The Ladies were at home to close rivals Abbeytown and another tough battle was anticipated. The Newlaithes squad contained no less than four debutants; defender Jade Redhead started at right back with defender Kirstie Commander and wingers Alison McCorry and Hannah Whitford starting on the bench.
Newlaithes started sluggishly and allowed Abbeytown to run riot in the first 20 minutes with the visitors bombarding the Newlaithes goal and when pacy Chelsie Browbank broke through on the left, keeper Lauren Crofts dived well to her left to save at close range. However it was only a matter of time and Abbeytown made the breakthrough on 15 minutes when Newlaithes failed to clear a corner from the Abbeytown right. The ball came back in for Abbeytown to score at the near post. Newlaithes were giving Abbeytown far too much space and the bombardment continued as a shot from the right hit the left hand post. Then an in-swinging corner from the left hit the back post but somehow, Newlaithes rode their luck and began to get back into the game as midfielders Carly Stevenson, Paige Williams and Pat Currie ran their socks off with Tasha Scott shaking up the Abbeytown defence with some robust forward play. Pat and Carly were combining well down the right and it was Abbeytown's turn to scramble the ball clear. Then Chelsea Norris broke down the left to fire across goal. Newlaithes best effort came when Laura Webster smashed a low stinging shot from the edge of the area that Laura Miller in the Abbeytown goal dived full stretch to finger tip round the post. Newlaithes were starting to close down Abbeytown to win more possession in midfield but they never really tested the Abbeytown keeper with too many long range efforts that were dealt with comfortably. For the last 15 minutes of the half Newlaithes grew in stature but they were unable to find a way through the resolute Abbeytown defence.
Newlaithes were forced to make a substitution at half-time with Pat Currie having to leave for work and in stepped Alison McCorry to make her debut having moved up from the U16s during the Summer. And what an impact she made as she took the game to Abbeytown with her quick, jinking runs down the right wing and she almost levelled the score when she beat two Abbeytown defenders and unleashed a screamer from the right hand side of the box that the Abbeytown keeper did well to keep out. Newlaithes were then forced to make another substitution when left winger Chelsea Norris had to leave the pitch with cramp to be replaced by another debutant, Hannah Whitford. Nevertheless, they kept pressing, forcing Abbeytown to scramble the ball from their goalmouth. Then on 60 minutes, Newlaithes fell to a sucker punch when Chelsie Browbank sprinted down the left to cross from the bye-line. Newlaithes seemed to have the ball covered but it bobbled up allowing the Abbeytown forward to finish at the near post. Newlaithes kept pressing with Abbeytown attacking on the counter but they just couldn't find a way through. Then on 74 minutes things went from bad to worse when Chelsie Browbank again burst down the left to fire in another ball from the bye line and the Newlaithes defence was guilty of ball watching as their forward stroked the ball home, completely unmarked from right in front of goal. Newlaithes took advantage of the new 'roll-on roll-off' substitution rule and Chelsea Norris returned to replace Laura Webster. She almost pulled one back when she jinked her way through the Abbeytown defenders but was too slow to pull the trigger and the chance was gone. Credit to Newlaithes as they kept plugging away but Abbeytown were always dangerous on the break and as the clock moved into time added on, Abbeytown won a corner on the Newlaithes right. Newlaithes won possession and played the ball out to Alison McCorry who was just wide of the Newlaithes area. She sprinted all of 70 yards, eluding several challenges on the way, to fire in a low shot from the edge of the Abbeytown area. The shot was blocked in the goalmouth but Tasha Scott was on hand to drill the ball home and it was no more than Newlaithes deserved. Final score 3-1 to Abbeytown.
This was a typical encounter between the two sides and apart from the first 20 minutes or so, it was closely fought with both teams battling tooth and nail. The pace of the Abbeytown forwards was always a threat although in the end, it was a couple of defensive lapses that let them in. There were a number of hearty individual performances for Newlaithes but player of the match was Alison McCorry for setting the 2nd half alight with her quick and skillful runs down the right wing, which was made more incredible by the fact that she was reluctant to play there in the first place!
It was also nice to see a good crown watching the match. Please keep it up!!!
The Ladies are at home again next week to Carlisle City, 2pm kick-off at Rickerby Park.
