Scarborough Ladies’ open age side in action for first time

Scarborough Ladies FC fielded an open age side in a full match for the first time in almost three years on Sunday when they took on York RI in a friendly match at Filey Community Sports Ground.
SLFC's open age side line up before their first-ever game. Picture submitted.SLFC's open age side line up before their first-ever game. Picture submitted.
SLFC's open age side line up before their first-ever game. Picture submitted.

With a good crowd in attendance, the match featured the first 11 v 11 SLFC team at Open Age level since 23rd September 2012, when the club played Middlesbrough in the North Riding Women’s League.

Four of the side that played back in 2012 in that final game against Middlesbrough featured once again for the club, Chloe Bennett, Dani Kendrick, Megan Overfield and Beth Taylor.

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Lucy Ambler, also part of the 2012-13 squad which was disbanded after that game against Middlesbrough, and previous under-16 and open age player Beth Sumpton also featured.

From last year’s under-18 side six players featured in the game against York.

They were Lucy Collins, Lizzie Sartain, Lizzy Alport, Maria Jagger, Megan Wingfield and Bethan Howitt.

Howitt took the skipper’s armband for this historic occasion.

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Three players, Jess Brookman, Hannah Green and Hannah Mitchell, returned to the club having previously played in the junior ranks.

And new to the club were Vicki Simm, Sam Widdowfield and Maria Bowtell, who all featured in the first period of the match.

All 18 players played their part in an exciting game, with the visitors coming out victorious in match played over three 30-minute periods.

York won the first third 5-1 and the second third 2-0.

The Boro girls gradually progressed and grew in confidence and the third period finished 1-1, for an overall score of 8-2 to York.

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Taylor scored both goals for Boro, while Bennett, Green and Jagger also came close during the match.

Coaches James Hunter, Leila Murphy and Owen Banks took heart from the performance, and with two friendlies to be played in the coming weeks, and other players to come back into the squad, there are plenty of positives as the club builds towards the North Riding Women’s League season.

The side plays Brayton Belles on Sunday August 23 and North Ferriby on Sunday August 30.

Both games are at Yorkshire Coast College and kick-off at 2pm.

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