Workington Reds Ladies were unable to progress to the final of this season’s Women’s County Cup when they lost 1-0 at Carlisle United Ladies.
It was decided by, what Reds considered to be, a harshly awarded and converted last minute penalty against them.
The Reds started the game brightly and dominated the early passages of play with good periods of possession leading to pressure building down either flank. Unfortunately there was no reward on the scoreline for their solid start.
However, it was the home side that had the best chance of the half to go ahead having being awarded their first of two penalties after 35 minutes from what seemed a simple coming together in the area.
Reds keeper, Laura Miller, was called in to action and she didn’t disappoint as she dived to her right and turned the ball away to safety to deny a solid Sharena Robinson strike.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first as both sides battled out to gain an advantage. In all fairness it was looking like extra time was the only outcome of what had been a cracking cup tie.
However, Carlisle were given a second opportunity from the spot in the 89th minute after what appeared to be a second innocuous coming together in the Reds penalty area. The Carlisle striker had been able to get her shot away which Miller had collected.
Miller stepped up again and saved from the spot for the second time in the game, but unfortunately this time could only parry the ball forward where it was met and converted by the Carlisle penalty taker, Charlotte Murray.
The visitors felt aggrieved by the penalty decisions made against them as similar comings together in their favour had not been dealt with in the same fashion.
Hannah Geen had been impeded midway through the first half on the edge of the Carlisle area without reward and similarly half way through the second, when Keeley Holliday carried the ball from inside the area where initial contact was made, only to be given a free kick outside the area.
Linzi Donaldson stepped up to take the resulting free kick and it looked like her strike on goal had beaten the Carlisle keeper Chelsea Norris, but instead it floated agonisingly over the cross bar to safety.
Captain and centre back Naomi Foster, said after the game: “We are devastated to go out in the semi-final to a goal in the 89th minute. It couldn’t have came at a worse time and it left us with no time to recover.
“The team were superb today though, and we played some really good football at a good intensity. We will be aiming to build on what was a really good performance in our remaining league games this season.”
Team: Laura Miller, Alice Kemp, Naomi Foster, Hannah Fawkes, Natalie Hooper, Sophie Douglas, Hannah Ridgewell, Morgan McGrady, Hannah Geen, Sophie Nutter, Kacey Rodgers, Sydney Bragg, Linzi Donaldson, Zara Sandelands, Keeley Holliday, Leah Cottier.
