The ladies came away with the spoils in an eagerly contested local derby against Penrith AFC Development. Reece Dixon was making her debut for Newlaithes as former striker Tasha Scott lined up for the vistors.
Newlaithes started brightly in a fast paced game and took the lead on 3 minutes when Alice Simpson finished a Pat Currie cross from point blank range following a pin-point through ball from Pip Atkinson. Both teams were up for the battle with the visitors making some crucial slide tackles but it was Newlaithes who were creating more chances with Alice Simpson, Pat Currie and Paige Williams all coming close, while the visitor's best chance in the first half fell to Tasha Scott who slid in well at the near post to stab the ball just wide following a low cross from their lively winger who was looking dangerous down the left. However Simpson was on fire for Newlaithes as she caused all sorts of problems for the visitors defence. Both keepers looked sharp and commanded their respective areas well, gathering anything that came their way with Newlaithes keeper Vicki Rudd making several sweeper keeper clearances. Despite all the intensity, the score remained 1-0 at half time.
The visitors came out strongly at the beginning of the second half but the Newlaithes defence held firm. Claire Davis joined the attack for Newlaithes and immediately caused problems showing great strength and determination to dominate her markers and she came so close to scoring but despite battling frantically for the ball she couldn't find an angle to get her shot in as the keeper did well to smother the ball. Lauren Crofts also came close as she was set free while at the other end the visitors broke free down the right but Vicki Rudd has the shot well covered. Paige Williams then came close for Newlaithes as she fizzed a shot just over the bar from 25 yards. Tasha Scott also put one into the side netting for Penrith but it was Newlaithes who were doing most of the attacking with Claire Davis continuing to cause problems but as with the first half, the visitors defended resolutely with some well timed slide tackles keeping the home side out and the score remained 1-0 at the final whistle.
This was a tremendous match with both sides full-on for the whole 90 minutes. Newlaithes deserved their hard-earned victory though as they created the lion's share of the chances yet it wouldn't have been an injustice if the visitors had got something from the game.
This was a first for Newlaithes as they had a match day squad of 18 players, with a full quota of 7 substitutes, showing that things are definitley on the up after a summer of uncertaintly and it was good to see yet another debutant with Reece Dixon looking assured at the back in her first game playing women's football. There were some outstanding performances throughout the team but player of the match was Alice Simpson for her blitzkrieg effort in the first half.
There are no fixtures next week so our next game is away to Ashington in two week's time.
