MATCH REPORT: Workington Reds Ladies 2-3 Chorley Women Development

It was a day to forget for Reds Ladies as they fell to a disappointing home defeat in their latest Division One North fixture.

Going into the game hoping to complete a league double, Reds produced a well below par performance against a very young Chorley side which deservedly collected all three points.

Reds started brightly enough and, after dominating the early exchanges, opened the scoring with a fine solo goal from top scorer Hayley Bracken.

But their luck took a turn for the worse with three incidents just before half-time.

Bracken saw a firm shot rattle the crossbar, Holly Redmond sustained a serious injury and was transported to hospital and Chorley, after being thwarted by three good saves from Laura Miller, deservedly equalised with a well taken Kay Higgins goal.

Reds actually restored their lead with a ‘route one’ goal, Bracken collecting a long clearance from the ‘keeper and confidently converting her thirteenth goal of the season.

But Chorley’s enterprising play saw them restore parity soon after with Higgins netting a well taken second.

With confidence high, Chorley pushed for the winner and they got it three minutes before the end with a superb goal from Libby Keown.  She cut in from the left and curled the ball into the far side of the net past the helpless Miller.

It was tough on Miller, one of Reds better performers on the day, but Chorley deserved the victory and leap-frog Reds in the table as a consequence. Earlier in the season, Reds had won convincingly at Chorley so it was sweet revenge for the visitors on their first trip to West Cumbria.