By William Cooper
Captain Angus O’Brien led his team out hoping to secure some more points for York’s Roses challenge. The opening stages were controlled completely by York, but as they tired, Lancaster were able to begin to find pockets of space, and ultimately to beat down their opponents’ challenge to take the points.
The early moments were typically frantic and it did not take long for York to get on the score sheet, with James Gutteridge squeezing in a shot at the keepers’ near post. Shortly after, captain O’Brien was able to feed a ball through to Rob Young who did the rest with an angled shot and doubled his team’s advantage. With York rampant, the third came moments later as O’Brien again playing a key role, outmanoeuvring two Lancaster players to smash home from long range. Lancaster did manage to pull one back at this point but it was not long until York grabbed another one, with Gutteridge forcing home from close range. At 4-1, it looked as though the men in gold were intent on running away with the game.
But indoor football is a game which can radically change in a matter of moments. First it was 4-2, and then it was 4-3, as a Lancaster player coolly lofted the ball into the back of Toby Owen’s goal. With all the momentum, Lancaster grabbed the equaliser, with a curling shot into the bottom corner after some lovely build-up play. Worse, the lead was taken moments later, but thankfully York were able to level matters just before half-time. The interval brought to a close a frantic and high-scoring half, one in which York had conceded a three goal lead.
The second half saw things deteriorate further for the York team. Despite a couple of good saves from goalkeeper Owen, it was soon 5-7 and the loss of so many goals in quick succession had visibly taken the wind out of York’s sails. The loss of two more goals was certainly in part down to the fatigue of a team who did not at this point have the momentum of their Lancashire counterparts. York did get one back, with Young turning and producing a great finish. Nonetheless, York tempers began to fray as they became disheartened and their palpable tiredness led to large gaps of space appearing which Lancaster exploited, leading to another brace of goals, leaving the final score at York 6-11 Lancaster.
It was a game in which Lancaster started slowly, but once they got into their rhythm were in truth too much for the York side. There was no lack of effort from the York team, but perhaps their flying start was to their detriment as they seemed to fall off the pace in the second half, after having expended so much energy during the initial stages.