he Cumbrian derby of the season – between the ladies of Carlisle United and Workington Reds – finished with honours even.
A highly competitive game and entertaining game ended in a 0-0 draw.
The Reds set off well and soon settled into their stride putting pressure on the home defence. Good link-up play between midfielders Helen Wagstaff and Sophie Douglas resulted in chances being generated predominantly down the Reds right.
Emi Rudd was occupying some great positions and was able to feed winger Morgan McGrady who was applying serious amounts of pressure to the Carlisle left back, but thanks to the covering defence working as a unit, she was unable to capitalise.
Keen running from Hannah Geen on the left wing and Sophie Nutter running the central channels both offered glimpses of hope, but due to the dry pitch conditions, the ball all too often ran through to the Carlisle keeper.
Carlisle also generated chances for themselves and Workington’s defensive unit of Alice Kemp, Naomi Foster, El McDonald and Nat Hooper, along with keeper Laura Miller, were called in to action on a couple of occasions but defended with competently.
McDonald delivered a polished performance even though she was in an unfamiliar position because of Holly Redmond’s absence. Kemp, filling in at right back in her second start for the club, also gave a good, enthusiastic account of herself.
As the first half developed, Kemp’s confidence grew and her link up play with the forward players started to prosper while on the left Hooper was showing great anticipation and control.
Carlisle came out strongly in the second half and the game continued to be eagerly contested. Their improved passages of pressure started to create chances, but as in the first half Miller was alert to the dangers.
Her best moment came when a shot was superbly saved by a diving fingertip effort to push the ball onto the post before it was ushered to safety.
Reds’ substitutes Laura Ivison and Ellie Ritchie both made an impact. Ivison immediately unsettled the Carlisle defence with her constant movement whilst Ritchie was exerting the same pressure to their right back as McGrady had delivered on the left.
It was Ritchie who had worked a great chance for herself through strong running. She had threatened down the left before cutting back inside and hitting a sweet strike only to see it narrowly miss the far post.
Wagstaff and Douglas had put in a gritty and competitive performance and with 25 minutes still to play were given a well-earned rest.
Megan Yarnold and Linzi Donaldson were introduced into the middle of the park and made their presence felt immediately as they picked-up from where the other two had left off. Both players looked to feed the ball through to McGrady and Ritchie and the latter’s fresher legs was stretching the resolve of the home defence.
Leah Cottier, who is also a regular in the Barrow Raiders Women’s Rugby League team, came on to replace Hooper and freshen the back line. Hooper had been worked hard in the second half with a lot of the Carlisle raids being directed down her side. Cottier slotted in well and helped keep the clean sheet.
Nearing the end the Reds were awarded a free kick about 30 yards out. Donaldson stepped up and delivered a sweet strike at goal, which had the keeper beaten but flashed just wide.
It was obvious to see that there were more supporters at the game than the corresponding fixture last season, which is hopefully an indication of a growing interest in the women’s game.
Helen Wagstaff was awarded Player of the Game by Carlisle for her performance in the middle of the park.
The Reds are Borough Park on Sunday, kick off at 2pm and play Accrington Stanley who are unbeaten this season so far with seven points from three games. The Reds are on one point after two games.
Admission is free and support for the team will be greatly appreciated by all at the club.
