Stretford Victoria LFC 2 MFC Ladies 1

TEN-WOMAN Boro failed to make it eight wins on the bounce as a late winner condemned them to a rare defeat at the weekend.

Marrie Wieczorek's team travelled to Manchester to play Stretford on their Astroturf pitch and although they didn't have their full squad out, Boro still should still have taken something from this game.

The first half hour was fairly even but the game burst into life shortly afterwards when Becky Cartwright was sent off allegedly for disrespecting the assistant referee, although she later denied the accusation.

Boro adjusted by dropping a striker into midfield and continued to compete evenly with Stretford and the game remained goalless at the interval.

After the break Boro started off strongly, forcing Stretford to defend in numbers but they just couldn't seem to get their game together and didn't really test the home keeper.

But Stretford took the lead against the run of play when a long ball over the top was misjudged by one of Boro's defenders.

Although there looked like a definite handball, Stretford's centre-forward beat Boro's keeper to the ball just outside the penalty area and put the ball into an empty net to make it 1-0.

This seemed to wake up Boro and they launched themselves forward, with Jess Close, Nicky Duckling and Susan Badger all forcing saves.

In the 74th minute Boro equalised when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty box.

ABBY LYLE struck home a perfect shot into the top right hand corner of the net to make it 1-1. This lifted Boro and they piled pressure on Stretford, keeping them pegged back inside their own half.

But another mistake in Boro's defence with six minutes remaining allowed a cross to reach Stretford's centre-forward just five yards out and she gleefully headed into an empty net.

With time quickly running out, Boro probably played some of their better football, with Jess Close turning sharply in the box and bringing a fine save out of the keeper.

A minute later Nicky Duckling (pictured) scored a fine goal only to be adjudged offside and although the visitors continued to press they were unable to find an equaliser.

"It wasn't a good result and probably not one of our better performances either," said Marrie. "Even with only 10 players they could have won this game but several players had a decidedly bad day."

Next week Boro visit to Peterlee Town LFC.