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REPORT

Report courtesy of Phil Taylor.

The Ladies took a trip to a windy Bootle for their first pre-season friendly, taking on a Merseyrail Bootle outfit three weeks, and also three games, further into their preparations than the Ladies.

Three new signings made competitive debuts for the Robins; Georgia Plant, Charlotte Dudley and Elina Parker, all of whom acquitted themselves admirably.

Altrincham lined up in a 3-4-3 formation. Lizzie in goal, with a back three of Caroline, Louise and Sam, and Elina, Cyprus, Gail and Georgia across midfield. The attacking threat being offered by Charlotte, Cloe and Aimee.

Substitutes, all of whom were scheduled to appear in the second half, were Beth, Tallulah, Becci, Chloe and Heather.

Bootle had already played two fixtures including an 8-2 away victory so it had the potential to be a testing opening to the Alty Ladies' pre-season programme. Although the Bootle team were clearly further along in their preparations, the first half was quite even with both teams getting the ball down and playing passing football on what was an excellent surface.

Lizzie, in goal, was seldom overly stretched and, on the few occasions when the hosts did get through, she and her defence were more than equal to the task.

The half however ended on a somewhat unsavoury note when, after a shoulder to shoulder challenge, the Bootle player who had fallen to the floor clearly kicked out at Georgia who, following treatment had to be helped from the field. Referee Mr Porter however, despite the blatantly violent nature of the incident, chose to take no further action and half time was reached with a few less than content Altrincham players, clearly concerned for their new young team mate.

As planned, manager Keith Edleston made a number of substitutions, with Louise, Georgia, Caroline, Gail and Cloe making way.

Whether the changes and the events at the end of the first half temporarily disturbed the Altrincham players or whether, as is more likely, the higher fitness levels of the Bootle team started to tell is debatable but Bootle started the second half very much on the front foot and scored twice within two minutes after ten minutes of the second half.

At this point the unfortunate Chloe, who was feeling the effects of illness, was withdrawn with Louise returning to the defence.

Although not really posing too many obvious threats, the hard work of the Altrincham players meant that the game was once again a close and competitive affair.

With about twenty minutes to go Georgia, who had needed to be helped from the pitch just before half time, declared herself to be fit and ready to return to the action, which she did with some impact, closing down and challenging robustly all over the pitch.

Charlotte also had to temporarily leave the field following a collision but soon returned.

Bootle scored a third goal, somewhat against the run of play, to end the game 3-0 victors. For a first game this had been a more than encouraging performance by Altrincham.