Double Success for Ladies

Town Ladies now sit four points off the top of the North East Regional Women’s Premier League, courtesy of an outstanding 3-1 victory away to York City.

Although York struck first, goals from Lindsey Whitton (x2) and Hollie Smith grabbed all three points for Town at the York St. John’s University Sports Complex to give them their third league win on the bounce and close the gap on the league leaders.
 
It didn’t take long for Town to get going, Sophie Tinson had the ball in the back of the net in the second minute of play. The prolific striker rounded the home keeper and managed to slot home with ease, but the referee pulled play back as Tinson was deemed to have fouled the keeper in the build-up.
 
Town continued to pile the pressure on York, Georgia Marsden had an effort from far out saved comfortably while the newly formed Whitton / Tinson partnership were linking up well to cause problems for the home defence.
 
Despite Town’s early pressure it would be York who broke the deadlock against the run of play, in the 27^th minute, after a York free kick on the half way line was deflected unluckily by a Town player over Kelly Jackson’s head and into the back of the net.
 
This seemed to motivate Town Ladies. Grace Foyer picked up the ball in her own half and threaded an inch perfect pass through for Whitton to latch onto. Whitton still had plenty to do but a combination of her pace and power saw her sweep past the York centre back and drive the ball low and hard into the net. 
 
Then followed a spell of consistent Town pressure with Smith and Rosie Gill posing problems down both flanks, and it would be Smith who latched onto a superb pass from Tinson and drove the ball low into the net from 15 yards to give Town the lead in the North Yorkshire Derby. 
 
Then followed the best move of the game with Foyer dribbling from one penalty area to the other and passing inside to Whitton who fired off another ferocious shot that the York keeper tipped onto the upright.
 
Town carried on where they left off in the second half, with Beth Clayton, Gill, Tinson and substitute Grace Adams all having good efforts on goal which were inches away from adding to the lead as Town continued to dominate proceedings.
 
Just like in the first half, Town’s impressive attacking play would soon pay off. In the 74^th minute Captain Foyer played another precise cross field ball to Whitton who controlled and then fired a fierce shot into the back of the net. That would be the defender turned striker Whitton's ninth goal of the campaign, making her joint highest scorer in the league!
 
Town would go close again before the full-time whistle as the tireless Tinson tried her very best to get on the scoresheet and Gill drove a great shot against the crossbar. 
 
That would be all for Town’s goal scoring exploits as the tie finished 3-1, with the reverse fixture to be played next Sunday (10^th November, 2pm Kick-off) at The CNG stadium.
 
Meanwhile back at home, Town Development Team hosted top of the table Redcar, who were unbeaten in five games.
 
Town Ladies Development 5-0 Redcar
 
A fantastic team performance saw the Development team end the day within touching distance of the top of the table.
 
The first goal followed an inch perfect through ball from Em Topham that Lane latched onto before lobbing the goalkeeper and seeing the ball drop into the corner of the net.
 
Topham would play a crucial role in the second goal with another precise pass but this time it fell at the feet of Vayro who crossed with accuracy to Jennings who finished with aplomb.
 
It was all Town now and the third goal was not long in coming following an intricate one two between Vayro and Jennings and the final cross from Vayro was deflected into the goal by a Redcar defender.
 
The fourth goal was the pick of the bunch with yet another accurate pass from Hall landing at the feet of Bridson who promptly half volleyed in to the net from 15 yards.
 
Town were rampant at this stage and after a spell of heavy pressure, yet another five player move ended with an exquisite Mitchell through ball and another goal for Bridson, chipping the advancing keeper.
 
A thoroughly deserved victory and a great team performance - victory next week up at Redcar Reserves and the Town Development team could go top of the table. 
 
By Isaac Martin