After last week’s cup epic, Bootham Ladies were again at home to title favourites Derby in the National Futsal League game. With several players absent, there were first time call ups for Natasha Eustance and Ruby Shaw, with Charli Goodfellow and Ellie Rago caming back into the squad, and Allegra Sellschop-Evans started in goal for the first time.

Bootham were represented by:

Allegra Sellschop-Evans (GK), Charlotte Broad, Rowan Treagus, Ellie Whittaker, Ava Worthy, Lucy Hudson, Jess Baker, Ellie Rago, Natasha Eustance, Charli Goodfellow and Ruby Shaw.

1st Half

Derby started the game with a high press and pushed Bootham back, but neither side created any early chances. After 5 minutes a mistake from Broad for Bootham, gifted the opening goal to Derby. Bootham hit back and Eustance hit the post from close range. A minute later a moment of magic saw Eustance leave the goalkeeper floundering with an exquisite turn, but her toe poke finish rolled agonisingly just past the far post. The game had really opened-up and chance were coming at both ends. Bootham got their deserved equaliser when a long ball from Broad found an unmarked Whittaker, her shot was saved by the Derby keeper, but Baker was on hand to tap the ball home. Within 5 minutes Derby were back in front with a well worked goal. Bootham again replied when a kick in from Treagus was fired home first time for a debut goal from Shaw. Derby regained the lead with 1.4 seconds left on the clock, much to Bootham’s frustration.

Half Time: Bootham 2 – Derby 3

2nd Half

Derby came for the second half and really upped their temp. They were causing Bootham all sorts of problems and only some good goalkeeping from Sellschop-Evans and some great last ditch defending kept them out. Eventually the pressure told, and Derby deservedly extended their lead. Bootham called a time out and regrouped. The change worked, as Bootham scored their best goal of the game with a move started and finished by Worthy for her first goal in green. Derby came back but Bootham were growing into the game and got a deserved equaliser when Treagus smashed the ball in from just inside the Derby half. With seconds left on the clock, Eustance went clean through, but she couldn’t beat the Derby keeper from close in.

Full time: Bootham 4 – Derby 4

Click here to see images from the game

After the game Coach Chris spoke to us, ‘Another classic that could have gone either way. Derby is a quality outfit, very well coached and they play at a very high tempo. On another day that game gets away from us but we really dug in at 4-2 down and clawed our way back. We scored some good goals today and created plenty of opportunities to pinch the win. Overall, I feel a draw is a fair result.’

He went on to say, ‘Derby is one of the standout teams in this league and to get the result we did is a real credit to this groups of players. At 4-2 down Derby put us under real pressure and for about 5 minutes in that second half we were really hanging on. Some of the last-ditch defending was outstanding, huge credit goes to Jess, Rowan, and Lucy, who I think had her best game for Bootham today. We found ourselves behind in the game last week, and again this, but we never gave up and worked tirelessly to drag ourselves back. Futsal is crazy like this; you can look dead and buried and by the end we nearly snatched it.’

On the goal scorers he said, ‘I am delighted for Ava, she has worked so hard to get into this team, and the goal is something she should be proud of. She knows the squad is growing and will have to continue to work hard to keep her place. Jess is proving to be the signing of the season so far; she was in the right place for her goal, but all her hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. Ruby found the pace of the game a little unsettling at first, but it was a quality finish and I know she will find her feet in the very near future.’

Click here to see highlights from the game

He finished by saying, ‘The start to the season has been very hard with 3 tough games against top opposition, so the next three games we need to get some points on the board. The squad is building and so is the momentum. We were unlucky today with injuries and sickness but that is no excuse, and that makes the performance even more satisfying. We have a couple of weeks off now before our next game at home to Loughborough, and then we have 7 games in 7 weeks. But for now, I will enjoy the last two weeks and work out how we can take the lead in a game! Huge thank you for the amazing support today from everyone, the atmosphere was brilliant, and a special mentioned to Imogen, our amazing mascot, safe to safe she had a fabulous day!’

Player of The Match as Picked by Match Sponsor Mary and Peter Graves – Natasha Eustance – She will look back at this game and wonder how she didn’t get a hat trick! In her first game of futsal at this level, Nat looked like she could score every time she got the ball. A constant threat and over time will become a key player in this Bootham side. Great start to your Bootham journey!

Everyone at Bootham Ladies’ Futsal Club would like to wish Derby goalkeeper the very best and a speedy recovery after her nasty her knee injury in the game, we all hope it is not as bad as it looked.