Scarborough Ladies Under 15s inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Champions elect Brooklyn at a windswept Sherburn on Monday night.
In an exciting end to end game the Boro defensive trio of Alex Metcalfe, Poppy Simpson and Susannah Shaw were in overdrive to snuff out the threat of the league’s top scorer Izzy Matique.
The deadlock was broken when Emma Willis capitalised on a defensive mix up and her charge down of the visiting keeper’s clearance rebounded into the unguarded net. Keeper Erin Nicholson then made a blinding reaction save at the other end to maintain her clean sheet and send them into the break in front.
Galvanised by a new belief in themselves, the home side continued to pile on the pressure despite now playing into a strong wind with Lauren Corner and Phoenix Sykes awesome in midfield. Chances came and went for Daisy Willis and Eden Sellers, while the best fell to Beth Metcalfe who bravely threw herself at the far post as the ball flashed across goal.
Brooklyn swapped keepers midway through the half to try and change things, but the tactic immediately backfired when a powerful Lydia Hanson shot was parried onto the head of strike partner Charlie Cappleman, who did brilliantly to change her body position in mid-air and instinctively nod the ball high over the stranded keeper.
Two free kicks and numerous corners were resolutely defended as Brooklyn applied the pressure, but with so much pace in the team a breakaway was always on the cards, and a surging run from the superb Shaw eventually sent goal machine Cappleman clear to score her second and kill the game off, sparking wild scenes on the sidelines as parents and supporters celebrated a first ever win over the Malton based side, who have dominated this age group for the last two seasons.
In a game described my coaches Owen Willis and Mike Hyde as “the best performance in their 7 years coaching the girls” the Girl of the Game honours were shared by every member of the team.