All eyes were on the rising water levels surrounding the playing fields at Rickerby Park as the Ladies took on visitors Keswick. Newlaithes were without several key players but welcomed back Chelsea Lightfoot, Hannah Whitford and Laura Owen who was making her first competitive appearance of the season. Newlaithes Assistant, Darren Harris and striker Carly Stevenson hurriedly marked out the 'top pitch' as it was drier than the usual pitch in order to ensure that the game went ahead.
Newlaithes started brightly and took the lead after three minutes when Carly Stevenson played the ball out to Claire Blackburn on the left hand side of the area and she made no mistake in tucking the ball away. Despite the early setback, Keswick defended resolutely as Newlaithes continued to dominate. However it was non-football matters that were causing problems as flood water from the adjoining field began to seep through. The game continued and on 23 minutes, Newlaithes increased their lead when Faye Comber was tripped in the area. She took the penalty herself and calmly stroked the ball home. Newlaithes thought they had scored again a minute later when Carly Stevenson slid in at the far post but she was adjudged off-side. However the seepage was getting worse as one corner of the pitch was now under water. Fortunately, our Daz was one step ahead and ably assisted by Jordan Rotherham, they already had the other pitch set up in anticipation and with the referee and both captains agreeing to switch pitches, the game continued. On 30 minutes, Newlaithes got their third when Chloe Moore chipped the ball in from the edge of the area and Claire Blackburn scored her second of the match with a deft, flicked header. Right on the stroke of half-time, Newlaithes scored their fourth when Mairead Kinsella slipped a delightful ball through to Carly Stevenson to break clear and slot the ball home.
Newlaithes were on fire and on 47 minutes Faye Comber slid an angled pass through to Carly Stevenson to grab her second and Newlaithes' fifth. On 53 minutes, it was six when the Keswick keeper could only parry Hannah Whitford's well struck shot and Carly Stevenson was there to put the ball away for her hat trick. A minute later and Faye Comber got her second when she won the ball outside the Keswick area and she bulldozed her way through the Keswick defence to grab her second. On 58 minutes it was Paige Williams' turn as she picked up the ball 25 yards out and unleashed a piledriver that flew into the net despite the keeper getting both hands to the ball. On 60 minutes Faye Comber completed her hat trick when she intercepted a goal kick and again burst through the Keswick defence to finish. Sub Katie Johnston came close before on 72 minutes, Claire Blackburn sent Chelsea Lightfoot on a break down the left. She squared inside to Chloe Moore to place the ball past the Keswick keeper for her 1st goal in Women's football. However, the water from the adjoining field was now starting to surround the playing field and it was starting to encroach behind the Keswick goals. There was no threat to the players' safety but would the match get to the end? On 86 minutes Paige Williams showed good strength before setting Chelsea Lightfoot once again free to sprint down the left. Her ball inside found Faye Comber who wrapped up the scoring to make the final score 11-0. As soon as the final whistle went everyone hurriedly shook hands before frantically moving cars out of the small river that had formed across the playing field gates and by the time the changing rooms were locked up, what had been the Keswick goalmouth was covered in water that extended out beyond the corner flag.
This was a confident performance from Newlaithes and it was good to see a number of key players starting to hit form as the busines end of the season approaches. Player of the match was split three ways between Carly Stevenson, Faye Comber and Paige Williams, who ran the show for Newlaithes. However it goes without saying that the real winner today was football, with both sides, together with referee Mark Travers showing a real determination to see the game through to the end and it was all made possible by the never say die efforts of Darren Harris and Jordan Rotherham to provide a pitch to play on - efforts that were hugely appreciated by all concerned and we can't thank them enough!!!
Next week the Ladies face a tough away trip to Dalton for an 11am kick-off against Crookland Casuals, who have a 100% record so far this season.
