Workington Town Women were in scintillating form when they romped to a 7-1 win at Morecambe.
In doing so, they sealed a league double over their North West Regional League One North rivals and climbed up to sixth in the table.
Town opened the scoring in the 8th minute after a throw-in on the left from Lauren Campbell found Sarah Smith in an advanced position.
Smith displayed great control as she initially cushioned on her thigh, then instep, before crossing to set up the first goal of Bea Barber’s hat-trick.
Barber’s anticipation was eager, her reaction was sharp, and her finish was clinical as she met the ball on the half volley and drilled it past the home keeper, Sophie Ackred.
Their lead was doubled nine minutes later, after Cassie Donald was picked out on the edge of the area from a short corner on the left from Smith.
Donald duly obliged, adding to her already impressive collection of goals from distance so far this season as she drilled a fierce low strike past Ackred.
Hayley Bracken was next on the scoresheet having initiated the move on the left before tracking across the pitch to finish from the right.
Her simple link to Smith was moved on quickly to Barber, before finding Bracken as she cut across the Shrimps’ back line.
Bracken then linked with Ella Beadsmoore in support, before the lively midfielder shifted to find space and played Bracken in on goal. Bracken’s endeavours were rewarded as she beat Ackred at the near post, giving her no chance and putting Town in control.
Town’s keeper Laura Miller pulled off a strong contender for save of the season and in doing so preserved the three-goal advantage.
An instinctive reaction to a close range effort resulted in the save, made diving low to her left and blocking with a strong arm.
However, Morecambe managed to pull a goal back just before half time, when a rare home attack found ex-Townie, Nat Broad, inside the area.
Broad shifted before striking to beat Laura Miller.
Town hit back immediately with only four minutes of the half remaining.
Captain Kirsten Donald was in great form, dominating the middle of the park cancelling Morecambe out whilst looking to set off counter attacks.
Just before the break, Donald linked forward to find Barber who in turn found Smith.
The attacker was quick to play Barber back into space who then spun to beat the covering defender and fire home with great poise.
The second half followed the same pattern as the first, with Morecambe looking to set off raids from deep positions.
However, Niamh Morgan, Molly Blair, Keeley Chatters and Campbell were proving far too accomplished in the visitors back line and when Linzi Donaldson came on for Campbell, the task didn’t get any easier for the hosts.
Chloe Little was introduced for Beadsmoore, having spent a month on the sidelines after picking up a knock in early October.
Town were firing again midway through the second half and around quarter of on hour after the pairs introduction came the fifth goal.
Simplicity was the creative theme for the building of their final three goals, which was supported by clinical composure in finishing.
A Kirsten Donald clearance was claimed by Smith on the halfway line before quickly lofting the ball over the backline and releasing Barber.
With 25 yards still to travel, Barber pulled the trigger and her dipping volley left Ackred stranded.
A couple of minutes later, Smith’s earlier selfless creativity was rewarded when she latched onto a ball in behind from Chatters. Showing great composure, Smith drew Ackred out of her goal before slotting past the keepers right and finding the corner of an empty net.
Kirsten Donald had also been injured in the previous weeks and was withdrawn from action with 20 minutes remaining, being replaced by Olivia Beattie.
This was the skipper’s last involvement, other than collecting the Player of the Game award after the final whistle having made such an impact on the demanding battles in the middle of the field.
Bracken scored the second of her brace of goals with a quarter of an hour to go.
A corner from Smith on the left was delivered into the crowded six yard area and it eventually found its way to Bracken before being eagerly dispatched.
Smith and Barber’s telling efforts on the day was enthusiastically acknowledged as they left the field, making way for Ella O’Nions and Morgan McGrady.
The game played out with Town looking the team more likely to add to the scoring, however the scores remained unchanged and a dominant 7-1 scoreline was more than enough to claim all three points on offer.
After the game, manager Paul Mackenzie said: “I thought we were awesome and really stuck to our game plan throughout.
“We battled hard in the middle of the park and dominated, our back line contained their attacking threats with relative ease, and our attacking play was superb and with all three starting strikers heavily involved in every goal we scored.
“We have a free weekend coming up and we are using it to focus on some really exciting opportunities to grow the club next season.
“It feels like things are coming together both on and off the field at the moment, which is testament to the effort that goes on behind the scenes and the desire to become the best we can be as players, coaches or at a club level, facilitators of female football in our communities.”
