[visiongallery set=72157629134278099]
Photos: Vivan Jayant
York women’s hockey 1st team progressed to the last eight of the cup with a penalty flicks victory over Durham 3rds, who sit in the league above them.
York captain Hannah Gage sent her flick into the top left hand corner to the delight of her side and the watching support, and in doing so put her side three victories away from cup glory.
Durham were on top in the game’s early stages, though chances in the first half were few and far between. York’s Frankie Hall had the first opportunity but her shot from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by the Durham ‘keeper.
York ‘keeper Laura Porter then made a comfortable save of her own after a swift Durham counter attack ended in a tame strike at her feet.
Durham took the lead not long after however. Sally Dolton came onto the pitch and immediately cleared off the line with Porter beaten, only for the Durham forward to latch onto the loose ball and flick it into the empty net to make it 1-0.
York were struggling to penetrate the Durham defence and couldn’t mount any pressure in the final third. The closest they came in the half was towards the end when Emily Lucas’ reverse stick shot went under the goalkeeper’s foot and was cleared off the line. Rachael Faustino collected the rebound but her close range effort was kept out by the goalkeeper.
York started well after the break and were putting pressure on the Durham defence. Faustino had another shot saved before the girls in black and gold levelled the scores through Jill Mercer. Emily Lucas struck from the edge of the area and Mercer hooked in to make it 1-1 and set the fightback in motion.
York went in search of a second and Faustino was once again denied by the Durham goalkeeper, who was forced into a sprawling save to to stop the number 24’s effort from going in the bottom corner.
The home side then threatened to go ahead from two short corners. The first saw Emily Lucas fire just wide and York came even closer the second time around. Imy Storm’s shot was kept out and Lucas’ flick from the rebound cracked against the post and was cleared away to safety.
All the chances were now falling to York and Lucas, Beresford and Storm all had efforts saved before the umpire’s whistle signalled the game would go to extra time.
Chances were hard to come by in the added time, Durham’s number 53 had a shot deflected behind and York’s Lucas sent an effort wide of the post but no one could come up with the vital golden goal and the game came down to the dreaded penalty flicks.
Things looked worrying for York when Faustino saw her first flick saved but Lucas and Ormiston both scored and the Durham captain’s miss meant that if Hannah Gage could beat the ‘keeper then York would be through to the quarter finals. With an army of supporters crowded around her watching with anticipation, the York captain handled the pressure, flicking into the top left hand corner to give her side a much deserved victory.
“It was really tough, they’re a good side and they pushed us hard,” said Gage after her triumph, “I think we just wanted it more on the day. I can’t believe I scored the winning flick!”
Vision MOTM: Rachael Faustino