Ladies pin hopes on further Cheshire Cup progress

Runcorn Linnets Ladies will seek to bounce back from the weekend's humbling defeat by high-flying North West League Premier Division side AFC Fylde when they travel to nearby Altrincham in the second Quarter- Final stage of the GoCardless Cheshire FA Women's Cup on Sunday.

The tie at Partington Sports Ground (ko 2pm) will pitch fifth-placed NW South Division Linnets against Altrincham, who occupy fourth place following the awarding of six points due to AFC Crewe forfeiting their upcoming games.

This is the second meeting of the teams this season, the first having come in November, where the Linnets grabbed the three points with a 3-1 victory at home

Linnets have returned to some better form on the whole in 2026 but have suffered from postponed fixtures of late.

Omitting last week's Cup game, the Yellows have won their last two games against same- level opposition, both on their travels.

Linnets are looking to further progress in the Cheshire Cup after exiting the Alliance & Design Print League Cup against Fylde and with the league title looking unlikely.

Molly Hewitt will be in the squad after making her competitive comeback from injury at AFC Fylde.

Linnets are also hopeful of a return for Emma Smith, who missed Sunday's action

Captain Emma Mclarney remains an injury concern.

Sunday's opponents arrive on the back of a tight victory away at bottom-placed Liverpool Feds Reserves in the league last weekend.