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Photos: Zoe Bennell
The York 2nds took a comfortable 5-2 victory against Teesside in their final match of the season, having come from 2-1 down. The match was in the balance until deep into the second half as York, despite complete dominance over the match failed to take their chances in a match which took place in bizarre weather conditions oscillating between sunshine and snow.
York took control almost from the off. This was reflected early on when Graham Kimber smashed in the rebound from a saved Jamie Trant shot to make it 1-0. York continued to press the advantage but they missed a number of good chances to extent their lead with Trant, Kimber and Earnshaw each having a number of golden opportunities.
Teesside were by no means a beaten side however and did show some attacking capabilities and this was shown as a they quickly scored an unmarked header from a corner to make the score 1-1 from virtually out of nowhere.
However York were still in complete control and had by far the lion’s share of the chances, but seemed to show a lack of composure in front of goal, Connor McCoy amongst others had a great chance that went agonisingly wide. Amazingly it was Teesside who took the lead with another headed which was powerfully taken, Teesside using their height advantage to good effect. The contrasts could not have been greater, York had had multiple chances and scored only one, Teesside had had two chances and scored both.
York however continued to press on, Trant who was a constant danger had his shot blocked by the keeper, the rebound fell to John Gill who shot went directly into the hands of the keeper. Despite York’s profligacy in front of goal there was no sense of panic however as there was a general feeling that the equaliser would come. That moment did come just before half time as a long ball from Kimber reached Trant who had gone on an incredible run to intercept the pass, coolly slotted the ball into the net, leaving the core 2-2 at half time.
The Second Half was in many ways a far less eventful affair; the first ten minutes were pretty uneventful, turgid even as both sides seemed to be stuck in a stalemate. Tim Earnshaw had a great chance to given York the lead but his shot went wide. York did take the lead on the 57 minute mark, a Josh Spurling screamer hit the bar and the rebound was clinically scored by Earnshaw in what was a quality goal.
The half however continued in much the same rather uneventful vein, but with York in control, until the 78th minute when a great run and quality finish by David Kirk, in what was his last match for the University team effectively sealed the match.
York remained in control of the half and were happy to effectively see out the match knowing full well that they were in complete control of the tie. On the 88th minute Freedie Ferao gave the match a score line that at least came close to representing York’s dominance with an exquisite finish to make it 5-2.
York end the season in 2nd place and in good form having won their last 5 games. Captain Matt Bainbridge told Vision “I’m really happy, it’s just clicked in the last 6 games. The boys have been quality all season long and it’s just clicked in the last six games. The Football they are playing is superb, I’m really proud the way they have played in the second half of the season”.
Vision Man of the Match
Jamie Trant