Hannah Gage captained the women’s 2nds indoor team for the first hockey match of the weekend against Lancaster 2nds.
Push back was awarded to the visitors and it was only a few minutes before York’s Leila Asrari was issued a green card. Lancaster proved ruthless on their break aways and they scored first; number 44 Laura Woodhead slipped the ball past York’s goal keeper Laura Porter, allowing her team an early lead. York worked hard and kept positive; there was constant pressure from the home team to drive the ball into the attacking D.
The home team had persistence combined with accurate passing in the attack but still they struggled to push through Lancaster’s defensive wall for shots on goal. Responding to the 1-0 scoreline, there was a burst of controlled, skilled dribbling from Katie Wilson; but the shot went wide of the goal. Another attacking push, this time from York’s Jill Mercer helped work the ball down the right wing, but there were still no successful equalising opportunities.
Frustrated and in danger of conceding, Lancaster’s play became frantic. Almost immediately after York attacking spurt, a green card issued to Katie White; Lancaster’s number 25, making it one a piece for the teams. But the home team maintained the pressure; keeping low and intercepting the ball meant there were some fantastic tackles from Natalie Montezuma, while a shot from Jill Mercer was disallowed because of the slight lift. The score at half time read 1-0 to Lancaster.
Play resumed with a York push back. An impressive demonstration of dribbling skills from Lancaster’s Natalie Tyson allowed the visitors a short break, but more solid defending from Gage enabled York to attack again. Soon after, a shot from Natalie Montezuma fell wide; York missing the opportunity as post was empty and not covered. It became obvious after a few minutes of play, that the Lancaster tactics had changed since their half time pep-talk, as they tried to block the York women out of the D to abolish attacks on goal. This technique was successful, as it was Lancaster who scored again; Katie White put the ball in the back of the net for the red rose team making the score 2-0.
Even though Lancaster had doubled their lead, York were not put off their game and still pushed for goal. Great space was created at the back by dream team Gage and McMillan and, more determined than ever, the home team boasted a more constant attacking effort. A lifted ball from Leila Asrari allowed the opposition a free hit but no shot, then a short corner pass to Katie Wilson (combined with a brutal tackle from Lancaster’s Katie White) resulted in a lifted deflection that caught Rachael McMillan. But she played on, unharmed.
A short corner was awarded to York after hitting a Lancaster foot, then a second short was given, and soon a third. But Lancaster defend well and survive York’s triple attack. It was Hannah Harrison who got the first goal for the women’s 2nds; slipping the ball behind the keeper. At 2-1, the atmosphere was tense both on and off the pitch as York trail by one with less than 10 minutes still to play. Lancaster extended their lead once again but York returned with a brutal counter-attack, and within 10 seconds a powerful sweep came from Natalie Montezuma as York tried to catch up. Soon after, Jill Mercer produced an unstoppable shot on goal, allowing the home team to equalise and make the score read 3-3. Great attacking, persistence and feistiness from Leila as York try to go in front for the first time in the game. The final attacking effort came from York as ball reached the back of the net with a shot from Hannah Gage but was disallowed, much to the disappointment of the team and supporters. 0.5 points issued to both York and Lancaster as nail-biting game finished 3-3.
York starting line up:
Hannah Gage (C)
Sally Warrington
Leila Asrari
Katie Wilson
Hannah Harrison
Laura Porter
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Subs
Jill Mercer
Natalie Montezuma
Jess Harwood