York City too powerful for women’s football seconds
UNIVERSITY OF YORK SECONDS 1
YORK CITY LADIES RESERVES 13
Friendly – Sunday 8th November
When the pre-match huddle is used as an eleventh hour opportunity to learn your teammates’ names, it’s fair to say that your chances of success hang by a thread. And so it proved for the women’s football seconds in their first match of the new season, as York City reserves handed out a footballing lesson on the 22 Acres.
Tough opposition had been arranged for this opening game, particularly since the team was packed with freshers experiencing their first taste of football, and the visitors’ class outshone the hosts’ rawness. York City brought a large squad, taking full advantage of the chance to rotate players on and off before the resumption of their North Riding League campaign.
Yet, for the first 30 minutes of this one, the seconds more than held their own. The scores were level at 1-1 until the 26th minute and, for a while, it seemed that the unthinkable would happen. Katy Ballentyne, York’s most accomplished player, had equalised with a close range finish on the quarter-hour following an excellent inswinging corner, but this was the only plus point on an afternoon of one-way traffic.
City launched into their opponents from the first whistle, finding particular joy on the right flank as their bustling winger cut inside onto her left foot at every opportunity. However, it was from a corner that they took the lead on seven minutes: with York failing to position any players on the back post, Carol Thompson was left with the simplest of finished after goalkeeper Annalie Schutz didn’t clasp the ball in midair.
Schutz was excellent, despite the goals flying past her at regular intervals – but for her competence in catching tricky crosses and speculative long-range shots, the York City tally could have easily exceeded 20. She could do little, however, about the three goals notched by the visitors before half-time as they seized absolute control of the game.
As previously mentioned, Ballentyne worked tirelessly in the defensive midfield role and is likely to be pushing for a first team place if current form continues. Charlotte Bootts, moved out to the wing after the third goal went in, showed some nice touches, as did Ruth Welford up front, although she consistently failed to receive the required service from midfield.
The second-half was a goal-rush – unfortunately for the seconds, they all went in at their end. Their smaller squad made fatigue inevitable and it showed as City seemed to net on every venture forward. In the last 20 minutes, the score moved from a possibly-respectable 8-1 to a thoroughly embarrassing 13-1 as the defence capitulated. City substitute Ingrid Bye Loken was the stand-out, helping herself to five goals, including some finishes of a class not out of place in the Barclays Premier League.
Sophie Simpson, Issy Rowe (twice) and Chloe Precious were among the many that got their name on the scoresheet in the second-half procession. The seconds’ best chance fell to Welford, who broke clear and nicked the ball past the largely-redundant goalkeeper Kelly Peaurt, only to see the ball strike the post.
Seconds’ Captain Sophie Wilson, who simply couldn’t get into the game, needs to restore spirits before the team’s next fixture. However, there definitely some positives to be drawn from Sunday’s hiding: a little more focus on defensive positioning, particularly from set-pieces, will be the first thing to work on in training, but there is certainly potential in the midfield and attack, given the right service.
University of York seconds: 1. Annalie Schutz (gk), 3. Vicky Full, 5. Susana Poardekooper, 6. Katy Ballentyne, 9. Kat Hills, 11. Katharina Graupner, 12. Charlotte Bootts, 15. Nicole Woodward, 16. Hannah Upton, 17. Sophie Wilson (c), 18. Ruth Welford, 19. Beth Kahn, 20. Anna Lise Flæten
York City Ladies Reserves: Kelly Peaurt, Jade Holt, Helen Winterburn, Sophie Simpson, Kia Stubbs, Jess Wray, Issy Rowe, Ellie Page, Carol Thompson, Vicky Britland, Becca Dawson
Substitutes: Jodie Curry, Laura Nunnen, Chloe Precious, Jess Brookes, Ingrid Bye Loken
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