Mark Mcleod’s set pieces were the difference as York came from behind to knock Huddersfield out of the BUCS Cup and earn a place in the quarter-final. On home soil against an opponent from two tiers below them, York were strong favourites, and with an offensive 3-4-1-2 formation they attacked from the kick-off. Like Barcelona, the forwards lined up around the centre-circle to burst out of the blocks and hound the opposition from the kick-off.
Huddersfield saw very little of the ball in the first ten minutes. Conor Brennan called their goalkeeper into action with a header from a Liam Condron cross, and soon after, a Mcleod free-kick was headed high and wide by Tom Clark.
A drawback of York’s offensive set-up was vulnerability to counter-attacks; the visitors found it all too easy to create chances on the break. Both Huddersfield strikers were allowed shots on goal and then York ‘keeper Sam Clitheroe was beaten by a poached effort after spilling the ball from a cross.
Eager to restore parity, York’s play became very direct: as the ball was pinged from the three defenders to the two attackers, the potentially influential midfielders became isolated, and the technical advantage of the home side made irrelevant. Even so, chances were created: Phil Taylor, who scored four at the weekend for his college, could have had a couple, and Clark volleyed over after a fine aerial take with the outside of the boot.
Meanwhile, a bizarre refereeing performance was beginning to edge towards centre-stage: after stopping the game to speak to the linesman, the referee appeared to take offence to an overzealous photographer, to whom he showed a red card.
At half-time, Brennan instructed his team to communicate more and push higher up in order to rediscover the performance of the first ten minutes. They started brightly, and soon found an equaliser; Dan Atherton cut inside but struggled to get a shot away, fortunately Taylor was on hand to lash the ball into the top corner.
Taylor’s fine goalscoring form continued; he put York ahead five minutes later with a stooping header from a sublime Mcleod delivery for his sixth goal in two games. The scoring was completed when yet another Mcleod free-kick evaded everybody, bouncing in the area before slipping into the Huddersfield goal. Oscar Lynch celebrated – whether he got a touch or not is one for the Dubious Goals Committee.
Huddersfield forced a goal-line clearance from Liam Condron, and felt they should’ve been awarded a penalty for handball, but otherwise did little to worry a more defensive-minded York. The referee booked two visiting players, as well as a linesman, but nobody was dismissed. Huddersfield scored a consolatory goal from what looked like an offside position, but York held on to win the match 3-2.
Captain Conor Brennan spoke of his happiness after a “deserved” win. The team have their eyes on an exciting final at Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United. However, the more imminent task is to negotiate a difficult quarter-final against league rivals Newcastle 1sts: a team who put seven past them back in November.
FC Barcelona is the most successful club in Spanish football in terms of overall trophies, having won twenty La Liga titles, a record twenty-five Spanish Cups, nine Spanish Super Cups, and two League Cups. It is also one of most successful clubs in European football. Nowhere in the history of Barcelona football club have they conceded 11 goals in 2 games competing in bucs 2b,nor played on a pitch where grass is a rarity and duck shit the commodity. The sporting genius of a pundit sam russell must of been changing oscars name on deedpole when he missed huddersfields second,or asking the schizophremic bipolar referee where he acquired his snood.
Sam Russell = garth crooks on viagra?