Carlisle United Ladies faced Blackpool Girls and Ladies on Sunday in their second away fixture of the season.
United were looking to build upon their positive performances in the opening two weeks of the season and add three points to their tally away to Blackpool.
This was another game where the development team were called upon and it was a chance for more players to make their debut for the Blues.
The Cumbrians picked up right where they left off from last Sunday’s clash against Accrington and had control of the early proceedings.
Norman was a continuous outlet for the Cumbrians, making numerous surging runs and always troubling the Blackpool defence, and a string of early shots showed Sammi’s intent.
Blackpool showed slight glimpses of quality throughout the half but nothing that troubled the Carlisle backline, which saw Best, Beal, Blaylock and Defreitas look comfortable throughout.
United’s frontline was a constant nuisance for the Blackpool defence and the press from the Blues meant that Blackpool couldn’t settle into any sort of rhythm, Carlisle made sure the game was played on their terms.
This was highlighted by numerous efforts on the Tangerines’ goal, the most notable being Murray’s shot, which was expertly tipped round the post by the opposition 'keeper on 22 minutes.
Superb positioning from Kenyon meant that United were always on the front-foot and their pressure was made to pay in the 32nd minute, after a nicely-timed ball from Riddet, Norman latched onto the ball, drove into the box and hammered the ball past the Blackpool 'keeper, who was left rooted to the spot.
HALF-TIME: Blackpool Girls and Ladies 0-1 Carlisle United Ladies
The second-half saw less chances for both teams, but this signified the grip that United had on the game.
However, after just two minutes of the second-half, Best took aim from 30-yards and narrowly placed her free-kick just wide of the top left corner.
More Carlisle pressure resulted in the ball breaking to Winter, who was a constant source of annoyance for the Blackpool backline, she managed to shrug the Blackpool defender off the ball, but her shot was saved by the 'keeper.
Birnie and Murray’s control of the centre of midfield gave the Blues a springboard to continue to control the game, and United converted this into sustained pressure on the Lancashire side’s goal.
All that was missing from United’s performance was the second and third goals that would have ultimately put the game past Blackpool, but despite Norman’s best efforts, the game remained at 1-0.
The Cumbrian’s looked like the only side scoring, and despite the odd through ball that sliced open the United defence, the three points looked to be heading back to Cumbria.
The Blues defended resolutely in the final few minutes and managed to survive 91 minutes without any real threat on their lead in the second-half, however, very contentiously, the referee allowed play to continue and awarded Blackpool one last chance to salvage a point with a free-kick, after a coming together which looked like being destined to be given as a drop ball.
The resulting free-kick was converted directly by the Blackpool captain, and United hearts were broken.
Another performance for the Ladies that deserved far more than the point total accumulated at the end of it, but what it does suggest is that when the points reflect the performances, United will be a strong team in this division, despite the relative inexperience of their team.
Carlisle will be looking to build upon a performance that on any other day would have handed them the three points instead of the one, and they get the chance to do that next week when they face Bolton Wanderers at Creighton.
FULL-TIME: Blackpool Girls and Ladies 1-1 Carlisle United Ladies
United: Kenyon, Blaylock, Best, Beal, Defreitas, Nixon, Birnie, Murray, Norman, Winter, Cleasby.
Substitutes: Riddet, Matthews, Messenger.
United goal: Norman (32’)
POTM: Sammi Norman (Sammi is sponsored by Warwick Road Bed Centre)
