Nevaeh got us underway with Charnock playing downhill, and it was a bit scrappy to start. Estelle had the first shot of the game, which the Aston Swallownest keeper gathered well. Chloe then made the first of what would turn out to be many saves on the day. Early doors, but you could already sense she was going to be busy.

Eva did well to send Rose down the wing, who had a shot that was saved. Evie was solid in the middle and the whole Charnock defence looked organised. Evie cleared to Maisie, who headed it forward, and Charnock won a corner. Rose delivered it perfectly and there was a chance, but it went out for another corner.

Aston Swallownest started looking to catch Charnock on the break, taking throw-ins quickly and trying to move the ball before Charnock could get set. Eva was confidently mopping things up though, and the defence held firm. Charnock responded by getting the ball wide, and Nevaeh and Summer were causing problems with their long throws, Nevaeh on the left and Summer on the right. Aston Swallownest broke and the Charnock girls were shouting for offside, but the referee wasn't having any of it. It was one-on-one, but Chloe saved it brilliantly. Then another long-range effort came in and Chloe, with her trademark "KEEPERS!", claimed it comfortably. She then had to sprint off her line to clear another one. A busy few minutes for our keeper.

Charnock started to find their rhythm after that. Reagan put together some lovely play and got the ball out wide. Georgie cleared well and took a couple of throw-ins to keep things ticking. Rae and Estelle linked up well, and then Amaya came on and immediately looked dangerous.

Aston Swallownest had four corners on the bounce, but Charnock cleared their lines. There was then a bit of a foul throw saga, with the referee flagging several Aston Swallownest throw-ins and making them retake. Aston Swallownest had a decent spell but Charnock weren't just sitting back. From a Summer throw-in, Reagan's pressing forced the issue and Rose put in a pinpoint cross that landed right on Nevaeh's boot. Her shot was saved. Gutting. Chloe then showed bravery in another one-on-one at the other end, and Nevaeh bulldozed through a sea of midfielders and fired in a long shot that narrowly missed.

Amelia came on and pushed forward well. Summer dropped into defence and straight away won the ball off an Aston Swallownest striker. After yet another foul throw from Aston Swallownest, they managed a headed effort on goal but Chloe was equal to it again. Reagan had a great run and a chance, and Nevaeh fired another long shot that was agonisingly close, but Aston Swallownest cleared. An offside call then went in Charnock's favour, though from the sideline it looked tight at best. Evie took a great free kick and picked out Amaya, who launched it forward. Keavey came on for Nevaeh, got stuck in immediately, and Amaya slid a lovely ball through to Rae. It was a good spell. Amaya had a shot that went wide, and Chloe made yet another fantastic save as the half drew to a close. Half time: 0-0.

Second half and Charnock were now playing uphill. Grace and Estelle clicked well together straight away and Charnock made the first attack of the half, winning a free kick after an Aston Swallownest handball. Estelle stepped up and hit it well and it went out for a corner. Estelle took that too and whipped it in high. After a few more foul throw debates with the referee, including one where Charnock were penalised, Amaya was fouled and Estelle lofted a lovely free kick into the area. Amaya was giving everything, and took herself to the sideline to reset.

Chloe's goal kick found Amelia, who played it neatly to Estelle, who sent Grace clear. A scrappy five minutes followed for both sides until Aston Swallownest had a great run and shot that Chloe parried, and another effort that went well wide. Summer took a huge free kick after another offside call, but Aston Swallownest broke quickly and Chloe couldn't quite get to the ball - it looked like it was going in, but Summer had sprinted back and cleared off the line. Brilliant.

Amaya came back on and linked straight up with Nevaeh, who bludgeoned through the Aston Swallownest midfield again. Charnock won a corner and Rose took it, finding Nevaeh who volleyed it, but it went narrowly wide. Amaya, Estelle, Reagan and Nevaeh were all clicking now, talking to each other and moving the ball well. Aston Swallownest won three corners and Amaya got her head on a clearance. Then Aston Swallownest had a shot that somehow stayed out. Eva made a fantastic tackle moments later, which led to a brilliant Aston Swallownest counter-shot. How Chloe stopped that one, nobody knows. Amaya then put in a tough tackle as the game tightened up.

It looked like 0-0 was the destination. Summer won two throw-ins, Nevaeh had a long throw, and then Rose had the best chance of the match for Charnock, a shot that looked goalbound and ended up inches wide.

And then came the moment that left Charnock a bit baffled. Aston Swallownest were awarded a penalty. The Charnock players were sure the ball had gone out of play before any foul, and made their feelings known, but the referee disagreed. Aston Swallownest scored. 1-0. There were only a few minutes left and that was that.

Full time: Charnock 0 - Aston Swallownest 1.

A tough one to take. The girls ran themselves into the ground, Chloe was outstanding in goal, and on another day Charnock put their chances away and we're talking about a different result. Not taking anything away from Aston Swallownest though - they played well and probably edged this one. Parent’s Girl of the game today was awarded to Summer who put a proper shift in and, Manager’s Girl of the game went to Georgie who had a great game and is improving week on week. On to the next one, away at AFC Pogmoor Whites. Up the Charnock.