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Photos: Oliver Todd
York and Sunderland’s 2nd teams played out a 2-2 draw in torrid conditions on Wednesday afternoon in a game that both sides could have gone on to win.
The wind billowed and the rain thundered down on a boggy 22 acres, affecting the quality of the game at times, but it was not lacking in excitement, as the momentum switched frequently between the two sides.
Sunderland took an early lead thanks to a quickly taken free-kick which set up a shot from the edge of the area that found the back of the net, but York kept their heads up and looked for the equaliser.
Matt Mawdesley played the ball long for James Offord, whose shot was blocked after he had manoeuvred his way past two Sunderland defenders. Dan Jones’ effort from the rebound was then kept out by the Sunderland ‘keeper’s splayed legs and the away side stayed ahead.
York were indeed level before long though. Offord latched onto a through ball but his heavy touch knocked the ball too close to the Sunderland goalkeeper. Just when it looked as if the chance was gone, the pacey York forward just beat the ‘keeper to the ball. The man between the sticks could only make contact with Offord himself, who went down in the area to win his side a spot-kick. Mawdesley stepped up and placed the penalty into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
The home side almost took the lead minutes later. Matt Bainbridge had a chance to divert a whipped free-kick goalwards but couldn’t make proper contact and the ball went harmlessly wide.
When York did put the ball in the net again, the goal was ruled out for a bizarre offside. Mawdesley sent the impressive Dan Jones into space down the left, who sprinted to the by-line and pulled the ball back. Richard Baxter was there to finish coolly, and everyone though York had the lead, only for the referee to judge Baxter offside despite him being behind Jones when the ball was played.
Justice was done when Mawdesley did give York the lead before half time. A raking ball from Gio Pilides found the feisty midfielder, and he curled his shot into the bottom corner to complete his brace and make it 2-1.
Both sides had further chances to score before the break. Baxter had a chance for York whilst Sunderland were denied by an offside call of their own; a correct one this time, as the orange shirted forward was a few yards in front of the last defender when he was played in and put the ball in the net.
Sunderland came out raring to go in the second period. Bainbridge was forced to deal with a dangerous ball into the York penalty area before the away side did then level.
A ball was played over the top and the dangerous Sunderland number 14 deftly chipped Toby Owen in goal to make it 2-2 before celebrating with a FIFA 12 favourite, much to the amusement of his team-mates.
With the freezing conditions now beginning to take their toll on the players, chances were becoming far more of a rarity. York substitute Craig Dean fired a shot from the edge of the area straight and the opposition ‘keeper, and then couldn’t quite reach an inviting O’Brien cross with his head, but there were no clear cut chances until the game reached the later stages.
A late goalmouth scramble saw York somehow fail to make it 3-2, with O’Brien and Offord both coming close before Sunderland’s goalkeeper missed a simple chance to steal a late victory.
Having been put through, the forward found himself in space with only the ’keeper to beat. Inexplicably though, he put the ball wide of the post, leaving his team-mates stunned and York extremely relieved as the game finished with honours even at 2-2.