Mill Lane United Blues travelled to Selby to play Brayton Belles U14s on Saturday on the first really cold day of winter in the East Riding Girls Football League.
In a biting wind, gloves and thermals were very much in evidence but this didn’t prevent Mill Lane from being quick out of the blocks – forced to start with 10 players; due to a late arrival, they took an early lead as Natalie Bell ran free to score with a left foot shot.
Both goalkeepers, Jessica Wright and Stacey Haytack, were in excellent form and both were called upon to make important saves. Amy Dodds was then unlucky to see two one on one chances go narrowly wide.
However, with around 20 minutes gone, Fenella Scutt and Natalie Bell combined well to feed Millie Sharp, who finished with her customary aplomb. Chances then came and went at both ends, but the score remained the same as the teams turned around at 2-0 in Mill Lane’s favour.
The second half started as the first had finished, with Mill Lane grateful for some brave keeping from Jess Wright, before Millie Sharp scored again with a powerful shot into the corner to take the score to 3-0.
Showing great heart, Brayton quickly struck back with a great goal from Emily Owen before Sharp, asked to drop into midfield, played a fine ball through to Demi Watson to blast home and seemingly kill the game.
Once more, though, Brayton Belles battled back bravely to make it 4-2 through another goal from Owen and Mill lane were forced to rely on solid defending from Captain Olivia Nassau, Cordelia Cavill and particularly from Skie Wyatt and the exceptional Lauren Hartley to keep the lead at 2.
Eventually Demi Watson scored an excellent fifth and, as Brayton finally tired, Cordelia Cavill fed Natalie Bell for her sixth before strong work from Madeleine Wells enabled Bell to complete her hat-trick and round off the scoring.
Players of the match – Lauren Hartley for an outstanding all round performance and Jessica Wright for several fine saves and her bravery.
Mill Lane United team
Jessica Wright, Lauren Hartley, Cordelia Cavill, Skie Wyatt, Olivia Nassau, Fenella Scutt, Madeleine Wells, Demi Watson, Millie Sharp, Natalie Bell, Amy Dodds
Final Score : Brayton Belles 2 Mill Lane United 7
