The ladies were away to Carlisle City for their first league match in seven weeks and for the second game in succession with a threadbare squad, they were made to battle all the way.
City played the game at a high tempo, closing down quickly and preventing Newlaithes from gaining any controlled possession. Newlaithes were rattled for the first 25 minutes or so and hardly managed to string 3 passes together as the faults from their last match continued with poor first touches, hurried passing and failure to close down space. Both teams attacked on the break with no success, however as the half progressed, Newlaithes began to get their act together, with Paige pulling the strings in midfield and she was unlucky when her attempted lob from the right hand edge of the area came back off the bar. Newlaithes started to shade the territorial battle and the City keeper had to be in fine form. Nevertheless City were playing some nice football but despite several anxious moments at both ends, the score remained 0-0 at half-time.
The Newlaithes players were furious with themselves and came out wound up for the 2nd half. They had City camped in their own half and had a number of shots off target until in the 49th minute City cleared the ball from a Newlaithes corner and catching them on the break, they took the lead with a fantastic strike from the edge of the box into the top right hand corner. Newlaithes continued to press but City defended heriocally. However Newlaithes got their reward in the 69th minute when Pat pounced onto a loose goal-kick to thump the ball into the top right-hand corner to equalise. Newlaithes were really fired up now with Jade and Tasha driving everyone on. Two minutes later, Sarah C played a great ball through to Faye but she was tackled just as she was about to pull the trigger. However, from the corner that followed, Newlaithes took the lead as a City defender deflected the ball into her own net under pressure from Tasha. City's heads dropped and the pressure was all from Newlaithes. In the 78th minute Newlaithes extended their lead when Pat lobbed a ball in from the right for Faye to tuck the ball into the bottom right hand corner. City continued to counter attack but Sarah C and Chelsea in the Newlaithes defence seemed to find another gear. With a couple of minutes to go, City almost pulled back when they broke into the area but Abbie did well to close down the ball and save for a corner. Final score 3-1.
This game was a wake up call for Newlaithes - City were in determined mood and never stopped chasing for 90 minutes. However credit to Newlaithes, they showed a great deal of determination themselves to come back and win with a battling 2nd half performance. The game wasn't the most pretty to watch but it was one heck of a battle.
Player of the match was Sarah C for her domination at the back although special mention should also go to Tasha, Paige and Pat, who were worthy contenders due to the immense effort they put in.
Next match is in two weeks time at home to league leaders Abbeytown.
