Workington Town Women were back in action after a 10-week break since their last competitive outing but they gave it a good shot before losing 1-0 at home to Preston North End Ladies 1-0.
A disjointed league schedule combined with a cup draw technicality and a spell of dour weather, had resulted in the team playing their first five fixtures in the opening 15 days of the season – and the other six spread out over the ensuing 19 weeks.
Needless to say, their eagerness to return to action was a given. However, their expectations would need to be measured given this extended period of inactivity and their visitors currently flying high in the North West Women’s Regional Division One North table.
Preston’s fluidity was apparent from the off, with their hard working press applying good pressure to unsettle while their transitions into attack were offered with intent and purpose.
Their efforts were rewarded in the sixteenth minute when a well timed run into the box by Grace Flynn had caught the home defence off guard.
Finding herself in space and closing in on the near post, Flynn finished from close range with clinical precision leaving keeper Laura Miller unable to save.
The setback seemed to spur the home side on. Hayley Bracken and Cassie Donald both came close to levelling early on, before Keeley Chatters rattled the crossbar with a headed effort from a Sarah Smith corner on the right.
The first half finished with the visitors holding a slight advantage and with still all to play for.
Town came out at the start of the second half and enjoyed a period of dominance which gave them some good territorial possession. However, the Preston press was robust and stood firm, forcing attempts from deeper positions than ideal.
The same could be said for the efforts from the Town, as Preston’s chances were equally limited to attempts from distance.
In the final quarter of the game Preston keeper, Maddison Schulz, remained alert to deal with a firm strike from Cassie Donald as well as a half chance that Smith had fashioned from the edge of the area.
Similarly, an attacking late arrival in to the area was picked out in a Preston raid, with the resulting effort passing the goal wide at pace.
The game ended with the visitors taking all three points on offer. However, a return to action and a performance that offers good hope for the coming weeks would have been extremely pleasing for the troops from the Fibrus stadium.
Keeley Chatters was in outstanding form for the home side and so it was little surprise when she bagged the Player of the Game recognition from Preston’s coaching staff and from the match day sponsors, Tim Wordsworth and Phil Mallinson.
After the game, captain Kirsten Donald said: “It’s been a very difficult time for us all, having to wait so long between games.
Picture: JP Smith Photography.
“We have prepared ourselves for this as a squad and accepted that this is a building process that we will grow from each week.
“Being honest there was some really strong performances with Keeley and Niamh like warriors leading the way.
“For the first time in a long time we can look forward to back-to-back fixtures and we are looking forward to seeing further improvements against Accrington this weekend.”
