Words Brian Flynn | Pictures Maisy Green

Altrincham bowed out of this season’s Women’s FA Cup at the first hurdle, as Morecambe recovered from conceding an early goal to deservedly progress to a home first round qualifying tie with Wythenshawe Town on September 6th.

Alty, wearing their new yellow and black change kit, started brightly and Georgia McKnight capitalised on a misplaced sixth minute pass to fire impressively into the top corner from about 15 yards on the right hand side of the penalty area.

Morecambe equalised seven minutes later when Rianna McGonnell reacted first to a superbly delivered Yasmine Carswell right wing free kick to calmly volley past the exposed Carmen Stephens.

Both sides had chances to score before half-time with McKnight pulling a shot wide when a corner fell to her on the edge of the six-yard box and Carmen Stephens, Alty’s on-loan goalkeeper from Liverpool, saving bravely to deny the Shrimps.

The Robins started the second half brightly but conceded from a second set piece on the hour. McGonnell headed Morecambe’s and her second goal of the afternoon from close range, directly from a corner.

Shanai Barrett-Underwood was very close to equalising but her rasping effort rattled the crossbar and was cleared.

Charlotte Higginson hit the post for the home side, but they didn’t have to wait too long before Charlotte Gray made it 3-1 with a speculative effort from over thirty yards out that sailed over Stephens.

As the game progressed, Daryll Abrahams’ side missed the experience, drive and leadership of skipper, Nat Lowe, who was unavailable due to holiday, but credit to Morecambe, who performed well on the day and deservedly progressed in the competition.

Morecambe: Russell, Higginson, Danson, Kane, Irving, Carswell, Howarth, Sanderson-Davies, McGonnell, Gray, Hartley.

Substitutes: Johnson, Lashmar-Mackintosh, Broad, Knowles

Altrincham: Stephens (GK), Gilmore, Locke, Morrison, McKnight, Culbert, E. Jones, Kullu, A. Jones, Walsh (c), Tickner

Substitutes: Williams (GK), M. Whitehead, Underwood, Munt, Unwin, Paulley

HT: 1-1

Goals: McGonnell 14', 60', Gray 82' | McKnight 6'

Next Up

It’s the first home game of the season on Wednesday as Wythenshawe Town
(previously Manchester Laces) are the visitors to Partington Sports village for a
7.30pm kick-off.