The Ladies were boosted for the local derby with Carlisle City by the addition to the squad of three players making their debuts. U16 player Carly Stevenson was available with the U16s having no game and with clearance issues finally resolved, Claire Blackburn and Cathy Lamenzo were raring to go.
Both teams started brightly but it was Newlaithes who created the early chances with Claire and Carly coming close. Then after 4 minutes Newlaithes took the lead when they won a throw-in to the right of the City area. The ball found it's way to Carly who jinked her way past the defence to slot home the opener. Four minutes later and Pat broke from the Newlaithes half. She slotted an inch perfect ball through for Emma to race clear and tuck the ball away for number two. Despite the early Newlaithes lead, City kept fighting and played some nice passing football in midfield but the Newlaithes defence held firm. As the half progressed, Newlaithes were really starting to click into gear, with Pat, Paige and Claire looking sharp in midfield and the front three of Emma, Carly and Danni causing all kinds of problems with their quick movement On 28 minutes Newlaithes increased their lead when Claire chipped through the middle for Carly. Carly did well to slide in at the edge of the area to reach the ball before the advancing keeper and she was quickest to her feet to side foot the ball into the open net. However Newlaithes suffered a blow when captain Jade was forced to leave the field with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Laura O. Tasha moved to centre back and Laura slotted in at right back. Undaunted, Newlaithes then went on a goal frenzy - less than a minute later and Pat slotted the ball through for Carly to blast the ball past the City keeper and into roof of the net from just inside the area to complete her hat-trick. Another minute went by and Emma squared the ball from the right for Carly to tap in at the far post for Newlaithes' fifth. Two minutes later and Pat broke down the right. She hit a stinging low cross-shot towards the near post and the City keeper was unlucky to slip at the vital moment and the ball flew in for Newlaithes sixth. A minute later and it was Pat again with Carly this time the provider. She played the ball in from the right and Pat flicked the ball past the defender. Pat then raced onto the ball herself and blasted home for number seven. On 37 minutes Emma made a great run but was adjudged off-side. However she did well to block the resulting free kick and made a great solo run to score number eight. Two minutes from half-time and Newlaithes got number nine when when Claire and Emma combined well to set up Carly to score her fifth. Half-time 9-0.
Katie O came on at the start of the 2nd half and on 49 minutes she tapped in at the far post after some good work by Carly to the right of the area. A minute later and Emma raced away for another excellent solo finish to complete her hat-trick. Two minutes later and Emma broke again combining with Carly before slotting home her 4th and Newlaithes 12th. A minute later and it was 13. Carly's shot was deflected up in the air and Emma leapt to bundle the ball over the line to make sure. It was breath-taking stuff and on 56 minutes, Katie O headed a corner from the right back across goal for Carly to take the ball down and turn to stroke home her sixth goal and Newlaithes 14th. On 58 minutes, American striker Cathy made her long-awaited debut when came on for fellow debutant Claire who had taken a knock. It wasn't long before Cathy made her mark when she raced onto a through ball from Paige on 63 minutes to slot home into the bottom corner. On 69 minutes Newlaithes wrapped up the scoring when Emma intercepted a City clearance to race clear for another quality solo finish to complete her double hat-trick. Two minutes later Emma made way for Katie J. Both teams kept battling until the end but despite coming close, neither was able to add to the scoreline. Final Score, 16-0.
What a difference a week makes! For the first time this season, the Newlaithes team had the majority of their squad available and the difference in quality was evident for all to see. Credit to Carlisle City who battled right until the end but the Newlaithes midfield and forwards played some scintilating stuff at times - and what makes it all the more remarkable is the fact that three players were making their debuts. Today, the whole team played with confidence - in goals, Lauren's handling was assured and she made several quality saves to keep City out. The defence looked relatively comfortable but it was the midfield and forwards who took the game by the scruff of the neck with some ruthless finishing. After a game like this it is so difficult to pick a player of the match but debutant Carly just nicked it with her endless running and six goals to boot!! Not a bad start in Women's football for a player who only recently turned 16.
No game for the next two weeks so the next match is in three weeks time away to Keswick.
Keep up the good work Ladies!
