York City Ladies meet the weekend challenge of title-hopefuls Norton & Stockton Ancients on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 2.00pm) having recorded successive victories in the North East Regional Premier League.
Five straight defeats had earlier seen the Minsterbelles uncharacteristically slipping to the very bottom of the table, until securing a couple of very important wins in their recent double-header with Castleford White Rose.
Newcomer Alice Turner initially struck twice along with Ellie Regan, Megan Bramham and Kayleigh Davis in a 5-2 triumph at Haxby Road, while the in-form Regan, now with four goals in her last five games, and ever-dependable Bramham were again on the mark for a 2-0 success in the return just seven days later.
Photo: Ian Parker
Midfield energiser Nikki Brown returned for the crucial victory at Castleford
Midfielder Nikki Brown was back in the side for the second of those encounters following injury, although the likes of goalkeeper Chloe Precious, centre-back Laura Midgley, fellow enforcer Beth Clayton and winger Jazz Whitwell remained sidelined. Defensive duo Jess Barnes and Helen Winterburn were also noticeable absentees for the visitors at the Glasshoughton Centre.
The Belles actually heavily lost the corresponding meeting with Norton 6-1 last season despite leading goalscorer Bramham typically finding the net. She’d already netted twice in a tremendous 2-1 victory at the same opponents three months earlier.
Photo: Ian Parker
Returning favourite Josie Hewson bursts past a couple of Castleford opponents
That defeat in fact ultimately cost Ancients an immediate return to the Women’s Premier League as they finally missed lifting the title on goal-difference to eventual champions Barnsley.
This time around they’ve comprehensively won all four of their league games against RACA Tynedale (A 7-3), Wakefield (H 12-0), Farsley Celtic (H 2-0) and East Yorkshire Carnegie (A 6-1). Indeed their solitary reversal this season only came when exiting the FA Cup 4-0 at home to higher-ranked WPL outfit Chorley.
Photo: Ian Parker
GOAL BELLES! – The Minsterbelles secured an important victory at Castleford
Elsewhere there’s a full league programme this weekend, with newly-promoted Durham Cestria, who are currently half-a-dozen points clear having won six of their opening seven games, travelling to struggling Castleford.
Otherwise, bottom-of-the-table Wakefield are welcoming East Yorkshire Carnegie, RACA Tynedale hosting neighbours Hartlepool United, and Wallsend BC taking on newcomers Farsley Celtic.
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