YORK City Ladies’ penultimate home match was ‘one of the most frustrating performances’ that Emily Senior has seen from her side, after Norton & Stockton Ancients leapfrogged the Minsterbelles thanks to a 2-1 win.
In a battle at the bottom of the Women’s National League Division One North, York had the opportunity to gain some ground on the relegation zone with two matches now remaining, but were unable to mathematically confirm safety.
Sitting third from bottom, which is one place outside of the drop zone, City are now on 18 points, whilst Doncaster Rovers Belles, second from bottom, are on 14.
Norton & Stockton on the other hand were beneath the Minsterbelles prior to kick-off, but three points takes them to ninth, after goals from Louise Atkinson and Bianca Owens secured the three points.
Jess Holder’s strike wouldn’t be enough to gain a point, in a match which felt like a missed opportunity for manager Senior.
“It was probably one of the most frustrating performance that I feel I’ve seen from us,” Senior told club media.
“That’s disappointing at this stage of the season, especially when I feel like we’ve been in quite a good place over the last few weeks.
“Even after the [Huddersfield] Town result last week, we felt like the performance was enough really, whereas today we didn’t turn up until the last 25 minutes.
“We didn’t try to apply anything that we wanted to apply until maybe the last 25 minutes.
“That’s really disappointing, it’s too little too late.
“We’ve carved out a few chances at the end and have completely dominated play at the end, but it amounts to nothing if you come in with two goals against you.
“A really frustrating day at the office to be honest, I know the whole squad is feeling that right now.
“It feels a bit like an opportunity missed.”
Norton & Stockton had the earlier of the chances when York goalkeeper Becky Sidwell was called into action to palm a long-ranged strike away from Owens.
Owens had another opportunity when curling two free-kicks in quick succession over the crossbar, before the visitors would take a deserved lead.
York City Ladies manager Emily Senior admitted that it felt like a missed opportunity, after defeat to Norton & Stockton Ancients. (Image: Ian Parker) Atkinson adjusted herself to slide a strike into Sidwell’s bottom corner, after finding space inside the area, making it 1-0.
But just one minute later, City were back in the contest and found themselves level.
After some attacking play down the right-wing saw the ball delivered into the area, Holder’s first strike was kept out, but fell back perfectly to the striker to cooly lash an effort home.
Atkinson scuffed an effort over the crossbar before Sidwell kept out the Norton threat with another smart stop, but again, it was the visitors who kept in control and took the lead again.
A mix up at the back on this occasion saw the ball drop kindly to Owens, who grabbed a deserved goal with a bending strike into the bottom corner.
The referee elected to rule out a third goal for the visitors with half-time approaching, due to a push inside the area, but the Minsterbelles would head into the break frustratingly behind.
Action would be rare in the second 45 with a needed push from York not there, as Alex Gatt headed Karli Smith’s flick-on narrowly wide of the Norton & Stockton goal.
Holder had an effort clear the crossbar, before racing towards goal and powering a strike wide again.
And with no response ever really on show from City, the match ended in a 2-1 defeat.
YORK CITY LADIES: Sidwell, Trickett, Cattle, Smith, Rolandsen, Gatt, Bentley, Hendrickson-Eastwood, Ash, Holder, Blythe
Subs: Hayhurst, Shaw, Todman, Bell, Hardcastle
