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Photos: Vivan Jayant
On Wednesday, York’s first XI hosted a Sheffield first team pushing for promotion, in what was their opening home league fixture of the term. However, Sheffiled scored twice within the last 15 minutes to win 3-2 and extend York’s winless streak.
York’s last outing had been an exciting and confidence-boosting 4-3 cup win over bitter rivals Hull, which many hoped could prove the stepping stone for greater success, in a season that needed revitalising in order to avoid relegation. The reverse fixture between the two sides had seen York grab a late equaliser to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw, and they were hoping to go one better this time out.
With several key first team players sidelined through injury, not for the first time this season, York faced an uphill battle. It was made even more difficult within the opening ten minutes as they fell behind, as a tamely struck free-kick from the Sheffield striker somehow found its way passed wall and ‘keeper.
In a first half heavily influenced by the effects of a strong wind and a poor pitch, both teams struggled to pass the ball, in what was a scrappy affair. However, just beyond the half hour mark, York pulled themselves level when an Ash Daly corner found its way through a crowded penalty area to Oscar Lynch at the back post, who neatly slotted home from six yards. The goal was the defender’s second in as many games against the visitors, but in truth it had come against the run of play.
The York equaliser was then shortly followed by two almost identical gilt-edged chances for the away side, falling to each of the two strikers. Both occurred on the break after York had lost the ball in their opponents half, lead to the goalkeeper being rounded and out of goal, and resulted in a failure of the Sheffield players to put the ball in almost empty nets.
After the break, with the wind at their backs, the hosts became more of a force in the game and won a penalty when Josh Brownlow was tripped in the box. Tom Day, making his first start of the season, stepped up and hammered the ball into the roof of the net to put York into the lead.
However, the lead was short-lived. With fifteen minutes to go the Sheffield winger fought his way past two challenges and fired the ball across the face of goal from the right, which was easily tapped in at the far post.
Things then went from bad to worse for York as the Sheffield turnaround was complete just minutes later. Again space was found on the right and an inside pass was taken well by the Sheffield striker, who finished expertly on the run to double his tally.
That was how it finished, leaving York both rueing lapses in concentration late in the second half and bottom of the table in this year’s BUCS league.