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Photos: Vivan Jayant
York men’s football 3rds thrashed a poor Sunderland side 6-0 on 22 acres to continue their fine form from last year.
York’s 3rd team defended well, passed efficiently and finished clinically to defeat Sunderland’s 4th team by a six goal margin.
They were dominant from the outset, the pace and quality of Joe Ablett and Craig Dean causing problems for the Sunderland wingbacks down the flanks, and resulting in a string of early corners.
York scored their first goal on the ten minute mark. The ball broke from a corner to Matt Mawdesley who powered the ball into the bottom right hand corner from all of 25 yards.
They almost extended their lead seconds later, Ben Smith firing the ball just over the top following interplay between Ablett and Frederico Ferrao down the left wing.
After this, Sunderland woke up and started launching attacks of their own. They were decent in possession but failed to test Johnny Sim in York’s goal.
York then subjected the opponents to a barrage of attacks. Ablett firstly went on a strong run down the left flank only for the Sunderland ‘keeper to snatch the ball from his feet as he was about to pull the trigger. Then, he displayed his skills to set up Dean who unfortunately scuffed his shot before Mawdesley again had a go from outside of the area but hit his shot straight at the Sunderland ‘keeper.
It looked inevitable that York would soon score again and indeed this quickly came to pass. Ferrao played ball a measured to Ablett. He squared it to Ben Smith who coolly finished from close range.
A rapid exchange of attacks between the sides followed this goal. A Sunderland player passed the ball straight into the path of Ben Smith yet he shot straight at the onrushing Sunderland ‘keeper. Seconds later, Sunderland scored an offside goal, one of their strikers heading the ball down to his strike partner who was in an offside position.
York scored a third a few minutes later. Mawdesley skilfully retained the ball in the centre of the pitch before playing an exceptionally well-weighted ball over the top to Dean who casually dinked the ball over the advancing Sunderland ‘keeper for it to nestle in the bottom right hand corner. Exquisite!
Bar a Geordie style comeback from the Mackem side, it looked like York were going to run out clear victors. However, Sunderland did not really seem threatening going forward, Sim easily catching a cross into the six yard box.
In the last few minutes before the break, York were utterly dominant. They had several chances to score but just could not find the killer blow. Captain Matt Bainbridge was convinced his flick on from a corner had crossed the line only for his appeals to be waved away by the referee.
In the second period, York again came out firing and again had their opponents under the cosh. Ablett, Ferrao and Mawdesley passed well and moved quickly to produce several early chances.
York’s industry quickly bore fruit, Smith playing in Mawdesley whose diving cross found an unmarked Simon Kreienbaum at the far post. He slotted the ball home from point-blank range.
York soon after made it 5-0. Simon Kreienbaum beat a player before chipping a ball beautifully to Ferrao who finished clinically into the bottom right corner.
Then, it was 6-0; Captain Bainbridge converting a penalty after Ablett was taken down following a mazy run.
York continued to dominate until the final whistle but put the ball high and wide on too many occasions.
Sunderland only had one good opportunity to score a consolation goal late on: a header from a corner, but this was sharply saved by Sim.
At the final whistle, York were deserved victors. They had outplayed their opponents who never got a foothold in the game. Captain Matt Bainbridge commented post match that he was pleased with his side’s performance: “We passed it nicely, we took our chances but most importantly we kept a clean sheet… We’ve started the year as we mean to go on”.
Vision MOTMs: Matt Mawdesley, Simon Kreienbaum