Workington Town Women booked their place in the quarter final draw of the Alliance Design and Print Plate competition, after a relatively comfortable victory against their opponents from Merseyside.
The scoreline suggests a quite close game, which it was to a certain extent.
However in reality, home keeper Laura Miller was largely untested in earnest. Her visiting counterpart, Darcie Beckitt, was by far the busiest of the pair, pulling off multiple saves to keep the hosts at bay.
Town were served an early blow when inform midfielder Cassie Donald, was forced to leave the field with less than five minutes played.
The returning Bea Barber replaced Donald and made an immediate impact in the game, as she nearly capitalised from a dangerous free kick on the left delivered by Nat Broad and then assisting with the opening goal.
Positive pressure from the Workington front line attack had forced the ball back to Beckitt.
The keeper’s clearance was collected by Kirsten Donald on the left who was alert to see Hayley Bracken’s attacking run in support. Bracken moved the ball quickly to Barber before receiving it back and firing home convincingly from the edge of the area.
Good pressure from Barber 10 minutes later, resulted in the ball being spilled to Chloe Henderson on the edge of the area. Henderson picked out Barber, whose instinctive strike was heading goal bound before Beckitt’s diving save to her right pushed it to safety.
On the half hour mark, Bracken nearly doubled the lead when her well timed header from another dangerous delivery from Broad, forced Beckitt into another eye catching save.
Kirsten Donald’s hopes of getting on the scoresheet were dashed by Beckitt soon after. Broad had linked with Barber on the halfway line before Donald was released in to space. The visiting Keeper raced off her line and saved bravely to deny the midfielder.
The first half was rounded off with another good chance for Town which was again thwarted by Beckitt.
Fullback Tiegan Hargrave threaded a ball through to Barber and put her in to space. Barber bore down on goal and struck well from the edge of the area which forced the in form Keeper in to another very impressive save to deny her.
The team’s defensive duties in the first half was as impressive as the chances they created. So much so that Woolton were restricted to the odd shot, all of which offered little concern to Miller.
This followed suit in the second half and Town remained on top throughout. Beckitt was worked again by Bracken and Donald from the left and stood up to the challenge comfortably claimed both efforts.
Donald was taken down unfairly just outside the area on the left with 20 minutes of the game remaining.
Helen Wagstaff stepped up to deliver a dangerous ball in which found Barber close in. Barber reacted well and forced the ball over the line to push the home side two goals clear.
A late and rare Woolton attack forced Miller in to action as she dived to her left to defend her near post and push the ball to safety.
Town booker themselves in to the quarter finals with a convincing performance and in all fairness the scoreline would have been more positive had it not been for the efforts of Beckitt in the visitors’ goals.
It was no surprise that the player of the game awards went to two defenders after they rebuffed all challenges offer by Woolton.
Naomi Foster collected the award off Woolton after her dominance in the back line and sponsors Westlakes Demolition were keen to reward Lauren Campbell for her noticeable work rate up and down the left flank.
Town are in County Cup action this weekend as they face a short trip to Carlisle to face Stanwix Ladies in the quarterfinals at Gillford Park with a 1.30 pm kick off time.
