Fibrus Community Stadium was awash with goals as it witnessed an exciting 12-goal thriller.
At the end of it, though, Workington Town Women were on the wrong end of a 7-5 scoreline against Atherton Laburnum Rovers Ladies.
Both of the sides had enjoyed spells of dominance and were often rewarded for this on the score sheet, far too often no doubt for those representing either club that stand closest to the touchline.
Amy Huyton was the first name on the score sheet as she put the visitors ahead in the 4th minute after she latched onto a ball played over the top and finished efficiently to beat keeper Laura Miller.
In the 11th minute the host were back on level terms when Hayley Bracken’s well-timed run met Linzi Donaldson’s corner from the right and duly found the back of the net.
Three minutes later and Bracken doubled her tally for Town Women after she raced onto to a ball lifted over the top and in behind the line from Lauren Campbell.
It looked at that time like the home side had wrestled back control of the game and were starting to recover from the early set back. However, three goals in a five-minute spell spun the game back in favour of the visitors.
In the 17th minute, Huyton doubled her tally for the day which was soon followed by Natasha Greenhalgh three minutes later and Shannon Gill bagging the first of her brace soon after.
A Linzi Donaldson corner, again from the right, had managed to find its way to the back of the net in the 31st minute, but it was Atherton that had the last word when Mia Woods converted on the stroke of half time to restore a two-goal advantage.
The hosts dropped further behind within five minutes of the game re-starting when Gill claimed her second of the day.
Bea Barber bagged herself two quick fire goals in the 74th and 77th minutes to raise home hopes. Bracken drove at the back line centrally with the ensuing ricochet finding Barber in hand to fire home for her first.
This was followed by Barber shooting home after showing good strength to hold off would-be defenders, as she capitalised on a ball delivered in behind the line from Kirsten Donald inside her own half.
With just over ten minutes remaining, and a single goal separating the teams, the result looked far from a foregone conclusion. This was until Jasmine Ripley sealed the win for the visitors with seconds remaining.
Rowan Williams was awarded the Player of the Game vote from Atherton after a display of keen pressing and good hold up play.
Match day sponsors Westlakes Demolition elected to give the sponsors award to Hayley Bracken for her brace of goals and high work rate throughout.
Team: Laura Miller, Tiegan Hargrave, Naomi Foster, Linzi Donaldson, Lauren Campbell, Kirsten Donald, Cassie Donald, Chloe Henderson, Hayley Bracken, Bea Barber, Rowan Williams, Laura Ivison, Keeley Holliday.
