THIS was another fresh challenge for South Lakes Ladies, but unfortunately it ended with a similar result as they were beaten 4-1 by Lytham St Anne's in the Northern Hockey League North Division Two.

Lytham went in front inside the first five minutes after finishing from a well-taken short-corner routine and doubled the lead when one of their forwards finished from the top of the D after a loose ball was fed through to her.

Those two early goals spurred South Lakes into action though and good work from the midfield of Becca Cook, Suze Armstrong, Sarah Robinson and captain Dolly Nuttally helped snuff out Lytham's attacks, and create chances for forwards Emma Armstrong and Natalie Knowles.

Indeed, Knowles was unlucky not to slot away a tap-in at the right post, while Robinson also had en effort hit the post after being played in by Knowles.

South Lakes were then punished for being unable to make the most of this spell of pressure and found themselves 3-0 down at half time when Lytham scored another from a short-corner.

Skipper Nuttall's half-time team-talk had the desired effect and when Ang Thornton forced a mistake from the visitors in the D, it allowed Armstrong to fire home from the resulting short-corner after Lytham's keeper had initially made a save.

The fightback was short-lived though as Lytham grabbed their fourth of the match, again coming from a short-corner, although South Lakes keeper Gayle Mawsdley was able to deny them adding to their tally, with Cat Cooke, Lesley Davey and Bekah Nuttall helping keep the away side at bay too.

The defeat leaves South Lakes bottom of the table and still seeking their first win of the season as they prepare for a trip to Liverpool Sefton this Saturday.