Fleetwood Town Wrens left the Fibrus Community Stadium with all three to leave Workington Reds Ladies finishing their home schedule for the year with a 2-1 loss.
The game was evenly contested from the start and it was the Reds that fashioned the first chance of the game after eight minutes when a free-kick from the left was delivered by Helen Wagstaff.
The visitors cleared the initial delivery, only for it to find Hayley Bracken on the edge of the area, but her attempt on goal went just past the outside edge of the post. Similarly, six minutes later, the Wrens saw an attempt on goal flash over the crossbar from a free-kick delivered from their left.
Soon after, a free-kick on the half-way line from Linzi Donaldson had glanced off a defender’s head, bringing the Wrens keeper, Sarah Cook into action at her far post.
As the game entered the final ten minutes of the half, the lively Wrens striker, Ruby Farrell, collected just inside the Reds half and drove at the back line with pace before bearing down on the Reds Keeper Laura Miller.
Miller was alert and closed well, saving with her legs and deflecting the ball to safety while soon afterwards Reds were fortunate in that their right back Sophie Birkett, had sensed danger and positioned herself on the line and her headed clearance kept the game level.
Bracken was through on goal early on in the second half, after good pressure on the left from Morgan McGrady saw her feed Bracken in space. Unfortunately for the home side, Brackens attempt wasn’t as clinical as it normally is and Cook was able to collect comfortably.
Miller was called in to action 60 seconds later from a speculative effort from the left. She was only able to parry the ball and fortunately for the Reds, left back Nat Hooper was alert to the danger and turned the ball behind for a corner.
The visitors eventually went ahead in the seventh minute of the second half when Farrell claimed the first of her brace of goals. Taking possession 15 yards into the Reds half, shel drove clear before lifting the ball over the advancing Miller and into an empty net.
Hannah Geen brought the teams level again in the 63rd minute when she latched onto a free-kick taken by Donaldson and which was spilled by Cook. Geen timed her run well from the left and when the ball came free, she was on hand to poke the ball home.
Sadly, parity lasted less than 90 second as the Wrens forced the pace from the restart. After attacking down their right, the ball was delivered in and a rebound saw the ball fall to Farrell on the six yard lin and her clinical strike from close range left Miller with no chance.
Half chances followed but with neither of the keepers being forced into any kind of notable contribution and Fleetwood were able to hold onto their one goal lead as the final whistle blew.
Sophie Birkett was awarded the Player of the Game accolade for her all-round performance including her strong tackling and willingness to get forward.
They might have finished their home fixtures but the Reds Ladies face a trip to South Preston this weekend as they take on Penwortham Ladies FC.
The fixture has already been cancelled twice this season due to a waterlogged pitch, so to say the game is in the balance is probably a conservative statement.
