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REPORT

On a sunny afternoon at Lostock Gralam FC, Altrincham FC Ladies kicked off the Cup Final, without their 41-goal leading scorer, Tracey Blanchard-Webb, who had been sidelined by concussion. The Alex's Green got in an early shot from 20 yards which cleared the bar (2 mins).

In fact, the Crewe Ladiess had the better of the early stages as Brereton saved from Smith and, then, the Alty keeper did well to tip an Ambo shot over the bar (9 mins).

Around the auarter of the hour mark, Altrincham settled and got more into the match. Crewe's Green then injured her self making a chellange on Anton and had to give way to Hooley (18 mins).

Taylor then threatened for the Alex as she dribbled into the box before her shot hit the bar and rebounded to safety (26 mins). Two Crwee corners soon followed before Crewe made another change as Welch replace Ambo. Crewe sent Hartopp up front and, within minutes, she had become the second Alex player to hit the bar with a shot (32 mins).

Two minutes later, Altrincham made their first change in a game which permitted rolling substitutions. Allsop came on for Gibson but it was still Crewe who were making more of the running as a cross went across the face of Alty's goal. Macintyre came on for Alty about five minutes before half time was due and Altrincham now enjoyed a better spell. After several minutes of added time for a number of stoppages, half-time arrived with the game goalless but Crewe having had the better of the game so far.

Crewe started the second half strongly but Altrincham defended well and goalkeeper Brereton was not unduly troubled. Just before the hour mark, Macintyre was booked for a late challenge on Taylor but, underlining the good spirit in which the game was played, the two players shook hands before play resumed.

The reliable Edleston cleared Crewe danger for a corner before Altrincham got forward at the other end. Crellin now replaced Heather Scott, for Altrincham (71 mins) as the game continued without a serious threat to either goal.

A Crewe corner after 77 minutes did cause a melee in the Alty box and, soon afterwards, Brereton had to save a Welch shot. Crewe then hit the woodwork for the third time as the final ten minutes began.

Walsh came back on for Alty's Macintyre (82 mins) before another Crewe corner arrived (86 mins). However, neither side could break the deadlock before the ninety minutes concluded.

Extra-time began and seven minutes into that period, Shufflebotham did well to force a goal-line clearance after an Altrincham corner kick. Hailes now joined the game for Alty and an Alty freekick was now won to underline a good spell from the Ladies.

Crewe's Green then did well on the left and Brereton had to be alert to push her shot away from goal for a corner (102 mins). After this, Welch volleyed narrowly wide for Crewe. Each side won a corner before the interval but the game remained goalless.

Just two minutes into the second period of added time Crewe scored. Welch, on the right, played a ball inside to Taylor. Unmarked, she fired a shot home just inside the post to the keeper's right to make it 1-0 (107 mins).

Hartopp was booked for Crewe in the closing stages as Altrincham did their best to get an equalizer but they were unable to create any clear opening. The Alty Ladies had put in a creditable performance but Crewe had proved strong opposition and were deserved winners.