Workington Town Women lifted the Women’s Cumberland County Cup on Wednesday night, after a dominant performance against Carlisle United Ladies at Gillford Park.
Basking in glorious late afternoon sunshine, the home of Carlisle City FC was taken over by a crowd of around 500 passionate followers of women’s football, with many obviously having travelled from West Cumbria.
Town were on the front foot from the off, as they set about applying persistent early pressure on United’s back line.
Kirsten Donald intently carried the ball down the right before penetrating the back line and crossing to find Hayley Bracken centrally. Bracken’s first time strike forced a reaction save off Chelsea Norris who scrambled twice to deny the strikers effort.
Moments later, Cassie Donald fizzed an effort over from the edge of the area and Nat Broad followed soon after when she shaved the wrong side of the post from a connection off Bracken.
Town eventually went ahead in the 17th minute after a Broad corner from the right had been cleared by the home defence but collected by Linzi Donaldson 15 yards inside the Carlisle half.
Donaldson connected with Helen Wagstaff centrally, before the midfielder sliced the United defence open and fed Bea Barber in behind. Barber beat the advancing Norris to the ball before directing it goal bound from the tightest of angles.
Town doubled their lead eight minutes later, again with a move initiated by Donaldson.
The centre back picked the ball up on the halfway line and drove at the Carlisle line before slipping a pass to feed Kirsten Donald in behind. Donald collected before steadying and driving the ball to Barber in the box to finish with a strike which left Norris with no chance of saving.
With the first half coming to a close, Town created a slick move from deep inside their own half which very nearly added to their lead.
A Wagstaff feed forward was flicked on by Broad to Bracken when quickly released Barber.
Barber returned to meet Bracken’s advancing run only to see her first time strike shave the bar and behind to safety.
Bracken called Norris in to action early on in the second half after Wagstaff had released Cassie Donald down the left. Donald cut back inside and crossed to the back post where Bracken’s strong header was collected by the United keeper.
Town claimed their third goal with around 30 minutes remaining, when a Cassie Donald free kick from the right was flicked on by Chloe Henderson and collected by Keeley Chatters at the back post.
Chatters was calmness personified as she claimed possession and drilled the ball across Norris and in to the back of the net.
This in all fairness sealed the victory as it left Carlisle with a mountain to climb and neither the time nor the guile to recover.
Mark Hunter’s final whistle was met with jubilation around the ground from both the Town players and their army of vocal supporters around the ground, led by the Derwent Park Supporters Club, who had been magnificent throughout.
Bea Barber was awarded the Kitlocker Player of the Game award before club captain Naomi Foster and the rest of the Town team lifted the county cup in front of a string number of spirited supporters.
After the game and when asked about what impact the win would have on junior footballers, Foster said: “To see all these young girls through tonight was amazing.
“We know these players look up to us as role models and for them to see us celebrating and be so close to us, it can’t not inspire them to want to follow in our footsteps.”
Manager Paul Mackenzie added: “It’s been a really special night for the club, that ends a really special first year as Workington Town Women. We have generated a heartbeat at the club since moving over to Workington Town and we are very excited to see how the future pans out for female footballers in the coming years.
“I want to thank everyone that has supported us throughout the season, our families, friends and those that come to our games each week.
“I am fortunate to have a really awesome squad of players available to me. We are driven by strong core values and it was clear to see that in tonight’s performance and the celebrations after winning.”
“I want to say a special thank you to everyone that travelled to support us at tonight’s game, especially the Derwent Park Supporters Club who I thought were magnificent tonight. They have helped to make a special occasion even more memorable and their efforts were appreciated by us all.”
