Stockport County Ladies had a tough start to their 2016-17 campaign, going down to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Bolton Wanderers in the first game of the North West Women’s Regional League season at Lambeth Grove.
Bolton started the better side, and proved as much, opening the scoring with a goal on the 18-minute mark.
Just seven minutes later though and the Hatters were back in the game, thanks to a penalty from Chloe Mapp, comfortably sending the keeper wrong way.
It was short-lived, however, as sloppy defending from County cost them dear. Bolton took advantage and put themselves in a 2-1 lead that they would take in to the half-time break.
Fifty-four minutes in, and once again some sloppy defending from Stockport as a long ball from Bolton wasn’t dealt with, the visitors led 3-1
Manager, Ronnie Green, forced a change of formation, the Hatters opting for a 4-3-3 approach.
And it seemed to be working, with Bolton penned in their own half for around 15 minutes, but still County could only grab some half chances, it just didn’t seem to be Stockport’s day.
As Stockport pushed to get back in game, yet again sloppy defending gifted a fourth goal for Bolton. The damage was done, and Bolton saw the game out.
Green said: “That was not the start we were looking for to the season. We play Blackpool away at Bloomfield Road this Wednesday [Sept 7] so we all need to put this game behind us and get our season under way.”
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