Bootham returned to league action looking to stop the slide after two agonisingly narrow defeats on the road. A first-ever meeting with Southampton Athletic awaited, with the team once again making the trip to Nottingham, a venue that had been kind to them in the past, yielding victories in both previous visits. This time, however, the pressure was on. Coach Chris demanded a response, and goals were needed to reignite the season.

Change was in the air for Bootham. The squad were without England players Heather Smith and Erin Elliott, and regular captain Ellie Whittaker, forcing a reshuffle. For the first time, the armband was handed to Jess Baker, tasked with leading the side through a crucial moment. There was also a boost as Elisabeth Craven returned to the fold, alongside the calm presence and experience of Charlotte Broad.

Bootham were represented by: Jess Baker (C), Jess Barnes, Charlotte Broad, Suzy Collins, Elisabeth Craven, Natasha Eustance, Nikki Brown and Katie Samson (GK).

1st Half

Bootham came out flying, determined to put Southampton under pressure from the first whistle, and they did not let up for a second. Collins was denied twice early on by outstanding goalkeeping, Brown fired wide, and Barnes watched in disbelief as her effort rolled agonisingly across the face of goal. Brown then thundered a long-range strike off the crossbar as Bootham piled on the pressure, while Craven was inches away at the far post from Brown’s teasing cross. Eustance forced another superb save with a powerful effort from distance as Bootham laid siege to the Southampton goal.

The breakthrough finally arrived, and once it did, there was no stopping Bootham. Eustance opened the scoring after brilliant team play, added a second moments later, and then set the tone for a stunning goal rush. Collins sent the home crowd into raptures with her first goal in nearly four years, before Baker got in on the act. Craven grabbed her first, and Eustance completed a devastating first-half hat-trick as Bootham stormed into the break with total control of the match.

Half Time – Bootham 6 – 0 Southampton Athletic

2nd Half

The second half was more of the same, relentless, ruthless, and unstoppable. Baker struck early, and then came a breathtaking five-minute spell as Bootham hit Southampton for four. Brown unleashed a stunning long-range effort, Broad produced an exquisite finish, Brown added another, and player of the match Collins grabbed her second to cap an incredible passage of play.

Bootham showed no mercy. Barnes made it twelve with a superb second-post finish, while Samson, largely untroubled, stayed sharp to deal calmly with the few half-chances that came her way. Eustance powered in her fourth, Craven claimed her second, and Barnes followed with another after tireless work from Eustance. And fittingly, in the final minute, Eustance completed an unforgettable performance, netting Bootham’s last goal and her fifth of a truly sensational day.

Full Time – Bootham 16 – 0 Southampton Athletic

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A delighted Coach Chris spoke to us after the game and reflected on an outstanding performance from his side, “That was a very good day out. It’s always nice when you get results like that,” he said. “We dominated the ball for pretty much the whole game, but what impressed me most was our decision-making in front of goal and the way we scored so many second-post goals today. That’s a real step forward from last week.”

It was a landmark afternoon for the team, with every outfield player getting on the scoresheet and a first clean sheet for the team, “To have every outfield player score is a first for us,” Chris added. “But keeping a clean sheet for the first time is a huge credit to the work the players did out of possession, and to Katie in goal.”

Preparation during the week played a key role in the performance, “We talked about moving the ball quickly and playing one- and two-touch futsal,” he explained. “It’s easy to slow your game down and play at the opposition’s tempo, but the players didn’t do that today. We also worked on attacking the second post rather than just shooting from distance, and we scored some excellent futsal goals.”

Chris was also quick to praise the opposition and Southampton’s goalkeeper in particular, “Huge credit to the Southampton goalkeeper, she made some outstanding saves and really kept the score down,” he said. “We spoke to the Southampton players after the game and told them not to give up. The games do get easier, and if you stick at it the wins will start to come. They played some good futsal through the middle of the court, and on another day they could easily have grabbed a couple of goals. I have huge respect for the way their players and managers conducted themselves today, a great credit to the club.”

With a break in the schedule, the focus now turns to recovery and consistency, “We’ve got a week off before another long away trip,” Chris concluded. “We’ll rest up and enjoy the result, but it’s important we make sure we implement what we did today in the next game.”

Match Highlights:

Player of the Match — chosen by Coach Chris, was Suzy Collins – Suzy is one of those squad players who turns up every single week to training and matches and never complains. She scored in our second ever game, then had to wait 1,442 days to score again, a testament to her perseverance and commitment. A top player, and one we simply couldn’t do without.

Images from today’s game: