end Joe O’Neill forced a smart save from Brown but Gallagher continued to lead his side’s resurgence, forcing Stuart Coburn to parry a powerful effort behind.

Blackburn struck the goalframe for the second time in the game when Rostyn Griffiths’ effort cannoned back off the post but Alty were equally unlucky not to add to the score when Warren Peyton sliced a seemingly unmissable chance wide.

With time running out Meechan and O’Neill were both also off target with decent chances as Alty closed out another preseason victory.

ALTY (4-4-2): Coburn; Lawton, McGregor, Lane, Doughty; Meechan, Street, Danylyk (Battersby 67), Elam (Peyton 67); Little, Denham (O'Neill 36). Subs not used: Johnson, Ralph.