The first team's NWWRL season started this Sunday with a tough opening day fixture against Bolton Wanderers Ladies this Sunday at the impressive Bolton Wanderers Academy. With the first team nursing a series of long term injuries the squad of 12 travelled upto Bolton fully aware of the tough task ahead. Bolton showed signs last season of a team progressing as they challenged the top end of the NWWRL premier division, The Wanderers ladies were the succesfull of the two teams on the last game of the league season in the 2013/14 season as the CALFC first team prepeared for the League Cup Final.

The game started with the wanderers hitting the crossbar with an early effort to wake up the Alex defensive unit which consisted of captain Katie Nuttall Claire Beresford Laura Goom and Summer recruit Joanne Power who ironically played for the Wanderers ladies last season and would see her debut for the Alex against her former club. The Alex midfield consisted of Beth Ragdale, Leanne Derry and Michelle Saunders with Megan Booth and Claire O'Reilly gracing the wide areas. Uptop Amanda Fallon fronted the attacking unit and came close in some early exchanges however got on the scoresheet in the first half to put the ladies ahead 1-0. Just before half time goalkeeper Ellie Fox was judged to have bought down a Bolton player and the referee pointed to the sport. Luckily the striker put the penalty passed the post so the Alex maintained their advantahe going into the break. Shortyl before the break Crewe made their only change of the game by bringing Sarah Gill off the bench for Megan Booth who took a knock to her ankle and was subsequently replaced.

The second half was a tigher affair as both teams competed for possesion of the ball on the immaculate surface, once possesion was gained the Alex looked to exploit the flanks with O'Reilly being a constant threat on the left and Saunders breaking through the middle. Fallon scored her second of the game and the Alex ladies looked to be in control of the game. An mistake at the back gave Bolton a goal to get their noses back into the game and give the away side a smaller margin to defend against. Man of the Match Claire O'reilly was a constant threat and got on the scoresheet with a well placed effort across the goal after exploiting the opposition defence and cutting inside using her pace and quality. Bolton scored another goal towards the end of the game as they shot from outside the box where players blocked the goalkeepers view and the ball finished in the Alex net. The game was a tight affair and Bolton will be a team who will be competing at the top end of the season. A credit to the game and their club.