OLD Malton girls are celebrating after capping off a fantastic season with the runners-up spot in the City of York Under 13 League.

The Ryedale side travelled to Sherburn for their final league game this weekend, knowing that only a win would secure them second position.

Hosts Scarborough started strongly and knocked the wind out of Malton’s sails early on after opening the scoring from a corner.

Their threat from set pieces continued, with the visitors having to defend resolutely, and Chloe Smith in great form in goal.

In turn, the visitors gradually worked their way back into the game.

Lucy Raines was on hand to net a brilliant equaliser, flicking the ball into the net with the outside of her foot from Brooke Worrell’s corner.

Old Malton then enjoyed their best spell of the match, and threatened to score a second goal on a number of occasions, but the Scarborough defence held firm.

With the scores locked at 1-1, the second half was an excellent advert for girls’ football as both sides looked for a winner.

Read more about Old Malton's season:

Malton’s defensive unit of Holly Culkin, Hollie Carter, Annie Blades and Fran Ingle were on great form, and halted most of the home attacks.

At the other end of the pitch, the constant probing from Maizie Walker, Alesha Wright, Olivia Drew and Jazz Detchon kept Scarborough on their toes.

And that persistence paid off in the dying minutes, with a fantastic run from Molly Skelton down the left seeing her cross into the box for Lucy Raines to control and fire the ball past the Scarborough keeper for the winning goal, causing pandemonium among the visitors’ ranks.

That was Old Malton’s 53rd, and perhaps most important, goal of the season, securing a remarkable second place for the girls in their debut season.

Malton finished on 50 points, having won 16 of their 22 matches across the campaign, a just reward for their outstanding commitment, effort and work rate.

The runners-up medals were presented to the girls after the game by the League officials.