The CALFC First Team played their final pre-season friendly of the summer this afternoon after making the trip to face York City Ladies at York St John University Sports Park.

We began well with a good ball from winger Josie Alderman tipped away from striker Emma Lambourne by the York keeper. That positive start was quickly reversed as in the fifth minute the hosts took the lead after a shot from just inside the area was saved well by Crewe keeper Kara Townsend however the rebound fell straight to the York striker who finished to make it 1-0.

The players didn't let falling behind early get to them as Alderman showed excellent speed and commitment to close down a York defender, before her shot on target was saved by the keeper at the near post. Some more good pressing led to an equaliser after 11 minutes which began with a strike on goal by centre midfielder Leanne Derry which was deflected behind. The resulting corner was driven low and fired home by stand in captain Beth Ragdale from inside the six yard box.

The equaliser brought more confidence to the CALFC players with Tasha Durham bravely winning a header before full back Tori Howard delivered a superb ball which had to be cleared out of play by a York defender. Another dangerous corner found Ragdale once more for a free header which was somehow kept out by the keeper. The game became a bit more even in midfield at the halfway stage of the opening 45 with both sides pressing the ball well, Howard made a good clearing header for the Alex before a number of substitutions were made.

In the 22nd minute the hosts won a corner which was headed over the bar before a give away by full back Lauren Brown led to a shot on goal from York, however it went wide as the CALFC centre backs Kerry Green and Kirsty Stafford looked solid and closed the ball down well. At the other end substitute Megan Booth made a good run down the left wing before her cross was blocked and sent out for another corner. The York defence were struggling to contain us in the box from set pieces as Durham had a well timed header cleared off the line to keep the score 1-1.

Another substitute Laura Goom battled well to retain possession before a lovely ball from Lambourne found Durham who laid it back to the striker who's effort went over the bar. Booth was causing York problems down the left and was sent through on goal however the keeper came out well to gather.

Both sides were delivering good balls into the opposition boxes with Lambourne seeing a low cross cleared before Stafford stood strong to deny York an effort on goal. Goalkeeper Townsend was looking solid and commanded her area in the opening half, punching away a dangerous looking cross before claiming a free-kick in what was the final major piece of play in the first half.

As the referee blew the half-time whistle the game was level at 1-1.

We began the second half similar to the first with some early pressure being cleared away by the York defence. A major positive from the game was the application of pressure particularly in the final third with the hosts not being given much time on the ball to create an attack.

Townsend was required to make a good save in the 51st minute to prevent York from taking the lead before the resulting corner was headed away from danger by Green. A corner of our own two minutes later was only cleared as far as Brown, who's shot was blocked and eventually cleared.

Captain Katie Nuttall was one of the substitutes who came on for the second half and made an instant impact with a quality run down the right wing before producing a superb ball across the face of goal however nobody was there for the tap in. Alderman picked up where she left off in the first half with good pressing and pace shown on the left to deliver a cross but it was just too weak to cause any problems.

We began to try and split York open with some long range passing as the game reached the hour mark, with a ball from Nuttall just too heavy before a well timed pass from Derry evaded the York left back and found Booth on the right side of the box who fired into the side netting. Striker Amanda Fallon then excellently nicked the ball away from the left back before playing the ball across to Ragdale who's shot went over.

The pace of the game lifted as both sides were looking to take the lead, with Townsend making a fantastic save to deny the York striker. Alderman didn't stop running for the entire time she was on the pitch and after coming back on, straight away sprinted down the left wing but the cross couldn't find anyone in the box. York began to provide a bit more pressure on the Crewe goal with a shot from distance not troubling Townsend.

With 20 minutes to go there was a small coming together between Green and a York midfielder which led to a yellow card being shown to both before both Green and Stafford contributed to some more solid defending of set-pieces as we made another couple of substitutions with Brown being replaced by Goom. York were looking more dangerous when being allowed to deliver crosses with a looping ball causing Townsend a few problems however it was cleared away for a throw-in which was closed down well by Fallon who was tracking back to give us back possession.

In the 76th minute a definite York goal was prevented by a sensational sliding tackle from Nuttall who was very impressive after coming off the bench and led the back four. As the game entered the final ten minutes we won a free-kick in a dangerous area which was struck by Ragdale and was blocked by what seemed to be a loose York arm which the referee somehow didn't see. The ball found it's way to Nuttall who's cross intended for Fallon was just too high.

Slightly against the run of play York took the lead once more five minutes from time following a well timed through ball which split the centre backs before the striker slotted the ball past Townsend into the right hand corner. A minute later Ragdale made an excellent headed clearance to deny York a third before the tiring Alderman was substituted for Durham.

We attempted to get ourselves back on level terms again however the attacks fizzled out with a through ball from Goom just too heavy for Lambourne who closed down the York defender but unfortunately the clearance deflected out for a goal kick as the referee blew the final whistle.

In what has been a good pre-season with competitive games pretty much every week for the past month, the fitness of the squad has improved day by day and everyone at the club are very excited for the season to kick-off next Sunday at home to Chorley Ladies at the Cumberland Arena at 2:00 PM in what is sure to be a memorable campaign.

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