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REPORT

Report courtesy of Phil Taylor.

The Ladies made the short journey to Stockport to take on the current holders in the first round proper of the Cheshire FA County Ladies' Cup.

Stockport are currently top of the Northern Combination, two levels below the WSL and four above Altrincham so "challenging" was a more than appropriate description of the task faced.

A variety of reasons meant that Brogan, Rachel, Natalie Beth and Sarah were unavailable whilst Becci, despite being the unfortunate squad member to miss out travelled to support her team mates.

Altrincham therefore lined up in an unfamiliar, yet ambitious, 3-4-3 formation with a back three of, Caroline, Louise and Sam Briggs in front of Lizzie in goal.

Sue, Heather Gail and Cyprus made up the midfield four and Tracey was joined, up front by Cloe and Hannah. Subs were Chloe, Aimee, Tallulah, Hayley and Sam Jones.

Following pre-match ceremonials and the regular joint photo demonstrating support for Mark Maddox and the Football v MND Campaign, Stockport kicked off and following some resolute Altrincham defence Cloe loosed the game’s first shot on goal after only two minutes .

Stockport however soon began to control the game, demonstrating touch and movement which evidenced the level at which they operate every week.

On four minutes, a cross from the Stockport right only just evaded an onrushing striker and barely a minute later Louise was forced into an excellent clearance.

The Ladies were trying hard to defy the difference in levels and take the game to Stockport but, even at this early stage, there was clearly a significant gulf between the teams.

On six minutes an excellently weighted ball through the middle was well finished to give Stockport an early lead.

Pressure was almost unrelenting with the Stockport players seeming to know where Alty’s girls were going to pass the ball and, quite regularly, intercepting. On seven minutes Lizzie made the first of a significant number of impressive saves but, almost immediately after, she was once again beaten, this time by a stunning left footed strike from outside the area.

Two minutes later and it was 3-0 to Stockport following another well struck and accurate strike.

Stockport, at this point, looked as if they were going to totally overrun the gallant Alty girls but, showing the commitment which has been such a part of the season, they knuckled down with Louise making another good tackle.

On fourteen minutes Altrincham managed to get out of their own half and some good play down the left hand side put some rare pressure on the Stockport defence which, as one would expect, they dealt with. Within two minutes, Lizzie executed firstly a very good save, followed by an exceptional double save in the eighteenth minute, as Stockport once again upped the pressure.

The almost inevitable fourth goal followed on twenty minutes when the superior movement and technique of the hosts created a chance which was clinically finished.

Lizzie again saved well, on twenty one minutes, coming off her line to block a shot after a ball over the back line. Unfortunately though, her good work was in vain as the ball fell to a Stockport attacker who slid the ball home to make it 5-0.

Again the Altrincham Ladies rallied, rebuffing more attacks until, on twenty-six minutes, a good run and pass from Heather put Cloe through, one on one with the Stockport keeper. Cloe skilfully rounded the keeper but, sadly, the angle was against her and she could only find the side netting.

On thirty-four minutes another spell of good passing play allowed the Alty Ladies to apply some pressure although, sadly, the Stockport keeper reached the ball just before the onrushing Tracey. Maybe this period of pressure had jolted the Stockport Ladies as, on thirty-six minutes, a skilfully flighted corner eluded everyone on its way into the far corner.

A minute later, despite Heather’s efforts to intercept, a cross found its way to a Stockport Striker and the lead was 7-0. Things got even worse on forty minutes when another perfectly played pass opened up the Alty defence and an accurate left foot finish made it 8-0.

The Altrincham Ladies continued to battle hard, despite the score, and on forty-three minutes, Tracey seized on a poor backpass and it took a good save to prevent her registering for Alty.

Half-time arrived with the score 8-0 Stockport clearly the better side as shown by the score but Alty had kept battling throughout.

It was a chastened but not too disheartened Alty Dressing Room at half-time. Clearly, the tie was going to be beyond us but we still had pride to play for.

Two substitutions were made at half=time; Chloe and Aimee coming on for Heather and Cyprus as Alty reverted to 4-4-2 in an attempt to gain some more stability and have a more successful second half.

Altrincham kicked off the second half and only one minute in a foul in midfield gave them a free kick. This was taken by Cloe and dropped by the Stockport Keeper but, before anything could come of it, the flag went up for an offside. Stockport went straight up to the other end and, when Lizzie was rounded, a goal seemed inevitable but good defending prevented this.

On fifty minutes , following some more good play Hannah got a shot away which unfortunately struck the post and went away to safety.

Two minutes later Lizzie produced her best save yet, flying through the air to fingertip away a shot. Clearly Stockport felt the need to step things up and, on fifty-five minutes, a ball which bypassed the Alty defence was deftly finished by a Stockport player, who poked it through the legs of the oncoming Lizzie.

Four minutes later and it was ten. Excellent play down the left was followed by a crisp finish leaving Lizzie helpless. Back came Alty again though and, after sixty minutes, some good play down the Alty right led to a corner which, unfortunately, came to nothing.

Stockport, to their credit, did not ease off, despite the scoreline and continued to play good football. This, unfortunately for the Altrincham Team led to further goals on sixty-six and sixty-eight minutes.

The thirteenth and final Stockport goal was arguably one of the more disappointing as a corner was headed home by an unmarked attacker on seventy-one minutes.

Despite the score, Altrincham heads never dropped, commitment was, as usual, in abundance and on seventy-four minutes Lizzie again demonstrated her ability.

It became apparent, at the seventy=eight minute mark, that Louise had picked up an injury and, as she was clearly unable to continue, Tallulah was introduced to the fray.

Almost immediately, Caroline thwarted another attempt by Stockport, clearing off the line. Nine minutes remained when Lizzie was called upon to make yet another superb save.

It is very much to the credit of the Altrincham team that they continued right until the final minute when Cloe closed down the Stockport custodian, charged down her clearance and calmly finished to make the score 13-1.

Despite the scoreline, Altrincham’s Ladies had put in a typically committed performance against what was clearly superior opposition. Stockport seemed to score their goals close together and in between those times a combination of dogged determination, a touch of good luck and a Player of the Match performance by Lizzie had kept them at bay.

The Alty Ladies had continued to try to play from first whistle to last, had scored, hit the post and occasionally exerted some pressure on their opponents. Team spirit as always had been exceptional.

The Ladies will not meet a team of this standard again this season and, despite a disappointing outcome, we will learn a lot from this.

Next up for the Ladies is a trip to Crewe for a rearranged League fixture next Sunday. Kick Off is the more usual 2.00pm.