Well, I plaied in .8 with Hayasdan and let me tell you what I did against AS:
I ambushed their armies a lot :) really it works and use your generals as Katraphacts. Lots of missile troops and some light cavalry and generals.my tactic was to break their army. Made them pursue parts of my army in diferent directions and then, with my generals I'd destroy those units left more alone. I'd usually stay way from their phalanxes as long as I could but once they made a mistake there were 3 generals ripping the Phalanxes appart It was amusing as they had nothing they could do against hit and run tactics... I'd charge them from behind and, once they turned the Phalanx I'd use another general to charge from behind again... In 3 or 4 atacks their army will start to flee. If they have Hetaroi or generals, try to lure them with you general and rip them to pieces. Later in the game start making Katraphact archers. They win batles alone as they do everything.

Cheers...