WRCWFL Division One
Thursday 8 May 2025

 

We’d had no game on Sunday and had to wait until Thursday evening to play our penultimate game of the 2024/25 season. 24 hours earlier, our promotion to the Premier Division had been confirmed as Thackley had beaten Golcar United 1-0, meaning the league’s third-placed team from Huddersfield could no longer overhaul our current points tally.

Although the Boro’ were happy having won their third promotion in as many years, as kick off approached, they were actually quite focused on the game, any celebrations having to wait for the time being.

Kick off had been scheduled for 7:30pm, but as we were playing on a pitch by a school and it had no floodlights, the referee was keen to get the game started earlier to ensure it didn’t get too dark by the final whistle.

We got underway at ten past the hour, and Boro’ immediately realised that the home team were there to upset the celebrations. The first quarter of an hour was a fairly even affair, with play taking place mainly in midfield; Knaresborough probably had had slightly more of the possession and ventured further into the home team’s half, but Ackworth had created a great half-chance to score – but hadn’t been able to hit the target.

With just under 25 minutes gone, a wonderful move down Town’s right saw Cass Lane send a low fiercely struck cross right across the six-yard box. Ellis Baxter was at the near post and went to get a foot on the ball to divert it in but couldn’t make contact. The ball zipped through a number of defenders and the goalkeeper reaching the back post where Jenny Crossley made no mistake, guiding the ball into the back of the net to give Boro’ a precious lead, 0-1.

As the half progressed, Town were growing in confidence but wary of the threats posed by the home team. At one point, Maria Chatzistamou [the coaches’ player of the year] made a vital save to deny Ackworth and protect Knaresborough’s one goal advantage.

As the whistle went for half time, it had proved to be a tricky first 45 for the visitors and underlined what a good team Ackworth are.

The opening stages of the second half were, again, a rather even affair; however, Boro’ started to get more possession and push the home team back into their own half. In the 11^th minute, a through ball saw Eva Jenkins race to get on the end of it with the Ackworth stopper narrowing the angle; the keeper dived at Eva’s feet to collect the ball blocking the hurried shot and diverting it away from danger.

A superb and brave save to deny Knaresborough Town their second of the game.

15 minutes gone in the second half, Knaresborough were starting to create a few chances, and without being totally dominant, looked the more likely to score the game’s second goal.

Midway through the second, Knaresborough won a corner on their right, with Grace Adams stepping up to take it. Perfectly delivered, substitute Lorna Wilkinson [the club’s all-time top scorer] wasn’t in the mood to miss, and she promptly hit the back of the net, 0-2.

A moment of controversy followed as a shot from midway through Ackworth’s half by Emily Crispin beat the outstretched arm of the keeper, hit the crossbar and bounced back into the penalty box. Grace Adams anticipating the ball staying live had been running in and was completely unmarked…slotting the ball into the goal to give Town what she thought would be a three-goal lead.

The referee gave offside…although it couldn’t have been, as when the shot was initially taken, none of the Town players had broken the Ackworth back line. Unfortunately, we didn’t have our Veo with us, so whether it truly was or wasn’t offside can’t be resolved – but hand on heart, it had been a good finish and onside.

With time ticking out, Lorna crafted another chance to score, seemingly dancing around a few defenders’ tackles to get a sight of the goal. With the keeper racing out, Lorna struck the ball beautifully to send it past the Ackworth number one…but lifted it just too high and it went agonisingly over the bar.

The home team had kept on working hard in the second period, moving the ball around the team and creating a few chances themselves. One attack down their right saw the ball fall to their forward in the box, who turned a Town defender and from the angle had sent in a wicked shot across the face of the goal…missing it by the narrowest of margins.

The final whistle blew, Knaresborough Town Women had won the game 2-0 and then had their first chance to celebrate promotion at the side of the pitch. It was wonderful to watch the players enjoying what has been a superb season-long effort and is well deserved.

We’d like to wish Ackworth all the best for the future, the two games we’ve had against them this campaign have been competitive and the sort of games we love to be a part of…football played in the right way.

One last game of the campaign still to go; we play Hepworth United away on Sunday in a 2pm kick-off…and we’re looking forward to it!

 

 

Player of the Match: Grace Adams.
Goal of the Game: Jenny Crossley.
Goals: Jenny Crossley, Lorna Wilkinson.
Referee: Nigel Hinson.

 

 

 

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Tuesday night and Boro’ returned to league action under the setting sun, the visitors being Republica – a team they had last played in the opening weeks of the season and beaten 6-0.

