Match Report: Under a harvest moon: York School Girls U14s league match (home vs East Riding)
29 Sep ’23
6:30pm kick off
Ref: Andy Kay
A calm cool set of Under 14s Girls met at York Sports Village – floodlit, full size pitch and goals – for the first game of the league season vs East Riding. A warm clear autumn evening gave us some lovely football under a harvest moon (Autumn equinox).
Sporting a brand new kit courtesy of new sponsors Air Supply – the girls looked the part and were ready to take the field for their first competitive league match. York and District’s first ever Girls competitive match and what a tough first match! Reigning English Schools district champions – East Riding.
Squad news:
- Katherine was unavailable and Molly had to sit this one out with an injury. Get well soon Molly!
- Reinforcements had also been drafted in to the squad in the form of Dasha. Thank you for helping out.
- Hattie was able to play – returning from summer long injury.
Match report:
First half:
A quick start to the game saw some ebb and flow with a sharp attack by East Riding down the York right. It lead to a speculative looping shot from outside the area over the outstretched arms of Izzy and into the net. 0:1 East Riding (3 Mins)
Izzy, Sophie, Aria, Erin and Holly worked well in defence and quickly regrouped.
Lacey, Leila, Eleanor and Poppy combined well to respond with attacks through the middle and down the right while Grace worked the East Riding defence looking very sharp and dangerous.
A period of even pressure led to some good attacks from York firing off a couple of shots just off target, from both Poppy and Grace.
Always quick on the break East Riding continued to be dangerous though – but solid defence from Sophie and Holly keep shots to a distance; and off the mark shooting left no change in the score.
York were looking much more in the game!
Working tirelessly in midfield Leila, Abbey, Lacey and Poppy chased and harried to press. Poppy caused problems for the East Riding defence amazing close control.
Pressure from East Riding kept being broken up in midfield with Eleanor and Leila disrupting and intercepting play using Grace, Poppy and Rhiannan as the outlets into attack.
Robust challenges from East Riding were let go by referee Andy Kay.
20mins+
Strong defence and a hard working midfield continued to keep East Riding at bay.
Grace continued to look threatening running defenders left and right – until a sliding tackle saw her turn an ankle. Play was stopped and Coach Backhouse subbed Hattie into the action.
Grace saw no further action. Have a swift recovery Grace.
Eleanor came off for Dasha and we settled back into the game.
30+ mins saw the ball break to Leila on the left corner of the East Riding area who feints left and takes a fierce shot rattling the cross-bar and bouncing straight down…. the crowd go wild!!! That must have been over the line – the crowd cried!!!
… but the ref (and his goal line technology ‘spider-sense’) had other ideas and ruled no goal!
The threat of the score brought a renewed energy from East Riding building pressure and attacks both down the right and left wings. Ably dealt with by Erin and Holly in full back positions – York continued to look strong. Sophie and Aria continued to stay strong and combined well with Dasha, Abbie and Leila.
The pressure eventually told with an attack down the York right hand side led to a short cross into the area and shot on goal. 0:2 (35mins)
… Where’s that half time whistle?
East Riding continued the pressure and a full stretch save from Izzy was quickly followed by a finger tip deflection to keep the visitors at bay. Holly and Erin worked hard both with and without the ball defending the attacks and starting the counter-attacks playing out from defence.
The continued attack eventually told with a corner on the York right hand side. A short corner and cross into the area saw a neat over the shoulder flick towards the penalty area and a headed third goal for East Riding. 0:3 (37mins)
York responded with pressure of their own – but with no result before half time.
Second half:
Lucy in goal for the second half was quickly into the action. Attacks down the York right saw two quick shots from shot range with excellent diving saves to keep East Riding at bay.
The following corner saw the ball break to the left and another East Riding score. 0:4 (44mins)
Another regroup from York saw some great pressure onto the East Riding defence. Lovely work down the right saw Holly, Lacey, Leila and Hattie combining for a series of attacks and shots on goal. Hattie’s pace always looked threatening and a series of chances developed down the York right.
The East Riding keeper for each shot gave just a hint of spilling the ball – but recovering just enough, each time!
A good period of end-to-end play saw both sides playing excellent passing football. Shots on goal came from Hattie, Rhiannan and Poppy.
Dasha, Abbie and Leila were tireless in their efforts.
At 60mins a formation change by York saw a quick breakaway by East Riding leading to a shot just off target – easily covered by Lucy.
More pressure continued and the ball broke out to the East Riding attackers. A shot in open play from the penalty spot saw another score. 0:5 (66mins).
68mins brought another promising attack down the York left with Lacey putting in a great cross. Collected by East Riding a sharp direct attack led to shot on goal comfortably saved by Lucy.
72+mins Saw further shots from Hattie and Rhiannan saved by East Riding. Hattie collected the follow up but it just wouldn’t fall to give her the chance to get a second shot away.
75mins
Good save again by Lucy from a close range shot – comfortably dealt with.
But the pressure of another attack from East Riding leads to 0:6 (75mins)
Quick response and lovely passing interplay sees more pressure from York leading to a sharp shot from Hattie but sees another East Riding keeper save.
78mins
Sharp attacks coming down York left with Holly, Lacy and Abbie combined well for some good pressure.
Final score
A tough day for the York team but a very proud set of parents and coaches felt they worked very hard against a top team and very tough opponent. The girls played some good football and some very promising attacks were just kept at bay by East Riding.
They all gave their best and didn’t stop working for each other for the full duration of the match.
Next game:
Home match vs Wirral
6 October
- 6:30pm meet
- 7:30pm kick off
Selby Stadium – bring on the grass!!!!
Thanks also to our other team sponsors:
- No 5 Plumbing and Heating,
- York City Council and
- Dane IT
York squad:
thank you girls! heads up and keep going …
Lucy Izzy Sophie Aria Erin Holly Molly Lacey Dasha Leila Eleanor Abbie Poppy Rhiannon Hattie Grace Katherine
*** Volunteers required for the next match report please? Any budding sports journalists? ***
WhatsApp: David Anderson or email: anderson.david@btinternet.com
