Sunday was the last home league fixture of the season for the Reds Ladies and it also marked the last league action at home under the name of Workington Reds Ladies FC.
As such, past players were invited down to the ground to celebrate what they had started 12 years ago and how their efforts had helped to shape the future for the current crop of players.
Six points were up for grabs as Workington Reds Ladies and Haslingden Ladies were faced with a double header as a result of a dreadful winter causing pitch unavailability and resulting in a backlog of fixtures.
That said, it is worth noting that the Fibrus Community Stadium has hosted all scheduled fixtures as arranged and without postponement, which is testament to the hard work and commitment of all those that manage the pitch throughout the year.
The resulting format was two games, played over two 30-minute halves with a 30 minute break between games.
The first game finished all square without any goals being scored.
It was somewhat of a cagey affair with no doubt the knowledge of 120 minutes of football ahead playing part of the approach being taken by both sides.
Quality was not in short supply, especially from the home side with periods of good passing enabling them to control much of the play and despite facing a strong wind for the first 30 minutes.
First half chances fell to Olivia Paice, Hayley Bracken and Morgan McGrady, but sadly all three were unable to convert. Reds keeper Laura Miller was called into action on the odd occasion and coped without concern as the chances came from a distance due to the defensive organisation of the Reds back line.
The second half followed similar fashion with the home side taking control in the middle of the park. Chances from Bracken and a shot from distance from Holly Redmond were the more notable attempts of the half, with the defensive efforts of the visitors taking the credit it deserved.
Lauren Campbell collected her first Player of the Game award for the club, with her solid performance in the back line taking the eye of the visiting coaching staff.
With the first game completed, the honours were even with surprisingly no goals from an entertaining game.
The teams could not be separated inn the second fixture although they did manage a goal apiece.
After 60 minutes of becoming more acquainted, the second game became a more open affair especially for the home side in the second half.
The quality and control from the Reds Ladies was apparent again and again, despite playing into the teeth of a strong, gusting wind in the first half. They created five attempts, compared to the single effort from the visitors which owed a lot to the assistance of the wind.
Half chances fell to Paice, Sarah Smith and a couple for Bracken. However, the Reds came closest to opening their account from a through ball from Linzi Donaldson finding the keen running of Laura Ivison up front.
Ivison chased the ball down well and released her shot on goal, beating the onrushing Haslingden Keeper, Holly Mallabourn, before both players collided heavily. The effort from Ivison narrowly missed the target.
Against the run of play and with the assistance of the wind playing a significant factor, the visitors went ahead with a cross from Keara McDonough from the right. The relatively innocuous delivery caught the wind as it founds its way to the far left corner, leaving Miller helpless.
This gave Haslingden a half time lead and all was still to play for as the teams re-emerged after the short break.
The home side were building momentum and created seven second half attempts on goal compared to a late solitary effort from the visitors.
The Reds drew level from a free-kick awarded for a foul on Bracken, 25 yards out. Set piece specialist, Donaldson stepped up to take control and a clinical dead ball strike proved unstoppable as she drew the game level.
McGrady was proving to be a real threat to the visitors’ defence, but was unable to convert one of her chances up front with Mallaborn coming to diffuse a couple of openings and saving others.
The Reds came closest to taking the lead, when a corner from the left from Donaldson was met centrally by Bracken, but the powerful header rose over the bar to safety and the game ended all square.
Olivia Paice also collected her first Player of the Game award for her industry in the middle of the park and captain, Naomi Foster, picked up the recognition for her defensive duties over both games from the Match Day sponsors, as she was selected as their Player of the Games.
After the game, manager Paul Mackenzie said: “I thought we were unlucky not to come away with three points from the second game as we dominated for large portions of the game.
“On another day, we might have scored a few more goals to secure the points on offer. This “Double-Header” format is tough on the players and is a big ask at this stage of the season.
“Sarah Smith took a heavy knock, but I’m pleased to say that she seems to be ok now, which means that we have come away without any injuries and that was very important to us.
“Apart from the football on show, today was about celebrating our past and the efforts of those that have gone before us and established a platform for us to prosper from and to have some of these players at the game was a privilege for us all.
“Sadly we have said farewell to Megan Yarnold as she has decided to hang her well-worn boots up. Megan is a player that has been a big part of the club and it was important for us all to see her take the field for one last time and enjoy her last moments as a player for the club.
“Megan Hay has also decided to call an end on her playing career after sustaining a hamstring tear a couple of months ago. Megan too has given a lot to the game locally and to the club specifically.
“It was nice that she signed off her playing career in style, although not knowing so at the time, collecting the Player of the Game award in her last outing against Morecambe in February.”
Captain Naomi Foster added: “Like all us female footballers, there is an immense amount of pride in what we do and the commitment we make to push the game forward.
“It is without doubt that both these players epitomise this and we know that they will be gutted to see their playing days come to an end, as we all are.
“We hope their thoughts quickly turn to celebration for what they have achieved and how they have progressed the game in West Cumbria over the years, just like all those that have gone before them. We wish them both well and look forward to seeing them remain connected to us for many years to come.”
The Ladies will be in action in the town on one more occasion when they face Penrith AFC Ladies in the final of the Women’s County Cup at Borough Park on the 1st May.
All those associated with the club are hoping the people of Workington get behind the team and turn-up to show their support on the night.
