Words Brian Flynn | Pictures Maisy Green

Wednesday night’s North West Women’s Regional League, Division One Central, curtain raiser was a triumph for Altrincham FC Women’s summer recruitment and player pathway.

The fourteen-player squad featured seven debutants, three new signings, four players from the Under 18 Elite Development Squad and five players who have come through from Altrincham FC Juniors.

Nat Lowe’s sweet first half strike proved to be the difference in a tight encounter as Altrincham FC Women opened their season by taking all three points at Stockport Sports Village.

Stockport keeper, Lily Birkhead, thwarted Emily Rutter early on with a low save at the feet of the Altrincham striker.

Carmen Culbert was the game’s most influential player in the first quarter, switching play from left to right with three majestic passes to the lively Millie Kullu.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 36th minute. Ashley Jones launched a throw which was headed clear of the penalty area and Nat Lowe showed great tenacity and awareness to bring the ball under control with her right foot before unleashing a left foot half volley from the edge of the penalty area to give Alty a lead that they would not relinquish.

The Robins should have doubled their lead just before the interval. Tia Unwin, who was lively though out and looks an exciting young prospect raced onto a long ball from Amy Tickner to deliver an outstanding cross to the far post, where Florence Munt, who had made an intelligent run into a great position, scuffed the ball wide from just a few yards out.

Munt, who has come through from Altrincham FC Juniors, was inches away from doubling the lead early in the second half, gliding in from the right before delivering a left foot shot that was just the wrong side of Birkhead’s right hand post.

Stockport County Development, who had been promoted from The Cheshire Women’s and Youth League Premier Division were always in the game, with Peace Mmadi looking their most likely goal source.

Mmadi went very close in the first half and as the game entered its latter stages, she was thwarted by a brave save from Carmen Stephens, who closed her down superbly.

 Stephens, who is on a season long loan from Liverpool, who play in The WSL (Women’s Super League) also did well to hold on to a stinging shot from Lily Dale and it was the same player who had County’s best opportunity of the game, heading against the crossbar, deep into added time, from a corner.

Stockport: Birkhead, Harkness-Hall (c), Jackson, Morgan, Starkes, Pomeroy, Blackburn, Whitehead, Emery, Mmadi, Brown.

Substitutes: Thelwell, Dale, Pitt, Iddon, Gooding

Altrincham: Stephens, Locke, Morrison, Culbert, Rutter, Lowe (c), Kullu, A. Jones, Paulley, Tickner, Unwin.

Substitutes: Bradley, Underwood, Munt.

HT: 1-0

Goals: None | Lowe 35'

Referee: Ian Hurdle

Next Up

Victory will help build confidence for Alty’s exciting young squad, who travel to the Lancashire coast on Sunday for a Preliminary Round FA Cup tie at Morecambe (kick-off
2pm)

Last season, Altrincham FC Women were the only Step 6 team to reach the 3rd Round of the Women’s FA Cup and were the only team to progress through five rounds, apart from Manchester City Women, the eventual winners at Wembley in May.