“We’ve got our eyes set on bringing home the trophy,” club president Meg Phillips told Vision, after hearing from BUCS that York women’s football 1sts had progressed to the final of the Northern Conference Cup.
The women in black and gold scraped through to the final in peculiar circumstances. They originally lost a tight semi-final 1-0 to UCLAN and, despite being unlucky not to get a result, it seemed the cup dream was over for another year.
However, after discovering that their opponents fielded an ineligible player, York appealed the result and UCLAN were disqualified from the competition.
A player identified as ‘Molly’ scored the winning goal for UCLAN, but subsequent digging discovered that the real Molly was in fact bedridden with appendicitis at the time of the match. A player known as ‘Steph’ had in fact scored the winning goal.
A successful appeal was submitted to BUCS by President Phillips, 1st team captain Vicky Decamp and YUSU Sports & Societies Development Coordinator Jasmine Scott. UYWAFC will take to the field tomorrow for a massive challenge, taking on Division 2A leaders Manchester 1sts. York, however, will not be too overawed by the situation; eight points clear at the summit of Division 4B and on a winning streak.
York have beaten Sheffield 2nds, Leeds Met 2nds and Hull 1sts to get this far; whilst Manchester have overpowered Edge Hill 2nds, Keele 1sts, Liverpool 1sts and Bolton 1sts.
Speaking of the big game, which sees the girls have a chance to win the trophy for the first time in UYWAFC’s 17-year history, Decamp told Vision: “Obviously we would have liked to have gone through without the controversy, but in my eyes the way we played in the semi- final we thoroughly deserved to win that match.” Decamp also underlined her optimism for the tie, though her side aren’t expected to overcome their opponents: There’s no hiding from the fact that we are the underdogs, but I’ve every confidence in our squad. It’s going to be a fantastic game!”