The Ladies had to start their League cup match against Carlisle City without the services of keeper Abbie who was missing through illness so Laura O stepped into the breach.
Newlaithes took charge right from the off and took the lead after 4 minutes when Paige attacked a corner from the left to volley home at the near post. Paige had a hand in the second goal on 12 minutes when she played the ball to Sarah P in midfield. Sarah played an inch perfect pass through to Faye who beat the City defence to finish well into the bottom corner. On 21 minutes it was three when Paige again attacked a corner from the left only to see her header hit the post. She followed up well though and scrambled the ball over the line for her second of the match. Three minutes later and Faye won the ball in the box from a corner on the right. With her back to goal she layed the ball back to Claire who curled the ball in, left-footed from the edge of the box. Another three minutes passed and it was number five when Tasha played the ball through to Faye who jinked through the defence for another excellent finish. It was all Newlaithes and keeper Laura O got her first touch of the ball in the 29th minute when she retrieved the ball to take a goal kick after a City shot had gone wide. On 35 minutes Newlaithes got their sixth when Pat's shot from the right was well saved by the City keeper. Claire was first to the rebound on he edge of the box and she did well to dink the ball over her marker's head before finishing sweetly for her 2nd. Half-time 6-0.
City made some changes for the start of the 2nd half but the game continued in the same vein. However Newlaithes were unable to add to the score as the City defence worked hard to keep out their forwards. Faye went in goals and swapped with Laura O, who went up front. Alix and Yula came on to make their debut appearances and Alix almost scored with her 1st touch as she was unlucky not to get on to the end of a through ball from Pat. Credit to City who never stopped battling although it was always comfortable for Newlaithes. Katie J came on in the 65th minute for Sarah C who had been ill all week and Sarah's absence left more space for City to exploit. At the other end Paige was unlucky to see a 25 yard effort come back off the foot of the post. In the 79th minute, City got a deserved consolation goal when the tireless Nicola Smith battled her way past the Newlaithes defence to score with an excellent finish into the bottom corner. That was the end of the scoring and the match finished 6-1 to Newlaithes.
This was an excellent performance from Newlaithes which takes them into the semi-final. They played without a recognised keeper and well done to Tasha, Katie O and Sarah C who had been ill all week, however player of the match was shared between the two stand-in keepers.
Back to league duty next week with a visit to Keswick FC.
