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ALTRINCHAM FC LADIES: Lizzie Brereton, Heather Scott, Louise Edleston, Kathryn McIntyre, Sam Briggs, Elina Parker, Tracey Blanchard Webb, Gail Simpson, Georgia Plant, Charlotte Dudley, Aimee Gibson. Substitutes: Cloe Allsop, Sarah McManus, Hayley Macardy and Becci Hailes

REPORT

Report courtesy of Phil Taylor.

The Ladies welcomed AFC Stockport Ladies to Mersey Valley Sports Club for the last in a series of three successive home League fixtures, hoping to build on the victory against Chester City Ladies last week. Games between the sides are always tense affairs as the teams have very differing philosophies on how the game should be played.

Altrincham welcomed Sarah, Louise and Hayley back to the matchday squad with a number of players unavailable for various reasons. Hoping to build on the improved defensive security shown during the previous fixture, Alty lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Lizzie in goal, with a back four of Heather, Cyprus, Louise and Sam. Aimee, Elina, Gail and Georgia across midfield. The attacking duties were entrusted to Tracey and Charlotte.

The visitors kicked off but Altrincham were soon in possession and playing their brand of football. In fact, in only the first minute, clever link play between Georgia and Charlotte was only halted by alert work by the AFC goalie. The subsequent clearance was claimed by the Altrincham midfield before the ball found its way to Tracey, whose shot was deflected away for a corner.

Two more minutes had elapsed when Aimee, playing in an unfamiliar left wing position, made good progress down the flank and, having skilfully dummied the AFC right back, forced a corner. Despite the early home pressure it was not all one way traffic and, following a Stockport throw in on four minutes, Lizzie was forced into fine save.

This seemed to give the visitors some additional confidence because, on seven minutes, Lizzie was again called into action, turning a dangerous shot direct from a free kick over the bar. Altrincham were soon back on the attack, Georgia and Charlotte linking well down the right hand side before the latter’s shot was saved.

In contrast to Altrincham’s preference for passing football, the visitors prefer a significantly more direct style, playing long balls over the defence for their attackers to pursue. The Alty defence in the main was dealing more than adequately with the attacks but when the ball did get through on ten minutes, Lizzie was swiftly off the mark to clear to safety. Despite these occasional forays by the visitors, Altrincham were very much in the ascendancy with the two wingers and the central strikers figuring prominently.

On nineteen minutes yet more pressure by Altrincham resulted in a free kick, just outside the visitors’ penalty area, when Tracey was fouled. Charlotte stepped up and drove a fierce shot against the post with the visiting custodian a mere spectator.

Gail and Elina were holding the balance in the central area, screening the defence whilst also trying to initiate attacking movements. Whereas the default ball from AFC was over the top, Altrincham tried to release their attacking players by playing the ball down the wings or into the channels and this was bearing some fruit with attempts going just off target, crosses being blocked or the visitors' keeper coming quickly off her line to neutralise the danger.

It was therefore somewhat against the run of play when Stockport took the lead on twenty five minutes. A corner from the Altrincham left was headed home by a Stockport player who had made a late run into the area. On twenty seven minutes Cyprus was forced off, feeling the after effects of a bang on the head. Becci came on to replace her in central defence.

The goal had clearly buoyed Stockport and there followed a period of sustained pressure. That being said, the Altrincham defence were handling it more than adequately, although Louise was forced to make a fine sliding challenge on thirty three minutes at the expense of a corner.

. The corner, again from the right, was swung into the area and although Lizzie, arguably being impeded, got a fist to the ball, it unfortunately fell to the feet of an attacker who doubled the Stockport lead. Altrincham, to their credit, were not entirely deflated by these events and continued to press although arguably, having been stung by the concession of two goals so close together, were not playing quite so much of the football which has been successful, instead being drawn into playing in a similar manner to their opponents.

Tracey and Charlotte linked on more than one occasion but the ball just would not seem to go in for Alty. Half time approached with the visitors somehow holding a two goal lead and Keith having a challenging team talk to deliver. However, in the last of the two added minutes, Altrincham got the goal which they deserved when Elina’s free kick from the Altrincham left was guided into the top left hand corner of the net by a deft header from Tracey.

Half time was therefore reached with the score Altrincham FC Ladies 1 AFC Stockport Ladies 2.

The half time chat revolved around how Altrincham were by far the better side but had been undone by two set pieces. When they had played their way they had caused Stockport all manner of problems but had for some reason stopped trusting themselves and had reverted to a similar system to their visitors.

Provided the Alty Ladies believed in themselves and trusted in their ability in the second half, Keith and the remainder of the Management had no doubts that the game could and would be won.

For the beginning of the second half Cloe came on in place of Charlotte who required some attention to a minor knock.

Altrincham kicked off the second half and tried to play their football, just as they had at the beginning of the game. On fifty four minutes, following another free kick from Elina, Aimee had a shot comfortably saved. AFC were still causing problems from set pieces and on fifty six minutes Lizzie was forced into action again, deftly touching a corner away which threatened to creep in under the crossbar.

The hosts got the equaliser they deserved just short of the hour when, after a ball into the Stockport area was driven goalward and past the goalkeeper, a defender punched it out. It could be argued that the ball was already over the line but referee Mr Morais adjudged this not to be the case and awarded the penalty before dismissing the Stockport defender.

Aimee stepped up to take the spot kick but it was saved by the Stockport custodian. However Tracey was first to react and hammered the ball into the net to level the scores.

The combination of an equalising goal and a player advantage gave Altrincham some additional impetus and allowed a return to the passing football for which they are so well known. On sixty four minutes Tracey was put in down the right by an excellent ball from Cloe but her shot cannoned away to safety off the face of the near post.

On sixty eight minutes Aimee was withdrawn, having put in a strong performance, out of her normal position, demonstrating the spirit in the squad. Charlotte returned to the action. The hosts were now exploiting the advantages they had gained, playing some good football and demonstrating their footballing superiority and it came as no surprise when they took the lead on seventy two minutes.

Georgia was fouled on the Altrincham left and Elina struck a fine free kick which eluded the Stockport keeper, ending up in the back of the net. To their credit, though, Stockport continued to attempt to pressure the Altrincham defence and, on seventy six minutes, following a defensive lapse, Lizzie produced possibly her best save of the day, spreading herself to deny a one on one chance deep inside the Altrincham penalty area.

This was really a last hurrah from the Stockport team as Altrincham cranked up the pressure. It is to the credit of the Stockport defenders that the score remained 3-2. There were late appearances from Sarah, replacing Cloe who had performed well, again in an unfavoured role wide on the right, and Hayley, who came on for the again impressive Georgia, on the other flank.

The Ladies came out of a difficult, disjointed game successful but will need to be at their best next week when visiting a Warrington side currently boasting a 100% record. There were a significant number of impressive performances by the Altrincham players today. A number playing “out of position” but still giving their all as well as those in their normal positions who had exerted significant influence on how the game had gone. Player’s Player of the Match was awarded to Louise for her robust defensive performance.