As the year has progressed, the thoughts that that this division would be tight have been confirmed; with four games remaining, Golcar, Huddersfield Amateurs and Knaresborough still remain in the hunt for that second promotion spot.

As we’ve said in previous match reports, each of the games remaining are cup finals…any points dropped can and will hand the advantage to others. Division One is a strong league, with all the teams having earned the right to be there and certainly not push overs.

The visitors to Manse Lane have had a mixed season, finding themselves mid-table having picked up some good wins and a single draw. With results against Bradford City, Ackworth, Brayton Bells and Hepworth in recent weeks…Boro’ could take nothing for granted as kick-off approached.

What hasn’t helped, is our good run in both cups. This has meant that we’ve had a busy schedule…and as a result, we’ve picked up quite a few injuries in the past week or two, forcing the management team to rotate a few of the players to try and rest them.

I don’t think the team will complain too much if I say that they seemed to struggle in the opening half hour of the game…putting in a very un-Knaresborough-like performance. The team didn’t settle quickly, and although creating three or four chances to score in the first five minutes, they were uncharacteristically profligate in front of goal.

As the prospect of half time and no goals trickled into the back of our thoughts, a throw-in on Town’s right by Bella Richardson was headed on in the box by Ellis Baxter; the defender returned it straight to Ellis, who had turned to face the goal and as the ball dropped to her, she sent a Exocet just inside the post. The keeper got her hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out, 28 minutes gone and it was 1-0.

A few minutes later Emily Crispin played a ball out to Ellis Baxter on the left and the young forward started on a mazy run, ghosting past three defenders before sending a dipping shot up and over the keeper, 2-0.

A vital lead gained either side of the half hour mark and hopefully goals that would settle the team.

The half ended with Boro’ going in 2-0 up, but more worryingly, having picked up more injuries to players…including Rachel Carmichael who had to come off midway through the first 45.

The second half got underway, and the team settled quickly, looking more like the Knaresborough we’ve seen all season. 

Twelve minutes gone in the second half and Town went route one.

Maria, Town’s keeper, sent the ball downfield where Emily flicked it on through the visitor’s high-line defence. Cass Lane timed her run perfectly to beat the offside trap, running clear of the defenders and in on goal.

Cass wasn’t to be caught; she took a touch, steadied herself and seemingly feinted to smash the ball past the advancing keeper…but instead cheekily side footed it low to roll the ball into the net, 3-0.

Republica were proving to be stubborn opponents, pushing to try and get a goal at every opportunity, however, it was Boro’ that were to get the final goal of the game on 81 minutes.

A throw-in on Town’s left was picked up outside the box by Emily Crispin, who turned in and ran across the defenders. A lay-off to Lilly Perry was then superbly played diagonally across the box to Cass Lane who raced to the byline and sent in a wicked low cross, where Ellis Baxter met the ball inside the six-yard box first time and rifled the ball up off the crossbar into the goal, 4-0.

From start to finish, that had been a wonderful team goal…that had everything. There won’t have been a better goal scored in the WRCWFL this week.

The final whistle went under the lights at Manse Lane and Town Women had deservedly won 4-0, collecting three vital points to fortify their second place in the league; four points ahead of Golcar and with a superior goal difference.

Sunday sees Town return to Manse Lane to play what is their last home game of the season, this time against Huddersfield Amateur Firsts. Kick-off is at 2pm and we would love to have a large crowd to cheer us on.

We need your help - see you there!

 

Goals: Ellis Baxter (3), Cass Lane.
Player of the Match: Cass Lane; Goal of the Game: Ellis Baxter.
Referee: Chris Hicken.

 

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It’s been a while…well being honest, it seems like an absolute eternity since Boro’ last played a league game. Having reached the semi-finals of both the League and County Cups, Knaresborough Town hadn’t played a league game since February, and then only two in 2025.

Stopping to check the County FA website to confirm what I’ve just written, it turns out that Knaresborough had only played three league games in four and a half months! An astonishing fact really!

Anyway, the visitors to Manse Lane on Sunday were Bradford City, a team we’ve got to know over the past few seasons as they have been on a similar journey as ourselves, gaining promotion alongside us in the past two league campaigns.

City, as we’ve said numerous times, are a team we have enourmous respect for, and a team that we know will always give 100% on an off the pitch. So, we knew it wouldn’t be an easy game.

Sunday morning and the ground looked great in the hazy sunshine as the club opened up the clubhouse and the management team walked around the pitch to plant the corner flags. A spell of dry weather has meant the pitch had mostly dried out, so maybe not an ideal playing surface, but certainly not a bad one.

