The Ladies were looking to continue their recent good form away to last season's champions Abbeytown.
Newlaithes took the game to Abbeytown right from the first whistle and for the first 20 minutes had the home side virtually penned back in their own half. Faye, Carly, Tasha, Laura O and Claire all had chances but their shots were either off target or didn't have enough on them to trouble the excellent Abbeytown keeper. Newlaithes also had several lively penalty claims for handball waved away by the referee. Abbeytown then found their feet and started to push back at Newlaithes without really creating too many shooting opportunities. The game was developing into a real end to end contest and Newlaithes' best opportunity of the 1st half was when Paige floated a diagonal free kick into the area from just inside the Abbeytown half on the left. Carly ghosted in at the far post and blasted a superb shot that brought an equally superb reflex save from the Abbeytown keeper. For all Newlaithes early possession, the Abbeytown defence grew in stature as they closed down space very quickly and didn't give the Newlaithes players any time on the ball. Abbeytown's best chances in the first half came from a string of corners, with one header in particular that flew inches over the bar. They also had a good break down the left but the low cross that followed ran right across the face of goal with nobody in the middle to Newlaithes' relief. Overall in terms of possession, it was fairly even, with Abbeytown as always looking dangerous on the break and Newlaithes trying to be more controlled in their possession play although it was Newlaithes who had created the better of the opportunities. Nevertheless it remained 0-0 at half time.
Abbeytown came out strongly at the start of the second half and with the slope advantage, were a constant threat on the break with their speedy forwards. Newlaithes continued to battle to make headway but Abbeytown were proving difficult to break down. Tasha came close with a header the went just over the bar and Carly brought another excellent save from the Abbeytown keeper with a low shot from the edge of the area. At the other end, Newlaithes keeper Lauren wasn't really tested as the Newlaithes defence did well to deal with the threat of Abbeytown's pace up front. As the game moved into the final quarter, Newlaithes almost took the lead when Paige thundered a 30 yard free kick onto the bar with the keeper beaten. This got Newlaithes' tails up and they started to look the more likely of the two teams to score. Then with six minutes left on the clock, Abbeytown were awarded a hotly disputed corner on their left. The ball was floated in and Abbeytown were quickest to react and took the lead with a superb header. Newlaithes battled in vain to grab an equaliser but it wasn't to be. Final score, 1-0 to Abbeytown.
This was a tough encounter with both teams giving 100% and to an extent, they cancelled each other out at times, particularly in the 2nd half. The Newlaithes players were kicking themselves for failing to take advantage of a bagful of early chances and they had a much higher shot count overall. That said, Abbeytown took the chance that counted to nick it near the end. A great effort by both teams and well played.
The Newlaithes players all worked equally hard so player of the match was awarded to the whole team.
Next week the Ladies are away to Carlisle City in the re-arranged local derby, kick-off 2pm at the Sheepmount.
