Workington Reds Ladies finished off their pre-season campaign with a hard fought victory over the well-drilled Queen of the South side at the Fibrus Community Stadium.
Before the game, supporters were entertained by teams from four different local junior football clubs, as Allerdale Meerkats faced off against Whitehaven AFC in an Under-10s fixture and Workington Diamonds competed against Moor Row at Under 13’s level.
Youngsters from Workington RiTC had also given their support to the ladies team as they worked as ball girls throughout the main game. The club wishes to thank all these groups for their contribution to what was a cracking day for female footballers in West Cumbria.
The visitors from north of the border were quick to capitalise on a slow start by the Reds Ladies as they went ahead as early as the second minute. Tentative attempts to defend from the home team enabled the visitors to work the ball down their right and deliver a cross into a dangerous position.
More indecision from this early pressure allowed the Queens striker to poke home from close range and fuel the spirits of the visiting team.
The Reds had to fight early on to establish a foothold in the game and over the next 25 minutes their confidence grew. An early chance from Bea Barber found the Queens shot stopper well positioned to hold the home side out but the pressure was mounting and gaps were starting to appear.
It was in the 28th minute when the home side drew level after a throw in on the left was lifted over the back line by Hayley Bracken to find Emi Rudd backing up from the right. Rudd’s first attempt was well saved but the ensuing rebound found her again and she finished calmly from close range.
A minute later the Reds went ahead when Rudd returned the favour to Bracken. Rudd’s quick feet created space and a well-placed pass cut through the visitors back line to meet Bracken’s attacking run. Bracken shifted, steadied and shot with power to leave the keeper without a chance of making a save.
Five minutes before the break the Reds went two goals clear as Bracken claimed a first half brace. A switch in play from Rudd on the right found Natalie Hooper supporting on the left as she made a positive attacking connection. Hooper fed forward to Bracken who rolled the would-be Queens defender to create space and fire home.
The visitors were not hampered by these setbacks as they looked to claw themselves back into the game and just before the break they fashioned a chance for themselves.
A diagonal ball from the left found the lively Queens attacker in space and bearing down on goal. The Reds keeper, Laura Miller, showed her usual good positioning to deal with a dangerous situation by making a double save.
Miller was called in to action twice in the second half, but she managed to rebuff the visitors on both occasions. The first came from a free kick from 25 yards out which she parried to safety and the second from a breakaway from the visitors which she saved low to her left as she turned the ball out for a corner.
The Reds final goal was a screamer from in-form centre midfielder, Keeley Holliday after Hannah Geen had delivered a cracking corner from the right. It was partially dealt with by the visitors before being returned in by Hannah Ridgewell.
The Queens defence reacted well and cleared for a second time, but Holliday was quick to react as she smashed the ball home from the edge of the area to leave a memorable mark on the game.
Further chances fell to the Reds. Kacey Rodgers saw a header turned around the post to safety and Geen was unlucky to hit the bar from 20 yards when put through by Bracken.
The win ended a promising pre-season for the ladies in which they have scored 24 goals and conceded just two. They now look forward to the start of the season on August 20 but are still unaware of who they will be facing as the fixtures have not been released as yet.
