Emily Senior celebrates a first three points as City Ladies manager with dramatic win

YORK City Ladies dramatically secured their first three points under manager Emily Senior on Sunday.

After a brace from striker Katie Astle sent the Minsterbelles into half-time 2-0 ahead against Stockport County Women, who also had a penalty saved by Becky Sidwell, Em Bradshaw would halve the deficit with 50 minutes played.

Emia Hendrickson-Eastwood reinstated that two goal advantage with a fantastically well-worked goal, before disaster struck for Senior.

A stunning strike from Lizzy Hamer and a composed finish from Levi Rathbone saw the visitors draw level with just shy of 20 minutes left on the clock, in what looked to potentially be another frustrating afternoon for York.

However, with just six minutes of normal time remaining, Ruby Shaw powered City back in front to help push the Minsterbelles to a hard-fought first victory under Senior.

Senior was overjoyed with a first win, telling the media team: “We feel like it [was a deserved win].

"Stockport had some really good spells though and made it really difficult for us. In the first-half, we were really happy with how we played.

"We were really disciplined, we looked really in control in possession as well, we picked our moments well with Katie Astle on the scoresheet twice. It was a really strong start.

"We came in at the break really happy. Obviously Stockport changed a few things as they came back out, and it made it really difficult, but what I like is that we have had so many different moments there that we had to come out of the other side of.

"We have shown so many sides of us today, and I’m really proud that we got it over the line.”

Despite City enjoying their lead at half-time, it was Stockport who started quickest as Sidwell was called into action to push away a strike from Bradshaw, who had found herself through one-on-one.

Hanifa Douglas had another effort parried by Sidwell, before Ruby Gore was denied by the visiting shot-stopper from the edge of the area.

Burnley loanee Lucy Farrell made saves to deny Astle on two occasions, before Kanish Underdown was adjudged to have fouled inside her own box, forcing the referee to point to the spot.

However, Sidwell was able to come to York and Underdown’s rescue, saving the penalty to keep the scores 0-0 after half-an-hour.

Emily Senior was happy after her first three points as York City Ladies manager. (Image: Ian Parker) Stockport had an opportunity strike the post, with City quickly learning from their errors and putting themselves in front.

A set-piece saw a free-kick delivered towards Astle, who flicked an effort into the bottom corner to beat Farrell.

And just six minutes later, York’s advantage was stretched to two as Astle raced through one-on-one, and again got the better of Farrell with a brilliant finish.

The Hatters were hopeful of a response in the second-half, and got off to a good start as Bradshaw leaped highest to head past Sidwell from a corner.

It was almost a quickfire double for Stockport, but Bradshaw could only drag an effort inches wide.

Astle was denied a hat-trick by the woodwork as her well-struck effort ricocheted off of the inside of the post, before Maria Figueiredo slid a strike wide.

With 65 minutes player, York celebrated their third of the afternoon as Underdown produced an incredible pass through to Hendrickson-Eastwood, who buried a low strike past Farrell.

The celebrations were short lived however, as Stockport immediately responded with a brilliant finish from Hamer.

And just four minutes after that, the scores were level again. Figueiredo’s low cross into the race was met by the oncoming Rathburn, who tucked a driven strike past Sidwell.

Time was running out for either side to find the winner in the match, but it would be York who would have the last laugh with 84 minutes played.

A teasing cross into the area by Faye Singleton saw Shaw meet her ball in, before smashing an unstoppable effort home via the underside of the crossbar, confirming a first three points for Senior.

YORK CITY LADIES: Sidwell, Trickett, Todman, Cattle, Smith, Rolandsen, Underdown, Ramsden, Singleton, Gore, Astle

Subs: Brierley, Shuttleworth, Shaw, Hendrickson-Eastwood, Hemmings

Attendance: 134