A disjointed first half performance, resulting in a three-goal deficit at the break, proved to be too big an ask for the Reds Ladies despite their gallant efforts in a spirited second half fight back.
As a result it was Penrith who made progress from this Fibrus Community Stadium goal-feast in the FA Cup second qualifying round, by 5-4.
Penrith started well and were keen to press the home side’s possession. This pressure was rewarded in as early as the 7th minute when a corner delivered from the left was parried by the Reds keeper Laura Miller, but only found Kayleigh Wharton in space and she fired home from close range.
A quarter of an hour later the Reds were level after keen work down the left from Morgan McGrady saw the winger create space in behind the line. McGrady then delivered a telling ball into the box which was met convincingly and with aggression by Bea Barber to rifle home from close range.
Parity only lasted for three minutes as Penrith’s winger, Abbie Forster, used her strength and pace on the right to create herself enough space to deliver a ball in for Jodie English who rolled her marker well and poked home off the inside of the left upright.
Forster was instrumental in the visitors third goal just after the hour mark as she showed good strength and speed on a second telling occasion, this time delivering across the face of goal to find Wharton attacking with purpose and hitting home.
Penrith hit their 4th goal with a minute or so left of the first half. This time strong running came from the centre of the pitch with Forster finishing impressively from 20 yards out.
The home side looked to regroup and refocus during the interval, but a penalty converted by Sharina Robinson five minutes in to the second half stifled the home side’s plans to build momentum.
It would have been easy for the home side to accept defeat from this point on, but this was not to be the case as the Reds started to build pressure and threaten the visitors back line.
A flicked header from Hayley Bracken looked to have beaten the visitors keeper but it skimmed the upright and an attempt from McGrady on the left also brushed the crossbar.
In the 70th minute, Cara Dudson was shown the red card after a dangerous tackle on Sophie Douglas on the edge of the area. Fortunately, Douglas managed to somehow ride the challenge, which resulted in her injuries being less severe than they might have been.
This proved a catalyst form the home side and within two minutes they had pulled a goal back. Good pressing from Barber saw her win the ball back on the by-line. She linked with Liv Bennett before finding the ever-eager Bracken running with purpose to thump the ball home.
With nine minutes remaining the Reds pulled another goal back in a move that was started deep in their own half as they had defended a corner for the visitors. Bennett picked the ball up and ran with pace at the Penrith defence. McGrady was supporting and her telling run in behind was picked out by Bennett.
McGrady used her pace and guile to round the Keeper and hit for home only to strike the bottom of the upright. Fortunately Bennett was backing up and she adjusted to capitalise on the rebounded ball before calmy slotting home.
Good running from Bracken invited contact in the visitors areahree3 minutes later on which resulted in the second spot kick of the afternoon but this time in the home side’s favour. Bracken stepped up to convert from 12 yards out and in doing so set up a nail-biting finish to the game.
Sadly for the home side, the deficit at half time was too much and Penrith held on to see the game out and claim the win and book their place in the next round.
Match Day sponsors, Cloud Competitions, awarded their Player of the Game to Hayley Bracken for her brace of goals and a strong performance.
