Workington Reds Ladies were joined by around 500 fellow Lionesses supporters in the Myers and Bowman Fanzone as they witnessed their heroines falling agonisingly short in their aim to win the Women’s World Cup.
Sadly, it was a day of double disappointment for the Reds, as after an evenly matched encounter Accrington Stanley Ladies took all three points in a tight encounter they won 2-1.
Accrington started off quickly and applied pressure to the Reds back line early in the game. Quick feet and clean connections enabled the visitors to craft these early half chances.
However, the Reds weren’t to be out done when quick thinking from Eleanor McDonald, found Emi Rudd in space on the right. A well weighted ball in behind the line from Rudd, released Bea Barber in to space.
Barber drove at the line and was unlucky to see her cross being turned behind for a corner by a last ditch attempt from an Accrington defender.
However, it was the visitors that went ahead in the 14th minute when a free-kick was awarded for what looked to be an innocuous coming together 30 yards out.
Cara McCormick stepped up to take it and produced a strike on goal which found the top corner which beat the outstretched hand of Keeper, Laura Miller.
Liv Bennett, nearly found a leveller shortly afterwards, when a clean strike from the edge of the area forced the visiting keeper into a dive to push the ball out for a corner.
The Reds were awarded a penalty just before the half hour mark when Bennett was taken out by a covering defender. Hayley Bracken stepped up and converted convincingly and marked her return to league action in style after a season long absence through injury.
This spurred the Reds on and further attempts from Bracken, Barber and a free-kick from Keeley Holliday ended agonisingly close to putting them ahead.
It was against the run of play when Millie Jardine put Accrington ahead. Reds Keeper Miller, had appeared to have collected the ball only for it to be dislodged by Jardine who then rounded her to finish in an open net.
The second half followed the same pattern as the first with both sides having to work hard to create chances. Accrington found the woodwork from a back post header which was followed by a strike from Bracken flashing over from 20 yards out at the other end.
The Stanley keeper, Tanya Nash, was then forced in to a double save when Morgan McGrady released Bracken whose strike was saved well. The ball fell to McGrady who forced her into a second good save.
Further chances fell to McGrady and Barber, but Nash was on top form and managed to preserve the visitors one goal advantage up to the final whistle.
Bracken was awarded the Player of the Game for the Reds Ladies with Nash receiving the same recognition for the visitors.
The Reds will face their first Cumbrian derby of the season when they host Carlisle United Ladies FC in a midweek fixture on Wednesday August 30, with a 6.30pm kick off at the Fibrus Community Stadium.
Team: Miller, McDonald, Foster, Wagstaff, Donaldson, Holliday, Henderson, Rudd, Barber, Bennett, Bracken. Subs, all used: McGrady, Ridgewell, Hooper, Kemp, Geen.
