The U15's secured their best win of the season by winning comfortably away at Knaresborough Celtic. Against a team that has finished at the top of the league for the last 4 seasons it is always difficult but the Scorchers turned up on a near freezing morning ready to take the game to Knaresborough.
As skiing holidays meant that several of the regular midfield were away, Jayde and Becky were drafted in and we started with Jayde in goal, the usual back three of Molly, Lowenna and Georgina with Grace on the left, Honor in centre and Becky on the right, Emily and Chloe leading the line up front. The girls were asked to get into the match early and what a start!. Chloe was clean through on goal within 2 minutes but was thwarted by some good defending, but just a minute later a through ball from Emily found Chloe through again and this time she was not to be denied and she coolly finished to put the Scorchers 1-0 up.
The Scorchers continued to attack and after winning a couple of corners the next was to prove successful as a perfect corner in from the right cause problems in defence and Becky was on hand to poke the ball home. Scorchers 2-0 up within 7 minutes!
The team continued to press and Emma was brought on for Becky on the right and got herself involved immediately, winning ball and tracking back effectively.
It was the Scotton defence however that seemed to relax and the Knaresborough attack are always dangerous. A quick break down the left found the Knaresborough striker in possession and a quick turn and shot was too powerful and found the top corner to make it 2-1.
Just a few minutes later it was 2-2 as the same striker again found herself in space and lashed the ball home. 4 goals in less than 20 minutes!
The Scorchers are made of stern stuff these days and this set back only spurred them on and they went on the offensive again. Again and again we pushed forward and from one of these attacks Emily saw a sight of goal and took a shot from 15 yards out, this hit the post and the rebound found Chloe who volleyed the ball home from 12 yards out to make it 3-2.
The first half action was not yet over as Emily cut in from the left, went round the defender and the cover before powering her shot into the back of the net to make it 4-2 at half time!
The second half would normally be a nervy affair but it was a half that would be dominated by the Scorchers who camped in the Knaresborough half for much of the time. Shots came in from Honor, Grace and Becky and a nice move on the right resulted in a neat 1-2 with Emma finding herself through on goal and her shot across the goal went agonisingly wide.
Chloe and Emily worked as well together as we have seen and Chloe again and again made dangerous runs and was found in space on several occasions. Corners came in from the left and the right but the next goal was ellusive.
As the match drew to a close another corner from the right again caused problems for the Knaresborough defence and Chloe was on hand to hit the back of the net to make it a record 5-2 win for the Scorchers.
Every single player had one of their best games in a Scorchers shirt and the player of the match award could have been given to anyone on the pitch. However the award went to Chloe, for her hat-trick and her overall play which was probably the best we have seen from her.
Well done Girls, bring on Harrogate for another tough game next week!
