United Ladies picked up a well-earned three points on the road against Colne Ladies on Sunday.
United were refreshed after a week’s break and were looking to make their mark on Sunday’s fixture from the outset, in order to take the three points back to Cumbria.
Carlisle’s determination to make Sunday’s result a positive one was evident to see from the first whistle and there was a real intensity to their start.
Early momentum from United was capitalised on after 8 minutes, when a beautifully whipped corner from Norman found Best at the back post, who rose above the pack and fired her header in the top right corner of the Colne goal.
This was the perfect start for the Cumbrians, who were looking to build upon the five points that they had already accumulated this season.
Things went from good to great on 14 minutes, when Nixon saw the opposition 'keeper stranded on the edge of her box and fired a delightful strike over her from over 25 yards out, to double United’s lead.
United launched attack after attack on the Colne goal until the interval, width from Norman and Winter were a constant threat for Carlisle, who looked the more likely to add to the scoreline for the remainder of the first-half.
Murray and Johnson-Dodd had real control over the middle of the park and their dogged determination meant that Colne had little in the way of chances.
Pressing runs from Riddet and Nixon, also meant that there was no rest for a Colne backline that United had already exploited twice.
The Cumbrians were unlucky to not find themselves more than two goals clear of their Lancashire-based opposition at half-time.
HALF-TIME: Colne Ladies 0-2 Carlisle United Ladies
United knew that the second-half would be a test of their character and defending, with them now facing the task of having to defend against the mammoth slope of the pitch at Colne.
However, Carlisle’s defence consisting of Blaylock, Beal, Best and Hodgson were more than up to the challenge and limited Colne to a minimal number of clear-cut chances.
When the hosts did break the lines though, Norris was on hand to make sure that the ball was back in the visitors’ control, with several instances of astute positioning.
Out of the two sides, United still looked the more likely to make an imprint on the scoreline throughout the second-half.
There was a nervy finish to the tie set up though, when the Colne striker converted after a great save from Norris in the six-yard box, to half the Cumbrians’ lead on 75 minutes.
Yet, this setback didn’t cause United’s concentration to drop, and they defended expertly over the last 20 minutes of the game.
Beal swept the defence skilfully, and with help from Blaylock, Best and Hodgson limited the hosts to half-chances.
United themselves looked like they were going to regain their two-goal lead, and Galbraith and Messenger added much-needed energy to the United team in the second-half.
Galbraith looked like she had ensured Carlisle all three points, but her well-hit shot landed just over the bar.
This wasn’t to matter though, because United hung on in the closing minutes to claim all three points and fire themselves above Colne in the process.
A performance full of heart and desire meaning that United will be confident of building on this performance and moving further up the league table.
FULL-TIME: Colne Ladies 1-2 Carlisle United Ladies
United: Norris, Blaylock, Beal, Best, Hodgson, Winter, Murray, Johnson-Dodd, Norman, Nixon, Riddet
Substitutes: Galbraith, Messenger
United goals: (8’ Best), (14’ Nixon)
POTM: Sammi Norman - sponsored by Warwick Road Bed Centre
