Words Ben Edwards

The floodgates opened for Altrincham FC Women in the final 20 minutes of their Cheshire FA Women’s Cup third round tie against Sandbach United as Daryll Abrahams’ side scored seven goals during that period, completing an emphatic 9-1 victory.

Though the Robins were drawn as the away team, the match was played at Partington Sports Village as a precautionary measure due to Storm Claudia and kicked off 25 minutes late due to travel issues for Sandbach.

As a result, Sandbach were forced to play the first half with outfielder Grace Young in between the sticks, with regular goalkeeper Lucy Reid unable to make it until half time.

Altrincham did have to come from behind, however, as just five minutes in, underdogs Sandbach opened the scoring after Alty failed to clear their lines and Sophia Robinson finished well from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner.

It was one-way traffic after the opener, and the Robins found the equaliser halfway into the first half. Milla Jacobson was tripped just a few yards outside the penalty area towards the right-hand side.

Carmen Culbert curled a free kick over from an almost identical position earlier in the game, though this time Abbie Turner stepped up. The number 13 produced an outstanding free kick which flew off the crossbar and into the back of the net, her first Altrincham goal on her first start since joining two weeks ago.

Despite Altrincham’s dominance, the scores were level at the break, with the Robins going ahead for the first time in the 55th minute. Georgia McKnight showed good footwork and fed in skipper Nat Lowe, who narrowly beat the offside trap and finished at close range.

The advantage was doubled in the 69th minute, beginning a goalscoring rampage which saw Altrincham average a goal every three minutes in the final stages of the game. Jacobson’s shot from the edge of the penalty area went wide, though she battled hard to win the ball from the resulting free kick before unleashing McKnight.

The right-winger finished with composure from the right-hand side of the penalty area into the bottom right corner.

Matilda Whitehead returned from injury and made a big impact of the bench, producing an excellent finish from inside the penalty area for Altrincham’s fifth.

Whitehead wasn’t the only substitute who came on and impressed, as Millie Kullu added to the scoring on two occasions. McKnight’s cross from the right was met by Lowe, whose shot was saved by Reid, but Kullu was on hand to tap home the rebound.

McKnight then added her second of the game with a finish similar to her first goal, though this time into the bottom left corner.

Jacobson had been instrumental as ever in the Altrincham attacks and looked particularly dangerous in a false nine role towards the end of the game. All she was missing was a goal, though this came in the 85th minute, playing a one-two with Lowe before slotting into the bottom right corner.

A minute later, Kullu netted her brace, as McKnight’s low delivery left her with a tap-in at the back post. McKnight then completed her hattrick with the final kick of the game.

It wasn’t just the Women’s first team who won convincingly, as the Elite U18s side picked up an equally impressive 8-1 victory. Francesca Boyle scored a hattrick and Amelie Heathcote a brace, with Maw Winchcombe, Cleo Harris and Hannah Worrell also on the scoresheet.