On Saturday 26 October Bootham Ladies played their first game in this season’s FA National Futsal Cup and Plate. This was the start of a very long journey to see if the Ladies could retain their trophy they won last year.

Sophie Tomlinson, Suzy Collins and Rowan Treagus made their first starts of the season, and it was a welcome back to Charlotte Broad after an 11-month absence due to a bad ankle injury. This was also the largest match day squad Bootham had ever taken to a game.

The starting 5 were Heather Smith, Jess Barnes, Jess Baker, Ava Shaw and Allegra Sellschop-Evans (GK). On the bench were Sophie Tomlinson, Ellie Whittaker (C), Ruby Shaw, Suzy Collins, Harriet Chadwick, Megan Gration (GK), Rowan Treagus, Natasha Eustance and Charlotte Board

1st Half

The Bootham quintet started well, and Smith tested the Liverpool keep with a low-down drive. Next Baker ran through and brought a save from the opposition’s keepers. Worthy was next to test the Liverpool keeper with a smart shot outside the D. Against the run of play, Liverpool scored 3 quick goals, leaving a shell shocked Bootham side. But rather than letting their heads go down, they quickly got back into the game when a solo goal from Barnes was quickly followed by a neat finish from Eustance. Bootham nearly drew level when a flowing move involving the whole team saw Treagus graze the side of the post. Just before the break Liverpool extended their lead on a quick transition. Bootham nearly got one back when the impressive Treagus tested the keeper after a driving run.

Half Time – Bootham 2 – 4 Liverpool

2nd Half

Bootham started the 2nd half on the front foot and the Shaw saw her long-range shot pushed past the post. In another full court sweeping move, Barnes combined with Shaw before receiving the ball back from Eustance for a simple finish. Treagus tested the keeper again from outside the D before Liverpool extended their lead with an own goal from Baker. She nearly made amends immediately but her shot was straight at the Liverpool keeper. An individual error gift Liverpool their 6th and trailing by 3 goals, the match looked lost for Bootham. Almost immediately Treagus swapped passes with Shaw and from a tight angle beat the keeper. A minute later a reverse pass from Shaw was slammed home by Treagus. Sellschop-Evans kept Bootham in the match with a smart save from a free-kick before once again Liverpool scored. Barnes had a chance to bring Bootham level when her shot was saved twice by the keeper. Shaw then went close, before Liverpool scored again. But straight from the kick-off Treagus found Shaw who scored from close range. Bootham piled on the pressure looking for that elusive equaliser, but it was Liverpool who scored again, and with only 3 minutes left looked to have secured the win. But Treagus had other ideas, she collected the ball wide and ran through the Liverpool defence and lifted the ball smartly over the keeper. Game on! With time running out, and with the move of the match, Bootham kept the ball for well over a minute before Treagus exchanged passes with Barnes for a volley at the second post.

Full Time – Bootham 8 – 8 Liverpool

Coach Chris spoke to us after the game, and said, ‘That was not a game for the feint hearted, so much drama and so many goals, great for the spectators but lots for managers to think about! Watching the game back, if it had finished 15 all I don’t think either manager could complain. On a big plus I am delighted at the attitude we showed to come back twice from being 3 goals down. We always looked like scoring and huge credit to the Liverpool goalkeeper, who made some stunning saves.’

He continued, ‘Liverpool are a very young side and will only get better as the season goes on. They looked very sharp on the transition, and we must learn to either finish our play and put the ball dead, or work extremely hard to stop or slow the transition down. We started well, with a real high and aggressive press that really put Liverpool under pressure, but after they scored we backed off and let them take control of the game. In the 2nd half we went back to pressing very high and it evened the game out, we looked the side I know we are. If we had played another minute, I feel might have even pinched that.’

On the players today he said, ‘Delighted for Rowan, she is that natural goal scorer we have been missing, but she also looked the total player today. Huge well done to Heather and Ava, they both looked very comfortable and are becoming key members of our squad. It was good to see Charlotte back on court after her ankle injury, it wasn’t her best performance, but she showed glimpses of the calmness and key passing we have been missing.’

He finished by saying, ‘We have a week off, and then back to league action when new side Leicester Athletic come to York. A huge thank you to all the spectators who came down today, you really did help keep us in that match. It was great to hear top cheerleader Eleanor back in the crowd! We will need you next time when we search for that first win of the season.’

Player of the Match as chosen by Sambarca Futsal Coach Daniel Pedras was Rowan Treagus – her goals, especially in the second half kept Bootham in the game and her work rate off the ball and out of possession was as good as anyone on the court. Thank you to Ivy for being a fantastic match day mascot, she never stopped smiling all game!

A few images from the day…