By Freddie Nathan
York’s footballing Ladies made it 3 wins on the bounce by blowing bottom of the league Leeds out of the park on a sunny 22 acres.
Before any rhythm was established in the game, York went 1-0 up. A hapless Leeds centre back turned a Ruth Welford cross into her own net. Leeds’s first and only threatening spell came halfway through the first half, Megan Phillips in the York goal expertly saving a one on one with her feet before keeping out the follow up shot. Two minutes later, a shot from six yards out was cleared off the line by York left winger Bea Rye.
York then took back the ascendency, Rose Hooks shooting at Leeds’s keeper and best player whilst one on one, before cutting inside and again being thwarted from the edge of the area. The equally excellent York right winger Sarah Milner had a shot turned onto the post, but on 30 minutes the score line was extended, Bethany Pugh through on goal shooting into the top of the goal, through the keeper’s hands. It was a miracle Leeds went into half-time only 2-0 down.
York came out for the second half and simply blitzed an ever-tiring Leeds team. Ruth Welford went through on goal twice and fired agonisingly wide twice, while Leeds could not handle the pace of Rye on the left or the pinpoint crossing of Milner on the right, the latter providing an excellent ball which Gaby Stewart headed wide.
On the 70 minute mark, the floodgates opened. Gaby Stewart scored twice within 5 minutes, firing lethally into the far corner twice while through on goal, before Rye finally got her name on the score sheet, running unopposed into the area before coolly slotting home. Stewart’s second half hat trick was completed 4 minutes before the end, and it was the best finish of the game, exquisitely lobbing the Leeds keeper on the half volley from inside the box.
York were absolutely superb; defensively organised with Becca Smith and Naomi Rintoul not letting anything through, while the midfield were magnificent under the guidance of captain Kate Ballanytyne. Stewart was lethal up front in the second half, ably supported by Rye and Milner on the wings. Ballantyne was “lost for words” after the game, and with York Women sitting comfortably in third place, gaining top spot off Sheffield Hallam is still a possibility.