Workington Town Women reduced this season’s goal difference by over 50% when they bagged six goals without reply against Radcliffe.
Bea Barber led the way with a first half hat trick and a second half strike. taking her tally to four on the day and nine so far this season.
The first 15 minutes or so was quite cagey with both teams looking to find their feet and build a platform. However, a game ending injury to the Radcliffe right winger signified a change in momentum with the home side taking the initiative.
Barber put Town ahead in the 23rd minute when a pass from Hayley Bracken dissected the Radcliffe defence and found the in-form striker in on goal. Barber steadied and finished with poise to settle the home side and take the lead.
Bracken was provider again five minutes later when she linked well with midfielder Kirsten Donald. Having collected, Donald drove into the area before striking across the keeper Isobel Prince with power to find the top left corner.
Soon after, Barber claimed her second after good build up centrally and a cutting delivery by Cassie Donald found her in space again. This time she rounded Prince with ease and slotted home into an empty goal.
Barber completed her hat trick with the half time break looming and a couple of minutes spare. Nat Broad and Barber had worked the visitors defence well for the opening 43 minutes and the pair combined well to underline the home team’s dominance.
Broad’s well timed delivery offered Barber the chance for her hat trick and being in great form, the striker duly obliged as she netted clinically.
The second half continued as the first left off, but being fair to Radcliffe, their heads never dropped over the 90 minutes even though their advances proved fruitless.
Sublime simplicity would be an apt expression for the fifth goal of the day after Bracken drove at the visitors’ defensive line before linking with Broad.
The striker captured the interest of the closing defenders as she looked to be setting to strike, but the ensuing reverse pass to meet Brackens run, offered the runner plenty of time to pick her spot and finish with purpose to leave Prince beaten.
Bracken was involved again in the 74th minute as Barber sealed her performance with her fourth goal of the day. Bracken had linked centrally to release Barber in behind the line with the resulting strike a formality given her form on the day.
A brace of good saves from Town’s keeper Laura Miller in each half had ensured that the home side bagged their first clean sheet of the season.
Defusing a one vs one in the first half was followed by claiming a flighted strike from distance at full stretch. The second half saw her diving low to her left to thwart a rare raid before pushing a threatening corner behind to safety.
Bea Barber was rewarded for her constant threat and four goal haul by collecting the Player of the Game off Radcliffe as well as Match Sponsors, the Miners Arms.
Whilst a display of hard graft and creativity had earned Hayley Bracken the accolades from additional Match Sponsors from Robin Rigg Wind Farm.
The women from Workington face a trip to Blackpool this weekend before returning to the Fibrus on December 15 as they bring their involvement to a close for 2024 entertaining Preston North End.
Action will then return in the new year on January 5 when Bolton Wanderers travel to West Cumbria.
