The Ladies rounded off their league programme with a battling home win against Abbeytown. Stacey made a welcome return to the squad following her toe-nail removal (eughh...) and Sarah C was available after the U16s match was cancelled.
Abbeytown kicked-off the first half and both teams battled hard in the opening exchanges with neither side troubling the opposition goal. Abbeytown were content to sit deep, allowing Newlaithes possession and Newlaithes defended deeper than usual to nulify the threat of Abbeytown pace up front. Both teams battled hard and managed some long-range efforts with both keepers alert to any balls through the middle. Having said that, it was never boring with both teams giving 100% in the tackle. With ten minutes left in the first half, Holly gave a little too much and suffered a groin strain and had to be replaced by Sarah C at the back.
Stacey replaced Laura W at the start of the 2nd half and in 51st minute she intercepted a kick from the Abbeytown keeper to play a 1st time volley up to Tasha, who had been worrying the Abbeytown defence all afternoon with her robust style. Tasha's 1st touch was excellent and she turned her marker brilliantly before breaking into the area to blast the ball in at the left hand post past the outstretched hand of the diving Abbeytown keeper. Newlaithes stepped up a gear and began to make better use of the space. In the 57th minute, Sarah P picked up the ball in her own half and played the ball up to Katie O who was in space, wide on the left. Katie broke down the wing to play the ball into Tasha, who tucked the ball into the bottom left hand corner for her 2nd. Abbeytown heads dropped and Newlaithes began to pressure, creating several good opportunities without converting them. Abbeytown continued to attack on the break but it was all Newlaithes. However on one such break in the 71st minute, Newlaithes were awarded a free kick-just outside their own area. Abbeytown intercepted the mis-hit kick, which allowed Cally Martin to sprint clear and score with an excellent finish past Katie M. This breathed new life into Abbeytown and roles were reversed from last week as Abbeytown pressed for the equaliser. The Newlaithes defence was up to the challenge though and the last 15 minutes was end to end stuff as both teams continued to press for another goal but the score remained 2-1 to Newlaithes.
This was a very entertaining game from two teams of contrasting styles and both defences worked their socks off with some furious tackling and excellent blocks to keep their opponents at bay. Player of the match was Tasha for a performance that was as skillful as it was physical and she was a handful for the Abbeytown defence all afternoon.
So we have completed our first season in the Cumbria Women's League. We set a pre-season goal of a top half finish and are only just short of it. The pleasing thing is that we have shown that we can compete with any team in the league and have only lost heavily on three occasions when too many key players have been missing. The team has matured as the season has progressed and the players have grown in stature to meet the physical demands of the Women's game.
We now have the League Cup final to look forward to and barring any injuries between now and then, the team has every chance of success!!
