After last week's fantastic achievement of winning the League, unbeaten, the ‘icing on the cake’ followed this weekend as the Denny Girls completed the double and lifted the League Cup!
Cooler to last weekend's scorching conditions allowed both sets of players to express their skills without suffering any unbearable heat on a 4g pitch. Both teams arrived looking very relaxed and both looked confident as they soaked in the surroundings and the crowd that was slowly but surely gathering, making this event a special one. Friendly exchanges between both sets of coaching staff was good to see and the build up to kick off was simmering nicely. As the officials headed the walk out onto the pitch with both sets of players, together with lots of mascots, they lined up to greet the supporters from the centre of the pitch followed by the teams ‘respect’ handshakes.
Kick off was minutes away as Wyke won the toss and elected to play against a gentle wind which meant Thackley were going to kick off this 2024/25 West Riding Women’s League Cup Final. As the referee blew his whistle to get things underway, Yasmin Senior started procedures by laying the ball off to the Thackley skipper, Demi Godson, who in turn sent the ball high and handsome towards the Wyke dead ball line which was met by the onslaught of the attacking Denny girls front line who battled to win the ball and managed to create Thackleys first attack when Sophie Moulden sent a great ball into the Wyke area which as met by Victory Chinweuba but it just evaded her at the crucial point which didn't allow her to get her shot off but a great start from Thackley.
Thereafter the first quarter of the game belonged to Thackley as Molly Ellis and Moulden controlled the wide areas and the midfield trio of Senior, Chelsea Morton and Beth Davies bossed the midfield and helped settle the Denny girls nicely into the game. Thackley piled on the attacks and it felt a goal was coming but the Wyke defence and the goalkeeper stood strong and thwarted Thackleys hopes time and time again. Thackley had a corner count of 7 in this period of which the Wyke keeper commanded her 6 yard area really well and others were chances missed but the pressure forced Wyke into changing their game plan to try to take back some control.
As the half progressed Wyke started to hold onto the ball more and started to settle in but their long ball game plan was met by a fortress of a back four compiling of Helen Moreton and Lucy Preston, right and left back, bisected by the centre backs Godson and Zoe Roberts who between them worked so hard they prevented Wyke reaching the danger areas time and time again. This helped Thackleys midfield create counter attacks but the goal they were searching for was eluding them. On the half hour mark Manager Steve Winterburn made his first substitution as Thackleys hard working centre forward, Chinweuba came off and on came Rosie Hodgson who swapped places with Ellis on the right hand side and Ellis took on the centre forwards role. This gave Thackley three speed merchants on the front line which gave Wyke things to think about and 10 minutes later Thackley went in front after a great long range shot from Moulden was well saved by the Wyke keeper but her parry forced the ball onto the crossbar which sent the ball high into the air as players from both sides just stood and watched, bar Ellis who took the initiative and sprinted 20 yards while others ball watched and she met the ball perfectly as it eventually dropped into her path a split second before the keeper was about to pounce for her recovery save. 1-0 Thackley as all the players surrounded Ellis and the celebrations began.
The half came to an end and Thackley set out their game plan for the second half taking into consideration the wind that had definitely got stronger as the first half progressed but the changing room mood was good and they came out ready for the Wyke kick off and were ready for anything as the finishing post wasn't far away. Wyke made several changes during the first period of the second half and started to look more threatening as they had to push for an equaliser but the more the game went on the better Thackley looked. Their positioning and passing game was the best witnessed all season and they played with so much confidence as they thwarted every Wyke attack and instead of settling for the one goal, they looked for more forcing Wyke to think twice about pushing too many players up top. Hodgson and Moulden continued their hard work on the flanks throughout the second half and Wyke just couldn’t keep up with them and time and time again Thackley created many opportunities but their final efforts just weren't hitting the target. Davies was so unlucky as she got into some great space for shots but it just wasn't her day for goals today but her tireless efforts in midfield along with Senior and Morton were a massive contribution in this match. The little work Thackleys keeper, Bryony Morris had to contend with was done without any stress and her work with the back four kept Wyke at bay as they have kept so many teams this season. As the game ran over into added time, the team work from everyone shone through as the team management on the pitch was a pleasure to witness and as the referee blew for full time the bench rose and ran onto the pitch as the Denny Girls celebrated a great win to top off a great season. Beth Davis added to her season collection of trophies by picking up the West Riding Women’s League Cup POM award. Well deserved and overall a great team effort all round.