Photo by Ian Parker.
York City Ladies made it back-to-back CLS Sports North Riding FA Women’s Cup successes, with a 1-0 win in the final against Middlesbrough Women U23s.
The first attempt of the game came eight minutes in, Ruby Shaw trying a half-volley which bobbled towards the ‘keeper, who claimed with ease.
Boro stopper Merrin Boyle was called into action shortly after, forced to tip a high effort onto the crossbar and behind.
The Teeside outfit notched their first shot on goal in the 17th minute, with Becky Sidwell diving to palm away Jane Harland’s decent strike from distance.
Another chance arose for them two minutes later on the counter-attack, a shot straight down the ‘keeper’s throat, just moments after Grace Sykes had fired wide for City down the opposite end.
In quite an end-to-end half, Jess Holder was next to go close for the MinsterBelles with a free header at the far post, which flew back across goal, narrowly evading the post.
The next ten-minute spell saw a flurry of Middlesbrough chances, as they picked up a bit of momentum.
An almost perfect strike rattled the crossbar before Annie Mitchell followed up with an effort over the top.
In just a matter of minutes, Boro had struck the bar again with a thunderous effort from outside the area, then Meadow Boyle curled one just wide in the 38th minute.
Looking to find a goal against the run of play, the MinsterBelles found an opening, Jess Holder receiving the ball in the box, and laying it off to Sophie Bentley, who forced the ‘keeper to get down low and turn it around the post.
It was looking like the teams were to head into the break goalless, until Ruby Shaw popped up as the hero, rising highest to head home Milly Ash’s corner in the final minute of first-half stoppage time.
City came out with clear momentum at the start of the second half – Rosie Bell latched onto a brilliant lofted through ball, and took an angled shot which Merrin Boyle just about managed to hold onto.
Holder had a couple of chances too, letting fly with a rising effort before the half-hour mark, and then over ten minutes later, one on the turn into the goalkeeper’s arms.
Once again, Sidwell kept City in the game, denying a fierce shot from range, at full stretch.
The lead could have been doubled on a number of occasions in the latter half, including a ridiculous strike late in the game from about 40 yards out, which had the Boro ‘keeper scrambling back to divert for a corner.
The fourth official indicated a nervy six additional minutes at the end, which the MinsterBelles saw out eventually, clinching the CLS Sports North Riding FA Women’s Cup for the second year running to end the season on a real high note.
YORK CITY LADIES: Sidwell, Hayhurst, Trickett, Gatt, Smith, Shaw, Holder, Rolandsen (C), Ash, Sykes (Bell 44’, Gore 87’), Bentley.
UNUSED SUBS: Hardcastle.
MIDDLESBROUGH WOMEN U23: Merrin Boyle, Harland, Meadow Boyle, Povey, Forgie (C), Hopson (Readman 56’), Mitchell (Callander 56′), Ward (Mitchell 77′), Rodgers, Thomas, Bainbridge.
UNUSED SUBS: Scott, Gate, Gills.
