Roses men’s hockey 1sts: York 4-0 Lancaster

[visiongallery set=72157633440760758]

Photos: Jack Western

Two goals from Laurie Torrington helped York’s men’s 1sts hockey side to surge to a superb 4-0 victory over Lancaster this afternoon, as UYHC enjoyed a fantastic day all round.

In the nine indoor and outdoor matches, York have won five and drawn three, whilst only once succumbing to defeat. In the highlight of them all, the men’s 1sts contest, York never looked in danger of losing, even when they were temporarily reduced to nine men at one stage.

After a quite opening few minutes, York opened the scoring when the enigmatic Leo Watton produced a wonderful through ball to set Phil Ratliff through on goal. The forward’s first effort was saved, but he slammed the rebound home from a narrow angle to the delight of the buoyant York crowd.

The first half saw few clear chances, with York edging the contest and the visitors posing little threat. At the back the duo of George Richards and Alex Bond were holding firm for York, whilst Callum Chaundy was only once called into action in the first half.

Both sides were reduced to ten men, with McGrath yellow carded for Lancaster and Hugo Christie for York, but it was the White Rose who struck the all important second goal, Torrington drag flicking into the same top corner as he had done in the last minute of the game in Lancaster last year to secure York a draw.

Straight after the interval Torrington almost added a third, again from a drag flicked short corner, as he was both denied by the keeper, and then the frame of the goal. York’s disciplinary woes continued as they were reduced to nine men when Jono Butler was yellow carded, but they killed off the contest with a third goal, as Torrington tapped home at the back post, after being found by Dougie McAteer.

Lancaster failed to capitalise on their man advantage, and when they won short corners, their injections failed miserably as they were unable to carve out a way back into the match. Their best chance came when two forwards burst through on goal, but the pullback was poor and the fabulous opportunity was wasted.

Chaundy then pulled off a excellent save to maintain his clean sheet, before York almost added a fourth through a beautiful team move down the right flank, which was put agonisingly wide by the hard-working McAteer.

York continued to create chances and despite Kris Siva slotting just wide from close range, a fourth goal seemed inevitable. With fifteen minutes left it was delivered in style by Watton, who cut in from the right, skipped past two defenders effortlessly, and unleashed a stunning reverse stick shot into the bottom left hand corner.

At 4-0 the game was all over, and Lancaster’s heads seemed to drop, as York dominated possession and moved the ball around calmly. Jammy Wilson had an effort cleared brilliantly off the wide, before Watton and Siva both had attempts narrowly off target, but in truth it was irrelevant by this stage as the victory was sealed by the earlier goals.

The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations and capped off a remarkable day for UYHC, one which live long in the memory of everyone involved. After the game Captain George Richards told Vision: “It was an absolutely brilliant day. I dashed straight back from appearing on Bargain Hunt this morning so I was a bit tight for time, but it’s such a great feeling to smash Lancaster and send them home with a frown on their faces. To be part of a generation that’s never lost a hockey match in Roses is a brilliant feeling, and this was the best day of my three years playing hockey at York without a doubt.”