Last Wednesday York 1sts were on the road again, this time travelling to Leeds to play Leeds Met 3s in the quarter finals of the cup. In a game in which the wind and rain played a key role, York came from two goals down at half time to triumph in spectacular fashion, recording a deserved 5-2 victory and setting up a semi-final clash with Leeds 2nds.
Playing against the wind, York started the game slowly against a Leeds Met side who were both assured in possession and intent on making the game a physical battle. A combination of two impressive Met wingers and a domination of the midfield battle troubled the York defence early on, and it was not long before they took the lead. Incisive passing on the right flank led to a cut back from the by-line and the simplest of finishes for the striker who slotted home with ease.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Met doubled their lead on the half hour mark. Shortly after a well-worked York move resulted in a James Davies strike, a hopeful punt forward was not dealt with by the York defence, and with Dominic McMahon left stranded in the York goal, the striker slotted into an empty net.
The half time whistle could not come soon enough for Dan Turley’s men and it was a galvanised side that emerged for the second half. A sharp increase in intensity throughout the team led to an extraordinary opening 20 minutes, in which York turned the tie on its head grabbing four quick-fire goals.
Following neat passing in midfield, Davies slipped the ball through to Tom Clarke who rifled a shot into the bottom corner to halve the deficit. Almost immediately after, York grabbed the equaliser in almost identical fashion to the Leeds Met second goal. A long ball swirled in the wind causing miscommunication between ‘keeper and defender, providing Dan Jones with opportunity to draw the sides level by finishing into an unguarded net.
In a sensational turn of events, York were suddenly in the lead as they began to gain control of the midfield. Davies won a firm challenge that found its way to Tom Day through on goal who finished in audacious fashion with a deft chip over the onrushing ‘keeper.
And then, from the penalty spot, it was four. Clarke latched on to a Tom Brandreth flick on just inside the box, before being wrestled to the ground as he was about to pull the trigger. Clarke took the penalty himself, making no mistake and in doing so putting York firmly in command.
The ferocity and intensity of the game continued, with tackles flying in from all angles, but without the clear cut chances that the opening minutes of the half provided. Met slowly came back into the game applying pressure to the York defence, but they were firm in response and restricted the home side’s opportunities to long range shots, as the game approached its final moments.
The scoring was not complete however; York still having time for one more as Met threw everybody forward. A Leeds Met free kick was headed clear and the bouncing ball won well in midfield against the last Leeds defender by Luke Parker. The ball found its way to Brandreth who raced forward from inside his own half and, with only the ‘keeper to beat, squared the ball to Davies who completed the second half demolition.
It was a fine turnaround from a York side, who were thoroughly dominant in the second half, now hoping this will give them the much-needed momentum to take with them into the remaining BUCS league fixtures and the latter stages of the cup.
Vision MOTM: James Davies