On a day when most other games were called off because of frozen pitches the top 2 teams in the East Riding Girls Football League girls u14 league met on the new 5 g pitch at Malet Lambert. This was the most important game so far for both teams this season with both teams knowing a victory was imperative in their quest for the league title.
A hard fought game was anticipated with personal battles to be won all around the pitch Tonya Storr v Ellie Shepherd, Emma Johnson v Lauren Holmes, Emma Smith v Aimee Mathews and Keely Forward v Laura Stockdale were no quarter would be asked or given .
The game started with Malet Lambert enjoying the early advantage spurred on by some fierce tackling from midfielder Lauren Holmes and Malet Lambert spent the first 5 minutes of the game camped in the Mill Lane Uniteds half, helped by some strong defence with the outstanding full backs Chloe Johnstone and Charlotte Holliday to the fore the Beverley side managed to keep them out.
After the initial pressure was absorbed a sweeping move gave Mill Lane United the lead after 6 minutes a great tackle and pass from Holliday found Smith in space near the half way line and a superb 25yard through ball saw striker Keely Forward charging into the Malet Lambert penalty area before unleashing a fine right foot shot into the back of the net to give Mill Lane United a 1 0 lead slightly against the run of play.
Credit to Malet Lambert who rolled up their sleeves looking for the equaliser continuing to drive forward and after a period of pressure a great right foot shot 20yards out from Lauren Holmes made the score 1 1.
The game was now end to end with tackles flying in with both teams looking for another goal to give them the advantage as half time approached.
If Malet Lambert had the better of the opening exchanges the Beverley side with Emma Johnson and Emma Smith taking control in midfield started to get more territorial advantage as the half wore on and several chances went begging with a combination of good goal keeping and poor finishing keeping the scores level at 1 1 at half time.
Mill Lane Uniteds managers half time team talk was based on desire to win and a need for the midfield to use the space in front of them and this they did to totally dominate the second half.
Straight from the kick off they were first to the tackle as the whole team lifted the pace, strong in defence to limit Malet to occasional long range effort, creative and tenacious in midfield to totally dominate their opposite numbers and up front the strikers pressurised and harried along with some clinical finishing to score 3 more goals without reply.
The second Mill Lane United goal was a little fortunate when Millie O’Neils shot took a deflection which gave the goalkeeper no chance. If the second had an element of fortune the 3 rd was pure class with a length of the field move.
Stand in full back Charlotte Holliday found Smith free in centre midfield ,quickly getting the ball under control before racing 30 yards over half way and releasing a slide rule pass to Millie O’Neill on the edge of the area, O’Neill could have gone for glory but instead unselfishly crossed for striker Keely Forward to coolly slot away her second goal of the game.
redit to Malet Lambert who tried to get back into the game switching Ellie Shepherd to the left after totally been outplayed by both Tonya Storr and Chloe Johnstone ,but all to no avail as the game was made safe when a header by substitute Jodie Brown was converted by Forward to give her another hatrick and cementing her rapid improvement this season into one of the best finishers in the league.
So a 4 1 victory to Mill Lane United their 3rd against Malet Lambert this season giving then a perfect 10 out of 10 in the league. Malet can be proud of their efforts with Laura Stockdalse tackling and cover defence a feature and midfielder Aimee Mathews who covered every blade of grass with some strong tackling and intelligent use of the ball in an outstanding performance.
For Mill Lane United the whole team was superb with special mention to full backs Charlotte Holliday and Chloe Johnstone whose tackling and ball distribution were outstanding, in midfield Tonya Storr tackled everything that moved in a typical 100% performance and Emma Johnson for totally dominating the oppositions danger player and up front Keely Forward showing there is no better finisher in the league. Man of the matches this week Emma Johnson and Charlotte Holliday.
