United started their Lancashire Women’s County Premier Division campaign with a point on Sunday afternoon, thanks to Phoebe Langan’s third goal in as many games.
Langan’s strike on 16 minutes cancelled out Lola Corbett’s opener on 3 minutes to make sure that the Blues’ unbeaten start to the season continued in a 1-1 draw against GT7 Academy.
Sunday’s tie got off to the worst possible start for the Cumbrians, being punished by Corbett, who tucked away the opener on 3 minutes.
United responded quickly to going behind. Charlotte Murray’s drilled delivery into the area found Bessie Best at the back post, but her volley drifted over the bar.
The Cumbrians found themselves level just thirteen minutes after going behind. Langan closed down the ’keeper, whose attempted kick was intercepted by United’s striker and the resulting deflection flew into the back of the net to restore parity in the contest.
The Blues got more of a foothold in the contest after Langan’s leveller, but neither side looked particularly threatening with both goalkeepers having a relatively quiet afternoon.
The best chance of the remainder of the opening period for Carlisle fell to Ciara Bland, who set herself up for a volley on the edge of the area, but her effort went wide of the target.
The visitors came the closest to going ahead on 32 minutes, when their striker’s effort looked destined for the back of the United net, but Best was on hand to clear the ball off the line and ensure the Blues went into half-time level.
HALF-TIME: Carlisle United 1-1 GT7 Academy
The Cumbrians were the more proactive side in the second period and looked more likely to make an impact on the scoreline than their opponents.
On 52 minutes, Best looked as though she had put United deservedly ahead, when her free-kick from range was nearly spilt into the back of the net by the ’keeper, but she managed to claw the ball off the line and spare her blushes.
The Blues went close again just three minutes later, when Langan found Murray on the edge of the box. She spun fantastically on the half turn, and her outrageous volley narrowly missed the top corner.
The visitors threatened with intricate passing moves but failed to create any clear-cut chances that troubled Chelsea Norris in the United goal.
The last real chance of the tie came on 66 minutes. Langan was in the action again, her incisive pass found Katie Barbour’s run in-behind the GT7 backline, but her shot was well saved by the ’keeper.
A game that United would feel that they could have got more from, but a point that they will be grateful to attain early in their campaign, especially after how often the visitors threatened in the opening stages.
FULL-TIME: Carlisle United 1-1 GT7 Academy
United: Norris ©, Beal, Reekie (McMillan 60), Best, Matthews, Nixon, Mitchell, Bland, Barbour (Scott 70), Murray, Langan.
Unused Subs: Cleasby, Messenger.
Goals
United: (Langan 13’)
GT7 Academy: (Corbett 3’)
