Words Ben Edwards | Pictures Maisy Green

Haslingden Ladies 3-3 Altrincham Women (4-3 pens)

With six goals, a red card, two penalties in regular time and then a penalty shootout, Spencer O'Connor's first game as Altrincham Women Head Coach had a bit of everything as his side performed admirably with 10 players for the final 30 minutes, but painfully lost out on penalties.

The Robins looked threatening in the early stages through Brogan Walsh down the left flank, who created two great opportunities for Nat Lowe. The first was mis-hit and put wide from the edge of the box, whilst the second was the more gilt-edged but put over from just a few yards out.

Two of Haslingden's three goals came from a couple of outstanding strikes from range by captain Bethany MacDonald, the first of which came after 11 minutes to give the hosts the lead.

Alty had to withstand some early Haslingden pressure throughout the first 30 minutes, with one period of five consecutive corners. Carmen Stephens was called into action on multiple occasions on her return from the World Minifootball World Cup, to prevent her side conceding a second.

Having absorbed the hosts' momentum, Altrincham's joy came when they were able to execute O'Connor's intended style of play of keeping the ball on the floor whenever possible.

Through exactly that manner, the Robins found an equaliser as Lowe picked out Millie Kullu on the right wing with a swooping ball. She drove forward and picked out Walsh in the middle, who had switched with Tia Unwin into the striker position. First time, left-footed, she placed the ball into the bottom right corner.

With the game level at half time, Altrincham came out clearly uplifted by Walsh's goal, and took the lead five minutes into the second half. The ball found Ashley Jones just right of centre, 25 yards from goal and she picked out the top left corner with a sensational strike.

Frustratingly, it took Haslingden just a minute to respond as the ran down they right flank unchallenged before Ciara Rose produced a composed finish into the bottom left corner.

The game was turned on its head just before the hour mark. Brianna Morrison felt she was fouled inside her own penalty area, but in handling the ball in frustration, conceded a penalty and received a straight red card.

A monumental opportunity for Haslingden to put the game in their control from 18 yards, but Stephens had other plans, producing a big penalty save low to her left.

Just three minutes after saving a penalty, the Robins had one for themselves as Lowe was tripped to the left of the penalty area. Having won the spot kick, the captain took it and sent Melissa Sahin the wrong way, placing the ball to the right.

Alty defended heroically a player down, but couldn't stop another moment of brilliance from MacDonald, who found the top left corner from 35 yards out to take the game to a penalty shootout.

The first three penalties were all saved, one from Haslingden and two for Alty, with Lowe and debutant Poppy Vernon, who put in an outstanding player-of-the-match display, taking first, with Stephens saving Haslingden's opening penalty also.

All remaining penalties found the back of the net, so despite Amy Tickner, Carmen Culbert and Ashley Jones converting, the Robins lost out 4-3 in the shootout.

Haslingden: Sahin; Harrison, Reeves, Whalley, Smith, MacDonald (c), Watson, Howarth, Purdy, Caraher, Millard

Substitutes: Stafford, Singleton, Rose.

Altrincham: Stephens; O'Donoghue, Vernon, Morrison, Culbert, Lowe (c), Walsh, A. Jones, Kullu, Tickner, Unwin

Substitutes: Whittam, Paulley, Tilston

HT: 1-1

Goals: MacDonald 11', 67', Rose 53' | Walsh 37', A. Jones 50', Lowe 59'(p)

Referee: Nathan Greenhalgh

Elite u18

Timur Zakirov's first game as head coach was a great success as the young Robins picked up an emphatic 11-1 win over Sandbach United u18 Hawk. Florence Munt netted a hattrick, Mae Winchcombe, Phoebe Gibson and Francesca Hamilton all scored twice, with midfield duo Michelle Rowland and Daisy Henderson completing the scoring.

Next Up

It's a first competitive first team game at Partington Sports Village since August as we take on Salford City Lionesses next Sunday (8th November) for a 2pm kick-off.