It was something of a surprise that Workington Town Women’s Sunday game actually went ahead at the Fibrus Community Stadium, as there were credible challenges as to whether it was safe for Bolton to travel to West Cumbria and with all other games being postponed in the North West Women’s Regional Football League.
However, the Wanderers Officials decided to buck the trend and instead set out to make the longest scheduled trip of the days fixtures.
This looked to have backfired while around halfway up the M6, when a mechanical failure of the windscreen wipers resulted in a second bus being called for to complete the journey.
This meant that the game had to be delayed by an hour, which unfortunately resulted in the teams playing the entire second half in blizzard conditions as the weather worsened from what had been expected.
Despite the cold, wet and generally miserable conditions, the teams managed to serve up plenty of good quality football which was fiercely contested throughout.
Bolton are riding at the top of the table with a 100% record and Town had built enough form over recent weeks which meant the visitors weren’t taking anything for granted. This was apparent in the first half when it was difficult to split both sides with chances falling at either end and keen battles in the middle of the park.
It was the league leaders that struck first with a somewhat scrambled strike from close range in the 11th minute.
A Bolton corner had been cleared to the edge of the centre circle by the home defence. The visitors gained possession and drove the ball out wide right which offered good with against a home team that was clearing the area.
The ball was delivered in and eventually fell to Neishai Gordon after taking the odd deflection on route. Gordon took full advantage as she struck the ball home, squeezing her drive under a solid attempted save from Laura Miller.
A trademark mazy carry and strike at goal from Kirsten Donald in the 20th minute offered hope for the home side, however the Bolton Keeper remained alert as she gathered at full stretch to deny her.
A Cassie Donald free kick from the right followed six minutes later with the ball falling to Nat Broad at the back post, with her ensuing first time strike looping to the wrong side of the right post.
Exchanges followed from both side which never really worked either keeper, that was until the ball fell to Cassie Donald 20 yards out and with the half time break looming with Town still attacking the scoreboard end.
Donald’s strike was low and at pace which troubled Annabelle White in the visitors goal as she dived to her right and pushed the ball behind to safety.
Hayley Bracken went close soon after with an headed attempt from a Chloe Henderson cross which narrowly passed the target.
Broad was on hand to deliver one of her pinpoint corners in from the left which was met with force by Hayley Bracken, converting a strong header from close range and leaving White stranded.
This was the final action of the half and 22 cold and drenched players took some well earned shelter after an evenly fought first 45 minutes.
If either team had thought the worst of the weather was over with, they have been sadly mistaken, as the conditions had deteriorated during the interval.
As the players exited the tunnel to resume the game, they were greeted to what can only be described as blizzard conditions. Town were facing in to the weather for the second half and in all honesty, that probably played a contributory factor in the final score of the game although maybe not necessarily on the outcome of the game.
Bolton took the initiative and came at the home defence with gusto. An early second half raid seen the visitors bearing down on Millers goal, but the dependable shot stopper was in good form as she defended her goal with three fine saves in quick succession.
A drive to save from her left was followed by another dive to her right with the ball finding a Bolton striker who in turn forced another diving save to her left which was turned behind to safety.
The visitors took the lead again in the 55th minute, when a seemingly offside run was collected by Madi Hardman in behind the home defence. Hardman displayed great composure as she closed in on Miller before slotting the ball past her on her left to find the bottom corner.
The league leaders had found the swagger that had served them well so far this season and this was further exaggerated by the conditions the home side were facing in to, in short there was very little respite for the home side.
This brought a great fighting spirit from the Town Women. Miller was leading by example and her defenders were following suit, closing down attack after attack and thwarting the spirited visitors.
The home sides resolve managed to hold out until the 80th minute when Welsh Youth International Faye Knox was fed into space on the left before striking cleanly to beat Miller on her right. This had effectively sealed the victory for the visitors as time was running out for the home side.
Three minutes later and the contest was over after Gordon bagged her second goal of the day after collecting on the right and driving the ball to beat Miller to find the bottom right corner.
The fourth goal served as a cruel blow for the home side as the scoreline would depict a contrast to reality. Bolton were fair winners, of that there is little doubt, but the Workington Women had showed great resolve throughout and were equal in the first half to the team that is flying at the top of the table.
Bracken came close to bagging her second of the day as the game entered the final five minutes after keen closing from Ella O’Nions had resulted in her securing possession in an advanced position.
The young striker kept a cool head to link with Bracken who struck for goal as she came on to the ball. White was retreating having been beaten by O’Nions, but managed to stretch out to her left enough to deny the home side a second and push the ball behind to safety.
Bracken was awarded Player of the Game for the Town Women for her well taken goal and constant pressure in the middle of the park. Chloe Henderson was awarded the sponsors Player of the Game by Westlakes Demolition for her persistent battling in the middle of the park.
After the game, manager Paul Mackenzie said: “Every one of our players should be proud of their performance today in what was horrendous conditions, there was some very cold, very tired and very aching bodies in the change room after today’s game, but they kept on going right to the final whistle.
“We were unfortunate that the weather worsened over the half time break as this meant we were facing in to a blizzard. I am not saying that this is why we were beaten today, I wouldn’t take anything away from the polished performance that Bolton served up, I just think that the conditions tipped the balance in Boltons favour and they absolutely made the most of it.
“I would like to say a special thank you today to Workington Town RLFC and the volunteers that have supported us today and will be doing so throughout the week. I don’t think anyone expected the conditions to become that bad in the second half of the game and ironically, if the game had kicked off at the scheduled time we would have been finished before it started to get as bad as it did.
“Looking at the work required to clean up the change rooms and repair the pitch etc, you would expect to hear a few sighs and a see some head scratching, but all we have heard is offers to help to make sure that the players are ok from a welfare perspective and reassurances not to worry and they will take care of things this week and it’ll all be fine.
“We have never had any need to consider Town’s commitment to us and their desire to support us in any way they can. However, their attitude to today’s game and their efforts this week, clearly displays that they are willing to go above and beyond what any of us could ever expect them to do.
“This is a very special organisation, led by very special people and supported by very special people in their actions to support the club in their aims to serve the community around them. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to be in the position we are in and are immensely grateful of this as well.”
