A hat-trick from the prolific Sophie Tinson and a lovely team goal finished off by Becky Davies confirmed Harrogate Town Ladies’ semi final place in the West Riding County Cup.
Following impressive victories against local rivals Bradford City, York City and a win last weekend over Hartlepool, Jon Maloney's side were looking to create a bit of history as they welcomed another Yorkshire rival in the form of Leeds United Ladies Reserves to The CNG Stadium for the quarter finals of the West Riding County Cup.
Harrogate looked very lively in the opening exchanges, releasing top scorer Tinson in the opening minutes and almost seeing it pay off.
In the third minute, after a defensive mix up, Tinson was through on goal but couldn’t find the inside of the far post.
Harrogate continued to press the Leeds defensive after some good passing play Grace Adams layed off Rebecca Hale, but she couldn’t keep her effort under the bar.
Just after the 15-minute mark Tinson again broke free from the Leeds defence and nearly broke the deadlock, but the visiting the whites stopper Georgina Whatham was equal to it.
The dual between those two players in the early stages looked like it could be influential for the outcome of the game.
In the 33rd minute Tinson broke through yet again and this time made no mistake, very similar to her first chance the Harrogate striker dragged her shot across the face of the visiting keeper’s goal and into the far corner.
The first half chance came for Leeds in the 38th minute, Rebecca Furey played through Lluli Dyson who got a shot away at the edge of the box but couldn’t register Leeds' first shot on target for the afternoon.
In the 43rd minute Town found their second of the afternoon.
Davies broke forward from the fullback position and played a one two with striker Tinson, who returned the ball into the path of the defender at the edge of the six-yard box, allowing Davies to poke one home and double the home sides lead.
The second half started in a very similar fashion to the first, the game was still a tight affair and both teams were struggling to create chances.
That was until the 51st minute when Furey stepped up to take a freekick that must’ve been around 30 yards out.
Going for the spectacular Furey went straight for goal and managed to lift the ball of the Town keeper Kelly Jackson-Powell to pull one back for the visiting side.
Within 5 minutes Harrogate had a reply to the surprise goal, Tinson again was causing problems for the United defence and found herself yet again one on one with the visiting keeper.
She kept her composure to slot home her second of the afternoon and restore her sides two goal cushion.
In the 66th minute Tinson completed her hattrick, after being subbed on moments earlier Ellie Randal played through the prolific Tinson with a pinpoint pass.
Tinson then slotted home with what is becoming a bit of a trademark clinical finish to get her third of the afternoon and put her side in a very positive place regarding a semi-final place with just over 20 minutes of the game to go.
Going into the closing ten minutes chances for both sides dried out again, the centre of the park was where the most effective passes were being exchanged for both sides but unfortunately goal scoring chances weren’t materialising for either side.
Town saw out the final 10 minutes and confirmed their place in the semi final of the West Riding County Cup.
Harrogate Town: Kelly Jackson-Powell, Elisha James, Rebecca Davies, Racheal Mcdonald, Grace Foyer (C), Lindsey Whitton, Kirsty Macgregor (Hollie Smith ’59), Beth Clayton (Sophie Simpson ’71), Sophie Tinson, Rebecca Hale (Ellie Randal ’64), Grace Adams
Subs not used: Georgia Marsden
Goals: Tinson x3, Davies
Leeds United: Georgina Whatham, Megan Maxted (Jessica Holland ’75), Chelsea Sandford (C), Shannon Beal, Faye Stockwell, Rebecca Furey, Jemma White (Hairsign ’22), Lucia Hilton, Mya Webb, Emily Sykes, Liuli Dyson
Subs not used: Abbie Langstaff
Goals: Furey
Report by Isaac Martin