With four goals in the first fifteen minutes the score was two apiece. Alty twice had to come from behind, with goals from Kira Saycell (penalty) and Elise Jones.

The winning goal came after 75 minutes through Natalie Lowe.

SCORERS:

• 1 min: Jennifer THOMPSON (ALTRINCHAM WOMEN 0 Witton Albion Women 1)
• 8 mins: Kira SAYCELL (penalty) (ALTRINCHAM WOMEN 1 Witton Albion Women 1)
• 14 mins: Jennifer THOMPSON (ALTRINCHAM WOMEN 1 Witton Albion Women 2)
• 15 mins: Elise JONES (ALTRINCHAM WOMEN 2 Witton Albion Women 2)
• 75 mins: Natalie LOWE (ALTRINCHAM WOMEN 3 Witton Albion Women 2)

REFEREE: Mr L Mitchell

ATTENDANCE: 217

LINE-UPS:

ALTRINCHAM WOMEN (Red & white striped shirts, black shirts, white socks): 22. Ari Spahiro, 2. Annie O'Donoghue, 5. Emily O'Leary, 6. Brainna Morrison, 7. Kira Saycell, 8. Grace McCardle, 10. Natalie Lowe (c), 14. Elise Jones, 16. Holly Lloyd, 26. Libby Newton, 30. Ashley Jones. Subs: 9. Ash Gilmore, 20. Brogan Walsh, 25. Rhianna Pickering, 27. Katie Robins, 41. Caitlin Beaty.

WITTON ALBION WOMEN (All purple) 1. Tracey Bolton, 2.Mya Greatrex, 3. Jamelia Manlry-Tomlinson, 4. Emma Bibby=Cheshire, 5. Lauren Quigg, 6. Brya Landon, 7. Natalie Chapman, 8. Car Batty, 9. Jennifer Thompason, 10. Autumn Mugridge, 14. Aimee Gibson. Subs: 11. Michaela Thompson, 10. Autumn Mugridge, 18. Zoe Palin, 17. Kathrun Hulme, 15. Emily Fallon, 16. Vanessa Bagley, 19. Ellie Wadsworth.

Though Alty played 2024-25 season in a higher division, Witton had won promotion for next season from a lower division with an undefeated campaign in which they had scored 82 goals and conceded just six times.

REPORT:

On a warm and sunny afternoon on the artificial pitch at the Swansway Stadium, the sides changed ends, with Witton kicking off.

Play continued after an Alty player was left on the deck following a challenge in midfield and, within sixty seconds of the start, Witton's Jennifer Thompson had the ball in the net to leave Alty trailing 0-1 (1 min).

Soon after McCardle had forced a save by Bolton, with her legs, Saycell got into the box and went down under a challenge. Mr Mitchell awarded a penalty which Saycell confidently converted, low to the keeper's left. So it was 1-1 (8 mins).

For Witton, Chapman and former Alty player Gibson got into the box where Shapiro made a save but Thompson netted the loose ball to restore Albion's lead (14 mins).

But pretty well directly from the restart, Elise Jones was put through up the middle. Keeper Bolton came out and her attempted clearance cannoned back off Jones and found the net to level the scores again, at 2-2 (15 mins).

Witton then won four corners over the next nine minutes with Alty desperately clearing the last of these (24 mins). With Shapiro now needing treatment a drinks' break was declared (25 mins).

The first of what were to be numerous rolling substitutions saw Walsh come on for Alty in place of Ashley Jones (27 mins).

Albion were looking the more likely to score as Landon and then Thompson both went close (30 mins).

Elise Jones was looking lively for Altrincham and she fed Saycell who forced a good save (33 mins). Another Alty change saw Gilmore replace Lloyd (33 mins).

It was Elise Jones, again, who laid on the next Alty chance but Walsh could not turn the ball into the net (42 mins). With the monotonous Witton supporters' drum now beating continuously, Alty made a third chnage with Lloyd returning in place of Lowe (44 mins).

Added time turned into some eight minutes, largely caused by numerous stoppages for treatment to minor knocks. Bizarrely, Alty made another swap six minutes into added time with McCardle going off.

But half-time left the score 2-2.

For the second half, Caitlin Beaty came on in goal and Rhianna Pickering made an appearance at left-back and Alty went on to win the half's first corner (50 mins).

Soon after Saycell had seen a shot blocked by the keeper, McCardle returned in place of Walsh (57 mins) before yet another stoppage for treatment to a minor injury, this time to Witton's Thompson (59 mins).

After an Alty corner had been and gone, another injury stoppage prompted the ref to declare a drinks' break (64 mins).

Three more Alty changes saw Walsh, Newton and Ashley Jones came on. But Witton were now applying pressure with two more corners.

Against the run of play, Elise Jones advanced on the right and fed Walsh before Lowe had an effort blocked by the keeper but she put the rebound into the net to put Alty ahead for the first time at 3-2 (75 mins).

After yet another injury stoppage, each side made changes with Alty's Gilmore replacing Robins (77 mins). Five minutes later there were more changes as Robins came back on replacing Elise Jones (83 mins).

As time ticked away, Witton won two corners to one gained for Altrincham (90 mins).

Into added time, Witton searched for an equaliser before Elise Jones returned in place of Gilmore (90+4 mins). It took a great save by Beaty to stop Michaela Thompson from levelling the score (90+5 mins).

Play continued for another three minutes before the final whistle confirmed that Altrincham had won the cup.