York City Ladies have experienced a challenging season and actually lost their opening five league games – but now have the opportunity of creating even more history in the County Cup.
The Minsterbelles recently confirmed a third successive final appearance when triumphing 3-0 at neighbours Poppleton, courtesy of a second-half hat-trick from former reserve-team striker Alice Turner.
That means York, who are already current holders of the trophy and record seven-times winners, will be contesting an eleventh final in thirteen years when taking on Redcar Town this weekend.
Photo: Ian Parker
Defender Jess Barnes will be playing in yet another final for York City Ladies
Appropriately, City Ladies were the first-ever winners of the competition as they absolutely trounced Sheriff Hutton 11-0 back in 2006.
But there was to be a subsequent period of domination from Middlesbrough while securing the next three finals, starting by knocking holders York out 5-2 in the following year’s semi-final before only just beating Stokesley 1-0.
Boro were also too good for City in the next couple of finals by respective 2-1 and 3-0 scorelines. However, York were to gain some revenge twelve months later as they squeezed past the Teessiders 5-4 on penalties following a tight scoreless encounter.
Photo: Ian Parker
Striker Alice Turner scored a hat-trick against Pocklington in the latest semi-final
Successive 1-0 victories against Redcar Athletic over the next couple of years then had the Belles increasing their silverware tally to four, although Boro were to soon draw level as they came out on top against their rivals 3-0 in the 2013 final.
York moved in front once more when beating their biggest challengers 5-4 on penalties having earlier shared four goals in regular time – Sara Renfrew and Lauren Shuttleworth on target for the Belles; only for Boro to then defeat the holders 2-1 at the quarter-final stage in 2015 and consign them to their earliest ever exit, before later hammering Stokesley 9-0 in the final.
City duly responded by toppling the five-times winners on penalties for a third time the next season, on that occasion 3-2 following another well-contested scoreless final.
Photo: Ian Parker
Beth Clayton and Rachel Humble head a solid defensive line against Pocklington
And last year York made it a magnificent seven, but only just as they fought back from two goals down against their own valiant reserves to eventually lift the trophy 4-2 on penalties.
Goals from prolific duo Ellie Randall and Sophie Tinson had seen the underdogs on the verge of creating a massive shock, until Nikki Brown replied during the second-half and goalkeeper Sam Knight headed a dramatic equaliser from a last-minute corner.
York City Ladies – County Cup Record
Winners: 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017
Runners-up: 2008, 2009, 2013, 2017 (Reserves)
Semi-finalists: 2007
Quarter-finalists: 2015
Previous Finals:
2005-06 – York City Ladies 11 Sheriff Hutton Ladies 0
2006-07 – Middlesbrough Ladies 1 Stokesley Ladies 0
2007-08 – Middlesbrough Ladies 2 York City Ladies 1
2008-09 – Middlesbrough Ladies 3 York City Ladies 0
2009-10 – York City Ladies 0 Middlesbrough Ladies 0 (5-4 pens)
2010-11 – York City Ladies 1 Redcar Athletic Ladies 0
2011-12 – York City Ladies 1 Redcar Athletic Ladies 0
2012-13 – Middlesbrough Ladies 3 York City Ladies 0
2013-14 – York City Ladies 2 Middlesbrough Ladies 2 (5-4 pens)
2014-15 – Middlesbrough Ladies 9 Stokesley Ladies 0
2015-16 – York City Ladies 0 Middlesbrough Ladies 0 (3-2 pens)
2016-17 – York City Ladies 2 York City Ladies Reserves 2 (4-2 pens)
YORK CITY LADIES: COUNTY CUP WINNERS * 2006 * 2010 * 2011 * 2012 * 2014 * 2016 * 2017
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