Words Brian Flynn | Pictures Maisy Green

Altrincham FC Women maintained their 100% league record at Partington Sports Village on Sunday to continue a very positive start to the season, which has seen the team win three tight games by a single goal margin.

The 3-2 scoreline was the same as Wednesday night’s heroic victory over Wythenshawe Town, but that’s where the similarity ended as Bury can consider themselves unfortunate not to gain their first point of their campaign.

Irey Bamigboye hit the crossbar in an even first half that remained scoreless, but it was The Shakers who took the lead, five minutes after the restart with a smart finish from their captain, Ellie Doggett, who was a constant thorn in Alty’s side throughout the game.

Daryll Abrahams’ selection options were once again severely restricted, due to holidays and injuries. Having started the season with four games in 12 days, it was perhaps not surprising that this was a curate’s egg of a performance, good in parts.

Having started the second half poorly, it was Nat Lowe who led the fightback, turning the game on its head by scoring twice in two minutes around the hour mark.

Shanai Barrett-Underwood picked out Brianna Morrison, who fed Lowe, who equalised with a rising right foot drive from just inside the area.

Almost immediately, Alty’s skipper scored again, controlling Bamigboye’s neat pass to create an opening before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner from about 12 yards.

Bury didn’t allow their heads to drop and took the game to The Robins. The visitors equalised, following a corner, through Mia Campbell’s volley and looked the more likely side to score the winner.

But it was Carmen Culbert who scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute from a well struck free kick from the corner of the penalty area, to complete a very successful August which sees Alty in second place in the North West Women’s Regional League, Division One Central table.

On a difficult afternoon, it was the more experienced players who stood up to be
counted. Lowe, Culbert, Morrison and particularly the outstanding Katie Locke led by example as Alty completed a busy start to the 2026/27 season with three wins from four games and a perfect league record.

Altrincham: Williams (GK), Locke, Morrison, Culbert, Lowe (c), Paulley, Bamigboye, Munt, Barrett-Underwood, Whittam, Gilmore

Substitutes: Heathcote, Bradley, Fraser-Jones, L. Whitehead

Bury: Sarsfield (GK), Grafton, Dunn, Woolley, Campbell, Cookson, Doggett, Winters, Vaughan, Embrey, Leonard

Substitute: Doran

HT: 0-0

Goals: Lowe 59', 60', Culbert 86' | Doggett 50', Campbell 77'

Referee: Martaine Bryan

Next Up

With no competitive game scheduled, the Robins are keeping sharpness up with a friendly away from home against tier seven side Wythenshawe FC Development on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Elite u18 side begin their second season, hosting Stockport County Women U18 at Partington Sports Village in the Cheshire Women & Youth Football League, U18 Division East. Both matches kick off at 2pm.

The next league game for the first team is on Sunday, September 13, taking on Atherton Laburnum Rovers Ladies at Crilly Park.