The Ladies maintained their record of never failing to reach a league cup final with an 8-1 win over Carlisle City in today's semi-final. Chez Brierley and Alison McCorry both scored a hat-trick with Chelsea Norris and Becky Rush grabbing a goal each.
City were quick to close down Newlaithes in the early stages as both teams battled for the upper hand but it was Newlaithes who settled quickest and took the lead on 16 minutes when Carly Stevenson set Chez Brierley free in the area with a clever back heel pass and she made no mistake with a quality left foot finish into the bottom corner. Four minutes later Newlaithes doubled their lead when Chelsea Norris took advantage of the wind to score direct from a corner on the right - the 3rd time she has done so this season. Shortly afterwards Paige Williams was unlucky to see her curling effort come back off the right hand upright but on 36 minutes, Newlaithes grabbed their third when Carly Stevenson sent Chez Brierley clear to round the keeper and slot home her 2nd of the game. City pulled one back on 41 minutes when Stacey Harkness curled a delightful free kick into the net from outside the area but the respite was short-lived as Becky Rush drilled a loose ball into the bottom left-hand corner from the edge of the area to restore the 3 goal cushion against her former club. Half-time, 4-1.
Newlaithes continued to dominate and on 49 minutes they increased their lead when Chez Brierley set Alison McCorry free to sprint clear of the City back line and smash the ball home for number 5. On 58 minutes Chez Brierley completed her hat-trick when she was sent clear following good work by Paige Williams and Becky Rush to slot home, then on 63 minutes, Chez turned provider as she set Alison McCorry free to score her 2nd in similar fashion for Newlaithes' 7th. Despite the scoreline, City kept battling but Newlaithes keeper Lauren Crofts was never really troubled and on 90 minutes, Newlaithes completed the scoring when Becky Rush slipped the ball to Alison McCorry on the edge of the City area and she jinked past several defenders before completing her hat-trick in style.
This was a solid team effort with some excellent individual performances but player of the match was Paige Williams who was a rock in the centre of midfield.
Our opponents in the final will be Workington Reds who beat Barrow 3-1 in their semi-final. The final will be played on the Carlisle City 1st team pitch at the Sheepmount, 2pm next Sunday 11th May and it promises to be a thrilling encounter with the teams having already played four extremely close games this season.
