Bolton Wanderers Women were edged out 1-0 in a battling encounter with AFC Fylde on Sunday afternoon.
In a tight and tense affair, in which Wanderers pushed hard late in the game after going behind in the first half, they were unable to find the breakthrough they chased to take points away from the fixture.
Niamh Corrigan's drilled effort from the edge of the area proved to be the difference on the day as Wanderers were left to rue missed chances at Victory Park, despite pushing hard inside the final 20 minutes following Hollie Kelsh-Ridge's red card.
In a bid to keep the side fresh and to combat fatigue following their fifth game in 14 days to open the season, Wanderers made five changes to their starting line-up victorious at Curzon Ashton.
Millie Smith, Zara Plano, Ocean Flanagan were named in the starting line-up, with Evie Sadler returning from injury to start up front whilst there was a debut for new signing Imogen Longcake following her arrival from Partick Thistle.
The visitors had an early sight on goal through Lois Moore, who proved a handful all afternoon, as she cut inside to let fly from the angle but her effort flew over.
Wanderers had to wary once more as a Molly Kelly header from a Ellie Adams crossed looked goalbound but went wide of Annabelle White's right-hand post.
It was a game that had an edge to it, with a number of bookings falling the way of both sides as they looked to gain control in the encounter.
Moore went in search of her range when striking two powerful efforts in quick succession towards goal, but both flew wide of the mark.
But the hosts got their reward when Corrigan came inside from the left-hand flank to find space and shoot low, firing past the outstretched arm of White to give the Coasters the lead.
Wanderers responded well to going behind, and Ocean Flanagan went close to levelling it up when winning the ball high from the Fylde defence and shooting from distance - looking to catch Pharyn Ashton off-guard - but she was up to the task when saving comfortably.
Faye Knox was the next to go close for the Whites after receiving the ball from Charlotte Tyers after moving nicely between the lines to release the wing-back. Faye cut inside and let one fly from the angle but it flew just wide of the far post which ensured the away side had a lead at the break.
Wanderers continued to push at the start of the second half, and a driving Knox run into the area caused Fylde problems, which caused Ashton in-goal to fumble the ball but they scrambled to clear with Sadler closing in for the rebound.
Moore then tried to catch White off-guard with a snapshot from ditance, but the Wanderers' keeper stood firm and quick in her reactions, before Corrigan fired over when a cross reached her at the far post.
Knox went close once more when winning the ball in a high position down the left to drive into the area. She tried to find the top corner, her effort parried by Ashton, before the visitors cleared their lines.
Then the Fylde captain, Kelsh-Ridge, was given her marching orders from the referee for kicking out after a challenge, given a red card meaning Fylde would see out the remaining 20 minutes with 10 players.
But it would be the visitors who should have extended their lead further when Moore intercepted an underhit pass to round White with the goal waiting, but skewed her effort wide.
A let off for Wanderers, and they went in search of the leveller. From a Plano corner, Lucy Walsh came charging onto the cross and met it sweetly with a volley but the ball went narrowly past the right-hand post.
Plano then let fly with an effort from all of 25 yards that looked destined to find the top corner but it whistled passed the post, ensuring that the visitors would see the game out and earn the three points on the afternoon.
With the first month of the season out of the way, Wanderers now have a full 7-day turnaround before facing a trip to Mancunian United on Sunday afternoon.
Wanderers: White (GK), Holt (C), Walsh, Smith, Longcake, Plano, Dale, Knox, Tyers, Flanagan, Sadler.
Subs: Baldwin, Clark, Seals, Mehdi, Hardman
AFC Fylde: Ashton (GK), Borrowdale, Dunion, Hickson, Tindall, O'Mahony, Kelsh-Ridge (C), Corrigan, Adams, Kelly, Moore.
Subs: Mason, Smith, Hindley, Hyland, Chadwick,
Pictures by Jake Horrocks.