Workington Reds Ladies produced a polished performance on Sunday afternoon as they beat their in-form counterparts from Radcliffe FC Women by 5-2.
The visitors had been in good form over recent weeks and were unbeaten in their last three games, scoring 15 goals and conceding only three in that spell.
As such, they started with confidence and were rewarded when they went ahead in the third minute. Anna Keeling, latched on to a loose ball on the left and lifted it over the head of Reds keeper, Laura Miller, and in to the opposite corner.
Passages of good football was starting to develop from the Reds. On the left, Natalie Hooper, Bea Barber and Morgan McGrady were starting to click.
This was matched on the right by Sophie Birkett, Chloe Henderson and Hayley Bracken and central creativity and control came from Linzi Donaldson and Helen Wagstaff.
Holly Redmond and Naomi Foster were setting a platform from the back along with Laura Miller.
The visitors’ lead lasted only four minutes as the home side pushed forward with real intent and purpose.
Henderson had linked intricately with McGrady on the right to work the ball away from the sideline, before releasing Bracken in behind the line and into space to exploit. Bracken drove with good intent before delivering a cross which was met centrally by Barber who managed to force the ball home and level the game.
Five minutes later the Reds went ahead with an almost identical route to goal, only this time the release came from Wagstaff.
Again, Bracken raided down the right before shooting at goal only to see her effort hit the upright. Barber was close at hand to react well before finishing clinically.
Only three minutes later and Bracken had bagged the first of her brace. McGrady had seen Bracken in space on the edge of the area and drilled a ball towards her. Bracken controlled and fired home to beat Tessa Duxbery.
As the half was drawing to a close, Bracken struck her second. After collecting a through ball from Donaldson on the half way line. Bracken zoned in on goal after using her first touch to set her run and a second to fire home from 12 yards out.
Credit to Radcliffe, as they came out in the second half with a real desire and fight to get back in the game. Eleanor McDonald had replaced Foster at the back during the break with Hannah Ridgewell having already replaced Henderson just before the break.
The exchanges were equal with both sides making the opposing back line and keepers work hard.
However, in the 66th minute Radcliffe pulled one back after a ball fed in was met with a first time strike at point blank range by Sophie Coates.
Rowan Williams replaced McGrady, Keeley Holliday was introduced for Donaldson and Hannah Geen was brought on for Wagstaff.
The game entered the final stages with each team taking turns to dominate. However the result was sealed by a late Geen strike.
Barber had collected the ball 15 yards inside the Radcliffe half. She drove at the heart of the visitors defence at pace, before slipping the ball to Geen on left. She timed her run to meet the ball and calmly converted to round off a solid team performance in style.
Linzi Donaldson was awarded the player of the game for her polished performance in the middle of the park and Hayley Bracken claimed the accolade of the Matchday Sponsors, the Teasdale family, for her relentless work upfront.
Manager, Paul Mackenzie said: “I thought the full squad of 16 were superb today. Obviously to go a goal behind so early on wasn’t ideal, but the way the team responded was excellent.
“After scoring five goals it’s easy to assume that the credit will go to the attacking play, but it’s fair to say that the platform was set by delivering our defensive duties and credit should be shared equally between both facets.”
