Knaresborough Town Women 8-1 Skipton Town AFC Ladies Development

It was another top of the table encounter on Sunday, with Knaresborough Town welcoming Skipton Town Ladies Development to Manse Lane.

The home team started the game well with both Eva Jenkins and Grace Adams having chances to get on the scoresheet within the first few minutes.

Next Lydia Corner cut in from the wing and fired a fierce shot goalward, but the Skipton keeper deflected the ball around the post to deny the Town forward.

By now, the pressure was building; first a chance for Grace as she was put clean through on goal but struck the ball narrowly wide. Next, there was a fantastic double save by the Skipton keeper, that saw the ball eventually fall to Grace Adams who frustratingly put the instinctive snapshot just over the bar.

It took to the 22nd minute for Knaresborough Town to open their account when Chloe Hickson scored a wonderfully struck, dipping shot over the keeper. 1-0 to Town.

Knaresborough quickly followed up the first goal with their second. A great cross by Grace Adams found Eva Jenkins in the area. She controlled the ball and finished off with an unerring shot across the keeper into the far corner of the goal. 2-0 to Town.

It was Grace Adams’ turn next. A cross in from the left wing with Grace slotting the ball into the net from within the penalty box. Claims for offside were waved away by the referee. 3-0 to Knaresborough Town.

Skipton were offered a lifeline right at the end of the first half, when a mistake by the Knaresborough Town defence gave possession away and allowed Skipton to pounce on the ball and fire home with a great finish by Mia Themistocleous.

The Skipton Town goal was pretty much the last kick of the first half and given the balance of play, was well deserved; Knaresborough Town went in at the break 3-1 ahead.

It had been an entertaining first 45, with the balance of the play just in favour of the home team, who had spent a lot of time in the Skipton Town half. Both teams were seeking to get forward quickly and had a number of chances to score more, however, Knaresborough Town had been more clinical in front of goal.

Knaresborough started the stronger of the two teams in the early stages of the second half, with a couple of good chances falling their way. However, the home team failed to increase their lead as the outstanding Skipton Town keeper made some great saves.

Knaresborough Town were not to be denied and nine minutes in, Emily Crispin slotted home from the centre of the penalty box to make it 4-1 to the home team.

There was a brief break in play as a Skipton Town player went down injured on the wing. At this point, most of the half had been played in and around the visitor’s penalty box. The next goal would be pivotal in this game.

Play resumed and an absolute piledriver by Rachel Carmichael had the keeper beaten all ends up as she watched the ball fly over her, but luckily for Skipton it thundered against the crossbar and bounced out. The crowd gasped out loud at how close that had been to making it five for the home team.

Knaresborough Town were in total charge at this point and another attack saw the ball fed from midfield to the right wing, Maddie Ashby controlled it and then cut in from the sideline and slotted home from an impossible angle, beating the keeper at the near post. 5-1 to Knaresborough Town.

Eva Jenkins then got her second. A cross in from the right wing and a firm shot by the forward was spilled by the keeper and the ball squirmed over the line. 6-1 to Town.

The home team were having real success down the right side of the pitch in the second half.

What followed was a brilliant passage of play from Knaresborough. A ball crossed over from the right wing was controlled beautifully by Grace Adams, who unleashed a tremendous shot…but just over the bar.

From the resulting goal kick, Grace picked up possession once more and after a short run shot just over again.

A corner to Knaresborough was taken short and crossed by Lydia Corner, the ball evaded the Skipton Town central defenders and found its way to the feet of Maddie Ashby, who was never going to miss from within the box, smashing it past the keeper to make it 7-1.

A sublime pass from the centre of the pitch by Rachel Carmichael to Grace Adams on the wing, set up the next goal. Grace took on the Skipton left back, went past her and sent it across the penalty box to Lydia Corner, who put it into the back of the net with an assured finish. 8-1 to Town.

The home team should have increased the score in the remaining minutes of the game. In fact, only a stunning last ditch blocking tackle by a Skipton Town defender denied Rachel Carmichael the goal her performance deserved and the home team increasing the score.

The final whistle blew, and it had been a dominant display in the second half by Knaresborough Town. The game finishing 8-1.

Player of the game: Lucy Taylor; Goal of the game: Chloe Hickson.

Goals: Chloe Hickson 1; Grace Adams 1; Eva Jenkins 2; Emily Crispin 1; Lydia Corner 1; Maddie Ashby 2;

Match Report written by Connor Doherty