The Ladies travelled to high-fliers Kendal Town with no fewer than seven players unavailable to make the trip.
Kendal dominated from the start and took the lead after only 3 minutes with a relatively soft shot from just outside the area that crept into the bottom corner. Two minutes later and Kendal increased their lead with a similar shot. Newlaithes showed good determination to keep Kendal at bay and had the ball in the net when Tasha scrambled home a mis-timed shot from Laura W, following a squared free-kick from just outside the box but unfortunately the effort was ruled off-side. Kendal kept the pressure on and they increased thair lead after 21 minutes when the Newlaithes defence failed to clear a corner from the Kendal right and their forward pounced to bundle the ball home. Four minutes later Kendal got a controversial fourth when Pat was upended in midfield with no foul given. The Kendal player made a good solo run to lay-off the ball for her team mate to drive the ball home. On 39 minutes Kendal scored their fifth when they blocked an attempted clearance on the Newlaithes right and their player attacked the box to shoot across the goal and into the bottom corner depite a brave diving attempt to save by stand-in keeper Katie J. A minute from half-time, Kendal got a corner from the right and their forward charged in to score un-challenged, with a powerful header. Half-time, 6-0.
The Newlaithes players were remarkably upbeat and phylosophical at half-time despite left-back Chelsea feeling ill and injuries to central defender Alix and right-winger Pat.
Newlaithes continued to battle at the start of the second half but it was Kendal who increased their lead on 51 minutes following a neat 1-2 resulting in a nice solo finish. On 55 minutes, Chelsea, who had struggled all match with illness was replaced by Sam. A quick re-shuffle saw Tasha move into defence with Laura W moving out left and Danni moving up front. The change almost paid off immediately as Danni battled past the Kendal defence and into the box but their keeper did well to close her down and Danni's shot ricochet'd off her legs. As had been the case in the 1st half, Newlaithes showed good resistance for a spell and they continued to try and play passing football when in possession. Nevertheless, Kendal always looked the stronger of the two sides and on 65 minutes, Jade did well to block a shot from the edge of the area but Kendal were 1st to the rebound to score number eight. A minute later and quick thinking by the Kendal forwards caught the Newlaithes defence napping and they scored an easy goal following a quickly taken free-kick from just outside the Newlaithes area. On 77 minutes Newlaithes were caught out by a quality long ball from Kendal and their forward raced clear to score. Two minutes later and Kendal wrapped up the scoring following a neat interchange of play resulting in a close range finish. Another Newlaithes re-shuffle saw Lauren take over in goals and she was called into action immediately when she gathered a powerfully struck long shot, then a minute later she saved brilliantly when she deflected a stinging shot from the right hand side of the area onto the under-side of the bar and turned quickly to mop up the re-bound. With three minutes to go, Alix went down suddenly in the Newlaithes area and had to be stretchered off the field with a suspected achilles injury but despite being down to ten players, Newlaithes held out with no further damage incurred.
Kendal thoroughly deserved their victory but credit to the thread-bare Newlaithes team for giving everything they had for the full 90 minutes and by the end of the match they were wrecked, yet surprisingly buoyant. In fairness, it could be argued that several of the Kendal goals were perhaps conceded somewhat 'generously' but the Kendal team's superiority on the day was never in doubt. Well done to Katie J for volunteering to go in goals. The Newlaithes players all worked tirelessly to make an impression on the game but player of the match for the 2nd game running was Alix who was like a rock at the centre of defence.
Thanks to Kendal Town for their post match hospitality, which was once again excellent!
The Ladies are at home next Sunday in a local derby against Carlisle City, 11.30 kick-off.
