The Scorchers played Wetherby in the Bronze medal game in
the Supplementary cup competition and went into the game with high confidence
after their league win over the gold medal finalists Silsden last weekend.
The Scorchers started with Sam in goal, Georgina, Molly and
Lowenna making up the usual defence, Eloise, Grace and Honor in Midfield and
Chloe partnering Emily up front.
Wetherby play on a wide pitch and there was plenty of space
to play but the Scorchers initially found it difficult to take advantage as
Wetherby stayed narrow and dominated the early stages. Chances were rare and the only real danger
was dealt well by the defence. This
defence had to be changed early on as Molly took a blow to the mouth and had to
leave for treatment as the blood started to flow! Catherine slotted into the full back position
but Wetherby continued to press. From
one attack Sam pulled off an outstanding save down low to her left to keep the
scores level.
As the game went on the Scorchers started to find their rhythm
and started to string some great moves together, with Grace finding space more
freely on the left and Eloise beginning to spend more time attacking than the
defending she had done earlier.
This increased pressure was to bring its rewards as Emily picked
up the ball in midfield and the outside run from Eloise drew the defender and
opened a gap for Emily to slot a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Chloe
who calmly took the ball in her stride and finished with the confidence who scored
a hat-trick just last week. 1-0 to the
Scorchers with 10 minutes left.
Several chances followed and on the stroke of half time
another deep curling corner from Emily was not dealt with by the Wetherby
defence and Eloise was on hand to poke the loose ball home from just 2 yards to
make if 2-0 at half time.
In the second half Wetherby again started well and were to
be rewarded with a goal 10 mins into the second half when a run down the left ended
with a shot which Sam blocked and very nearly held onto despite the well struck
shot, but it was the Wetherby player on hand to nudge the loose ball home as
Sam made every effort to recover the loose ball.
Wetherby pushed hard for the next few minutes but the two
goal lead was re-established when a quick throw by Chloe followed by a great
one-two with Grace on the left resulted in Emily picking up Chloe’s pass and
firing an unstoppable shot past the ‘keeper to make it 3-1. Scotton enjoyed their best passage of the
game with the midfield and strikers working well together, with plenty of work
being put in by Catherine, Honor Grace and Eloise in midfield while Chloe and
Emily chased every ball and created lots of chances, including several corners.
It was from one of these corners, from the left this time,
that Emily curled one into the Wetherby ‘keeper. The Wetherby defender deflected the ball
towards the back post and it was Eloise who once again was the quickest to
react and she again poked the ball home for her second and Scotton’s fourth.
Seren and Catherine again came on to add some fresh legs
into defence and midfield as Molly in particular was still struggling following
her cut mouth in the first half. Both
players showed good energy and determination with Seren moving into midfield
and defence as needed and Catherine, despite a foot injury, showing her usual
energy and determination to win loose balls and turn defence into attack.
Despite to 4-1 scoreline and Scotton playing some good free
flowing football, with Chloe in particular linking up with both wingers to
create dangerous chances throughout the second half, Wetherby were not to be
outdone and following a defensive lapse the Wetherby striker fired into the top
of the goal from close range leaving Sam no chance and the score at 4-2 to the
Scorchers. The scoring was not over
however and Emily created a goal from her own misplaced throw as the Wetherby
defence could not bring the ball under control and Emily nicked the ball back
and broke through a group of three defenders to be clear on goal from where she
finished with her left foot into the bottom left corner to make the score 5-2.
A very competent and assure performance by the Scotton team
but one which Wetherby could also be very pleased as was it not for the efforts
of Sam in goal early in the game then the story could have been very different.
Player of the match was a difficult one as there were many outstanding
performances, particularly from Sam, Lowenna, Eloise, Grace and Emily, but
Chloe stood out for the effort she put in and the chances that she created with
her passing and movement throughout the game.
