On Saturday 23 November Bootham Ladies made the long trip over the Pennies to face Project Futsal Liverpool. Buoyed from their first win of the season, they were looking for back-to-back league victories. 

Katie Samson kept her place in goal, with vice-captain Jess Baker and Harriet Chadwick replacing the absent Kim Samson and Suzy Collins, in what was a very strong squad.

The starting 5 were Nikki Brown, Rowan Treagus, Jess Barnes, Katie Samson (GK) and Charlotte Board. On the bench were Ruby Shaw, captain Ellie Whittaker, Jess Baker, Harriet Chadwick, Ava Worthy, Heather Smith and Natasha Eustance.

1st Half

Bootham started with a high press and the first chance of the game fell to Brown when she latched onto a kick in from Treagus, but her shot hit the defender.  Liverpool took the lead when a misplaced pass was converted from the right-hand side. Shaw then went on a mazy run, beating two players before rounding the goalkeeper but she couldn’t find a pass for the equaliser.  Bootham nearly equaliser when Treagus intercepted a clearance and fired a rasping shot that hit both posts before the keeper fell on it.  A minute later she saw another shot fierce well saved by the Liverpool keeper.  Bootham didn’t have to wait long for their deserved equaliser when a move involving the whole team saw Baker find Eustance with an inch perfect pass, who in turn found Smith, who hammered home first time at the second post.  Shaw was next to test the Liverpool keeper from long range before Smith was played in by Broad, but her shot was saved.  Smith should have had her second when she intercepted the ball right in front of the goal but couldn’t get enough power to force it home. A long throw from keeper Samson, was flicked on by Worthy and Barnes’s first-time volley was tipped wide.  Smith got her second when she turned her marker on halfway, exchanged a pass with Barnes and fired home from close range. Chadwick then hit the foot of the post from close range after great work by Brown. Bootham got their third when Brown ran from halfway and finished smartly from in front.

Half Time – Project Futsal Liverpool 1 – 3 Bootham

2nd Half

Liverpool started the 2^nd half with high intensity and scored within 45 seconds, when a shot from the edge of the D beat Samson to her right.  After weathering a tough 5 minutes, Bootham regained their composure and started to control the game.  Worthy swapped passes with Shaw but couldn’t force it home.  Treagus saw her close-range shot saved after good work from Smith and Brown. An inch perfect pass from Brown, found Smith, who much have thought she had her hattrick, but again the keeper made an amazing save from close range.  Bootham got their fourth with a perfect full court counterattack, defending a corner, Treagus found Eustance who swapped passes with the impressive Smith, before smashing home from just in front.  Baker extended the lead when her long-range shot took a wicked deflection leaving the keeper helpless.  A great one touch move between Barnes and Eustance saw Chadwick’s shot saved again by the keeper.  Another flowing full court move saw Barnes shoot over from close range after good work from Chadwick.  Shaw added two more later on when she twice intercepted the ball to score from close range to round off a convincing and well-deserved win for Bootham Ladies.

Full Time – Project Futsal Liverpool 2 – 7 Bootham

A delighted Coach Chris spoke to us immediately after the game and said, ‘Simply put, that was outstanding. Personally, the best we have played as a team in a long time. Everyone contributed today, and I honestly don’t think the scoreline flattered us. Anyone could have started today; the squad is looking very strong and we still have a couple of players to bring in or be available. We honestly have 16 players wanting to play every game, and that speaks volumes for this group.’

Talking about the squad he said, ‘I was please for Harriet today, she got some good minutes and is starting to understand the game and going forward she will be a good player for us. Two of the best players today were Heather and Ava, I think when Ava came on, she really stretched the game and gave us that space to play in. Heather is really starting to show what a quality player she is, she is powerful, direct and she should have had a hat trick but for some unbelievable goalkeeping. Also, more minutes for Charlotte on her return, but everyone got good time on court today, with players taking responsibility for their own effort, coming off when they start to flag.’

He finished by saying, ‘When we play like this, we know we can beat anyone in this league, the challenge for these players is to be this consistent in every game. That is not easy when we don’t play every week, so they must constantly reset every time. We need some other results to go our way and then we can be right back in the title race. The next 3 games are all cup games, so we will rotate the squad and get game time for other players, some will get a total rest. We got a lovely comment from one of the oppositions supporters today when they said every time they see us, we are improving, which is a nice reward for all the hours the players give us.‘

Player of the Match as chosen by Coach Chris was Heather Smith – her two goals today were taken so well, and she knows she should have had more! She covered so much of the court and her physicality was the best we have seen. Heather is really coming of age this season and becoming a very important member of the squad.

A few images from the day…