The Ladies were at home to Carlisle City and were looking to bounce back from last week's defeat to Abbeytown with last season's top scorer Emma Sisson and defender Laura Owen returning to the line-up, with midweek signing Mairead Kinsella making her debut in midfield.
Newlaithes started like a house on fire and but for better finishing could have been four or five up in the first 20 minutes with Emma Sisson and Tasha Scott unable to convert several chances. However they finally made the breakthrough on 22 minutes when Paige Williams received a throw-in from the right, midway into the City half. She played up to Carly Stevenson who laid off a delightful ball to Tasha Scott to fire the ball home from the left hand side of the area. There was a touch of fortune with Newlaithes' second goal four minutes later when Paige Williams played a long ball forward for Emma Sisson to run on to. Emma shot from close range and the City keeper saved with her legs only for the ball to ricochet back over the line off a City defender. Although Newlaithes had the lion's share of possession, City always looked dangerous on the break with the talented Nicola Smith playing as a loan striker up front and she almost pulled one back shortly afterwards but Newlaithes keeper Lauren Crofts made a fantastic save to keep the ball out. However on 35 minutes she wrong-footed Newlaithes central defender Jade Williams to smash the ball home from the just inside the area. This led to City's best spell of the game as they came at Newlaithes, forcing several corners but they were unable to grab an equaliser before half time.
Newlaithes started the 2nd half with Laura Webster and Alison McCorry on for Tasha Scott and Emma Sisson and they immediately took the game to City with Alison McCorry and Chelsea Norris causing problems with their pace up front. However it was midfield general Paige Williams who increased the Newlaithes lead when she picked up the ball just outside the City area to lob the keeper. Four minutes later and the tireless Carly Stevenson opened her account with a similar effort. Despite the setback, City kept plugging away but the Newlaithes defence worked hard to cut off the supply to the ever dangerous Smith. However Newlaithes kept up the pressure with right winger Alison McCorry coming close on no less than five occasions, then on 65 minutes, 1st half sub Chelsea Norris was forced to leave the field to be replaced by Emma Sisson and a few minutes later, she got Newlaithes 5th after some quick inter-play between Pat and Carly. Emma raced towards goal and steadied herself before finishing from close range. Three minutes later it was number six when Laura Webster picked up the ball deep in the Newlaithes half, she played a delightful ball through to Carly Stevenson who attacked the City defence from midfield. She laid off the ball to her right for Laura Webster who had ghosted upfield and she smashed the ball home, left-footed from 25 yards. On 81 minutes, Alison McCorry finally got the goal that she deserved when Carly Stevenson again laid the ball off for her to float the ball over the keeper's head from the right side of the area. On 84 minutes, Newlaithes wrapped up the scoring when McCorry crossed from the right for Carly Stevenson to flick on and Emma Sisson made no mistake with her shot. Final score, 8-1 to Newlaithes.
This was a much improved performance by Newlaithes, particularly in possession with the players making much better use of the space that was available and to take nothing away from City, the Newlaithes score could easily have been doubled or even higher with some better finishing. Player of the match however was Lauren Crofts in the Newlaithes goal for making some crucial saves at a time when the game situation was much closer. Fair play to City who battled right to the end. Although they were a player down, they have some quality players and Newlaithes still had to work hard to earn the result.
The Ladies have no match next week due to Windscale unfortunately pulling out of the league so the next game is on 30th September in the FA cup at home to Jarrow Ladies.
