Workington Town Women bagged a second consecutive league win on Sunday afternoon with a deserved 2-1 win over Haslingden Ladies.
Pre-match entertainment was enthusiastically provided by Workington Town Girls Cheetahs and Dearham Rangers Juniors Girls Under-9s prior to the North West Women’s Regional Division One North encounter.
Both teams played some cracking football and really enjoyed their time in the limelight.
The Women’s encounter started off with the home side settling quickly and controlling the early exchanges with good connections and solid building. However, it was the visitors that struck first after five minutes when an attempted back pass took a cruel ricochet in to the path of striker Sophie Evans.
Evans took the initiative with purpose and drew clear of covering defenders before unleashing a clinical strike from the edge of the area to beat home keeper Laura Miller.
Town looked the most likely to create a telling chance, with Nat Broad first connecting with Hayley Bracken to create a half chance and then putting Rowan Williams in on goal on the right. Williams set herself and struck well but Megan Rodriguez in the visitors’ keeper was in fine form on the day and saved well.
Sarah Smith tested her again soon after with a strike from distance that was just over the crossbar.
Haslingden came close to doubling their lead when a free kick from 20 yards out from Evans crashed against the crossbar before being ushered to safety.
The half finished with the visitors claiming a slender one goal lead, but the signs were visible that more was to come from the Town Women.
After a hectic schedule over the first six weeks of the season and with a full bench to pick from, the home side were keen to make best of the situation and half time switches saw Williams, Helen Wagstaff and Nat Hooper making way for Bea Barber, Naomi Foster and Lauren Campbell.
Town were quick out of the blocks in the second half and were keen to apply pressure from the off. Smith released a second range finder from just over 20 yards out which skirted past Rodriguez left post.
Parity was established in the 50th minute with a stunning strike from Smith in a move that started on the half way line. Linzi Donaldson linked with Chloe Henderson who returned before Donaldson found Tiegan Hargrave in space on the right.
Hargrave was making her home debut and was keen to showcase her skills as she drove down the right with intent before crossing to see the ball headed half clear. Fortunately, Barber was on hand and moved the ball on to Smith who having earlier found her range, unleashed a screamer beating Rodriguez from 25 yards out.
The home side’s tails were up and they were taking the initiative. Donaldson, having been moved into the middle of the park, was looking creative and in the 60th minute she found Bracken in an advanced position.
Brackens quick flick found Barber in space and behind the line bearing down on Rodriguez, but her strike only found the crossbar before being smothered by the Haslingden Keeper.
Seconds later, Henderson and Hargrave had linked well before the ball was moved on to Broad centrally with Barber being found in good space but was unable to trouble the keeper from the edge of the area.
Ella O’Nions and Hannah Ridgewell came on for Smith and Broad with just under half an hour to go which added fresh legs for the home side at a time when the visitors were showing signs of fading.
With just under 20 minutes remaining Barber turned provider and she released Bracken into space. Bracken’s powerful drive was saved well by the reliable Rodriguez who had given a great account of herself on the day.
A strike from distance was no trouble to Miller, as too was a snap shot from a corner with 10 minutes remaining which ended high and wide.
Town Women went ahead in the 83rd minute as the ball was shifted from left to right with urgency and accuracy. Bracken’s flick found Henderson centrally who opened up to find Hargrave supporting on the right.
Hargrave’s first time strike was straight and true as it passed Rodriguez and found the back of the net, crowning off the youngsters impressive home debut in style.
Town were able to control the remaining minutes and see out the game through spirited efforts to defend, whilst retaining a threat upfront that Haslingden couldn’t switch off from.
Chloe Henderson was awarded the Player of the Game for her industry over the 90 minutes in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile the club’s Reserve Team continued their fine form with a 7-1 away victory against Kendal Town Women.
The result sees them extend their 100% record to five games and will mean next weekend’s fixture away to Abbeytown Ladies will be a top of the table clash with the teams facing each other again the following week at the Fibrus Community Stadium.
After the game, first team manager Paul Mackenzie said: “I’m delighted with the attitude of all 16 players today and the squad in general if I’m honest. There’s a real togetherness and positivity about them all and I thought they worked tremendously hard for each other today and dominated for much of the game.”
“We’ve had a difficult run of injuries and to see players coming back today mean’s so much to us all.”
Town Women are back in action at home on Sunday when they face Blackpool FC Girls and Ladies at the Fibrus at 2pm.
