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Photos: Phillip Mourdijs
York Men’s 1sts footballers were in inspired form, as they marauded their way to a 5-2 victory over a Hull side, who consigned them to relegation on the last day of the season last year, with Tom Day putting in a man of the match display.
The victory was made all the more impressive by the fact that York were missing numerous first team regulars, as the side had played the previous day, winning 1-0 to reach the final of the East Riding Cup.
Hull, who led 2-1 at one stage, finished the feisty encounter with nine men, as two red cards helped to hand York the initiative. Regardless of this, the performance of York’s players was admirable, as the whole club enjoyed a day of resounding success.
In general the opening stages were scrappy, with very little of note occurring. That was until York opened the scoring with 17 minutes on the clock. Tom Day drove down the left wing and excellently picked out Jamie Trant, who drilled his finish into the top left hand corner from 20 yards, leaving the keeper with no chance.
The opening goal completely altered the nature of the contest, which immediately sprung into life as both sides began to play free-flowing football, Day being the primary instigator of York’s chances.
On 27 minutes however the home side were level, as a turn and shot from the left hand side of the six yard box left York ‘keeper Dom McMahon with no chance. A fumble by McMahon then almost allowed Hull to immediately score again, but the keeper recovered quickly to rescue the situation.
At the other end Ralph Gill looped a header over the bar from a wicked Ash Daly freekick, but Hull soon led, as McMahon could only push a shot from an acute angle into the path of an onrushing striker, who tapped home from less than three yards out.
The two goals could easily have deflated York, but instead the visitors displayed great desire and mental strength as they quickly carved their way back into the game. Only three minutes after falling behind they were back on level terms, as Day’s shot was blocked by a York hand leading to the award of a penalty. Jon Gill confidently stepped up and stroked his penalty into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
The glut of goals did not end there, as a fifth goal put York in the lead at half-time. A surging run by Graham Kimber down the left wing caused havoc amidst the Hull defence, and his cross found Gill, who notched his second of the game.
The tempo of the second half did not quite match the frenetic nature of the closing stages of the first, but there were still glimpses of brilliance apparent from both sides. Daly and Joe Easter were performing admirably in midfield, whilst Dave Belshaw and Dan Jones stood strong in defence.
A moment of inspiration almost brought Hull level, as a 25 yard volley rattled onto the bar with McMahon beaten. However it was a moment of stupidity which all but ended Hull’s chances with fifteen minutes remaining. Their substitute right back had already been booked for one cynical challenge, and when he lunged into a two-footed tackle there was only result, as he saw red.
A minute later it was 4-2 to York, as Dalton Harris shrugged off his marker and unleashed a thunderous left footed drive into the bottom corner. The two goal advantage boosted York’s confidence, and both Trant and the impressive Tim Earnshaw both had efforts narrowly off target.
Hull could have pulled a goal back with two minutes left, as their striker rounded McMahon, but shot wide from a narrow angle with the goal gaping. There was still time for York to grab a fifth, the ubiquitous Day setting up Trant for his second of the game.
Hull’s day got even worse during injury time, as a scuffle in the centre circle saw the home team reduced to only nine men, as the game ended in acrimonious fashion after it had promised so much for Hull.
York captain Matt Mawdesley told Vision: “Following the 1sts semi-final win yesterday, we came into today with very weak squads and lots of injuries. However the strength and character from all the teams was exceptional and far exceeded that of Hull, in both technical ability and fight.” The football 1sts were later awarded team of the tournament and he added: “Winning team of the tournament summed up our performances, so on the whole I am extremely impressed and a great weekend in general.”