A performance to be proud of from United Ladies, but they fell short in the County Cup final on Wednesday night.
Wednesday’s final proved one step too far for a youthful United eleven against a strong Workington Town side.
After a difficult week for the Blues, having lost their first team 'keeper, Emma Kenyon to a dislocated knee, they knew the tie would be a tough affair.
However, the Cumbrians were determined to show why they had earned their place in the final and pushed a well-established team to the final whistle.
Chelsea Norris stepped into goal for United and was alert on 5 minutes to deny the home side their first of the game.
United crafted the first real chance of the game on 10 minutes, when Sammi Norman won the ball off the Workington defender deep into the opposition half, but her cut-back just evaded the oncoming Jess Cleasby.
Town found themselves ahead on 16 minutes, when a pinpoint cross found Barber at the back post to tap-in.
United responded with urgency from kick-off and were somehow denied a penalty on 18 minutes, after more great play from Norman down the left-wing - she was tripped by the Workington defender in the box, but the referee decided to wave play on. United were unfortunate to not find themselves with an opportunity to restore parity and Workington were lucky to find themselves with 11 players on the pitch.
On 24 minutes, Workington managed to double their lead through Barber again, after the winger found her free at the back post.
Carlisle showed incredible resilience and made sure that Workington would not have it all their own way.
Sophie Birnie found space on 27 minutes, but her shot was stopped by the ‘keeper.
Carlisle really ramped up the pressure in the closing two minutes of the first half, with both Katie Blaylock and Norman making the ’keeper work with their shots from distance.
HALF-TIME: Workington Town Women 2-0 United Ladies
The Cumbrians started the second-half with the same intensity that they had ended the first-half with.
United’s strong backline laid a platform for which the team could build from, and this allowed them to utilise a more possession-based approach in the second-half.
On 58 minutes, against the run of play, Town managed to add a controversial third, after the referee decided to wave play on after a clear foul on a United player.
Carlisle responded with resilience again with Ella Winter trying her luck from range but her shot just crept over the bar on 60 minutes.
There was another hammer blow for the Cumbrians on 64 minutes, when influential player, Sammi Norman was brought down by the Workington defender, she landed awkwardly and had to be taken to hospital with a broken wrist. We wish Sammi a speedy recovery.
The rest of the second-half passed with few chances for either side, United had more of the play, but couldn’t notch a goal that their performance deserved.
Workington Town held on to win the Women’s County Cup.
An unfortunate end to the season for United, but a sign of real progress, as a young United side put in a performance to be proud of against a high-flying Workington side.
FULL-TIME: Workington Town Women 3-0 United Ladies
United: Norris ©, Nixon, Best, Beal, Defreitas, Porter, Murray, Winter, Birnie, Norman, Cleasby.
Subs: Barbour, Bland, Blaylock, Langan, Riddet, Shaw.
POM: Sarah Nixon- sponsored by Duncan Hill Haulage
