Match Report - CARLISLE UNITED LADIES - 05 Apr 2018

We were well beaten in the Cumberland FA Women's County Cup semi-final by a lively Carlisle United Ladies FC side. Both teams started brightly but the home side took the lead on 4 minutes when they were quick to latch on to a miscued clearance to lob the ball into the top left hand corner. Emma Sisson equalised on 12 minutes with one of the best moves of the game. Becca Sisson picked up the ball in defence and played forward to Emma Sisson who combined well with debutante Nicola Smith to force her way past the home defence and blast past the keeper. Four minutes later and Carlisle took the lead again when a corner from the right wasn't cleared and their striker smashed the ball into the back of the net. On 28 minutes they extended their lead following another corner from the right. A goalmouth scramble followed before the ball rebounded off the right hand upright to a Carlisle player who put the ball home from close range. 3-1 at half-time.

The Newlaithes players were in determined mood at half time but they were rocked within 2 minutes of the restart when yet another corner from the right wasn't cleared and their forward smashed the ball home from the centre of the box. Newlaithes heads began to drop and gaps were beginning to open up. On 53 minutes Carlisle made it 5 when they attacked down the left to play a sweet diagonal ball into the area for their forward to nip in front of keeper Nicola Morning to clip the ball home. Newlaithes were looking down and out and 3 minutes later Carlisle combined well through the middle like a hot knife through butter to score their 6th. amazingly the Newlaithes players pulled themselves together and battled back to stem the tide, creating a few half chances of their own but it was Carlisle who were dominant and could have scored more but for the heroics of Nicola Morning in the Newlaithes goal and several more missed chances. Final score 6-1.

All credit to Carlisle who looked slick and they fully deserved the win. We wish them the very best of luck in the final.

We now look forward to the the start of the Cumberland FA Women's League next week with a number of walking wounded following game. Fingers crossed ???