There was a new look to the Newlaithes team with three players making their debuts in Women's football for their top of the table clash with Workington Reds. A persistent drizzle started just before kick-off which made for a greasy pitch and for the second game running, we all got soaked. The game got off to a lively start as both teams battled to gain the upper hand and it was Reds who made the breakthrough on four minutes when they broke quickly with a through ball from midfield for their striker to slide in ahead of keeper Lauren Crofts to bundle the ball home. Newlaithes were then forced to make an early change on 7 minutes when Katie Johnston replaced striker Nicola Morning who was feeling unwell. The game was played at a high tempo as both teams continued to battle although Reds looked the more organised in the early stages. But Newlaithes showed great determination and winger Alison McCorry came close when she sliced the ball wide following a mazy run down the right wing. Then on 23 minutes, Newlaithes leveled the scores when striker Tasha Scott was shoved in the back a few yards outside the right hand corner of the penalty area. Paige Williams floated a high, looping free-kick in at the near post top corner, giving the Reds keeper no chance. Two minutes later and Newlaithes took the lead with the best move of the game - Debutante Victoria Metcalfe won the ball in midfield and played to Chelsea Norris, who laid the ball off to Alison McCorry. Alison drove forward and played up to Tasha Scott on the edge of the area. Tasha played a 1st time pass back to Chelsea Norris, who had continued her run and she burst through the gap to tuck the ball in at the far post. The Newlaithes lead lasted all of 10 minutes when the Reds showed some slick passing of their own to slice open the Newlaithes defence and score the equaliser. On 37 minutes, striker Nicola Morning had recovered and was able to return to the field in place of Katie Johnston. Chances came and went at both ends and Newlaithes keeper Lauren Crofts did well to save from close range but it was the Reds who took the lead on 41 minutes when some sloppy defending under pressure allowed Reds to score from close range taking them 3-2 up. With a minute to go until half time, Newlaithes got sloppy again and reds increased their lead with a fine curling shot from the left hand side of the area that flew in at the far top corner. Half-time 2-4 The Newlaithes players were furious with themselves at half-time, they had been slow to track back at times and conceded too much space in midfield. Carly Stevenson made her long-awaited return after a fractured leg to replace Emma Humpleby who was making her debut in central defence. Carly slotted in as a holding midfield player and Alison McCorry moved to central defence to add some pace at the back. The second half continued in the same vein with both sides battling frantically to gain control of the game and on 54 minutes, Alison McCorry burst out of defence with the ball before playing the ball through to Tasha Scott who outpaced her marker to slide the ball past the advancing keeper. Unfortunately for the home side, Workington won a corner on the right on 61 minutes. Lauren Crofts was unable to hold onto the high, wet, spinning ball as it flew across and she could only help it into the net. However four minutes later and Newlaithes had pegged back the deficit when Paige Williams slid the ball forward to Nicola Morning, just inside the Reds area. She won the tussle for possession and the ball popped out to Tasha Scott, who blasted the ball home for her second and Newlaithes' fourth. Newlaithes' tails were well and truly up but once again they didn't do themselves any favours when Alison McCorry was dispossessed on the edge of her own area on 74 minutes. Jade Williams headed the cross out for a corner on the right but Workington were first to the ball that followed and scored with an unstoppable header. Still Newlaithes didn't lie down and on 82 minutes they pulled one back again when Paige Williams floated forward a precision ball from midway inside the Reds half and Tasha Scott rose to score with a glancing header that flew over the Reds keeper and into the net for her hat-trick and Newlaithes' fifth. Newlaithes were on fire now and they had their best spell of the match as they bombarded the Reds area for the final 10 minutes. Workington had everyone back as they clung on to their lead with tackles flying in from all angles. Newlaithes had the ball in the net following an Alison McCorry cross from the bye-line but it was adjudged to have been off-side. Then Victoria Metcalfe fired just over from the edge of the area and Alison McCorry fired into the side netting from the right following another burst into the Workington area. Newlaithes won a string of corners as the Workington team was camped in its own area, then in injury time Chelsea Norris shot on the turn but the ball flew agonisingly wide of the left-hand post and that was it. Final score 6-5 to Workington. This was a great advert for Women's football. Both teams gave absolutely everything with Workington shading the first half and it's fair to say they were the slightly more organised of the two teams but the game really could have gone either way as the new look Newlaithes team grew in stature as the game progressed. When taking into account the fact that three of the Newlaithes players were playing their first game in Women's football with another playing only her second, there is a great deal to be optimistic about. Special mention to right-back Lydia McGuiness who put in a solid debut performance on her 16th birthday. Alison McCorry was once again outstanding as time after time she twisted, turned and sprinted her way through the opposition but joint players of the match were defender Jade Williams who again displayed a mixture of tough tackling and coolness on the ball and Tasha Scott who battled away up front grabbing a hat-trick and an assist. Next week we are faced with another tough battle as we travel to play newcomers Barrow Celtic who are current joint league leaders.
