Words Ben Edwards | Pictures Maisy Green

Altrincham FC Women’s Elite U18 side secured a second-place finish in the Cheshire Women & Youth Football League U18 Premier Division with a 3-2 victory over Stockport County Ladies U18. The Robins claim the position with a game to spare, a tremendous achievement in the club’s debut season.

Stockport were third and only two points behind Altrincham, so the importance of the game was clear and the task big, given that the Hatters had beaten Alty on two occasions earlier in the season. All three games proved to be close encounters, with Altrincham finally coming out on top.

The first half was an even contest with both sides getting a feel for the other. The visitors were limited to shots from range which either flew off target or were easily saved by Toni Williams, whilst Altrincham had the better opportunities.

The first came through good link up play between the strike pairing of Megan Hunt and Francesca Boyle. The latter dragged her shot wide of the left post. Millie Kullu tried an audacious curling effort from 25 yards which went just over the crossbar.

Ash Gilmore has been utilised largely at full back for the first team this campaign, though played more advanced for Spencer O’Connor’s side in this game as both a winger and striker. She exchanged passes with Boyle but struck wide at a narrow angle.

With the game deadlocked at the interval, Gilmore though she had opened the scoring five minutes into the second half with a sensational finish into the top right corner, though she was judged offside.

The Hatters opened the scoring after 57 minutes after Williams made a terrific save after the near post, but Stockport netted from the resulting corner.

It didn’t knock back Alty who immediately showed character and looked for a response. It was Gilmore with another attempt, latching onto a through ball and seeing her effort parried for a corner.

The leveller came with 20 minutes to go as Mae Winchcombe danced into the box from the right-hand side and produced a lovely finish. Alty took the lead for the first time just four minutes later with Boyle showing the quality she has done all season for the Elite U18 and first team, slotting beyond the goalkeeper with composure one-one-one.

It was the turn of Stockport to fight back and they did so after just three minutes with a good finish from the left-hand side of the penalty area.

An eventful 10-minute spell containing three goals set-up a nervy end to the game, with both sides knowing a goal would be the most crucial of their season.

That goal would fall the way of Megan Hunt, whose 86th minute strike sparked jubilation for Altrincham.