Whitehaven AFC Ladies suffered their fourth defeat of the season as they lost 4-2 at home against Kendal-based GT7 Ladies FC in the Premier Division of the Lancashire Women’s County League.
Both sides had early chances to score but it was GT7 that got on the scoresheet first as they took advantage of a mistake by the home sides defender to slot one home in the 35th minute.
However, Ashleigh Mcallister levelled for Whitehaven two minutes later when she chipped the keeper and the teams went in at half-time all square.
It was the home side who had the first chance in the second half with Amber Jackson forcing a big save from the opposition keeper from a free kick just outside the area
Their next chance came in the 55th minute and it was taken as Mcallister rounded the keeper to score her second goal and put Whitehaven ahead.
Mcallister was close to completing a hat trick five minutes later when she got past the keeper again but this time could only put the ball past the post.
She had another opportunity for a third goal after 65 minutes, once more after rounding the keeper but a defender got back to make a saving tackle.
But then GT7drew level after a lob over the home defence ended with the striker curling a shot round the Whitehaven keeper.
That wasn’t the end as GT7 took the lead with a remarkable long range effort and just before the end the visitors’ striker fired home a fourth.
Afterwards Whitehaven AFC Ladies head coach Rob Campbell said: “I think the game swung throughout in terms of periods of control and maybe a draw would’ve been about right. It certainly felt a hard one to take as a loss.
“I felt we were just on the verge of grabbing the opener when at the time, against the run of play GT7 from a throw in created an opportunity at the far post which we failed to deal with both on the initial throw in, then the shot itself.
“The response from the ladies was immediate and showed great character, with a fantastic through ball from captain Caitlin Irving and finished off by Ashleigh McAllister
“We felt at half-time if we could be a bit better on the edge of our box out of possession whilst moving the ball quicker in possession we could take more control. That seemed to be the case early on in the second half as we created a number of very good chances, committing their keeper on more than one occasion.
“We took the lead shortly after this with a great direct defence splitting pass and Ashleigh McAllister rounded the keeper to make it 2-1, and in truth we should’ve put the game to bed after that.
“However, in the last 15 minutes we failed to deal with two situations on the edge of the box as we had in first half, the first leading to a well executed pass and shot to make it 2-2 and a wonder strike to go 3-2.
“The fourth goal was mainly down to us pushing for an equaliser and we were left exposed which can happen so I take responsibility for that.”
Looking at the season as a whole, Campbell said: “It’s been a very stop-start period at the beginning of season for us with games being postponed, and that was our first game at home since the middle of September.
“The lasses are still building new relationships on the pitch. The squad is very young and the majority of the players have stepped up two divisions as well as some of the players just leaving youth football.
“However the foundations are strong at the club and the future looks very bright, and already I can see each week we are making gains.
“We knew this season would be a year of transition but I’m sure we will get stronger as the season goes on.
“The lasses have been terrific and want to improve each session and that’s all you can ask, and we’ll need the character they are showing for sure next Sunday when we welcome run away league leaders Wigan Athletic first team.”
