Scarborough Ladies u14s 4 York RI 2
SLFC faced another stiff test at Sherburn on Saturday as high-flying visitors York RI arrived with a 100% win record.
The home side got off to a bright start and took the lead when goalkeeper Amber Colling played a great ball straight through the middle.
In-form striker Ellie Speak twisted one way and then the other before dispatching a great shot past the helpless goalkeeper.
It was all one way traffic for SLFC but they inexplicably found themselves losing 2-1 just before half time.
The visitors’ number 8 picked the ball up twice from 20 yards out and smashed the ball home in the space of a few minutes.
With a shell-shocked Scarborough side looking like they would go into the break behind, skipper Daisy Stokoe had other ideas as she danced through the last line of defence before coolly sticking it in the bottom left hand corner.
The girls were told more of the same in the second half – as well as sticking tight to the visitors’ goalscorer who was their only real threat.
Scarborough continued where they left off and attacked the RI goal but their keeper made save after save.
However, a handball gave the hosts a penalty and Stokoe stepped up to take it. Her shot was palmed onto the post by the keeper and it looked like it crossed the line before the keeper grabbed it and cleared.
It looked like it could be one of those days but SLFC were not to be denied.
Midfielder Beth Barnes won the ball and sped past her marker before getting to the byline and sending over a perfect cross for hotshot Jess Hindle to hammer home on the volley.
And a couple of minutes later they killed the game off when Speak expertly played Hindle through and she finished in style.
There was still time for SLFC to hit the post through the excellent Ellie Pateman who must have covered every blade of grass on the pitch.
Another great performance which got the result it deserved.
The central defensive pairing of Jolie Matthews and Charlie Jowitt were excellent while Lucy Roberts and Mia Nunns – who went in goal for the second half – were both unbeatable at full back, the latter being handed player of the match.
Anna Bowman and Phoebe Wareing were also superb as they shielded the defence – particularly from the threat of the opposing number 8 who didn’t get a sniff of goal in the second half.
The win moves Scarborough up to third with an away trip to bottom side Skelton this coming Saturday.