On Saturday 30 November Bootham Ladies made the trip north to face Team Sunderland in the WSS League Cup. After their last two back to back wins the ladies were looking for a first away win of the season.

With Jess Barnes and Jess Baker being rested, Kim Samson and Suzy Collins Allegra Sellschop-Evans came back into the squad, with the goalkeeping duties being shared by Katie Samson and Allegra Sellschop-Evans.

The starting 5 were Nikki Brown, Rowan Treagus, Ellie Whittaker (C), Allegra Sellschop-Evans (GK) and Natasha Eustance. On the bench were Ruby Shaw, Charlotte Broad, Suzy Collins, Kim Samson, Harriet Chadwick, Ava Worthy, Heather Smith and Katie Samson (GK).

1st Half

After early exchanges Sunderland had the first real chance of the game when a long-range shot was saved easily by Sellschop-Evans. Bootham responded with a full court move that saw Brown feed Treagus but her shot missed the near post. Sellschop-Evans was called into action again, when she saved bravely from a swift Sunderland move. Moments later Bootham took the lead when a Treagus pass somehow found Broad who finished smartly from in front. Bootham piled on the pressure and got their second when Shaw converted a Brown corner. The pair added the third when this time Brown converted Shaw’s corner. Sunderland got one back from a long-range shot, before Chadwick fed Shaw who’s finished smartly. Sunderland grabbed another one back, and then quickly added a third from another shot outside the D. Approaching halftime Eustance found Brown in a crowded D and somehow her shot rolled into the unguarded net. Sunderland added their fourth from a 10metre penalty, before Eustance smashed home a kick in from Brown. She should have grabbed her second on the stroke of halftime but only she knows how she fired wide.

Half Time – Team Sunderland 4 – 6 Bootham

2nd Half

Early in the second half Bootham extended their lead when Brown and Treagus combined for Brown to complete her hat-trick. Sunderland came back when the unfortunate Treagus saw the ball hit her and roll past Samson. The impressive Broad came close after a good solo run, before Treagus was denied again by a good save from the keeper. Player of the match Brown grabbed her fourth after running the full length of court, swapping passes with Eustance before sliding the ball home at the second post. Sunderland were not beaten and came back again with a well worked goal. A scramble in the Bootham D saw Kim Samson clear off her own line, before Sunderland got back within one from a long range shot deflected past Samson. Bootham settled their nerves when Worthy intercepted the ball on halfway and fired into an empty net. As Sunderland pushed late on Broad won the ball deep in her own half and calmly rolled the ball into an unguarded net to give Bootham a much-deserved win.

Full Time –Team Sunderland 7 – 10 Bootham

Coach Chris spoke to us after the game and said, ‘That was a strange game to manage, both teams created so many chances, the game could have easily finished 15-15.  That said the goals we scored today were good futsal goals, with quick passing and finishing in the D.  We are becoming better and better at converting our chances, not shooting for the sake of shooting, but thinking about the positions we find ourselves in and if the finish is not on, then we start again and keeping possession.’

‘We rested both Jess’s for this game, so I am I really pleased in the way that other players stepped up to fill their shoes.  Heather and Ava are becoming very integral parts of the squad and are both pushing for more game time each week.  Harriet has come on so much in the last few weeks, her energy and physicality on court is a real bonus, and I’m sure that her first Bootham goal is not that far away.  Having Charlotte back is like have a brand-new signing.  She controls the tempo of the game so well and her passion for the team is there for everyone to see.  But what a performance from Nikki, she was fantastic today.  Her futsal development over the last 2 years has been amazing, she is a delight to coach and really drives the team forward.’

‘We have never beaten Sunderland before, so to come here and win is another stepping stone on the way to us improving.  I know Sunderland were not at full strength, but you can only beat what is put in front of you.  We seem to start the season slowly, which is something we need to look at, but once we get into our stride and we start playing good futsal, winning becomes a very nice habit.‘

He finished by saying, ‘Next week we go to Manchester, another side we have never beaten, so can we keep up the good run?  We will rest different players next week and give more time to others, but I know the players we put on court will give everything for Bootham.  This cup competition gives us a chance to develop players and work of the formats we want to bed into the DNA of the club, so as a coach I am happy at the way this season is developing.’

Player of the Match as chosen by Captain Ellie was Nikki Brown – she was a real leader on court today, with a dominate performance. All her goals were fantastic with two of them she starts and finished, covering pretty much the full court. She drive the rest of the team on and her leadership is fantastic for the younger players, she encourages and supports them so well. Simply put, a top performance from a top players.

A few images from the day…