At last! The Ladies finally got a game in but only with the assistance of opponents Penrith AFC Development. This was Newlaithes home fixture but with Rickerby Park more suitable for water polo, Penrith made hasty arrangements to play the match at Frenchfield in Penrith. Newlaithes were without a number of senior players but were pleased to include debutant Paige, playing her first match in Newlaithes colours for three seasons, having been on sabatical with the Cumbria Girls Centre of Excellence.
Newlaithes looked assured from the start as the stiff breeze blew any cobwebs away. After only three minutes Paige in midfield, steered the ball through to Claire who set up Laura W to curl the ball, right-footed into the far corner from inside the area. Two minutes later Paige got on the scoresheet when she controlled a corner from the right to tuck the ball away from close range. Barely another two minutes had passed when Paige chipped a ball through to Faye who headed the ball on to Claire to finish well for number three. Another two minutes on the clock and it was four, with Paige again finding Faye to score with an excellent shot on the turn. Penrith battled hard but were unable to gain any real possession. Although rusty in parts, Newlaithes were playing some confident, passing football. After 16 minutes Pat broke down the right and played the ball into Faye whose shot was blocked but Claire was on hand to slot in number five. On 20 minutes it was Faye again when Laura W put her through with a slide-rule pass to beat the off-side trap. The Penrith keeper did well to save her 1st attempt but Faye made no mistake with the follow up, tucking the ball into the bottom corner. Five minutes later and it was number seven as Paige was again the provider for Faye to smash the ball home to seal her FIFTH hat-trick of the season. On 27 minutes it was Claire's turn to complete her hat-trick with a nice solo effort from inside the box. There was then a brief lull in proceedings as everyone caught their breath until Claire unselfishly set up Faye to slot home her 4th on 40 minutes. In the last minute before half-time it was number ten when Chelsea was quickest to a Penrith clearance to play the ball up to Laura W on the left. Laura hit an unstoppable shot with her left foot from 25 yards that curled just inside the near post. Half time 10-0.
The second half started in the same vein with Laura O on for Faye. On 47 minutes Paige controlled the ball well just outside the area and hit a low drive into the bottom corner to the keeper's right for her second of the match. On 63 minutes Claire attacked a loose ball in the box to smash the ball home for her 4th. With Laura D on for Laura W and Katie J on for Claire, chances still came thick and fast and in the 65th minute, Sarah P set Pat free to tuck the ball away for her 1st of the game. Paige was unlucky to see two almost identical headers go over the bar when she got onto the end of two corners from the right. She also saw a curling shot from outside the box go just over. On 71 minutes Paige was once again the provider when she put Pat through to smash in a shot that took a deflection off the defender for her 2nd. Then on 75 minutes Laura O broke free on the right to slot the ball in from close range to a loud cheer as she scored her first goal for for two seasons to the delight of the crowd. That was the end of the scoring but Laura D, Katie J, Laura O, Chelsea and Sarah P all went close and had shots well saved. The final score was 15-0.
This was an excellent performance (even more so considering the team hadn't played a match for 2½ months). Credit to Penrith as they never stopped battling but Newlaithes confidence was sky high and the frustration caused by the enforced lay-off was exorcised in a clinical display of passing and finishing.
Chelsea, Tasha, Jade & Sarah C mopped up any attack that Penrith mustered and they were so miserly that Abbie in goal for Newlaithes, hardly touched the ball in the first half and not at all in the second half. Laura W and Pat were outstanding on the wings with Pat taking more than her fair share of knocks. Sarah P showed typical calmness and vision in the middle and Faye and Claire were devastating up front. This was a 'Whole Team' Player of the Match performance, however no-one can deny that perhaps one player deserved to receive the accolade as she made such a significant contribution on her debut in Women's Senior football. Paige scored two, had a hand in no less than five other goals including three direct assists and worked her socks off box to box. The whole team though was terrific.
Thanks to Penrith for working so hard to get the game on and also to ref Adam Pattison for another excellent match in the middle.
