Workington Reds Ladies extended their unbeaten run of league games to seven on Sunday as they travelled to Fleetwood Town Wrens and won 2-0.
This profitable run has seen them scoring 18 goals with only one being registered against them.
The Ladies got off to a flying start when Morgan McGrady put the visitors ahead with less than five minutes on the clock.
Olivia Paice managed to influence some promising possession for the home side as she nudged the ball on to McGrady 35 yards away from the Reds goal.
McGrady accelerated into space before linking with Sarah Smith out wide on the right.
Smith linked again with McGrady, who had advanced into a more attacking position higher up the field. McGrady then cut inside before unleashing an unstoppable strike to find the far corner and leave the Wren’s keeper Sarah Cook stranded.
Ten minutes later, and with good front foot play from Paice and keen pressing from Bea Barber, their lead was doubled.
Fleetwood were attempting to play the ball out from the back and link with their midfield.
Good pressing from Barber had rushed the Fleetwood carrier and in turn her link was well read by Paice as she powered past the intended receiver to claim possession.
Paice then drove in to the area before letting rip with a strike to beat Cook and open up her account for the team.
Fleetwood regrouped and the play up to the half time break was shared equally between the two sides with the defensive graft from both teams resulting in neither team being able to add to the score line.
The Reds looked sharp as soon as the second half re-started and this theme was evident throughout.
Chances were created for Barber, Smith, Hayley Bracken and Helen Wagstaff on the back of some good industry up front from McGrady and the creativity and support from Linzi Donaldson, Sophie Birkett, Naomi Foster, Holly Redmond, Lauren Campbell.
The Reds keeper, Laura Miller, was called into action on the odd occasion and served her outfield team mates well with safe hands and good decision making which offered stability.
As the game entered its final 15 minutes, Bracken was brought down in the area in what looked like a certain penalty with the home defender taking her legs and with no contact on the ball. But the match official disagreed and instead awarded a corner.
Both teams battled through the remaining minutes of the game, cancelling each other out and chances kept to a minimum. Miller, Birkett, Foster, Redmond, Campbell and Kemp had worked hard to keep a clean sheet for the sixth time in the last seven games and looked in control throughout at the back.
Laura Miller was awarded the Reds’ Player of the Game vote after a show of efficient stewardship between the posts.
After the game, vice-captain Miller said: “It’s great to see us building solidity at the back, but credit should go to everyone on the pitch and the efforts that are being put in by us all. We’ve two games left before the season is finished and we are aiming to perform as well as we can in both games.”
Captain Naomi Foster added: “It was great to see Olivia get on the score sheet tand for her to open her account with us. She joined us back in November and has fitted in with us all amazingly, her enthusiasm is superb and she has a bright future ahead of her.”
Team: Laura Miller, Sophie Birkett, Naomi Foster, Holly Redmond, Lauren Campbell, Linzi Donaldson, Hannah Ridgewell, Sarah Smith, Olivia Paice, Bea Barber, Morgan McGrady, Alice Kemp, Hayley Bracken, Natalie Hooper, Helen Wagstaff.
