Here is a rundown on how the York City Ladies teams got on over the weekend.
First Team
An 84th minute strike from Ruby Shaw helped Emily Senior’s side edge out Stockport County Ladies and pick up a much needed three points in their quest to move clear of the relegation zone.
Senior made a few changes ahead of the game, with Charlie Ramsden returning and Emia Hendrickson-Eastwood, Grace Hemmings and Ruby Shaw stepping up from the Reserve Team. MinsterBelles Goalkeeper Becky Sidwell was called into action in the early stages as she made a smart save low down in the 3rd minute. Ocean Rolandsen then went close in the 8th minute before Ruby Gore tried her luck from the edge of the area, but her shot was parried clear by Lucy Farrell. Still in search of an opening goal, both Katie Astle and Gore had brilliant chances but neither player could find their way past Farrell. In the 28th minute, the visitors were awarded a penalty after Kanisha Underdown had brought down the winger inside the area. Sidwell dived correctly and made a smart save to deny the Stockport player. The deadlock was finally broken in the 33rd minute when Astle flicked a free kick into the bottom corner. Sidwell was then called into action just a minute later, tipping a dangerous free kick onto the crossbar. It didn’t take the MinsterBelles long before they doubled their advantage through Astle. She latched onto a through ball from Underdown and rifled into the bottom corner to give her side a comfortable lead at the break.
The second half started in frantic fashion, with Steve O’Hara’s side going close before they reduced the deficit in the 49th minute. Emily Bradshaw heading past Sidwell. Both sides continued to exchange chances with Astle going close on two occasions and substitute Maria Figueiredo firing wide from close range. In the 65th minute, Senior’s side restored their two-goal advantage when Hendrickson-Eastwood was played through on goal by Underdown and she found the bottom corner with a lovely strike. The visitors then had a spell of their own and brought the game level with two quickfire goals. First Elizabeth Hamer smashed home before Levi Rathburn slotted into an empty net after Figueiredo had fired in a ball across the area. The MinsterBelles then gave the York Sport Stadium crowd something to cheer about when Ruby Shaw snatched the winner in the 84th minute. Faye Singleton’s ball found the feet of Shaw, and she smashed past the keeper and into the back of the net.
A trip to Elland Road awaits for Senior’s side, as they travel to take on Leeds United Women on Sunday.
Reserves
The Reserves made it three league wins in a row but were made to work hard for the result against a determined and resilient Huddersfield Town Development.
With Grace Hemmings, Ruby Shaw and Emia Hendrickson-Eastwood all called up for first team action, the Reserves had to shuffle the pack after last week’s convincing 6-1 victory over Chorley. Kerry Heslop was back in the side and there was also a first reserves start for forward Lucy Lendhill. It did not take long for the game to fire into action when a swift passing move resulted in Lendhill finding time and space on the edge of the area and she finished off the move with a delightful chip over the goalkeeper to give her side an early lead. The lead was short lived though as Huddersfield came out of the blocks from the kick off and brought the game level when a well-timed through ball found the Huddersfield attacker and she was able to poke it past the onrushing Layla Addy and into the corner, the home side found confidence through this and continued to put pressure on the York defence and this paid off when the ball inside found an unmarked Huddersfield forward who’s first time effort was swept confidently into the corner of the net to put the home side in front. The away side found chances hard to come by in the first half but another slick passing move down the left found the feet of Ruby Watt in the area who managed to turn her defender and slam home at the near post to bring the scores back level once again.
The second half saw a much-improved performance, with the game tied level, both teams were trying to find the next goal to take control of the contest and it was York who found it first, when a Rosie Bell delivery into the box was turned into their own goal by the home defender after some fine pressure by Bella Marshall. It was York who then took control of the tie and their lead was extended further when another delivery by Bell found Katie Varley who headed home unmarked at the near post. The chances kept coming for the away side and again the impressive Bell found herself at the forefront of another York attack, this time playing a well-timed pass into the path of Varley again, who curled home into the side netting. The home side continued to look for a way back into the game and there were signs of a revival when the Huddersfield winger cut in from the left and unleashed an unstoppable effort into the top corner to make the score 5-3. Once again, the home side found a surge of confidence and a flurry of chances came their way and they thought they’d found another when again the Huddersfield wide player found space to get a shot on goal, this time the crossbar came to York’s rescue. As the game ended, York were able to put the result beyond doubt when a quick fire double from Watt saw her complete her hat trick and round off a superb 7-3 away victory. This result sees the Reserves move up to second and with some important games coming up in the next few weeks.
Development Team
The Development side were looking to continue their excellent run of form with five wins in a row this week as they hosted second place Leeds Modernians at home.
The Devs and Leeds Modernians battled hard in a first half in which both teams limited each other to few chances. On the 22nd minute, it was the visitors who got the first goal of the afternoon. A corner swung into the box was helped on at the back post and found its way into the corner.
Four minutes later, some quick thinking got the Development side back into the game. With the opposition Goalkeeper out of her net, Izzy Eaton lofted in a corner for Daisy Masefield to get her first goal of the season, heading into an empty net.On the 44th minute, Leeds Modernians got their second goal after a cross from the right was placed into the bottom corner.
One minute into the second half, the visitors extended their lead even further with a third goal after a shot found its way over the Goalkeeper and into the side netting.
The Development team continued to fight on and try get back into the game but to no avail. The opposition added a fourth goal on the 60th minute which secured the three points.
York City Ladies Development now take a week off from the league. They will face Wigginton Grasshoppers at home in the County Cup Quarter Final on 17th November.
