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Photos: Helen Leech
York men’s 2nds produced one of their best performances of the season on the JLD this afternoon to record a 3-1 win over Leeds Met 3rds, which secures their survival in BUCS Hockey Division Northern 5B. The win was their second in three days, after they had beaten top of the table Leeds 5ths 3-1 on Monday night. Today’s victory consigns Newcastle 4ths to relegation regardless of their result against Leeds 5ths.
York have played excellently over the past week, so much so that they will rue their performances earlier in the season, which left them in a position fighting for survival. They now sit only one point behind today’s opponents, who would have been guaranteed to have won the league if they had beaten York and won their remaining two matches, so close is the division.
The early stages were a frenetic affair, and it took York only three minutes to take the lead from a short corner won by Danny Williams. Sam Unsworth played a one-two with Mylo Scurr from the short corner, before lashing home from the penalty spot to give York the dream start.
Minutes later York were 2-0 up, as a powerful cross from the right by Dom Munns, who was playing despite suffering a nasty blow to the head on Monday, was coolly finished by Nish Selvakumar. York’s fantastic start was soon halted however, as after nine minutes Leeds pulled a goal back. A risky pass by Patrick Forrester, who made a series of timely interventions, was cut out in the midfield, and the visitors countered quickly before their striker rounded York ‘keeper Sam Mackinnon and slotted home.
Despite the setback York were producing some pleasing hockey, passing the ball around swiftly and carving out numerous openings. Efforts from both Sam Richardson and Jambo Talbot were saved, before the visitors’ keeper made an excellent double save, firstly from Unsworth and then from Williams.
The home side were dominating possession, and most of Leeds Met’s chances were arising on the rare occasions that York rashly squandered the ball. One such instance resulted in Mackinnon being called upon to make a good save, but a short corner was still conceded, which York defended wilfully.
York almost notched their third before the break through an excellent move, started by Butterworth who won the ball in midfield. York then countered quickly and the ball found its way to Scurr whose cross from the left was deflected onto the outside of the post by Richardson.
Leeds Met though finished the half strongly, and James Hope and Tiarnan Cotter were called upon to make resolute challenges. When the defence was beaten, Mackinnon made an excellent save with his right foot to divert a shot around the post. Just before half time, the visitors spurned a great chance to equalise the scoring, their forward dragging the ball wide from eight yards out.
The visitors’ momentum was halted early in the second half by some excellent work by the White Rose off the ball, as they pressed high up the pitch and forced their opponents into errors, one of which saw Williams fire a reverse shot wide. Scurr was then denied from close range, after he had touched a pinpoint Richardson shot goalbound, before Joe Hubbard flicked an effort over the bar from the edge of the circle.
Despite their period of pressure York were unable to add a crucial third, as Hubbard had another effort deflected wide, before a short corner won by Joe Sherrington-Scales was scrambled clear. After that it was York’s turn to defend resiliently, as Leeds Met won a series of short corners and threatened to equalise.
With fifteen minutes remaining York were presented with a perfect opportunity to seal their BUCS safety, as Hubbard was bundled over when through on goal, leading to the award of a penalty flick. Talbot stepped up, but his flick slid off the end of his stick and agonisingly wide of the post, adding to the tension.
York were then unable to capitalise on a two-on-one chance as although Williams fed Richardson, the York striker was forced wide and his reverse stick shot was comfortably saved. Richardson then turned provider, but again the Leeds ‘keeper was on hand to thwart York, and prevent them opening up a vital two goal lead.
After all of York’s chances, you got the feeling that Leeds Met would have one opportunity to break York’s hearts and into the last five minutes they almost did. A clever move saw their forward find space in the area, and he unleashed a powerful shot which was brilliantly saved by Mackinnon.
York sealed their safety with two minutes left, as an excellent ball by Sherrington-Scales followed by an intelligent touch by Scurr set up Talbot to redeem himself and secure the victory for York. The forward made no mistake, slotting home from six yards to spark jubilant celebrations. There was still time for the visitors to push for a consolation, and they had a goal disallowed, but in the end it was irrelevant as York won to secure their BUCS survival.
After the game a delighted York Captain James Hope told Vision: “I’m ecstatic. We’ve turned our season around completely; one point from our first five games and then eleven from the next five, it’s just absolutely incredible. I’m just so proud of every one of those guys out on the pitch.”
Man of the match: Sam Unsworth