Scarborough Ladies Under 15s got back to winning ways with a fantastic first league win over York Railway Institute since this group of girls were Under 10s Champions some 5 years ago.
In an exciting opening the teams exchanged chances, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 10 minutes as the Scarborough girls continue to add to their unenviably tally of having now conceded the first goal in 13 of their 14 games this season.
However this year’s squad are made of sterner stuff, and this wake-up call only served to galvanise them as they took control of the remainder of the game. Captain Daisy Willis led by example, and after a neat interchange of passes with Eden Sellers she shot powerfully across the keeper to level the scores before the break.
With a near faultless display from the defensive trio of Alex Metcalfe, Poppy Simpson and Susannah Shaw, Scarborough found themselves in front early in the second half, when a Willis corner ricocheting off post and defender and into the net.
The home side continued to apply the pressure, with Amie Hyde and Lauren Corner working hard in midfield, and when Lydia Hanson delivered a perfect corner from the left, Willis was on hand to volley the goal of the game powerfully past the helpless keeper to complete her hat-trick.
And more was yet to come. Beth Metcalfe out-muscled the defender on a surging run down the right wing and, when the keeper failed to hang onto her low cross, Emma Willis was on there to stab the ball home for a forth Scarborough goal.
Erin Nicholson, whose ground kicking has improved immeasurably over the last few weeks, had a great game in the home goal and it took one of her own to beat her in the second half, when teammate Alex Metcalfe sliced a clearance past her late in the game to give the scoreline a look which flattered the opposition.
Proud coaches Mike Hyde and Owen Willis agreed that this was one of the best team performances of the last 3 years, and saw the Under15s overtake last season’s points total with 7 games still to play.