Mike, James and Farran had had a tough week deciding who to select for the match day squad, as a number of players had picked up quite serious injuries during the epic cup runs and were either unavailable or facing late fitness checks; to see the likes of Lauren and Beth walking into the ground on matchday despite carrying knocks is inspirational.

It’s been a long season and being totally honest, ‘the tank’ is no longer completely full…but somehow, this set of players keep on turning up and giving everything, striving to achieve the primary goal set this season – promotion.

In fact, Eva Jenkins had to pull out during warm-up as it was clear her injury hadn’t healed, which was a big blow. Selection problems aside, Town’s small squad is filled with great players, and there is so much trust in all the squad to deliver on the pitch.

Kick-off and Town settled quickly into the game, retaining possession well and passing the ball around to probe the City defence, creating a few half chances in the opening stages.

Nine minutes in and Bradford had a goal kick, which they took short. The keeper kicked the ball a few feet forward to the centre back who went to fire it up through the middle of the pitch…but didn’t get the height and as Ellis Baxter turned her back to protect herself, the ball hit her and rebounded past the static City stopper to score probably the strangest goal in our short history, 1-0.

Five minutes later and Town were to double their lead as Bradford attempted to play the ball around the back line from another goal kick. With Boro’ playing a pressing game, the City defenders didn’t have the time to settle on the ball and a wayward pass was pounced on in the box by captain Emily Crispin, who fired the ball into the top corner of the goal, giving the keeper no chance to save, 2-0.

Another five minutes and Boro’ got their third. A throw-in by Cass Lane on the right landed at Grace Adams’ feet, who turned and attacked the Bradford left-back. Grace went past the player and got to the byline, sending in a delicious cross that dropped perfectly to Ellis Baxter, with the deadly forward heading the ball into the back of the net from close range, 3-0.

The fourth goal came in the final minute of the first half. A short corner by Cass Lane was played to Grace Adams, who sent in a shot from the angle just outside the penalty area. With the keeper stretching, the ball struck the crossbar and rebounded out into the centre of the six-yard box.

As players turned to face, the ball seemed to be going past Rachel Carmichael, who started to pivot away from the goal, stretched out a leg and either side-footed or backheeled the ball towards the goal, catching everyone by surprise.

The City defender, who had been on the line, turned to try and stop the ball going into the goal, but was unable to get a meaningful touch other than to help the ball complete its journey, 4-0.

Shortly after the restart, the referee blew for half time with Knaresborough Town Women 4-0 to the good. The scoreline could have been much worse for the visitors but for the superb performance by the Bradford City goalkeeper who had pulled out a number of brilliant saves to keep the ball from hitting the back of the net.

The second half saw Town make a number of changes, trying to rest players who had received various injuries in the previous games, but had wanted to play in this game. 

Bradford gave a really good account of themselves in the second 45, creating a few half chances to score themselves, but Town’s back four held firm and when on the one occasion the visitors did get a sight of the goal, Maria Chatzistamou raced out and made a brave save to clear the ball.

The one real downside in the second half was that Knaresborough were to lose Maria as she was injured making that save, with one of our walking-wounded subs Beth Padget stepping in between the sticks for the remainder of the game.

The final whistle blew, and Knaresborough had won 4-0 and collected all three points to regain second spot in Division One from Golcar with a game in hand.

Bradford provided a stern test, and we know it has been a difficult transition season for them. To their credit, they turned up with just eleven players and put in a performance…the second half showing just what they are capable of.

For our part, Boro’ did all the hard work in the first half, getting into a match-winning position despite missing a few key players and others carrying injuries. The cup competitions have been a distraction…a nice one, but something that has disrupted our league campaign badly, and we need to build a rythmn once more…easier said than done given there are so few games remaining.

Town have four games left; win all four and they can finish second and get promotion. Having said that, the old cliché of only concentrating on one game at a time is certainly true, and the players will enjoy a rare Sunday off this week hopefully recovering from a few of those knocks.

We’d love to see you all on Tuesday 22^nd April at 7:30pm for our next home game at Manse Lane against Republica, supporting the team and being our twelfth player.

We need your support!

 

Goals: Ellis Baxter (2), Rachel Carmichael, Emily Crispin.
Player of the Match: Chloe Hickson; Goal of the Game: Emily Crispin.
Referee: John Attwood.

 

 

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(Image: Aibhlinn Doherty)

 

WRCWFL County Cup Quarter Final

A good cup run is always a bonus for grassroots clubs; unfortunately, the Women’s FA Cup isn’t open to all, but League Shield, League Cup, and County Cups make up [in some small way] for that.

Knaresborough Town have had pretty good success in the various cups over their very short history, one highlight being last year’s County Cup quarter final tie against National League side, Halifax. That was a game they may have lost, but learned a lot from.

