ALTRINCHAM Ladies put in a creditable display before losing 3-2 to table-toppers FC United of Manchester.

It was a first home defeat of the season for the Robins ladies but they ran FC close.

Alty began brightly and Georgina Plant came close to opening the scoring with a long-range effort that went just over the bar.

At the other end, Robins stopper Lizzie Brereton pulled off a great save from point-bank range.

However, the visitors got their breakthrough on 20 minutes when Allisha Marsh’s pass across goal was converted by Chloe Wilde at the far post.

The Robins cranked up the gears and Megan Wright’s low shot was well saved.

And just before the half-hour mark they got a deserved equaliser when Jess Hartopp latched on to a through ball and fired a long-range effort into the net.

However, in added time at the end of the first half, the visitors recaptured the lead.

It was a near carbon-copy of their first goal, Marsh crossing from the left for Nicole Hatcliffe to slot home.

With the match in the early phases of the second half the visitors extended their lead further, Marsh racing clear from the left to score.

Although the visitors enjoyed most of the possession, Robins captain Bliss Molyneaux superbly led the troops and organised the back four, while Brereton pulled off another impressive save.

The Robins pushed forward and reduced their deficit on 87 minutes.

Following a free kick that was half-cleared, Jade Hesketh pounced on the loose ball and expertly placed her shot into the net.

Alty were then denied a last-minute equaliser when Kyeisha Brown’s long-range shot was superbly saved by the FC goalkeeper.