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Photos: Jack Western
York notched their first league win of the season this afternoon against Huddersfield 1sts, courtesy of a brace from Dalton Harris. After squandering a host of chances, a left footed strike from Harris five minutes from time proved enough to wrap up all three points.
However it was Huddersfield who had the best of the early chances, testing York ‘keeper McMahon within the first minute and firing a volley wide of the post before five minutes had been played.
York, however, who in the opening exchanges had not been able to maintain possession for more than a few passes, soon got themselves into the game and unleashed a barrage of attacks on the Huddersfield goal.
First, a James Davies effort wriggled past the right upright, after he latched onto a Tom Day through ball.
Then Freddie Ferrao blazed over from six yards, after the ball was knocked down from an Ash Daly free-kick, before a Huddersfield defender cleared Dave Bullock’s effort off the line from another Daly set piece.
Everyone in black and gold must surely have been thinking it was only a matter of time before they netted and, sure enough, the deadlock was soon broken.
A ball over the top from Captain Matt Mawdesley was controlled by Ferrao. He proceeded to play in Harris who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
York then had several chances to increase their advantagethe best of these falling to Davies. The James College star struck one effort just past the left post from the edge of the area, before striking another into the same upright from a similar position.
Suddenly, after approximately thirty minutes of York dominance, Huddersfield managed to stem the York tide and encamped themselves in the home side’s half for the remainder of the period.
They were quickly rewarded for their endeavours: a Huddersfield striker beating Rodders to a ball over the top, rounding him and passing the ball into an empty net despite Bullock’s despairing attempt to keep the effort out.
They could have took the lead shortly afterwards, but the Huddersfield player blazed his effort over from the edge of the box. The first-half ended with York ruing missed opportunities; yet, in truth, they could easily have been a goal behind at the break.
Perhaps stirred by some strong words from their coach, York began the second half the sharper side. After an offside goal was disallowed, a long-range Day effort was punched clear by the Huddersfield ‘keeper.
Soon after, Ferrao was denied by a flying save from the opposition’s ‘keeper after the ball broke to him from a Day cross. Huddersfield then had two chances themselves; one effort was struck past the post before another was headed wide.
Afterwards, York failed to finish several opportunities to retake the lead. First, Davies failed to make contact with a low cross from Harris, before a long range effort from left back Ollie Harrison whistled past the right post. Harris then struck wide after a sumptuous Day flick on before their roles were reversed, this time Harris supplying Day who shot high over the bar.
Then Huddersfield enjoyed another spell of pressure on the York goal, twice firing the ball wide of the post and once into the side netting. They even claimed a penalty after a despairing Bullock dived in front of a shot like Nick Frost in Hot Fuzz, but the appeals were waved away.
With ten minutes to go the balance of play tipped in the home side’s favour again. First, Harris was denied by a somewhat dubious challenge from the Huddersfield ‘keeper at the edge of the box, before a Day effort from a Davies’ cross was blocked at the far post.
Finally, however, York managed to net the crucial winner, a measured ball down the left wing from Davies finding Harris who smashed the ball left-footed into the roof of the net with five minutes to go.
Post match, Captain Matt Mawdesley commented: “it was a difficult game. We played nowhere near our capabilities but our performance picked up a bit in the second half, and I feel the win was well deserved.”
On balance, York probably did deserve to win the match but their finishing still needs to improve if they are to notch up further wins in the league.
Vision MOTM: Tom Day