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Photos: Ian Packard
York Ladies 2nds suffered defeat yesterday at the hands of formidable opposition in the shape of Newcastle 4ths, who have now won two games out of two, and hammered Leeds Met 12-0 in their first match. After last week’s postponement this was York’s first encounter of the season, but it quickly proved to be more testing than the challenges which they overcame last year to attain promotion.
York started strongly and enjoyed the majority of possession in the early stages. But it was Newcastle that had the first chance on goal, a break that was closed down and saved by ‘keeper Abbie Craig.
First blood to Newcastle. After being awarded a short corner for a foot in the D, Newcastle hammered home the strike, just under the stick of the player of the post. The first half produced a plethora of Newcastle attacks, kept at bay by a dogged York defence. ‘Keeper Abbie Craig went down injured during the first but bravely decided to continue. She proved her worth soon afterwards, pulling off a series of beautiful saves.
Newcastle’s consistent pressure in the York D, characterised by calm and clever play, resulted in a penalty after York apparently saved a goal line scramble with the back of their stick. However, Newcastle’s attempt was saved by Craig. York had their first foray into enemy territory at the closing stages of the first half. Their short corner was saved and swept wide, Newcastle were on the attack again until the end of the first half which they had dominated.
York came out with some level of rejuvenation in the second half, a lovely series of passes between Anna Williamson and Briony Peters enabled them to have a chance on goal, but it was to no avail.
At the other end, Newcastle were kept from scoring by some great defensive work, especially by Linny Simpson who repeatedly cleared the ball of the line. It wasn’t to last, however, and a storming Newcastle run down the right wing resulted in their second goal of the match. The winger pinged the ball to the far post and the waiting attacker popped it in with their first touch.
Newcastle seemed to overwhelm the tired White Rose in the closing stages, and two successive goals in five minutes racked up Newcastle’s score to 4-0 at full time.
York captain Harriet Mills spoke to Vision, saying that she was ‘proud of how hard all of my girls worked, we never stopped battling in the D. We always knew they were going to be a tough team, they won their last match 12-0, and I think we put up a brilliant fight’