Here is a rundown on how the York City Ladies teams got on over the weekend.
First Team
First-half goals from Ellie Hollis-Bland and Katie Jepson helped Handsworth Ladies beat The MinsterBelles on Sunday afternoon in the First Round Proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
Emily Senior’s side, who beat Fleetwood Town Wrens in the last round, made a strong start to the game with early chances in the 10th and 15th minute. Firstly, Ruby Gore beat the offside trap before her pass was cleared before it could reach Katie Astle, then Hannah Shuttleworth tested the gloves with a strike from distance. Senior was then forced into an early change, with Gore making way for Hannah Brierley but this didn’t seem to stop the momentum as Astle came close to opening the scoring when she headed a Grace Sykes cross towards goal, only for it to be cleared off the line. In the 24th minute, Becky Sidwell was called into action for the first time as she made a very smart save to prevent the Handsworth Ladies striker from close range. The MinsterBelles then hit straight back with two chances of their own with Shuttleworth firing over before Astle’s curling shot was pushed clear by Libby Howard. The home side then took the lead in the 36th minute after the Ladies defence failed to deal with a corner and Hollis-Bland was able to smash home from close range. Handsworth Ladies then immediately doubled their lead just one minute later. A second successive corner caused problems and Jepson headed past Sidwell.
The second half started with the home side on the front foot and came close to adding a third. A long throw caused problems in the area, found a Handsworth Striker, but she was only able to put the ball past the near post. They then curled just wide in the 47th minute before Senior was forced into her second change with Ocean Rolandsen making way for Karli Smith. In the 51st minute, Grace Sykes found the back of the net from distance only for the flag to be raised on the far side. Sidwell was then called into action before Brierley went close in the 62nd minute but her shot rolled into the arms of Howard. Still in search of a way back into the game, Astle raced into the area before she was taken out, only for the referee to point for a goal kick. Handsworth Ladies then turned defence into attack and came close to further extending their lead when a shot hit the side netting in the 76th minute before they hit the crossbar in the 78th minute following a quick break. The final action of a frustrating afternoon came in the form of a 1 on 1 chance for Brierley who raced through on goal, but her strike was comfortably saved by Howard.
The MinsterBelles are back at home this weekend as they welcome Stockport County Ladies to York Sport Stadium in the FA Women’s National League Division One North.
Reserves
The reserves were back in league action this week after last week’s narrow cup defeat and looking to continue their positive start to the season which has seen them win four of their first six league encounters.
The Reserves made three changes from last week’s fixture with Bella Marshall and Kazia Walby returning to the back line and a debut in goal for Layla Addy.
The game started at an even pace with neither side causing any real problems, but the deadlock was broken when Chloe Bethell latched onto a long ball before hitting a looping half volley over the goalkeeper from 30 yards to give the Reserves the lead. The Reserves then began to up the tempo and goal scorer Bethell turned provider when her corner was met by the unmarked Bella Marshall to head home to double the home sides lead. Their dominance continued with Rosie Bell, Lucy Cooper and Katie Varley all having efforts saved by the Chorley goalkeeper. After 30 minutes the home side then further extended their lead when a cross into the box caused confusion in the Chorley area and Ruby Watt fired home from close range. The Reserves continued in search of their fourth, and after a surging run down the left from cooper, her cross was met by the onrushing Varley who confidently headed home into the bottom corner. As the half-progressed Chorley found confidence and Addy was forced to hold onto a driving effort from the edge of the area to bring the half to a close.
The Reserves made changes at half time with Amelia O’flaherty and Grace Twiby replacing Ruby Watt and Lucy Cooper. The second half saw Chorley come fast out of the blocks and right from the whistle were looking to press high up the pitch. The pressure nearly paid off when the Chorley forward found herself in space inside the penalty area but could not find the target, this gave the away side confidence and York had to deal with a number of dangerous balls into the box. York remained patient and were rewarded when Twiby won the ball high up and Varley was able to fire over the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net from 25 yards.
As the game headed towards it’s final minutes, the away side ruined any hope of a York clean sheet when the forward curled home from a tight angle. The final action of the game saw the impressive O’flaherty latch onto a long ball down the field before rolling home past the onrushing goalkeeper.
The Reserves are next in action next Sunday when they are away to 5th placed Huddersfield Town Development.
