Here is a rundown on how the York City Ladies teams got on over the weekend.
First Team
York City Ladies slipped to a 2-0 defeat on the road at Huddersfield Town Women despite dominating large parts of the game. A first-half strike from Scarlett McMahon and a late own goal proved the difference between the two sides.
Emily Senior, who completed the signing of exciting midfielder Charlie Ramsden from Bradford City before kick-off, saw her side on the back foot in the early exchanges. Former MinsterBelles Winger Ella Duffield curled just wide of the target in the second minute before Leah Embley fired narrowly wide just five minutes later. The deadlock was broken in the 15th minute when Scarlett McMahon smashed past Becky Sidwell to give her side the lead. Senior’s side then went in search of an equaliser and came close through Grace Sykes. She latched onto a through ball from Katie Astle only for her shot to be saved by Bolton-Woollam. Astle was then at the centre of another two MinsterBelles attacks, first seeing her shot saved by the keeper before Bolton-Woollam smothered a shot to keep her side in the lead.
Town came out after the break on the front foot, with Leah Embley seeing her shot hit the outside of the post. In the 61st minute, the home side doubled their lead through an Own Goal. Yasmin Mason’s cross caused a mishap in the defence and the ball rolled into an open net. Senior then made two changes in quick succession in a bid to find a way back into the game but struggled to beat Bolton-Woollam in the Town goal. In the 86th minute, Captain Ocean Rolandsen found space in the box and curled towards goal, only for her shot to be caught by the Town shot stopper.
The MinsterBelles are in FA Cup action this weekend as they travel to Handsworth Ladies on Sunday.
Reserves
After a free week last week, the Reserves returned in cup action against a strong and unbeaten Newcastle United Development.
The game started at full pace and Newcastle took full advantage, when a ball into the box from a corner was not dealt with and after pin balling off bodies, fell to a Newcastle player who confidently stroked home. However, there was an instant response from the Reserves, when Rosie Bell got onto the end of a Chloe Bethell through ball, before cutting inside her defender and firing into the roof of the net to bring the game back level. Newcastle enjoyed the majority of possession but were unable to unlock the York defence, as the half went on, the patient possession game for the home side paid off when they were able to win the ball high up the pitch and a superb long range effort found the top corner.. York continued to apply pressure and grew into the game but were given another blow when a ball in the box wasn’t dealt with and the Reserves were once again punished to put the home side 3-1 up at the break.
The second half began as an even contest with both sides asking questions of each other, but neither being able to create any clear-cut chances. As the game ticked away it looked to have been put beyond doubt, when the York defence was dispossessed of the ball, resulting in the Newcastle winger playing the ball across goal for the unmarked forward to stroke home further extending the home sides lead.
This seemed to kick start the away side and hope was injected in the Reserves, when Katie Varley raced clear of the defence before chipping the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to half the deficit. York continued to put pressure on the once comfortable home defence and the comeback looked to be on when the away side were able to set up a tight finish to the game, when Rosie Bell combined with Amelia O’flaherty, before O’flaherty found the on-rushing Emia Hendrickson-Eastwood who curled delightfully into the top corner. The away side then thought they’d completed the comeback in the last minute when Hendrickson-Eastwood found herself through on goal but her effort rolled just past the far post. It turned out to be the last chance of the game, meaning the Reserves bowed out of the FAWNL cup 4-3 and now turn their attention back to league action next Sunday when they are at home to Chorley Reserves.
Development Team
The Devs continued their fine form in October as they beat Sheffield United Community Foundation on Sunday afternoon to make it five wins from five games during the month. Izzy Eaton was the standout performer netting a hat-trick alongside goals from Grace Twiby and Liv Sellars. Eliza Benson also played her first game for the Devs having stepped up from the U16’s.
The Devs are back in action on Sunday 10th November when they welcome Leeds Modernians.