Chelsea Norris’ pinpoint opener and Sarah Nixon’s audacious chip sent United Ladies through to the final four of the County Cup.
Carlisle came into Sunday’s game looking to bounce back from their disappointing 4-1 loss last time out against GT7 Academy Ladies.
The Blues faced an in-form Abbeytown Ladies in the quarter-final at Wigton, after Charlotte Murray’s half-volley helped them defeat Workington Town Reserves in the previous round.
United knew that it was going to be a tough afternoon against a physical side on a difficult pitch.
Carlisle were the team quickest out of the blocks and tested the Abbeytown backline constantly.
The hosts’ deployment of the long ball meant that United had to adapt their playstyle to suit their opponent, as well as the pitch.
The Blues consistently threatened the Abbeytown goal through set-pieces, but they couldn’t make this pressure count in the opening 20 minutes.
United did make it pay on 22 minutes however, when a Sammi Norman throw-in found Nixon in the box, her flick on found Norris, who fired the ball into the bottom left corner to put Carlisle 1-0 up.
The hosts did respond to the Cumbrians’ goal and had the better of the play going into the interval.
They managed to halt United’s pursuit of the final four on 40 minutes, when the ball fell to the edge of the Carlisle box following a corner and the Abbeytown player fired the ball through the swathes of United bodies to put the home side level.
The Blues then had to weather pressure from a rejuvenated Abbeytown side before the break. Several smart saves from Emma Kenyon meant that the score remained 1-1 and allowed the Cumbrians to reset.
HALF-TIME: Abbeytown 1-1 United
The Ladies certainly took Tracy Gannon’s half-time team talk on board and managed to thwart any momentum that Abbeytown had gained before the half-time whistle.
Carlisle looked like the only side who were going to be progressing into the semi-finals of the cup throughout the second-half.
United’s first clear-cut chance of the second-half fell to Nixon on 61 minutes but her effort was well held by the Abbeytown 'keeper.
Nixon would make no mistake on 66 minutes though, when the ball fell to her just outside the box, she swivelled and sumptuously placed her outside of the foot shot over the Abbeytown shot-stopper to restore United’s lead.
Carlisle then went close to doubling their lead on 70 minutes when both Norris and Nixon’s shots were saved, the rebound nearly fell to Nixon again, but the Abbeytown keeper smothered the ball to keep the scoreline at 2-1.
Definitive chances were sparse until the final whistle, United’s ever-dependent backline halted any potential comeback by the hosts and secured the Blues’ place in the last four.
Another spirited performance by Carlisle means they now have 5 wins out of their last 6 and real momentum heading into the backend of the season.
FULL-TIME: Abbeytown 1-2 United
United: Kenyon, Nixon, Strutt, Beal, Defreitas, Blaylock, Murray, Winter, Norman ©, Norris, Barbour.
Subs: Riddet, Scott.
United goals: (22’ Norris), (66’ Nixon).
POM: Jade Beal - sponsored by Dalston Pharmacy
