In a Ladies top of the table clash Abbeytown hosted Workington Town Reserves and it proved as tight as their league positions indicated.
In the end Town Reserves came out on top 2-1 with all three goals coming in the second-half.
In line with the rest of the football community in Cumbria there had been a minute’s applause for Jay Cartmell, the Frizington youngster and Whitehaven Miners player who died tragically two weeks ago.
The game, as expected, was a hard-fought and physical encounter, with both teams giving no quarter in their quest for a vital edge.
Abbeytown went close after just four minutes when Abbie Woodburn saw her shot go narrowly wide, before more Abbeytown pressure ended in Laura Taylor hitting the crossbar.
Of the many personal contests happening across the pitch, perhaps the most striking was Abbeytown’s striker Kate Brown against Workington’s centre half/sweeper Sophie Birkett. Brown was pitting in some great runs at the Workington defence while Birkett, with several well- timed tackles, thwarted her.
It was Birkett at the heart of the Workington defence who seemed to pop up any time there was a threat and snuff it out, while at the other end Rachel Gallagher’s runs caused problems for Abbeytown’s defence.
However, both defences stood firm and at half time there was still no goals and they turned round all square and all to play for.
Within a minute of the restart Workington took the lead through Sophie Corlett, as her shot from the left went across Emily Taylor into the right-hand corner of the net.
Abbeytown thought they had the equaliser after 10 minutes of the half as Rachel Harrison chipped the ball from outside the penalty area. It beat Workington’s keeper Kayce Whinnery but once gain Town were saved by the crossbar.
The home side did eventually draw level when Brown shot from just inside the penalty area and it went through a crowded box and past Whinnery.
Workington regained the lead after 35 minutes when Gallagher scored from a run into the left of the penalty area, and her shot beat Abbeytown’s keeper Taylor.
With a minute left Abbeytown were awarded a penalty, but Brown was unable to convert it. Her spot kick beat Whinnery, but for the third time in the game, the crossbar intervened and Workington were able to clear and they held on for the win.
