It was a spirited second-half performance from United but two first-half Whitehaven strikes proved the difference on Sunday at Creighton Rugby Club.
A day that was about more than just football, as both Carlisle and Whitehaven paid their respects to Poppy Atkinson, who tragically lost her life on Wednesday evening.
Sunday’s game started off with a frenetic energy with both sides going back and forth at each other for the opening 10 minutes with plenty of openings for both without there being any clear-cut chances.
Whitehaven went closest first with their striker forcing a huge stop from Emma Kenyon on 11 minutes to tip the striker’s effort around the post.
United’s first clear-cut chance came on 18 minutes, when promising play from debutant Phoebe Langan down the left wing created an opening for the Cumbrians but her ball into the box found the Whitehaven 'keeper’s hands.
The Blues then had some defending to do themselves, expert jockeying from Sammi Norman thwarted the first wave of the Whitehaven attack, but the ball then found its way back to the opposition attack, but Jade Beal was there to block the cross.
Carlisle thought they were ahead on 26 minutes, when the ball fell to Chelsea Norris in the box, she did everything right and her shot looked destined for the back of the net, but the opposition goalkeeper was somehow equal to it, to keep the score level.
Whitehaven would make United rue their missed opportunities on 29 minutes, when their right-winger found space in the Carlisle box and smashed her shot low into the bottom left corner of the United goal to put the visitors ahead.
The Cumbrians then created a guilt-edge chance on 36 minutes to get themselves back into the game, a wonderfully weighted through ball from Norman found Jess Cleasby through on goal but her shot was placed just wide.
The visitors were clinical again on 37 minutes, when after an attack down the left-hand side where United could find themselves unlucky to have not been awarded a free kick, Whitehaven countered and found the back of the United net.
HALF-TIME: United 0-2 Whitehaven AFC
Carlisle came out stronger in the second-half and put up a resolute performance to make life difficult for the team from West Cumbria.
Within the opening 60 seconds, the Blues had won themselves a corner and the Norman’s resulting cross would fall to Norris at the back post, but her effort crept just over the bar.
The Cumbrians were able to string together more intricate periods of play in the second-half, notable bits of quality came from Ella Porter and Jess Cleasby, who both managed to help United create moments of pressure around the Whitehaven area.
Langan was in the action again on 56 minutes when a ball into a dangerous area from Sarah Nixon found her in space, Langan’s attempt from distance forced a smart stop from the Whitehaven shot-stopper.
Whitehaven came back at United on 59 minutes, but Louisa Defreitas was on hand with an unbelievable block to keep the scoreline the same.
A disappointing result for Carlisle but a second-half performance that can give them encouragement leading into their County Cup semi-final on Sunday.
FULL-TIME: United 0-2 Whitehaven AFC
United: Kenyon, Nixon, Beal, Best, Defreitas, Norman, Norris, Murray, Porter, Langan, Riddet.
Subs: Cleasby, Messenger, Galbraith.
POM: Phoebe Langan
