Junior football: Final fling for Thornton girls (From Gazette & Herald)

Junior football: Final fling for Thornton girls

2:23pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in Junior Sport

Thornton-le-Dale Girls Under-15s were denied glory in the dying seconds of the City of York Girls Football League Cup final at Pocklington on Sunday.

It was Thornton’s first final and it came after a run of five wins, but they were up against league winners Poppleton.

Both teams tried to play balls to feet but both marked tightly so it was a tough encounter.

Thornton were the first to attack but some excellent defending from Sophie Nicholson and ’keeper Jamie-Lee Dixon kept the score goalless at half-time.

Thornton kept the pressure on with strong midfield play restricting Pop so their only threat came from corners and throw-ins. At the other end, Lucy Ibbotson and player-of-the-match Chloe Teasdale were denied by Poppy’s goalkeeper as normal time finished without a goal scored. It looked like extra time would also be deadlocked but, with one minute left, Poppy attacked. Thorton’s keeper made a one-handed save – bending her fingers back in the process – but the ball fell into the path of the oncoming forward to net the winner.

• Thornton-le-Dale juniors’ presentation night will be on June 5 at the Pavilion.