SALE Ladies' firsts went down 3-2 to Crewe in Division Two South West.
The game was open from the start and it seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken.
And so it proved when Crewe scored first and then doubled their lead against the run of play.
Sale had a few chances but the Crewe keeper kept a clean sheet until half time while they added to their lead through a penalty corner.
Sale's belief changed in the second half and Harriet Boswell reduced the arrears.
Super sub Carol Savage then converted a Hannah Aldridge cross before she suffered a hamstring injury and went off.
Sale made the usual late flurry in the game and peppered the goal but yet again the Crewe keeper kept them out.
It was a disappointing defeat but the team bounced back with a 5-2 win against Urmston Ladies' firsts last weekend.
Meanwhile, the ladies' seconds drew 2-2 at Crewe Vagrants in Cheshire Division Two.
Crewe scored an early goal past stand-in goalkeeper Chloe Holmes but Sale responded when Megan McCarthy converted a shot rebound.
Player of the match Leanne Edwards then scored a quick shot from the top of the D to give Sale a half-time lead.
Crewe scored early in the second half to level the game and despite Sale losing midfielder Emma Bebbington to a hamstring injury they saw the game out for a share of the spoils.
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