Scarborough Ladies grab first victory of the campaign
SLFC hammer Huntington 9-2 to grab their first win since forming this season
Scarborough Ladies’ Open Age team bounced back from a heavy County Cup defeat the previous week in the best style possible - dishing out a thrashing of their own away at Huntington.
The 9-2 victory brought Boro’s first points of the season after coming close in their previous four matches, and signalled the side’s return to form after five straight defeats since reforming to start playing again this season.
Boro’s line-up was changed from the previous week, with Luc y Col l i n s d o n n i n g t h e gloves for her first appearance of the season.
At the back, Lizzie Sartain and Beth Sumpton took the central spots, and the f ullbacks to begin the game were Vicki Simm and Jade England.
Wide right and left were Chloe Marshall and Beth Taylor respectively, and centrally Bethan Howitt lined up next to Dani Kendrick, skippering the side again after missing last week’s County Cup game due to holiday.
The bench was strong, with defenders in Meg Wingfield, Sophie Ambler and Ruvimbo Mhaka and attackers Chloe Bennettand Hannah Green.
The team played for the first time in their new yellow and blue away kit, sponsored by Scarborough Decorators Limited.
Boro s i gnalled t heir i ntent from the off, as Marshall tested the home keeper with a double shot in the opening minutes.
Huntington however then had their best spell of the game as they hit the bar and should have scored when allowed to break through the middle.
From then on and throughout the match they were limi t e d t o hal f c hances, with Collins’ bravery and superb handling keeping them at bay.
At the other end Boro attacked in waves and with Bennett and Green in attack - Boro using rolling subs to their advantage - they posed a goal threat almost every time they entered the home side’s half.
The first goal came on 25 minutes when Bennett fed Marshall on the right. Her ball in fell perfectly at the feet of Green who scored her second goal of the season from close range.
2-0 and 3-0 followed soon after, both goals scored by Taylor.
The f i r s t was a s how of strength as she won the ball from a goal-kick and blasted into the corner of the net.
The second was from a yard out when Green’s shot from Howitt’s pass looped up off the keeper and Taylor tapped in before a defender could clear.
By now, Boro’s tails were up and they showed no signs of slowing down. The fourth goal came from Bennett, calmly rounding the keeper to score af t er Green’s i nch- perfect through-ball.
And i t was Green’s turn next as she scored her second and Boro’s fifth, slotting i n from Taylor’s pass.
At half-time Boro were 5-0 up and with just five minutes of the second half on the clock it was 6-0.
Bennett got her s e c ond with a low finish into the corner.
The home side pulled one back, but Boro restored their six-goal cushion by making it 7-1 with arguably the finish of the game.
Marshall blasted into the roof of the net from 10 yards to get the goal she had been threatening all game.
The eighth came from Bennett again as she completed her hat-trick with a neat turn and near-post finish.
Another home goal went in to make it 8-2 when a striker nipped in to head home from a free-kick.
But with five minutes left Boro sealed the victory with a sweet goal.
Howitt fed Green down the right and her cross was despatched neatly by Marshall for her second of the game and fifth of the season.
That made the final score 9-2 and brought the side’s first points of the season.
Scarborough Ladies travel to face league leaders Poppleton this weekend.