A youthful United Ladies side were defeated away in Lancashire against Penwortham Town Ladies on Sunday.
United came into the game with a depleted squad, missing several key first team players.
Carlisle did make a positive start to the game and the first-half was an even encounter.
Conditions were tough, both the pitch and the weather meant that the game wasn’t contested on the floor and became a battle of the long ball.
The Blues had the first real clear-cut chance of the game, when Lainey Johnson-Dodd was through on goal, but her shot was saved by the Penwortham Town 'keeper.
The Cumbrians defended resolutely in the opening stages of the game, Blaylock, Nixon, Strutt and Hodgson made sure that the Penwortham strike-force knew that they were in a game.
It was the hosts however that took the lead on 36 minutes, when their striker slotted the ball past Kenyon.
United responded resoundingly and were level within 6 minutes. Great pressing from United’s left-hand side resulted in the Penwortham 'keeper clearing only as far as Murray, who’s shot found its way to Birnie, who dispatched the ball smartly into the open net from distance.
HALF-TIME: Penwortham Town Ladies 1-1 Carlisle United Ladies
United started quickly after the break and managed to win themselves a corner on 48 minutes. The corner was wonderfully whipped into the area by Norman, the cross found Murray, but her header was just over the bar.
It was the hosts who would respond well to United pressure this time around and found themselves ahead on 52 minutes, when their midfielder latched onto a loose ball in the visitors' area.
They then doubled their lead two minutes later to quickly find themselves two goals clear of the Cumbrians.
Things would then get even better for Penwortham on 65 minutes, when their striker dispatched the ball into the bottom corner from long range, to make it 4-1 to the hosts.
United then showed a period of resilience, to hold Penwortham out and keep the scoreline respectable.
Several big chances fell to United, but they couldn’t quite convert them and it set up a nervy end for the opposition. The biggest chances fell to Messenger, but somehow her shots didn’t end up in the net and resulted in United corners.
Penwortham added a fifth on 88 minutes to seal the victory.
However, United still endeavoured to put an imprint on the scoreline and Blaylock finished with prowess from outside the area to make the score 5-2 in the final minute.
A sobering afternoon for a young United side and one that shows what they need to work on if they are to propel themselves up the table. There are still plenty of points to play for and United need to make sure that they are fully focused in order to take as many as possible.
FULL-TIME: Penwortham Town Ladies 5-2 Carlisle United Ladies
United: Kenyon, Blaylock, Nixon, Strutt, Hodgson, Messenger, Murray, Birnie, Norman ©, Johnson-Dodd, Cleasby
Substitutes: Riddet, Galbraith
United goals: (42’ Birnie), (90’ Blaylock)
POTM: Sophie Birnie
