With several senior players unavailable due to the Easter holiday and injury, a makeshift Newlaithes squad that included three U16 players in the starting line-up travelled to Penrith for the final league match of the season. Penrith were boosted by the addition of several 1st team players. There was a strong wing blowing diagonally across a postage stamp of a pitch.
Newlaithes had the wind advantage in the 1st half and immediately took the game to Penrith with Paige, Claire and Dani causing all kinds of problems down the right. Newlaithes took the lead on 17 minutes when Carly played the ball to Paige, who was 25 yards out. She took one touch and curled a superb shot over the Penrith keeper and into the top corner. Penrith countered well, with Chez Brierley always dangerous but she was marshalled well by Paige. However Newlaithes breathed a sigh of relief shortly afterwards when Chez jinked her way to the goal-line and squared the ball only for the un-marked Penrith striker to blast the ball over the bar from close range. At the other end, Newlaithes had numerous chances to increase their lead but poor finishing and good work by the Penrith keeper kept them out until in the 43rd minute, Claire slotted the ball through to Carly on the edge of the area. She steadied herself before placing the ball past the keeper and into the bottom corner via the foot of the post. Newlaithes amost scored again a minute later after a great run down the left from Chelsea N but the effort went just wide. Half time, 2-0 Newlaithes.
Penrith fought back in the second half and they pulled one back after only five minutes when Chez Brierley turned superbly from the right hand side of the Newlaithes area to smash a first time effort into the back of the net, despite Paige's close attention. Two minutes later and Penrith were level when Newlaithes conceded a soft free kick 35 yards out. Chez stepped up to take take the kick and the ball was in from the moment it left her boot. Newlaithes fought back well with Dani still causing problems down the right but she just wasn't able to pull the trigger and some last ditch tackling kept Penrith alive. Then on 63 minutes came the turning point in the game. Carly blasted a shot from inside the area that brought a brilliant reaction save from the Penrith keeper. Unfortunately the Newlaithes defence didn't deal with the long clearance that followed as the ball was allowed to bounce over their heads. The ball appeared to be going through to keeper Lauren but there was no communication so Jade made a desperate lunge to try to clear the ball but unfortunately she only succeeded in deflecting the ball into the path of the lone Penrith striker, who finished superbly into the bottom corner. Penrith had the ball in the net shortly afterwards but the header was well off-side. Newlaithes pressed desperately for the equaliser but Penrith had their tales up and the wind was proving to be difficult. Then five minutes from time as Newlaithes continued to press, they fell to a sucker punch with the defence falling asleep and conceding cheaply after some slick passing by Penrith. Final score 4-2 to Penrith.
A game of two halves, this was a disappointing end to the league season. Yes, Newlaithes were fielding a young, makeshift squad and yes, Penrith had a few 1st team players on show but Newlaithes created enough opportunities to have won this game. Credit to Penrith though who put in a solid performance to keep Newlaithes out and created several good opportunities of their own. Overall, Newlaithes created more in the way of chances but both teams were fairly evenly matched. However the strong wind together with the exceedingly small pitch made it difficult for either team to play with any real flow as too easily and too often, the ball found its way from keeper to keeper. Newlaithes player of the match was defender Laura O for some determined tackling in her last match before leaving for University. Good luck Laura!
So, the result means that Newlaithes finish fourth in the league and they can now look forward to playing in the League Cup Final against Abbeytown, which is likely to be played early May. Watch this space for confirmation of the date when it is announced.
