United unlucky not to win
The CUFC Ladies team made the short trip to Penrith following the previous weeks postponement at Padiham, Richard Mallinson writes.
Penrith are a side who have consistently finished in the top three of the league for a number of seasons but United more than matched their opponents and were extremely unlucky not to come away with three points following a large amount of pressure in the second half.
The game was given the go ahead following a couple of early morning inspections and the home side settled into the game the quickest without having any clear cut chances.
As United settled in they were able to get the ball down and create half chances which were saved by the Penrith keeper. Penrith’s only real chance of note in the opening exchanges was a speculative effort from 20 yards which was dealt with by United keeper Laura Miller.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Penrith broke down the right and Paula Grieve was adjudged to have held the winger back. The resultant free kick was driven in and in a 6 yard box scramble, the ball ricocheted off the unfortunate Kerri Mallinson into her own net.
United pulled together and from then on it was one way traffic with united testing the Penrith defence with Browbank, Kelly, Harmison, Mallinson and Robinson all having opportunities to draw level.
An inspirational half time discussion saw United come out the better side and what followed can only be described as a barrage as Carlisle really put Penrith under pressure and penned them into their own half. On 60 minutes, United deservedly drew level when a Sharina Robinson free kick was floated into the box; some good off the ball work from Mallinson and Kelly allowed Philippa Harmison to find the net.
United kept going and kept the pressure on however they could not find the elusive winning goal. Penrith had their only half chance in the second half on 85 minutes when they broke however the Carlisle defence contained them and limited them to a shot from 25 yards which was well wide.
The game was a measure of just how well this United side have progressed and are continuing to build a squad. United were really unfortunate not to win however a point away from home is a good result.
Becky Adam was awarded man of the match however everyone of the Carlisle players could have been a contender. United welcome Penrith to Creighton next week before facing a daunting League Cup trip to Premier League side Crewe the following week.
United: Miller, Ryan, Grieve (Martin), Mallin, McGimpsey, Adam, Kelly, Robinson, Mallinson, Browbank, Harmison. Subs: Ullyart, Smith.
