BUCS Hockey: Leeds 2nds 4-5 York 1sts

With both teams strong contenders for promotion, the outcome of the match could prove crucial as to who ascends into the Premier division.

Both teams were keenly aware of the importance of this match. Before play began, the teams were drawn on points although York had played one more game.

York were forced to defend, somewhat chaotically, from the very beginning, with Leeds pushing the defenders right to the goal line. Rachael McMillan pulled off a particularly brilliant save, stopping a powerful shot from surely hitting the backboard calmly and assuredly. Credit has to go to the Leeds attackers, who were quick on the break and seemed to charge through the York defensive half with relative ease.

York enjoyed their own attacking moments, with a well oiled short corner routine going near faultlessly. The only flaw being it did not result in a goal. Leeds capitalised on York’s shaky play and scored the first goal of the match. A battle between Imy Storm and the Leeds’ centre forward in the D was won by the Leeds player after some very skilful, intricate play from both players.

A short corner was awarded to Leeds soon afterwards for a foot from York near the goal line. Leeds took the straight strike approach and hammered it towards goalkeeper Laura Porter, she deflected the ball between her legs towards York defender Dolton on the right post, who failed to stop the ball travelling between her legs- making the score 2-0 to Leeds.

The sheer excitement of the game continued after a penalty was awarded to York for a foul on Natalie Montezuma when shooting. Emily Lucas stepped up to take it, and as the supporters and players drew a collective breath, her lifted flick was saved by the Leeds keeper.

With the Yorkie heads decidedly dropping, captain Hannah Gage encouraged her team to ‘keep their heads up’ believing they could pull it back. She was right. A short corner resulted in the greatly desired goal for York with Hartley popping the ball in for Lucas to smack it in. Lucas again scored making the score 2-2 much to the jubilation of the York players. York came back stronger on the attack and with a renewed vigour in defence.

The second half started with both teams sensing the magnitude of the occasion- playing with increasing gusto and a competitive spirit that was truly overwhelming. Leeds got the first goal of the second half, with another great attacking manoeuvre around the Yorkie defence. They followed this up with a sustained assault on the York D, York found themselves in a defensive funk, under siege in their own 25. Faced with numerous short corners, the defence had to step up their play; Dolton saving a shot on the goal line and ‘keeper Porter pulling off some brilliant saves.

Despite surviving this attack without conceding a goal Leeds pushed through again and clinched their fourth goal of the match. The goal was an inspired strike into the top left corner from an almost impossible angle, nearly parallel to the by-line. York again found themselves trailing by two goals.

They pushed on and with great work from Emma Beresford found the backboard, making the score 4-3 with the clock counting down ominously. Let it never be said these girls can’t fight; with less than five minutes left departing Erasmus student Laura Welsing finished her time at York and in England in style, levelling the score sheet at four all.

With the volume increasing and players on both teams frantically playing their hardest York did the almost impossible and scored again. Frankie Hall fired the ball into the goal after York played some dazzling passing play to get the ball almost the entire length of the pitch. The umpires’ whistles signalling the goal and the end of the match overlapped in a symphony of virtuoso delight to the York ladies’ ears.

With the final score 5-4, Captain Hannah Gage was euphoric (and surprised) with the match, commenting that she “couldn’t believe we won that” that they “ got back and kept fighting” adding, a tad unnecessarily considering the big grin on her face that she was “really happy”.

Vision MOTM: Frankie Hall