An improved performance from Workington Town Women on Sunday was sadly not enough to avoid them taking no points from their Cumbrian derby with Penrith Ladies.
Once again Penrith came out on top, but only by the single goal of the game as Town were unable to get on the score-sheet despite creating plenty of chances.
So far this season, Penrith have fared better than their West Cumbrian rivals as the season approaches the half way mark and sit in second place in the North West Women’s Regional Division One North League with Town occupying seventh place.
Despite the difference in league standings, there was very little to split the teams on Sunday afternoon and if anything, the Workington side would consider themselves unfortunate not to have at least shared the points.
Playing with the wind, Penrith were keen to impose their front foot style of play and forced an early corner which was headed wide of target. This was followed by a strike from Kayleigh Wharton on the edge of the area which failed to trouble Laura Miller in the Town goal.
Minutes later, the effective home press had seen Town Women win possession back and were on the attack. Kirsten Donald’s assertive play had seen her split the visitors back line and find Helen Wagstaff closing in on goal.
However, Wagstaff’s touch was read well by Penrith’s keeper Hope Lawson as she smothered the ball to defuse a promising situation for the home side.
It was undoubtedly Lawson’s quick thinking that helped to create the goal scoring opportunity that followed, as she collected and immediately fed Stacey Harkness-Grant in space on the right.
Harkness-Grant seized the initiative and carried with purpose before splitting the line to find Ellie Gallacher in behind. Gallacher drove to the line, before pulling the ball back to allow Sharena Robinson to slot home from close range.
Town came close to levelling five minutes later when Kirsten Donald won back possession on the half-way line and fed Nat Broad on the left.
Broad collected and squared up the defender before reconnecting with Donald and the midfielder unleashed a powerful drive which was tipped on to the bar and behind to safety by Lawson.
Town could have been level midway through the half after good link-ups between Hayley Bracken, Broad and Bea Barber had seen the latter find Wagstaff in on goal on the left, but the midfielder was unable to convert.
A second long range strike from Wharton was the only remaining action of the half. Penrith hit the changing rooms with a slender advantage but with Town looking forward to taking the advantage of the strong wind at their backs.
Town asserted a dominance at the start of the second half that would remain throughout. Links between Bracken, Chloe Henderson, Broad and Barber had seen the latyter in on goal.
Lawson saved well and the ball was cleared before Cassie Donald retuned to find Barber centrally with the ensuing strike narrowly going the wrong side of the post.
Penrith went close to doubling their lead when a rare attack saw Abbie Forster bearing down on Miller. The Town keeper reacted quickly to close down and save well from close range.
Long range shots followed from Henderson and Cassie Donald, but neither offered too much trouble to Lawson.
Henderson was involved again soon after as she linked with Broad and Barber before feeding the striker with Lawson on hand again to shut out the home advances.
A dipping corner from Broad on the left threatened before passing agonisingly over the bar. This was followed soon after when a reverse pass from Bracken put Kirsten Donald in on goal and although she claimed a corner from the resultant deflected shot a goal-kick was awarded.
Penrith’s only other attempt in the second half came when Heather Fawkes picked up a loose ball before firing wide from the edge of the area.
A strike late in the half from Linzi Donaldson from 40 yards out looked goal bound, however Lawson competently collected again. The final effort of the game came from distance by Henderson but it travelled past the outside of the post.
Keeley Chatters picked up the Player of the Game for Town Women off the visitors and sponsors Last of the Summer Wine after a superb display at the back. Penrith’s Hope Lawson was given the award for the visitors after an influential performance in the away goals.
Kirsten Donald picked up the sponsors Player of the Game from Polly’s Parlour after a dominant performance throughout.
Town Ladies are back in action this weekend when they look to get back to winning ways at home to Radcliffe Ladies FC at 2 pm on Sunday.
