LADIES: UNITED 1-3 ACCRINGTON

Carlisle United hosted Accrington Stanley at Creighton on Sunday in their first home match of the season. 

After an encouraging first game of the 24/25 season, which saw United pick up a point on the road against fellow Cumbrians, Whitehaven, Carlisle were looking to build on that positive start, at home against Accrington Stanley Women. 

Sunday’s clash saw five development team players get their opportunity to debut against an Accrington side, that prior to kick off, sat at the top of the table. 

However, based on the early proceedings, it was the home side not the visitors that looked like the one placed at the summit of the table.

A flurry of chances for United, included quality bits of attacking play from Winter and Norman, all that alluded United was a goal to match the energetic start. 

United didn’t have it all their own way though and the visitors may have found themselves ahead if it wasn’t for the astute positioning of Kenyon in between the sticks. 

Accrington did manage to make this spell of pressure count though and went ahead in the 21st minute after a well-timed through ball and a composed finish from the Accrington striker, after rounding Kenyon. 

Carlisle didn’t let this setback unsettle them though and they responded with a period of immense pressure on the Accrington goal. 

This pressure nearly told for United and after an energetic press from the midfield and front line, the ball was turned over in the box after a misplaced pass from the Accrington keeper, the ball fell to Norman whose shot narrowly missed the goal, yet a late follow through from the Accrington defender left the home team wondering if a penalty should have been awarded. 

This period of pressure gave the hosts a lift before the interval, despite being able to consider themselves unlucky to trail in a game which they had controlled the majority of. 

HALF-TIME: Carlisle United 0-1 Accrington Stanley Women

Carlisle built on this pressure after the interval and continued to mount attack after attack on the Accrington goal. 

A corner in the 51st minute saw Mel narrowly place her shot wide of the target, but this chance showed United, Accrington’s fragility when defending corners.

United made all the pressure pay from the next corner and in the 63rd minute, Mel rose above the rest to nod home a brilliantly placed corner from Norris to put United back on level terms. 

The next task for Carlisle was to then build on this goal and put themselves rightly ahead in the contest. 

However, it was Accrington who managed to craft themselves the game’s next big chance and after an unfortunate ricochet, found themselves one-on-one with Kenyon and the Accrington player managed to put the ball in the back of the net, restoring their advantage in the 79th minute.

It then went from bad to worse for United, as the following kick off also resulted in a huge chance for Stanley and despite a big hand from Kenyon, the ball trickled over the line and Accrington doubled their lead a minute after going in front.  

United didn’t let this affect them though and came right out of the blocks looking to keep themselves in the game. 

With a few minutes left on the clock, Norris was played in one-on-one with the Accrington keeper but managed to place her shot narrowly wide of the bottom right corner. 

United put up a spirited response to going 3-1 down but unfortunately there was not enough time left on the clock and the referee called an end to the proceedings with Accrington running out the winners. 

Despite the negative result, there is plenty to build on for the youthful Blues’ side who can find themselves unlucky to not have taken anything from the game, if they can replicate a similar level of performance then a positive result is certainly on the cards next week, when they face Blackpool at Hassra Sports Ground. 

FULL-TIME: United 1-3 Accrington Stanley Women

United: Kenyon, Nixon, Norman, Mel, Murray, Blaylock, Winter, Beal, Cleasby, Norris, Defreitas.

Substitutes: Clapperton, Messenger, Riddet.

United goal: Mel (63’). 

POTM: Emma Kenyon (Emma is sponsored by Liam Irving independent estate agents)