Whitehaven Ladies’ 100 per cent winning record came to an end with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Euxton Ladies.
The west Cumbrians emerged tired and disjointed from the off, constantly turning over possession and inviting pressure on the home goal.
Euxton started the better of the two teams and could have taken the lead inside 10 seconds! A ball at the back was ineffectively pressed by the Whitehaven forward line which allowed Euxton’s centre half to play a long raking ball to the onrushing Rebecca Duffy.
The Haven defence was left flat footed as Duffy raced clear only for keeper Kaela Reay to avert the danger.
Whitehaven continued to be sloppy in possession and were punished in the seventh minute when they had the opportunity but failed to clear the ball twice. Euxton swung the ball into the box and the Whitehaven defenders were left ball watching as Duffy nipped between them and lobbed the advancing Reay.
Things got worse for Whitehaven in the 14th minute. Sloppy play handed the ball back to an Euxton defender who launched a long ball into the right channel to Zara Wignall.
She then travelled 25yards without being squeezed by the Whitehaven defence before unleashing a powerful front post shot which left Reay helpless.
It continued to be a frustrating afternoon for the, still hopeful, home side as they continuously gave the ball away. They did have a chance to pull one back on the 40th minute when a cross-field ball from Scarlett McAvoy was met by Ellie-May Callander.
She slipped the ball to Ashleigh McAllister whose angled drive was pushed away by the Euxton keeper.
Whitehaven had another opportunity in the 43rd minute when a ball from McAllister found Eden Hetherington in the box. Her first touch took her away from the covering Euxton defender and with only the keeper to beat, she shot straight at her.
Whitehaven did get their breakthrough in the 44th minute with a brilliant piece of combination play thwarting Euxton’s chance of not conceding.
Starting with Sienna McNicholas, Millie Teare and Leila Branthwaite it went to Niamh Morgan. She then released a good ball over the top to find Sophie May in space who played an exquisite through ball to McAllister to score her eighth of the season.
Whitehaven started the second half a lot brighter after a few choice words at the break!
They created a number of opportunities but struggled to break down a stubborn Euxton defence. Euxton were reduced to 10 with 20 minutes remaining when Wignall was dismissed for dissent.
Whitehaven continued to huff and puff but the final ball or quality of finish let them down.
