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Photos: Oona Venermo
A late goal by Chris Butterworth salvaged a point for York’s men’s 3rds hockey side against Sunderland 1sts yesterday. The goal in the 68th minute capped off a spirited fightback from 2-0 down, which saw York secure a deserved 2-2 draw, in a game which they might feel that they should have won.
On a sun-drenched JLD, both sides played some attractive hockey demonstrating crisp passing and skilful dribbling. Being a 1st team, Sunderland possessed some excellent players, but York were not overwhelmed as they had been a week ago by Huddersfield 1sts.
However, after a relatively even start to the game, it was the visitors who opened the scoring; a quick breakaway seeing their forward burst through on goal, before squaring the ball left for his teammate to complete a simple tap in. York were threatening at the other end, and Max Fox should have scored when picked out by an excellent ball from the right from Tom Merriman, but his finish whistled wide of the far post.
There were a number of encouraging signs for York, with Chris Baldrey and captain for the day Andrew Lister, looking solid at the back. In the midfield the trio of Butterworth, Robin Willows and Dave Washington were enjoying plenty of possession, but with striker Declan Hall out through injury, York seemed to be lacking a clinical cutting edge.
Indeed, despite enjoying a great deal of the ball and the territorial advantage, York suffered a serious blow when they fell two goals behind, with a shot from the left beating the otherwise outstanding James Robinson, who had previously made a series of good saves.
This York side have endured a difficult season on a whole, and prior to yesterday had lost every game in which they conceded a goal, and at 2-0 down it looked as if that pattern was set to continue. However, York received a lifeline five minutes before half time, a Willows hit into the D, taking two deflections before rocketing into the back of the net. Despite vehement protests from the Sunderland players the goal was given, with the last touch either coming off the Sunderland ‘keeper, or from a glancing deflection by Cameron Sanders.
The goal seemed to give York momentum going into the second half, and, despite the absence of Rob Smith for the second half, they put together some promising passages of play, using the flanks to exploit the weaknesses of
their opposition. Overall it was one of York’s most encouraging performances of the season, and they pushed for an equaliser throughout much of the second half, spending long spells on the front foot.
A close range Washington shot was saved, after the York midfielder had been picked out by a surging run from Butterworth, whilst the Sunderland ‘keeper was also on hand to deny Willows and Merriman. York thought they had equalised with ten minutes remaining, Washington finding Sanders, who finished at the second attempt from close range, but after severe protests and a long deliberation by the umpires the goal was disallowed.
Although York had created a number of chances, they were also indebted to ‘keeper Robinson for keeping them in touch, courtesy of a string of outstanding saves, the highlight being a brilliant save with his stick at full stretch to stop a shot which looked destined for the top corner. Defensively York were generally solid, with full backs Isaac Barker and Sam Kemp snuffing out threats down the wings.
Finally York’s pressure told, as Butterworth equalised from York’s third short corner of the game with a powerful shot into the bottom corner. There were still two minutes remaining however, and Sunderland almost snatched the points, as a thunderous drive from the top of the D required Robinson to rescue York, and keep the scores all square, earning York a deserved point.
Squad: Robinson; Barker, Lister (c), Baldrey, Kemp; Washington, Butterworth, Smith; Merriman, Sanders, Fox; Willows.
Vision MOTM: James Robinson