Workington Reds Ladies produced what was arguably their best home performance of the season when they beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at Derwent Park.
Chances were numerous and the score line might have been more convincing had it not been for some impressive goal keeping from Bolton’s Frankie Williams.
Playing into the wind in the first half meant that the Reds had to be alert to quick balls being released from the back by the visitors and as such were sitting slightly deeper.
This strategy served them well as the back four of Sophie Birkett, Naomi Foster, Alice Kemp and Nat Hooper were dominant throughout. Reds Keeper, Laura Miller, marshalled well and was assertive when leaving her goal to collect deliveries being played in behind.
Creativity and control came from the midfield trio of Chloe Henderson, Sophie Douglas and Keeley Holliday, who were not only content in dampening Bolton’s attacking urges, but were keen to orchestrate raids for the Reds.
The forward line of Emi Rudd, Liv Bennett and Morgan McGrady proved to be a constant threat to the visitors. Their energy when pressing was also reflected with an eagerness to latch onto the creative passing from those behind them and chances started to develop.
A combination of spurned chances, last-ditch defending and good goal keeping from Williams meant the scores were level at the break and the game finely balanced.
As the second half got underway it was clear that the visitors had changed their plan of attack and had reshuffled slightly. They looked sharper than they had in the first half and posed a threat themselves, but as was with Reds in the first half, a freshening wind in their faces meant their attacks were starting off deeper than they’d have liked and the home side remained firm in defence.
Ten minutes into the second half and a patched up Henderson had to admit defeat and leave the field of play and was replaced by Helen Wagstaff.
Just like seven days earlier, it didn’t take Wagstaff long to find her groove and within five minutes she had opened the scoring and put the Reds a goal up.
Having turned the defender inside out, Wagstaff shifted to set and unleashed a rocket from 30 years out. Williams tried her best to keep it out but the pace and accuracy from Wagstaff was too much for her to handle.
Holliday and Douglas were replaced by Linzi Donaldson and Hannah Geen with just less than 30 minutes remaining and the Reds were playing with a feeling of freedom as further chances started to fall to their lively attacking front line.
McGrady looked to have doubled the lead only for it to have been chalked off fo- a close offside call. Two good saves by Williams denied Donaldson’s from two 25 yard free kick attempts and a headed corner from Foster forced a third save.
The final 20 minutes saw McGrady and Hooper being replaced by Kacey Rodgers and Leah Cottier with both players continuing to contribute where their counterparts had left off.
Chances fell to Bennett, Rudd, Rodgers and Geen with an effort from Rodgers being cleared off the line. Miller was called into action in a rare Bolton attack and she produced a full stretch finger tipped save to maintain the advantage.
Victory was eventually secured in the last minute of the game when a through ball from Rodgers found Geen waiting to pounce and her first time strike beat Williams to nestle low in the back of the net.
Morgan McGrady was selected as the home sides Player of the Game by Bolton, match sponsors the Teasdale family gave their vote to Emi Rudd and the Rudd family selected Naomi Foster as theirs.
After the game, captain Foster said: “It’s a massive relief to have got the win out of the game and to have finished the season on a high.
“This season has been a transitional season for us and the club has seen more changes in the playing personnel over this season than it has for a long time. Things may not always have gone the way we had planned them to but we’ve stayed together and kept positive.
“We know we are building for the future and we believe this season, albeit frustrating at times, will make us stronger in the longer term.”
Vice captain Miller added: “It’s been amazing to have been able to have established ourselves at Derwent Park this year. To have a base to grow from and develop the club is massive to us all.
“The support at our games has grown over the season and its brilliant to see the young girls down playing before us and then cheering us on as well.”
Young girls from the Workington Diamonds club acted as flag bearers before the game – but weren’t expecting such a dramatic arrival by the referee!
