On Saturday 24 October, Bootham Ladies made the long journey south to take on league newcomers Derby City Futsal at the University of Derby. Both sides had suffered defeat in their opening fixtures, making this an important opportunity for each team to secure their first win of the season.

Following an indifferent performance in their opening game, Bootham were determined to deliver an improved display on the road. Head coach Chris was particularly keen to see a stronger second-half performance, having seen his side dominate the first half against Liverpool in their previous outing.

Bootham travelled with a squad of just eight players, with seven unavailable due to injury and other absences. Despite the depleted numbers, there was plenty of encouragement, with talented teenagers Eleanor Comrie and Daisy Smith making their league debuts after missing out on the opening fixture. Steph Hughes also returned to action for her first appearance of the season.

Bootham Ladies squad: Jess Baker (C), Heather Smith, Erin Elliott, Eleanor Comrie, Daisy Smith, Scarlett Davis, Steph Hughes and Elisabeth Craven.

First Half:

The game began with both sides testing each other out, before Hughes made a smart save in the Bootham goal. Derby were quicker to their feet than the visitors and took the lead following a well-worked move. They added a second within a minute, before Smith fired wide from close range. Hughes then made another save from a quick Derby break, while Elliot saw a close-range effort saved by the Derby goalkeeper. The home side added a third just before the break to take a comfortable lead into half-time

Half Time – Derby City Futsal 3 – 0 Bootham

Second Half:

Bootham knew they needed to score first in the second half, and smart play from Comrie created an opportunity for Smith, whose close-range effort was saved by the Derby goalkeeper. Just as the visitors were beginning to find their feet in the game, Derby struck on the counter-attack to score their fourth, before adding a fifth within a minute following a Bootham mistake. The visitors refused to give up, and a cross found Smith, but she couldn’t quite direct her header on target. Derby then added a sixth before a move involving the whole Bootham team ended with Craven delivering a first-time cross that Smith smashed home for a well-deserved consolation goal. With seconds remaining on the clock, Derby grabbed the final goal to round off the scoring and secure the victory.

Full Time – Derby City Futsal 7 – 1 Bootham

Link to the latest NFS Tier 2 league table

Coaches Comments

A disappointed Coach Chris spoke to us after the game, reflecting on a result that he felt didn’t tell the full story of the performance.

“It’s not often that I say the scoreline doesn’t reflect the game, but this one really does. I’ll take nothing away from Derby; they were clinical with their finishing, but we had plenty of chances to score and just couldn’t convert them today. Add in a couple of individual mistakes, and the scoreline would have been a lot closer. I told the players after the game that they will play worse in other games and win. Futsal can be cruel sometimes.”

Chris was also keen to highlight the performances of Eleanor and Daisy, both of whom made valuable contributions to the team.

“I was pleased with both of them today. They both looked comfortable after a slightly quiet start, and especially in the second half, they made huge contributions to the team. The best part is that I know they will get better, and goals for both of them are not far away.”

Looking ahead, Chris spoke honestly about the challenges the squad has faced at the start of the season and the importance of getting everyone back available.

“It’s been a strange start to the season, and not having the full squad to pick from is making life a bit complicated. You can’t really expect to win a game with only seven outfield players, especially with the high-press game we like to play. I’m not going to make excuses. We have to perform with the players we have available on the day and make the best of a less-than-ideal situation.

“We welcome old enemy Manchester to St John’s on Saturday, and we really do need a win to kick-start our season. I’m sure the players will give it everything, but we could really do with all our supporters coming down and making some noise!”

Next up: Manchester at St John’s on Saturday. The players will be determined to put things right, and your support could make all the difference. Let’s get behind the team and make ourselves heard! 🔵💪

Players of the Match

Liz Craven – Worked her socks off from start to finish, constantly closing down the opposition and not giving them a second on the ball, especially in the second half. Her energy, work rate and determination were fantastic throughout, putting the opposition under pressure and making life difficult for them every time they had possession. All the coaches agreed that this was Liz’s best performance in Bootham Blue so far, and she should be really proud of the effort she put in. Top job, Liz! 💪🔵

Daisy Smith – Another debutant Player of the Match! Daisy grew into the game brilliantly, and after a quieter first half, she really stood up to the opposition in the second. She didn’t give the Derby safety an inch, battling for every ball, getting stuck into every challenge and never taking a backward step. Her determination and willingness to fight for everything made a real difference, showing exactly what she can bring to the team. A fantastic second-half performance and a great start to your Bootham journey, Daisy! 💪🔵

Unfortunately, there are no photos from today’s game, as the camera doesn’t seem to have saved any! 🤦‍♂️ Apologies for that, and I’ll try harder to make sure we get some good shots next time! 📸🔵