
It was honours even for the Reds Ladies as they travelled down the M6 for the first of five successive away games.
Their clash with the Chorley Women’s Development side ended all square 0-0.
It was no surprise that the playing surface was heavy in parts after a prolonged period of poor weather.
This naturally impacted on the style of football but did not dampen the drive and enthusiasm from either side and the ensuing competitive game was again a great advertisement for Ladies Regional Football.
It had been five weeks since the Reds Ladies had last played and their eagerness to get back playing was probably counter-productive.
In the first half, the majority of play was at a tempo slightly quicker than ideal which resulted in a drop in composure.
This resulted in chances on goal being few and far between and allowed the home team to have more possession than they should have had.
The Reds centre back pairing of Naomi Foster and Linzi Donaldson were quickly called in to action as Chorley looked to start on the front foot.
The pair played with composure and dealt with challenges facing them with an air of authority which remained throughout.
The Reds were able to craft positive passages of play, particularly with good link up play on the left from Natalie Hooper and Emi Rudd and down the right with Eleanor McDonald and Sophie Birkett.
The industrious pairing of Sophie Douglas and Ellie Ritchie were quick to close in the middle of the park and were keen to look for openings going forward as they harassed their counterparts from Chorley.
Chloe Henderson threatened with her creativity and fed balls forward to the hardworking Kacey Rodgers as well as wide to Rudd and Birkett.
Hooper created what was the Reds best attempt at breaking the deadlock in the first half through a well worked corner. Having taken the corner and linking with Rudd, Hooper delivered a dangerous ball towards the back post. The attackers were unable to meet the flight and the unchallenged ball narrowly missed the far post.
Reds keeper, Laura Miller was called in to action on a few occasion throughout the game and showed the authority and high quality of goalkeeping that has been ever present so far this season, combined with her commitment to put her body on the line for the greater good of the team.
Composure returned to the visitors in the second half and along with this came control of the game.
Changes during the second half initially saw Ritchie drop to left back and Keeley Holliday being brought in to action in the middle.
Alice Kemp came on to play at right back with McDonald switching to centre back.
Latterly, Hannah Ridgewell replaced Rodgers and Issy Sunley replaced Rudd.
Creativity from the middle resulted in several good passages of attacking play and sustained pressure was nearly rewarded in the last ten minutes.
An attempt from Holliday from the edge of the area was tipped on to the crossbar by the Chorley keeper, Mollie Finch.
Minutes later Birkett closed in on a loose ball tight on the right, however her snap shot unfortunately hit the upright and ricocheted to safety to the relief of the home side.
Foster was selected as the Reds’ Player of the Game by the home team for her polished performance.
After the game, Manager Paul Mackenzie said, “Over the last five weeks our time spent playing or training has been restricted due to the frost during December and the Christmas break.
“I think that was evident in the way we started the game. It wasn’t a case of poor quality, it was more of a case of over-eagerness to get back playing.
“When we allowed ourselves to settle and gain composure, we started to put some really good passages of play together and we were the stronger side in the second half.
“Overall, I was pleased with the performance, as too were the players, albeit a little frustrated no doubt with not being able to get a goal or two”.
“The full squad of players gave their all today. The starting 11 established a platform and the subs added to this when they got their chance. As a manager, I can’t ask for any more than that.”
The Ladies are away again next weekend as they travel to Sir Tom Finney FC Ladies in a League encounter at the UCLAN Sports facility at Preston.