This Sunday both the First and Reserves Team were without a game, with the focus on the County Cup tie for the Development Team. The Development Team welcomed Wigginton Grasshopper Ladies, in a local clash.
York started strong, pressing into the final third and pressuring the opposition into losing possession of the ball. Early in the game York secured a corner and put the ball into a dangerous position, before a Wigginton counter-attack was stopped by an organised defensive line, catching the opposition offside. The first ten minutes saw battles across the midfield, before the team were able to spin off the opposition and play a ball into Ruby Shannon, who slotted a bottom corner finish to give York a one goal advantage. The next ten minutes continued the same, with York dominating possession and running the midfield, looking for a way to double their lead. Some positive spells of football saw link up play between Heather Smith, Amelia O’Flaherty and Daisy Masefield, aiming to reach Shannon upfront. Only six minutes later the team were successful when Shannon took the ball calmly around the goalkeeper to secure her brace. Wigginton then stepped up to the challenge becoming more physical and looking for a way through the York defence – despite some strong defending from Erin Stewart, and multiple headers from Sasha Dann, the team were caught out and Wigginton got one back. Before half time, Masefield was then brought down in the opposition box, and was able to capitalise when awarded a penalty, making the half-time score 3-1.
Early into the second half the Wigginton goalkeeper was forced to make a crucial save, pushing O’Flaherty’s effort onto the crossbar, with efforts from Lil Scott and Lili Patton going just wide of the post. Seventy-one minutes in, and Shannon secured her hat-trick, giving York an even stronger lead, before topping off her game by adding a fourth! York finished the game by dominating possession, with substitutes Oluwakorede Ayileka and Lola Tunstall strengthening the team, and some dangerous balls from Olivia Bell, but the opposition’s defence kept strong with the game finishing 5-1 to York.
The team will welcome Altofts Ladies in a league fixture next week, and be joined by the First Team, who will be welcoming Leeds Modernians in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup at York Sport Stadium, as well as the Reserve Team, also back in action at home against Huddersfield Town Development.
