The game started evenly whilst both teams worked their opponents out. The home side had obviously set out to frustrate their opponents with their deep compact shape but the plan was undone on 20 minutes when a cross into the box wasn't dealt with by the Alex and the Stockport forward converted expertly.

 

Crewe almost made an instant response but the Stockport captain made a last ditch interception to divert Megan Parker's ball away from Shanice Finbow, who was about to tap the ball into the open goal.

 

County quickly doubled their lead when a shot from the edge of the box was brilliantly saved by Holloway but she coud conly watch a visiting body strike in the rebound.

 

Matt Fisher's side looked to remain compact and try and limit their opponents efforts on goal whilst looking dangerous on the counter-attack. Parker was able to get a shot off but it went narrowly wide of the target.

 

Despite being two down at the break, Crewe looked to put some pressure on their opponents in the second period. Two Laura Garner efforts were both denied as Crewe went searching for that all important goal.

 

The hard work of the home side was undone in a crazy final 12 minutes of the game though, when another four goals were conceded.

 

Despite it being a tough afternoon against an impressive Stockport County outfit, Fisher left the game with encouragement for future fixtures.

 

He said: "The girls followed the game plan out for us and it didn't quite work. We will get it wrong sometimes, whether it's the coaches or the players - we shoulder that collectively.

 

"The scoreline obviously hurts as it would for any team but we know what we have to do to get to the level required that these National League Teams are at and we can't wait to hit that challenge head on."