On Sunday 26 November Bootham Futsal Club embarked on a new adventure when they entered 3 teams in the brand West Riding Girls Futsal League. The league is being run in partnership between West Yorkshire Futsal League and West Riding County FA, with 8 teams from across the region taking part.

Bootham Girls entered teams at U13, U14 and U15, with games being 2 halves of 10 minutes.

Bootham U13s

Represented by: Mollie C, Jessica W, Jessica H, Maisie M, Isla H and Florence N.

Due to a late drop out in this age group, the U13s played Samba All Stars U13s over 4 periods – three at 15 minutes and one at 5 minutes. The girls started on fire and goals from Maisie and Jess saw them race into a 2-0 lead. Samba got a goal back and they finish the first period 2-1 up. The second period started pretty much the same with Isla scoring a well taken hat-trick, and Samba getting one back, to leave the score 5-2. As Bootham started to tire, Samba scored 3 good goals to leave the score 5-5 with one period to go. The girls dug deep and in the very last-minute Mollie scored a well taken free kick to give Bootham a slender 6-5 win! Special mention goes to Jessica in goal who made some amazing saves on the day, and really kept the team in the match.

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Bootham U14s

Represented by: Maja M, Maygen M, Sienna S, Toni S, Heidi J and Hattie F.

The U14s took on Norristhorpe U15s in their first match. The girls were on the front foot from the off and some excellent futsal saw them finish the half with a 4-0, thanks to goals from Maygen, Hattie, Maja, and Toni. The girls continued their excellent form into the second half and added a further 4 goals, two each for Maygen and Toni, to run out winners 8-0. Take nothing away from Norristhorpe who were playing their first ever futsal match, they never gave up and but for some fab saves from Heidi would have made the game a lot closer.

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Bootham U15s

Represented by: Olivia A, Lacey B, Mollie G, Ami S, Millie T, Erin E, Ava G, Imogen T and Katie H

The second game saw the grudge match between Bootham U14s and U15s. Both sides wanted to get one over the other and the game started at a frantic pace. The U14s took the lead through Ava, but Maygen equalised for the U14s. The U15s started to settle and played some excellent futsal to get 4-1 in front, with two goals from Imogen and another for Ava. The U14s were not beaten and rallied and got straight at the U15s, with a goal from Maja to make the score 4-2 at the break. Millie restored the 3-goal lead but the U14s were not done and came storming back. A superb free kick from Maygen, one from Maja and with the last kick of the game a great finish from Hattie, saw the game tied at 5-5. Full time, and a draw was a fair result for both teams.

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In the last match of the day Bootham U15s took on Norristhorpe U14s. Bootham stared very slowly and Norristhorpe took a well-deserved lead. Just before the interval Mollie equalised for Bootham. After the break Bootham put their foot on the gas and goals from Millie, Imogen and two for Erin saw them to a comfortable 5-1 win. Their futsal experience in the end came through and the girls controlled the game with some good passing and movement.

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Coach Chris said afterwards, ‘We have been desperate for competitive games for the girls for a long time and are more than happy to travel to get regular matches. All the girls played fantastic, and we saw some excellent futsal from so many. Congratulations to all the other teams for having a go and we really hope you stick with it, we will definitely be back! So many players today really worked their socks off and played some brilliant futsal, especially showing the principles of the game I was looking for. A very special mention to Jess, Olivia and Heidi for being amazing goalkeepers, they all played above and beyond and really helped their sides out.’