Workington Reds Ladies are through to the second qualifying round of the Women’s FA Cup after winning a penalty shoot out 3-2 against Washington Women’s AFC.
Playing at their new home Derwent Park in front of a 400 crowd the Ladies were forced to come from behind to draw 1-1 in a game that they had dominated for much or the time.
The Reds got off to a promising start in the 2nd minute after breaking from mid-field and Morgan McGrady slipping the ball to Sophie Birkett whose shot struck the woodwork.
The Reds threatened again when Sophie Douglas delivered a dangerous ball into the six yard box only for it to be turned to safety by the covering Washington defence.
Then the creative Helen Wagstaff threaded a ball through to McGrady on the right of the area but although her shot had the keeper beaten it flashed just past the far post.
It was completely against the run of play when Washington took a shock lead on 13 minutes.
It initially began as a good penalty shout for Reds but Washington cleared the ball and produced a fine counter attack which ended in Caitlyn Beresford striking a sublime shot from just outside the area beyond keeper Laura Miller.
The Reds Ladies then picked-up the pace again and Emi Rudd was just too high with two efforts at the Washington goal.
Centre back Holly Redmond got forward to send in two quality crosses for McGrady and then Birkett who were both thwarted by the covering Washington defence.
Reds best effort came on 41 minutes from a free-kick just outside the area when Hannah Geen delivered a set-piece special which needed a fine finger-tip save from Washington keeper Evie Stephenson to keep her side in front.
Stephenson was in action early in the second half to deny Redmond and then Geen fired just wide as Reds continued to force the pace.
By contrast the Reds back line of Alice Kemp, Naomi Foster, Redmond and Nat Hooper, worked well as a unit and restricted Washington to two shooting opportunities in the second half, the first of which was well off target.
On 77 minutes the Reds were awarded a free kick in a dangerous area outside the box. Substitute Linzi Donaldson stepped up and delivered a telling ball into the box where McGrady was first to react and her flick forced Stephenson into a finger tip save to push the ball over the bar.
It was from the ensuing corner when the Ladies found the leveller. Geen played a give and go with McGrady before crossing into the box. Substitute Ellie Ritchie struck a snap shot on target only for it to be scrambled away by the Washington defence. Donaldson was lurking on the edge of the area and pounced on the clearance and struck a powerful drive which left Stephenson helpless.
Washington weren’t finished and fashioned their second chance of the half in the last three minutes when for once Jessica Cook found space behind the Reds back line.
Miller read the danger and charged to the edge of her area and as Cook shot the keeper closed down superbly to block the shot which ricocheted to safety.
The final chance of the game fell to the Reds substitute Megan Yarnold as she struck a well hit shot from the edge of the area which lifted agonisingly over the crossbar.
It was then straight to a penalty shoot-out and Donaldson slotted home the first with confidence while Abbey Howard hit the post for Washington.
Yarnold then scored Reds’ second, giving Stephenson no chance, before Jessica Cook scored Washington’s first.
The third penalty was taken by Redmond and she confidently found the back of the net before Miller saved Washington’s third effort from Bethany White.
Miller herself took the next one for Reds but couldn’t beat Stephenson before Amy Coatesworth kept Washington in it by converting the next one for 3-2.
Douglas proved to be the final penalty taker for the Reds Ladies but was also thwarted by Stephenson and it was all down to Jessica Givens to take it to sudden death.
Her strike on goal was clean but was lifted over the bar to send Workington through to the second qualifying round
Emi Rudd was awarded the Player of the Game for the Ladies after an impressive performance in her advanced midfield position.
The day had started with a West Cumbria Youth League Under 14’s Girls fixture where Allerdale Tigers beat Cleator Moor Celtic Girls.
The Ladies are back in action this weekend with a home fixture at Derwent Park against Haslingden Girls and Ladies FC in a North West Women’s Regional League One North encounter (ko 2pm).
Allerdale Pumas will face their counterparts from Cockermouth in the Andrea Buggy’s Women’s Under 16s League kicking off at 11:45.
