LADIES MATCH REPORT: CHORLEY WOMEN 5-1 UNITED

Carlisle United Ladies faced Chorley Women in their second consecutive away fixture, at Blainscough Park on Sunday.

United came into Sunday’s fixture on the back of their first win of the season against Wigan Athletic Ladies and Girls.

However, Sunday’s game saw a much-depleted United squad travel to Lancashire-based Chorley. 

A mixture of illness, injury and personal reasons meaning that United were down to the bare bones of their squad. 

However, it looked like Chorley were the side lessened in numbers based on the opening proceedings of the game. 

United came flying out of the blocks and seized on this pressure early on, when a long ball from Blaylock on her weaker left foot, found its way to Cleasby in the opposition penalty area, who then fired the ball past the Chorley goalkeeper and put the Cumbrians one up. 

Carlisle had a flurry of chances in the early knockings, most notable was a Best free-kick that forced the Chorley keeper into a smart stop, after quick feet from Johnson-Dodd had drawn the Chorley defender into a foul. 

The host’s first real chance came on 28 minutes, when Kenyon smartly tipped the ball round the post to deny Chorley a certain goal.  

United’s stubborn resistance was broken however, on 33 minutes, when the Chorley winger slotted the ball into the back of the net and levelled things up at Blainscough Park. 

Carlisle didn’t let the goal dampen their morale though, and picked themselves right back up, to launch several attacks on the Chorley goal before the interval, most notable of which being Murray’s long range shot that was fired just wide of the bottom-left corner.  

Half-Time: Chorley Women 1-1 Carlisle United Ladies 

The second half proved to be a hurdle too far though, for a depleted and youthful United eleven. 

Chances of note where few and far between, but their resilience meant that they kept themselves in the game for large periods of the second half. 

Chorley seized on United’s thin squad and tired legs and managed to pull ahead on 54 minutes with a goal out of nothing. 

The Cumbrians nearly managed to pull themselves level after a spell of Chorley pressure when Messenger managed to wrap her foot around the ball on the six-yard line, but her shot was straight at the keeper. 

United’s stubborn resistance lasted until the 78th minute, when the Chorley defender managed to smartly flick a well-placed corner in to the far-left corner of the goal.

Carlisle were then subsequently down to 10 players, when Cleasby had to come off with a knee injury on 79 minutes, leaving them with a two-goal deficit and a player down for the remaining 15 minutes.  

Chorley were then able to take advantage of a diminished United team and add a fourth and fifth goals to the score-line, with expertly taken finishes. 

Carlisle could’ve been down to nine, if it wasn’t for the bravery and passion of Defreitas, who after being fouled several times, picked up a hamstring injury that left her flat on her feet. 

On the surface of it, this looks like a disappointing afternoon for a United side that were buoyed by last Sunday’s three points, however, real heart and desire was displayed in abundance on Sunday and the Ladies can come out of the game with their heads held high. 

A much-needed two-week break is now before United, who can be hopeful of accumulating a fully fresh and rejuvenated squad before their next long away trip to Colne FC Ladies on 27th October.  

FULL-TIME: Chorley Women 5-1 Carlisle United Ladies 

United: Kenyon, Blaylock, Best, Galbraith, Defreitas, Riddet, Birnie, Murray, Johnson-Dodd, Messenger, Cleasby. 

United goals: (3’ Cleasby) 

POTM - Louisa Defreitas