Workington Town Women had to come from behind to bag their first points of the season and win 3-1 at Radcliffe Women.
Summer West had put the home side ahead in the 16th minute when a corner from the left was played back into a crowded area and lashed home from close range.
Town’s keeper, Laura Miller, produced a cracking fingertip save down low to her right to force the ball away to safety from an early threatening situation and followed this up with keen marshalling of her area with an air of authority as the game developed.
Going behind was the second blow in a five minute spell for the visitors, having earlier lost the services of their influential captain, Naomi Foster, as the centre back collected an injury whilst defused a threatening situation.
With Foster departing the field the team had to be reshuffled, with Helen Wagstaff dropping in to defence alongside Linzi Donaldson and Hannah Ridgewell taking Wagstaff’s central midfield position.
Having taken the early lead, the home side became content in condensing the play around the half way line and this ultimately afforded the visiting back-line plenty of time in possession, which they were happy to take advantage of as they grew in to the game.
Full backs Keeley Chatters and Nat Hooper were finding threatening positions out wide, resulting in some outstanding crosses being delivered into dangerous areas. Sarah Smith, Rowan Williams and Nat Broad were looking threatening up top as they applied pressure to the high defensive back line and looked to have broken through on occasions only to be pulled back for being offside.
Chloe Henderson, Kirsten Donald and Ridgewell were starting to click from central positions and worked tirelessly to create openings and retain control.
Despite being a goal behind at the break, the visitors had much to remain positive about.
A couple of close offside calls had started to frustrate the visitors and with the second half still young, Smith was given 10 minutes to cool down on the side lines having been overzealous in her remonstrating of a tight call that saw Williams in on goal.
Within four minutes of Smith’s return the visitors drew level. A free kick was awarded in the middle of the park after Henderson was brought down.
Donaldson delivered a lofted ball which pitched in behind the back line and drew the Radcliffe keeper off her line. Chatters was quickest to react and open her account for the club as she bravely flicked the ball to the side of the onrushing Keeper and accepted the ensuing collision.
Workington were on top and looked the most likely to make the breakthrough, but were made to wait for 20 minutes before their endeavours were rewarded.
Donaldson received in space from Wagstaff before finding Henderson inside the visitors half. Henderson’s through ball was met by keen running from Broad out wide on the right before the in-form striker delivered an unstoppable strike into the far left corner.
This sparked the home side into life as their willingness to condense play had vanished and was replaced with a more expansive approach. This offered space to be exploited and substitute Ella O’Nions, came on to make a telling contribution as she threatened the home side’s back line and absorbed pressure with composed and controlled carries.
O’Nions graft was pivotal in Town Women’s third goal, as the young attackers keen closing enabled her to regain possession and draw a foul out wide on the left.
Donaldson delivered another dangerous free kick which drew the attention of the home Keeper for the second time. A fumbled attempted collection fell into the path of Smith who had closed with intent before pouncing to power home from close range.
With minutes remaining and two goal buffer, the visitors were able to see the game out and in doing so claim the first league win in their new colours and claim reward for a spirited and controlled team performance.
Nat Broad collected her second Player of the Game award in back to back games for her contribution throughout and a wonder strike.
After the game, manager Paul Mackenzie said: “This was a very important performance from all 13 available players. Each player excelled in various facets of the game which combined to make a truly collective performance.
“It was a real concern to see Naomi coming-off the field so soon, to lose a player of Nai’s ability could have unsettled the squad, but they coped well and battled through to dominate the game and claim the points that they deserved.
“We have a tough game ahead against Chester-le-Street in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup this weekend and we’re hoping to have Nai available, plus two or three others that were unavailable for Radcliffe.
“We are still waiting to find out the full extent of Holly Redmond’s injury from last week, but unfortunately the early signs aren’t great. Holly is a very important player for us.
“Cassie Donald should learn a bit more about the injury she picked up in the last round of the cup and we are hoping for some positive news over the next couple of weeks and again, everything will be crossed for her.”
Team: Laura Miller, Keeley Chatters, Naomi Foster, Linzi Donaldson, Nat Hooper, Kirsten Donald, Chloe Henderson, Helen Wagstaff, Sarah Smith, Rowan Williams, Nat Broad. Subs: Hannah Ridgewell, Ella O’Nions.
