Ladies off the mark for year with York win
COUNTY Ladies were in action once again at the weekend, as they travelled to York City looking for a first league win of the new year at the fourth attempt.
Those first three points of 2024 were secured in impressive fashion after a dominant display on the road, with another goal from forward Em Bradshaw early in the game proving enough to secure the victory.
Manager Steve O’Hara said: “We approached the
Christmas break in good shape, but since the turn of the year have struggled in the first three games against Durham, Doncaster Rovers and Middlesbrough. Although in all three games we played well, we didn’t really have any cutting edge to our play, resulting in two defeats and a draw which has probably seen us fall out of the title race for this season.
“After the Middlesbrough game, we had a good chat as a group and looked at a few areas we needed to improve on.
“This Sunday we went to York City and played much better, created a plethora of chances and totally dominated the game.
“But for an excellent display from our host’s goalkeeper, it could and would have been a far bigger margin than the 1-0 scoreline we ended up winning by.
“The pleasing aspect was the amount of chances we created in the game, probably more in those 90 minutes than in the previous three games combined.
“The clean sheet was also our first in the league since November, another pleasing aspect as we look to kick on.
“That result leaves us six points behind current league leaders Barnsley, albeit having played three more games than them at this stage.
“We have a break this
Sunday and then visit Hull City the week after, which will be a key game as we start to turn for the end of the season.
“We will keep plugging away and head for the target that we set ourselves at the start of the season, which is still within our reach.
“We’ve also had growing numbers at our games (111 at last game) and lots of County season ticket holders coming down to watch us, which is great to see and something we greatly appreciate – long may it continue.”
The Ladies’ fixture against FC United of Manchester on Sunday 10th March will be played at Edgeley Park.
It will be the first time the Ladies have played in SK3 in almost two years, as O’Hara’s side take on their local rivals – who currently sit bottom of the FA Women’s National League Division One North.