Workington Reds Ladies were knocked out of the Alliance Design and Print League Plate competition on Sunday after conceding two goals in the final three minutes.
They had looked to be in a commanding position at the break against Hindley Junior Women, two goals to the good.
First half strikes from Bea Barber and Rowan Williams had given the home side the half time advantage and it’s fair to say that the tie looked a formality with the home side after restricting the Hindley chances to speculative efforts from distance.
Barber struck in the 24th minute after latching onto a through ball from Holly Redmond and taking the advantage over a visitors defence that was caught napping. Barber’s quick turn of pace offered her the time to steady and slot the ball to the left of the Hindley keeper, Sally Worthington.
Redmond delivered her second assist of the game 15 minutes later after Barber had linked intelligently with Olivia Paice centrally, before finding Redmond attacking the space in behind on the left.
Redmond’s first time delivery was met by the well-timed arrival of Rowan Williams as she opened up her body before guiding the ball cleverly past Worthington to double the lead.
Such was the threat of the home side attacking released in the first half, good chances had also fallen to Sarah Smith and Hayley Bracken, but sadly neither had been able to capitalise and extend the lead further.
So with a two-goal cushion, the home side looked favourites to book their place in the next round. However, unbeknown to them, a spirited Hindley fightback was on the cards and the visitors were out of the traps quickly as the second half got underway.
With only around 60 seconds played from the restart, Hindley managed to cut the deficit to one after the Reds were unable to clear the danger 25 yards out. A looping cross from the left had evaded the Reds back line and found it’s way through to Rebecca Grocott centrally who lashed the ball home from around eight yards out.
Within two minutes, Barber had restored the half time advantage after speeding through to collect and control a ball lifted over the top from Williams. The quality of Barber’s control allowed her to round Worthington and slot the ball home into an empty net from the left.
The visitors hit back in a rather fortuitous manner 15 minutes later, when a deflected clearing header from Redmond had cruelly looped over Laura Miller in the Reds net and found the far corner.
The game ebbed and flowed for the next 25 minutes until the final three minutes of the game remained. This marked the first of a cruel late double blow for the home side. Grocott’s lofted cross was met by Maddie Hutton on the left before cutting back inside and rifling a shot to beat Miller and find the tightest of gaps to her left.
Two minutes later, the visitors took the lead for the first time in the game and left the home side no time to respond. With extra time looming, the ball was punted forward from the half way line by Hindley. Grocott was the first to the ball and she unleashed a cracking strike from 25 yards out which found the top right corner.
This late double strike put the visitors in the hat for the next round draw, whereas the home side’s concentration will now turn to the County Cup as they face a tricky tie away to Abbeytown on Sunday afternoon.
Bea Barber was awarded the home side’s player of the game vote after catching the attention of the visitors coaches with two well-taken goals.
Team: Laura Miller, Sophie Birkett, Naomi Foster, Alice Kemp, Holly Redmond, Helen Wagstaff, Chloe Henderson, Bea Barber, Hayley Bracken, Sarah Smith, Rowan Williams, Hannah Geen, Linzi Donaldson, Nat Hooper, Olivia Paice, Laura Ivison.
