Workington Reds Ladies slumped to a disappointing 4-0 defeat at the hands of their local rivals Penrith in a display that was not comparable to recent performances.
Credit for their victory must go to the home team, who played with a high intensity and the desire befitting of a team that has enjoyed an impressive first half of the season.
The first 25 minutes was evenly contested by both teams with pressure being exerted on the defensive back lines. Solid defensive play resulted in these chances being kept to speculative at best.
As the game reached the half hour mark Penrith took the lead and with that the initiative and the tone for the rest of the game was set.
The first goal came from winger Bethany Cater on the stroke of 30 minutes, when she seized on a loose ball 20 yards out and found the top corner to beat Reds keeper Laura Miller.
Her second goal came just over ten minutes later when a shot was parried by Miller and found the feet of Cater to slot home and take a 2-0 half time advantage.
Within five minutes of the restart, the home sides advantage had grown to three goals when Sarah Smith pounced on a second loose ball in the visitors’ penalty area and found the back of the net from close range.
Despite the arrears, the Reds continued to show resilience and their heads didn’t drop with the next 40 minutes being arguably their best of the game.
However it was Penrith that managed to fashion their last telling attack in the 88th minute, when good work from Abbie Forster on the left wing resulted in a cross being met by Darcie Dixon who finished well to seal a well-earned victory.
Centre back Eleanor McDonald continued her spell of good form and was awarded Player of the Game for the Reds, the second match in a row that she has bagged this accolade.
After the defeat, Reds manager Paul Mackenzie said: “It was a disappointing performance from us today, we know and accept that. We didn’t give a good account of ourselves and were unable to replicate our recent good form.
“There will be reasons for this and our challenge is to identify them and set actions accordingly and develop from here.
“We also have to acknowledge the performance that Penrith delivered. To suggest they won the game purely through our failings would be disingenuous to them. Penrith are a good side that are doing well this season and they fought hard over the 90 minutes and played good football, so they earned their rewards.”
