A combination of snow, half term holidays and the cup competition meant this weekend’s game was the Wildcats’ first football action since January. The girls couldn’t have picked much tougher opponents for the re-start to their campaign as it was title challengers Scarborough who were the visitors.
A frantic start saw Scarborough take the early initiative pressing forward for the early goal but keeper Lilli Allan and the defence of Natalie Cullen and Alice Oakley not only kept the scoreline blank they also impressed with their distribution helping to kick start the first of many promising attacking moves from the Wildcats.
The midfield of Emma Robinson, Hannah Johnson and Melissa Greenlaw were also linking up well and it was a strike from Johnson which came close to breaking the deadlock forcing a block from the Scarborough keeper which Melissa Stapley just failed to follow up.
The introduction of a fit again Libby Martin boosted the Wildcats’ attacking options, her blistering pace has been missed and she almost got on the end of the best bit of football of the first half. The pitch length move started with Allan accurately throwing the ball out to Oakley wide on the right, she picked out Greenlaw in the centre circle who controlled the ball on the half volley and turned in one movement to play a perfect pass back out wide to Johnson racing down the wing, a great cross into the box followed which unfortunately just evaded both Robinson and the on-rushing Martin.
It would have been a candidate for goal of the season but as it was the game remained goalless at half time.
The home side had the first meaningful attack of the second half with a shot from Johnson going wide but the following ten minutes would prove decisive and it was the visitors who took control. A huge goalkick put the Wildcats defence under pressure, instead of challenging Cullen for the header Scarborough’s striker gambled and split the defence as the resulting back header fell fortuitously in her path, the following carefully placed shot into the bottom right corner of the net gave Scarborough the lead.
Unusually Driffield heads dropped and the visitors pressed to increase their lead forcing several corners in quick succession and it was only brave headed clearances from Cullen and secure handling from Allan that kept the score down.
However minutes later a Scarborough player was allowed to run through the midfield unchallenged from where she unleashed a fierce long range shot which flew into the top corner giving Allan no chance.
At least that sparked the home side back to life and they again started to compete with Martin going close, Robinson and Johnson having shots blocked and Stapley just failing to score following a goal mouth scramble.
Overall the Driffield girls can be proud of their performance, gaining favourable comments from the visiting manager but despite giving the high flying Scarborough side two good games this season both games have ended in defeat.
The Wildcats hope it will be a case of third time lucky as the teams meet again in a few weeks time in the quarter finals of the league cup.