Workington Town Women secured their first away win of the season on Sunday, with a dominant display.
At Croston Sports Club, home of Chorley Women Development side, they scored five without reply.
The conditions on the day played a big factor in the game’s early exchanges.
Town set off with a stiff breeze at their backs and this, combined with the early morning rain, made for a slick playing surface which impacted both teams being able to keep the ball under control.
As a result the first quarter of an hour was evenly shared with nothing more notable than half chances being created with both teams adjusting to the conditions. However, Town started to take control from this point forward as they took the game to their hosts.
A solid performance at the back from Laura Miller, Niamh Morgan, Tiegan Hargrave, Molly Blair and Keeley Chatters, meant that Chorley’s attempts to influence the game with their attacking creativity was contained and repeatedly shut down.
This enabled Town to build their own platform and to take the game to their hosts, which they did. Chloe Little had been ruled out of the game after picking up an injury seven days earlier and this gave Olivia Beattie the opportunity to start in the middle of the park.
It was quite a big ask for a player that was playing junior football six months earlier, her selection being testament to the quality she has and the desire she’s shown to progress.
Town looked a real threat up top and were eventually able to open the scoring in the 40th minute.
They had readjusted after losing their captain Kirsten Donald ten minutes earlier, with Ella Beadsmoore replacing her.
The opening goal was somewhat direct in nature but absolutely purposeful in intent.
Miller’s out of hands restart was pushed along with the assisting wind and wasn’t suitably dealt with by Chorley in the middle of the park.
What followed was something straight off the training ground with Sarah Smith’s glancing header over the home defence releasing Bea Barber’s well anticipated run in behind.
Barber collected with good control before crossing, aiming to find Hayley Bracken’s arrival in the box.
An attempt to gather by the home keeper failed as she was unable to secure and the ball travelled through to Bracken who slotted home with ease.
Town doubled their lead two minutes later with the build up being in total contrast to the opening goal but equally as impressive.
Bracken had applied good pressure to the Chorley right back and was able to regain possession.
Quick reactions saw her feed a simple pass over ten yards to find Cassie Donald in support.
Having scored four goals against the opposition in an earlier encounter at the start of September, Donald set out to recreate her hat-trick feat and unleashed an unstoppable strike from wide on the left to find the far top corner.
The start of the second half saw Chorley’s most productive spell of the game as they created two shots at goal but neither caused Miller much concern.
However, the home side’s spirits were dashed on the hour with what was arguably the best of the afternoon’s five goals.
Molly Blair had read the play well and intercepted before releasing Donald halfway in her own half.
Donald drove left before connecting with Bracken who was lurking with intent and in good space on the half way line.
Bracken attacked with purpose and drove towards the home defence before playing the ball into space on the left where Nat Broad collected.
Broad then linked with Donald who fired home to beat the keeper in the top right corner.
Minutes later it was four and again from a well-polished move which followed from back to front with quality and simplicity.
Centre back Keeley Chatters had taken control of a clearing ball ten yards inside her own half and towards the left touchline.
She then delivered a 20-yard pass between the lines to pick Donald out who found Broad and the ball was then worked to the right to find Beadsmoore.
The young midfielder drove at the space in the home back line before reacting well to regather having seen her first attempt at goal blocked.
The second strike was more accurate as she composed herself before picking out the corner to notch up her first goal for the club in what was her finest display since moving to the club over the summer.
Donald claimed her second hat-trick of the season against Chorley with 15 minutes of the game remaining.
A pass from Broad was intercepted but then broke loose to Beadsmoore.
Quick feet and deft touch resulted in her finding Donald on the edge of the area.
This time the keeper’s bottom right corner was the target as she rifled home a firm strike.
With this the result was beyond any doubt and Town went on to secure the three points on offer which lifts them to fifth position in the league.
Sarah Smith had started the game leading the attack, before moving to sit in front of the back line.
Her effectiveness in both positions caught the eye of the Chorley manager and earned his award as Town’s Player of the Game selection.
After the game, captain Kirsten Donald said: “The lasses were on fire and they fully earned that result based on the solid performances of everyone that played.
“It’s great to see Ella bag her first goal for us, and to see Cassie score another hat-trick for us was really special.
“Hayley’s been in great goal scoring form this season averaging a goal a game, so it was important to see that continuing today as well.”
When asked about her injury, she said: “I felt my groin tweak early on in the game and it didn’t feel strong enough to continue.
“I’m hoping a week’s rest will help me out. Chloe Little is in a similar position with her knee, so having no game this coming weekend has came at a very good time for us.”