This season, Boro’ have taken on Premier League sides in both County and League cups and have put in some great performances to progress. Their victory against neighbours Harrogate Railway Firsts last month in the County Cup, set up another difficult tie against Premier League Forge Way Firsts in the quarter final.

Luckily for Town, this was a home fixture, and it was good to get back and play at Manse Lane for the first time in over a month. With almost perfect conditions to play in, the two teams lined up at 2pm in what was an eagerly anticipated match up.

Knaresborough knew that they would have to be at their best to beat a good Forge Way team – the visitor’s league position being irrelevant to their cup exploits so far this season.

Town started brightly, looking determined and sharp. 

In the opening moments, Boro’ attacked and tried to get shots away as soon as they had sight of the goal but quickly found that the visiting keeper was putting in a fantastic performance.

But the home team weren’t to be denied.

Just short of ten minutes in, Rachel Carmichael played a quick pass from the halfway line to Cass Lane, who ran down the Boro’s right. With Forge Way playing a high line, she turned the defender and ran diagonally into the box, squaring the ball to Lorna Wilkinson.

Lorna controlled the ball with her left and instantly sent a shot in with her right. The keeper dived at full stretch and stopped the shot, but Grace Adams was lurking, waiting for any rebound, and the ball was to drop right at her feet. Grace made no mistake with an instinctive sidefoot to put the ball into the net, 1-0.

Boro’ pushed to increase their lead over the next 10 minutes, however, it was Forge Way who were to strike next.

A ball from just in their own half was angled from the centre of the pitch to their left side of attack and the winger sprinted to collect. As Chloe Hickson ran to cover the player, the winger sent a first time cross into the box, the ball heading into the centre of the goal and just under the bar.

Maria Chatzistamou reached to try and stop it, but the trajectory of the ball was simply too steep and even though she got fingertips to it, she was unable to keep the ball from dropping over the line, 1-1.

Town responded by pushing the visitors back into their own half, but it took the best part of another quarter of an hour for them to reestablish their lead.

A wonderful pass from the halfway line by Beth Padget freed Cass once more to run down the wing. Cass’ direct runs into the box always cause other teams’ defenders a problem, and so it was to prove once again.

Running in close to the keeper, Cass sent in a fiercely-struck right-footed shot which the stopper could only parry, the ball rebounded straight back to her and she nonchalantly chipped the ball in past the outstretched arm of the keeper with her left, 2-1.

Throughout the first 45 minutes, Boro’ created enough chances to be more than the one goal ahead; and at the same time, Forge Way had shown that they were a dangerous team on the counter, creating a few half chances of their own.

Half time and Knaresborough Town Women headed back to the dressing room 2-1 ahead.

The second half was a completely different affair. Through changes to tactics and players, the game became a midfield battle with both teams creating half chances to score. 

The clear advantage that Boro’ had enjoyed in the first 45 was no longer apparent, and it was clear that the next goal [if there was to be one] would be pivotal. It wasn’t to happen until a few minutes from the final whistle.

A ball down Town’s left was picked up by the Forge Way right back…who was rather isolated, and as she turned to try and clear the ball upfield, she was faced by three Knaresborough players who were in her way.

The clearance dropped straight to Grace Adams, who looked up and put in a delicious defence-splitting diagonal ball, with substitute Addison Troup running on to it, and with a first time shot, the young striker fired it into the net to win the game for Boro’, 3-1.

There was still time for one more outstanding save.

As the seconds counted down, a ball into the box by Knaresborough was cleared into midfield by the visiting keeper, where it was picked up by Bella Richardson who ran across the right back to the left side of the penalty area before changing direction and running back towards the goal, sending a shot on-target and just inside the angle.

Somehow…as the ball seemed destined for the top corner of the goal…the keeper lept with an outstretched hand and tipped the ball around the post to stop Boro’ chalking up their fourth of the day. An absolutely outstanding save.

The final whistle blew, and Knaresborough had progressed to the semi-finals of the County Cup. This hadn’t been an easy tie for the home team, and it shows just how good all the teams are in and around the top two divisions.

We’d like to express our best wishes to Forge Way Firsts for the remainder of the season.

Town’s reward for the win? An away tie against the mighty Leeds United. These are the sort of competititve fixtures that the small team from Manse Lane want to be involved in…even though United will be overwhelming favourites to progress to the final.

We’re looking forward to the experience!

 

Goals: Grace Adams, Cass Lane, Addison Troup.
Player of the Match: Bella Richardson; Goal of the Game: Addison Troup.
Referee: Martin Ohr

 

 

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