Garston Ladies took on a touring side from New York last Friday as they stepped up their preparations for their forthcoming American tour.

The girls entertained a team representing NOGA Soccer (which stands for No Other Game Around) but fell to a 3-0 defeat despite a spirited effort.

The NOGA side are currently on tour themselves and stopped off in Watford before moving on to Sweden for the next leg of their trip.

Garston welcomed NOGA to Parmiter’s School’s all-weather surface but despite an even opening period, the hosts trailed by one goal at the interval.

It was one-way traffic in the second half though as Garston tired and the visitors were able ease their way to a 3-0 victory.

A party of girls from four different Garston Ladies teams will be heading to Charlotte, North Carolina, next month for the club’s first ever overseas tour.

The trip will comprise a number of friendlies and intensive training sessions after a link was formed two years ago by a visiting team from the Charlotte Soccer Academy.

The girls will fly out on August 14 and have organised a number of fundraising activities to help pay for the tour which is supported by Chariots BNI.

Club chairman, Ray Smith, who will be leading the tour party said: “This is a momentous occasion for Garston Ladies FC. The girls all are very excited but there’s lots of hard work to do before we set off.

“We’re expecting temperatures in the mid-30s and fitness is going to prove important – the recent wet weather hasn’t exactly helped our preparations.”