It was a huge weekend for Holbeach United Ladies as they played their first competitive fixtures on Sunday at home to March Town.
And the 1st XI showed plenty of battle as they lost 3-2 in the Gordon Boswell Cambridgeshire Division One match despite a brace from Kara Butler.
The whole of the women and girls’ section turned out for the occasion at Carter’s Park.
The Tigers fielded eight players under 18 but they made a fantastic start, taking the lead in the sixth minute as Butler nodded home at the far post after a flick on from a corner.
March levelled just two minutes later thanks to a stunning long-range strike into the top corner from Lily Callaghan.
The visitors began to get on top as Holbeach struggled to cope with striker Teonie Peyton as she out muscled a defender to get on to a long ball and make it 2-1 in the 16th minute.
The Tigers moved to a back four, which gave them more control and they got their reward a minute before the break, Butler finishing well after getting between the centre backs.
After an even start to the second period some lax defending led to a March attack with their Maisie Homden reacting quickest to a parried save from the keeper to give their side a 3-2 lead in the 54th minute.
Holbeach struggled to get back in to the game, their rhythm particularly disrupted by a bad tackle on Tiana Tickner for which she had to be carried off.
March defended well to hang on to a 3-2 win.
A team spokesman said: “Despite the result, there were plenty of positives to take from our first competitive game.
“This is a team with plenty of potential and we know we will only get better as the season progresses.
“A massive well done to all the girls for their effort, commitment and attitude. We’ll learn and come back stronger.”
