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Striker Amy Johnson scored twice as York’s women’s football team completed a routine victory over their counterparts Leeds Trinity.
York got off to a flying start, leading 3-0 inside 15 minutes, and took a commanding 4-1 lead into the break. Leeds Trinity had more of the play in the second half, but didn’t seriously threaten the York goal. A late goal made the final result 5-1, a score-line which did not particularly flatter York.
York got off to the best possible start with a goal inside two minutes. The Trinity goalkeeper failed to deal with Bea Rye’s cross from the right and Sam Barker nipped in to open the scoring. Rye was heavily involved in all of York’s attacking play in the first half, and had a hand in each of the first half goals. She made it 2-0 after 12 minutes making a strong run down the inside right, before blasting a shot past the keeper at the near post.
The play was all in York’s favour, and Holly Knott soon made the score 3-0 after some nice build-up play. Marte Wang provided a sumptuous cross-field ball for Rye, whose cross was turned in by Knott. Trinity were reeling, but gradually began to find their feet in the game.
They pulled the score back to 3-1 inside the half-hour after a moment of controversy. Trinity captain Amie Backhouse took the ball past two York defenders and struck a powerful shot which bounced down off the crossbar. The ball appeared to come back into the field of play, but the referee awarded a goal to Trinity.
To the York girls’ credit, they didn’t let that moment of controversy affect them. Johnson bagged her first just before the half-time whistle, making the most of a goalkeeping fumble with her lobbed header. Once again, Rye was the provider with a teasing cross.
The second half was a less lively affair, with York in clear control of the game. Trinity had strong spells, but York never looked likely to concede. Johnson completed her brace with a simple back-post finish after Jess Craig’s driven cross evaded the sprawling goalkeeper. The score could have been greater, with Trinity’s ‘keeper making two good saves in the second period.
But York could have no complaints with the final result, and captain Vicky Decamp was visibly delighted with the great start to the season. She especially praised the new freshers in the squad, as well as reliable defender Vic Peck.
Vision WOTM: Bea Rye