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Photos: Jack Western
York 1sts put in a fantastic performance in the second half to ease past a strong Durham side 16-8 to leave them on the verge of promotion to the 1A division.
The opening minutes were an evenly matched affair with both teams enjoying good possession and a fair number of chances each. York gained an immediate advantage with Andy Thomas scoring a goal immediately after the face-off. But Durham almost immediately struck back to level the score.
For the rest of the quarter the two teams were relatively evenly matched, as you would expect from the two teams that sit first and second in the table, with Durham moving into a 3-2 lead after 12 minutes, they were able to maintain this advantage until the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter began with Thomas scoring early to level up the score at 3-3. Once again the quarter was evenly matched with no one team particularly dominating and strong ebbs and flows in momentum. Josh Illsley made an excellent assist to Thomas, who was a constant danger to the York defence for another strike to make it 5-4, yet neither team seemed able to break away in this period.
With the end of the second quarter approaching it took a brilliant shot from captain Joe Tebutt to give York a narrow 6-5 lead at half time, although a slender advantage it could well have been a crucial turning point in the match.
After the break York came out with all guns blazing, Scott Nuckey’s brilliant crease dive set the tone for an excellent third quarter performance from York. This was quickly followed up by another goal to make the score 8-5 finally putting some distance between the two sides. York were clearly in the ascendency having by far the best of the possession and the chances.
They were playing with great fluency, creativity and togetherness which the strong Durham side had no answer to. Another wonder goal from Illsley and a brazen flick through the back of the legs from the irrepressible Thomas showed the high confidence level that York were now playing at. Durham did manage to get one goal near the end of the quarter, which ended with the score at 12-6, but it was clear that their chances of victory were hanging by a thread.
Despite the advantage, York knew from past experience that they had to remain vigilant; the last time the two sides played Durham had pegged back a similar lead in the fourth quarter to level the match before York scored a late winner.
This time there were no mistakes, Thomas scored again early on to ease any nerves although Durham who were paying significantly better in the third quarter quickly struck back. York however were unmistakably in control of the tie, the defence remained resolute and they retained significant attacking prowess as a quality goal from Sam Pick, which seemed to come out of nowhere demonstrated.
The match became a little scrappier as it reached its conclusion with York sitting back a bit content with their lead, but this didn’t stop Illsely and Tebbutt from scoring again to round off an excellent 16-8 win
A delighted captain Joe Tebbutt told Vision: “We have been building up to this performance all season. What really pleased me was that the inexperienced guys in the team really gelled together, we are now really playing together as a team.”
York will now go to Durham next Saturday knowing that if they win the rematch they will be promoted, judging by this performance, they must fancy their chances.
Vision MOTM: Andy Thomas