Words Ben Edwards | Cover Pic Maisy Green

A remarkable debut season for Altrincham FC Women’s Elite U18 side is reaching a
conclusion, but with three league games and a cup semi-final remaining, there’s still
more than plenty to play for.

Led by Spencer O’Connor and assisted by Timur Zakirov, the young Robins sit second in the Cheshire Women & Youth Football League U18 Premier Division, behind the formidable Wythenshawe FC U18 Girls who have been crowned champions with a 100% record.

First up in the end-of-season run-in is an away fixture against Vale Juniors Congleton U18 Girls on April 12th. It will be the final encounter of the season for Vale Juniors, who sit eighth with seven points, only Sandbach United U18 Hawk have collected fewer.

Altrincham ran rampant in the reverse fixture back in September, winning 11-0 with seven of the goals coming in the first half.

The most crucial match is undoubtedly against Stockport County Ladies U18 on April 19th at Partington Sports Village. Having played the same number of games, the Hatters sit two points behind Alty and will be looking to chase down the second-place spot.

Other than two Wythenshawe defeats, Stockport are the only side to beat Altrincham in the Cheshire Women and Youth Football League U18 Premier Division. The two sides played out a 10-goal thriller, also in September, with Stockport coming out 6-4 winners.

The two teams also faced off in the Cheshire FA Girls U18 Youth Cup Semi-Final in February. Again, it was Stockport who came out on top with the 3-1 victory. County went on to win the competition with a victory on penalties against Oxton Ladies U18.

To conclude the league campaign, the Robins will travel to Park Stadium, home of Lostock Gralam FC, to take on Northwich Victoria U18. With Northwich occupying seventh place with just nine points, similar to the Vale Juniors game, the expectation will be on Alty to claim three points, as they did against the Vics at the end of March.

It was another comprehensive victory for O’Connor’s side, who put nine past Northwich Victoria without reply. Away from league action, having bowed out of the Manchester FA Girls Cup U18 after a 7-1 defeat against Wythenshawe, the Robins will be determined to end the season with cup success, with the Cheshire Women & Youth Football League U18 Cup still to play for.

A last-gasp Tia Unwin winner in the quarter-final saw Alty progress with a 3-2 win over Nantwich Town U18 Girls. As two of the other three quarter-final ties were postponed, the date and opposition for the semi-final is yet to be confirmed.

All information will be communicated on the Altrincham FC Women social media channels as soon as possible.