Dalton Harris scored a late equaliser to salvage a point for the men’s firsts, their second 1-1 draw in two games, on a miserable, windswept afternoon against Leeds Trinity 1sts.
Whilst the play was once again inventive and stylish from the men in gold and black, it could not be matched by the standard of finishing that cost the side two points for the second game in a row. Leeds Trinity can be given credit for their stout defending that for long periods reduced York to half-chances and long-range efforts.
The game started scrappily with both teams finding their feet on the viciously quick 3G pitch; however it was York who had the first clear opening- James Davies latched onto a long, deflected through ball only to see his effort charged down by the Trinity ‘keeper.
Ollie Harrison, who caused problems throughout with his dangerous running down the left-hand side, saw a couple of powerful efforts fly just over the bar but those aside, and for all of York’s possession, they were unable to break through a resilient Trinity back line.
The second half took on a much more frantic feel with York continuing their dominance whilst still being subject to dangerous Trinity counter-attacks. However the chances kept falling to York, Tom Day headed a Dan Jones cross just over and Harris saw his curling left-footed effort tipped away by the keeper.
With the game seemingly destined to finish goalless, Trinity began to get a stranglehold for the first time in the match, forcing York back into their own half, and then, with ten minutes left, the unthinkable happened and Leeds Trinity took the lead. An exquisite through ball split the York defence for the Trinity striker who beat Dom McMahon from an acute angle, the ball deflecting in off the near post.
This seemed to spur York back into action. Through balls from Matt Mawdesley and Ash Daly caused all kinds of problems as Davies, Harris and substitute Jamie Trant all went close. This pressure eventually told as another substitute, Freddie Ferrao, shot across the box for Harris to tap in from close range with three minutes to go.
There was still enough time for one last chance as Mawdesley freed Davies who rounded the keeper before being barged over by the Trinity central defender. The referee, whose all round game was shocking, waved it away and duly blew the full time whistle.
It marks a slightly disappointing start to the season with the firsts having picked up just two points from their first two games, when it could so easily have been all six.
McMahon, Jones, Parker, Belshaw, Tringham, Mawdesley (C), Daly (Easter), Harrison (Ferrao), Day (Trant), Davies, Harris