This weekend the First Team and the Development Team were semi-finalists in the North Riding County Cup.
The First Team welcomed Thornaby at home and came close early in the game, with Rosie Bell’s corners meeting the head of Sharone Buckle, and Milly Ash, before a spot kick gave Thornaby a one goal advantage only eight minutes into the game. Niamh Doody equalised with a phenomenal solo run after an Annie Mindenhall goalkick reached the midfielder, smashing the ball across the box, past both the defender and goalkeeper. Just before half time a red card was shown to Doody, with the 10 player team throwing everything at the game in the second half.
Katie Astle came close in a 1 vs 1, as well as Buckle chipping the post, but neither chance could be capitalised on. Despite the fierce efforts of the squad, Thornaby’s number 22 struck low across the box and managed to put them one goal ahead in the ninetieth minute. York City Ladies were unfortunate not to reach the final for the third year, full time 1-2.
Moving onto the nine goal thriller at York St John, York City Ladies Development Team are through to the final for the first time in history – knocking out last year’s finalists, Middlesbrough u23s in the process!
Allowing Middlesbrough to have the ball, York had a solid game plan, with an understanding of when to press combined with a strong desire to win the ball and apply pressure to the opposition. Starting on the front foot, captain Erin Stewart gave York the lead from a corner, with a well placed back heel past the goalkeeper. York kept applying the pressure and an early substitution in Sasha Dann allowed the team to be more direct and increase the tempo of the game. Fifteen minutes later Middlesbrough equalised, in the twenty-eighth minute. HT score 1-1.
Early into the second half Middlesbrough went one goal ahead, but York were determined to keep pushing and were rewarded minutes later; Amelia O’Flaherty drove the ball up the pitch, before falling to Ruby Shannon, who hit a phenomenal top corner strike to take it to 2-2. Keen to restore their one goal advantage, Dann picked up a loose ball in midfield and played a well-placed ball through Middlesbrough’s defence, ready for Shannon to finish calmly past the goalkeeper, 3-2. With eighty-five minutes on the clock York were awarded a penalty after Dann was pulled to the turf. Lil Scott made no mistake and slotted the ball into the corner to double York’s advantage, 4-2. Middlesbrough put up a fight coming back to 4-3 in the eight-nineth minute, before York restored their two goal advantage only two minutes later, with O’Flaherty’s freekick putting her deservingly on the scoresheet. In the final minutes Middlesbrough added another, but it wasn’t enough to take the game to penalty kicks and York earned their well deserved win. Final score 5-4. Players of the match were Heather Smith for a tireless performance out of possession, and Sasha Dann for her immediate impact and direct pressing.
A huge achievement for the Development Team as they wait to play the final at Riverside Stadium (more details TBC).
Make sure to keep an eye on our social media for more information and to support the Development squad as they take on Thornaby in the final!
To keep up to date and stay involved, be sure to follow our X account for live game updates (YorkCityLFC), our facebook (York City Ladies), our instagram (yorkcityladies) and finally our TikTok for post match interviews (yorkcityladies).
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