On Wednesday, York 1sts earned a sensational 3-0 victory away to second placed Leeds Met 2nds, to haul themselves off the bottom of the league and grab their first league win of the campaign. In the game the visitors dominated from start to finish, goals from Dan Jones and a brace from Tom Clarke sealed the win, moving York above rivals Hull, and, crucially, out of the relegation zone.
Playing on the same pitch as the cup game the week earlier, York started brightly, but it was the home side that had the first sight of goal. A neat ball from midfield between full-back and centre-half met the perfectly-timed run of the right winger as he burst into the box, but he could only drag his shot wide.
Early possession soon paid off however, as York grabbed the opening goal through a stunning Tom Clarke strike. The forward, receiving the ball with his back to goal, turned on a sixpence, sidestepped his marker and rifled a thunderous, swerving shot into the top corner, leaving the ‘keeper with no chance.
The early goal gave the visitors confidence, sparking a flurry of good chances. Ollie Harrison went closest when his right-footed shot was cleared spectacularly off the line, after cleverly intercepting a back pass and rounding the ‘keeper. But the best chance fell to James Davies. The midfielder burst through a defenceless Leeds Met as he latched on to a Clarke flick on, but again the opportunity was spurned as he pulled his shot wide with his weaker foot.
However, first half dominance was rewarded late in the period as York doubled their lead. A huge Tom Brandreth throw-in sailed over the heads of the Met defenders and was neatly tapped in by Dan Jones at the far post, who had timed his late run to perfection.
Now firmly in control, the away side started to dominate proceedings and it was not long into the second period when they put the result beyond doubt. Davies, linking up well again with Clarke, gathered a forward ball in his stride as he raced into the box and was clumsily brought down, to earn York a penalty. Clarke calmly slotted home, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way.
Despite desperate Leeds Met attempts to get back into the game, York’s defence was largely untroubled. They were, however, given a let off when the striker was allowed time and space to arrow a shot towards the far corner, but the impressive Bradley, on his return to the side, got a firm right hand to the ball, tipping it round the post.
That was the York visitors’ only real scare as they comfortably saw out the game, running out deserved 3-0 winners. The result leaves the fate of York’s league season in their own hands, with home games against bottom side Hull and 4th placed Leeds 2nds still to play. But not before they travel to play the same Leeds side in the eagerly awaited cup semi-final that could well define York’s season.