This Harrogate side was unbeaten this season so Scotton knew that they would have to be on their best form. As usual the girls were up to the task and played a very solid defensive game while looking dangerous when in attack. We started with Sam in goal with Molly and Georgina making up the defensive partnership, which was to stay the same for virtually the whole game as a result of the hard work and good understanding between the two of them , Jes started in midfield with Honor and Grace played up front with Emily in Chloe's absence.
In the early exchanges it was Scotton who had to do the majority of the defending with Sam having to make a couple of vital early saves in a very muddy goal mouth. Scotton started to create some chances of their own and as the half went on Scotton looked more dangerous. The team was playing well as a unit and when Lowenna came on into midfield for Jes this did not disrupt the balance and we continued to look good when in possession. At the same time we had to be resilient at the back and Sam pulled off several great stops to keep the scores level.
It was to be this seasons top goal scorer Emily who was to break the deadlock. She picked up a great through-ball from Grace, took a touch to control, turned and shot past the advancing 'keeper to make it 1-0.
Scotton were delighted but the pressure from Railway was unrelenting and Sam continued to save everything that was thrown at her and much of the threat was managed by the impressive Molly and very much improved Georgina, who was strong and determined in the tackle all day.
In midfield Jes started to show some energy and Honor pushed forward when she got the chance. It was from one such run that the second goal came. Emily picked the ball up on the right wing and was pushed out to the corner by the Railway defenders, but a little bit of skillful footwork opened the chance of a shot from the narrow angle and the pace of the shot left the Railway 'keeper unable to hold on, Honor was quickest to react and coolly slotted the ball home to make the score 2-0 at half time.
As expected Railway stepped up their game in the second half and pushed forward more and more, Sam having to be alert to tip the ball over the bar in the very first minute. But Scotton held firm. We found less chances to push forward but when we did we found pace through Jes, who was now playing up front, supported by the hard work of Lowenna, Honor and Grace who were rotating the midfield duties. But it was defensively where we had to be alert and Sam, Georgina and Molly between them kept the attackers of Railway frustrated.
The end result was a 2-0 win and the player of the match was an easy choice as Sam had probably her best performance of the season on a day when she needed to be at her best. Had Sam not been such a clear winner of the player of the match then it would have been a tough call between Georgina, Lowenna and Molly who were all on top of their game and contributing to a very solid performance at the back against a very good Railway side.
Well done girls for another great win, our fifth in a row, and great preparation for the first round of our cup defense in two weeks time.
