[P]enrith AFC Ladies showed their resilience as they bounced back from Thursdays 2-1 defeat at Carlisle United to beat table toppers Cammel Laird.
Penrith had been dealt a significant blow by the Carlisle defeat and a little over 48 hours later, with tired limbs they made the long trip to Birkenhead to face Cammell Laird.
The game was a cagey affair as you would expect with so much at stake. Cammell Laird started brightly and were probing the Penrith defence, which coped well with the early test. Cammell Laird were passing well in the midfield area and were looking to stretch the Penrith defence. Penrith responded with a disciplined defensive display and gradually eased themselves into the game.
The game gradually opened up and Penrith were starting to look threatening with Nat Broad, Georgia Campbell and Becca Alderson all looking to get behind the Cammell Laird defence.
Penrith made the breakthrough on 31 mins when Kim McCormick’s long free kick was headed goalwards by Georgia Campbell. The ball rebounded off a defender and Heather Fawkes was the first to react as she stroked the ball low into the net (see photo).
HT 0-1
Into the 2nd half both teams put in a massive effort which produced a pulsating game. Despite this effort clear chances were few and far between and neither keeper was seriously threatened. Penrith defended with discipline and organisation throughout and professionally saw out the game to record a notable victory against a very good Cammell Laird team.
Penrith: Jones, Nelson, Grisedale, C.Smith, McCormick, Fawkes (Coulthard), Alderson (Johnston), Broad, Hopton, Campbell (Nutter), S.Smith.
