Here is a rundown on how the York City Ladies teams got on over the weekend.
First Team:
A double from Charley Evans, alongside a dinked finish from Louise Biggins, helped Barnsley FC take all three points at Oakwell Showcase Pitch on Sunday afternoon.
Playing into difficult windy conditions, it was Emily Senior’s side who made a strong start to the game and came close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute. Jess Holder tried her luck from inside the area and it struck the outside of the post and out for a goal kick. Holder was at the centre of another chance in the 12th minute before Emily Cattle headed a chance into the arms of the Barnsley keeper.
Holder then fired just wide in the 29th minute before her side had their best chance in the 32nd minute. Winger Milly Ash found Holder in the middle, but the Striker slipped as she looked to fire towards goal. The deadlock was then broken in the 38th minute, with Skipper Charley Evans finding the back of the net from the edge of the area. The home side then came close to doubling their advantage, but this time Becky Sidwell made an incredible save to tip a shot onto the crossbar.
The home sides continued with their high pressing game and they doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when Louise Biggins capitalised on a defensive mixup, raced towards goal, and dinked her shot over Sidwell.
The three points were then secured just four minutes later, when Evans finished off a counter attacking move to score her second of the game. The MinsterBelles continued to work hard, as the game headed towards its conclusion, and almost reduced the deficit courtesy of Grace Sykes. The Winger swooped in at the back post but saw her shot well saved.
The MinsterBelles now have a weekend off before welcoming Durham Cestria to York Sport Stadium on Sunday 9th March.
Reserves:
The Reserves made the short trip to top of the table Middlesbrough this week. The game started a full pace with York forcing the home side into conceding a couple of early corners but were unable to create any clear cut chances. The home side then began to show why they sit at the top of the table and took control of the game when the Middlesbrough attacker was able to take advantage of a defensive mix up to round the goalkeeper and put into an empty net.
It didn’t take long for the lead to be doubled when despite an outstanding double save by Erin Rodgers, the Middlesbrough forward fired home at the third attempt.
The second half saw an improved performance from York but the game was put beyond doubt when a fast break away by the home was clinically finished off via the crossbar. Boro once again took advantage of some wayward passing straight from the kick off and a ball across the face of goal was volleyed into the roof of the net to give Middlesbrough a 4-0 advantage.
The Reserves now turn their attention to the Reserves Northern Premier after achieving a top 4 finish in their first year at this level, an outstanding achievement for the young minsterbelles and they look forward to some stern tests against teams from across the midlands division.
Development Team:
On a windy Sunday afternoon, York City Development travelled to face Lower Hopton in the reverse of last Sundays fixture. Featuring in the squad was Olivia Dale, signing for the club earlier this week.
Captain for the game, Kazia Walby, won the toss and the MinsterBelles kicked off the first half facing against the wind. In the first half, the team had a number of chances but couldn’t convert. Goalkeeper Layla Addy kept the scoreline at 0-0 midway through the half when the oppositions striker was through one on one. Addy saved from close range sticking out her left foot to knock the ball out for a corner.
Playing with the wind in the second half, the Development team started strong. On the 54th minute, Lexie Daubney won the ball on the edge of the box and opened the scoring with a left footed shot over the keeper. Sophie Bentley doubled the Development team’s lead with a looped effort from 20 yards out in to the top right corner on the 69th minute.
6 minute later, Sophie Wilson received the ball on the left and beat the Lower Hopton defender. Wilson’s driven cross was bundled in at the front post. On 79 minutes Bentley scored her brace when she cut inside from the left and hit the side netting of the right corner.
The win sees the Development Team secure a 4th win in 6 games in 2025. Next up is a trip to league leaders Ossett United on Sunday 2nd March.
