It was two wins in two games for the first team and the development team who both earned victories against two Middlesbrough Women sides.
Goals from Nikki Brown, Alice Hughes, Abby Parkin and former Boro player Fliss Jones put City firmly in the driving seat picking up a much deserved three points in the FA Women’s National League Division One North.
The first team made it back-to-back wins in 2023 after last weekend’s victory at Merseyrail, the first back-to-back wins since October.
The Minsterbelles started brightly, in just the third minute of the match Holly Findlay was twice denied by the Middlesbrough goalkeeper, the York forward was ultimately smothered by Kayley Dunn.
In just the sixth minute City broke the deadlock, Jess Holder picked up the ball and drove forward before picking out Findlay who then delivered a brilliant cross for an improvised finish from the captain as she chested home.
As the game neared the quarter of an hour mark Middlesbrough captain Simone Laverick sustained an injury which led to a lengthy stoppage ultimately forcing her off.
In the 28th and 30th minutes respectively Jess Dawson had Boro’s first two chances of the afternoon, the wingers first effort was an overhit cross which flew over Becky Sidwell’s crossbar before Dawson then hit the side netting with a low drive.
The hosts then came again with chances of their own, Milly Ash struck from range, Dunn in the away goal gathered without too much trouble after 31 minutes. It felt however that a second goal was brewing.
Brown almost doubled her tally in the 33rd minute, she crafted her own opening, a smart turn in the box created the space to shoot but Brown couldn’t keep her effort down.
It wouldn’t be long before York scored their second. Brown was tripped in the box leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Up stepped Hughes who made no mistake confidently firing in sending the keeper the wrong way.
A pumped up City went into the break two to the good, deservedly so after an impressive first 45-minute display.
The first attempt after the restart in the 52nd minute went the way of the visitors, Armani Maxwell, for the first time in the game got in behind but the forward dragged her shot wide.
One minute later York extended their lead further, a defensive mix-up was pounced upon by Abby Parkin who snuck in and poked home, her first goal since returning to the club.
The third goal of the game was the catalyst for a crazy five minutes. Brown poked a half volley over in the 55th minute, Middlesbrough then pulled one back in the 56th minute, Maxwell volley powerfully in to pull one goal back.
In the aftermath of conceding City turned to the bench for the first time, Jones entered the fray replacing Findlay.
30 seconds after coming on Jones hit a thunderous strike in off the underside of the bar to reinstate York’s three goal advantage.
Little after the hour Sidwell was on hand to save an effort from distance before she produced a brilliant save to deny Eve Marshall who found herself free in the 18-yard box.
In the 65th minute Brown was denied by Dunn’s feet as York weren’t content with the four, they’d already scored.
Sidwell was again alert to quell the visitors attack in the 67th minute, the keeper punched a dangerous corner to safety.
York’s final two attempts of the game fell to Hughes and Holder, the former was denied from close range as she met a whipped corner by Elisha Hardcastle before Holder had a deflected shot cleared off the line in the 76th minute.
York managed the game to its conclusion, an important three points maintaining an unbeaten start to 2023.
A trip to Newcastle is next on the schedule for the Minsterbelles, kick off next Sunday at Kingston Park Stadium is 2pm.
Minsterbelles: Sidwell, Parkin, Cattle, Fredericksen, Smith (Heald), Hughes, Hardcastle, Ash, Holder, Brown, Findlay (Jones).
Subs not used: Bowman, Harriott.
York City Ladies Devs 3-0 Middlesbrough Devs
City started brightly creating opportunities early on, a corner forced the visitors to clear off the line before Liv Sellars was twice denied by the Boro keeper keeping the game level.
York dominated play causing numerous issues for Middlesbrough with their high tempo early on in the match.
Georgia Sutcliffe was next to have a good chance, a driving run ended with the defender shooting narrowly wide of the upright.
The visiting keeper continued to keep Boro in the game making a number of important saves whilst they tried to hurt York on the counter.
Beth McLaughlin broke the deadlock for the Minsterbelles running on to a through ball before lobbing her effort over the onrushing keeper to put York ahead.
City held the lead at the break and had to deal with Middlesbrough chances early in the second half, none of which troubled Emily Brookes in the home goal.
Sellars put York two up with a volley into the roof of the net as Middlesbrough only half cleared the corner.
York wrapped up the victory with their third goal courtesy of Faye Singleton, Sellars driving run caused problems before Singleton curled a brilliant strike into the far corner off the crossbar.
The victory showed how a young York development side with only three players over 19 continue to make impressive strides this season, with a bright future ahead.