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Photos: Jack Western
After their eight-nil victory over promotion challengers Teesside before Christmas, the men’s firsts were finally able to get their season back under way against Leeds Trinity. Second half goals from Ollie Harrison and James Davies saw York come from behind in gale-force conditions on the 3G to secure all three points, maintaining their push for promotion.
Chances were at a premium in conditions which almost rendered the game unplayable at times. The wind played havoc throughout the first half and limited both sides to long-range shots that for the most part flew high and wide.
The home side began the second-half with the greater purpose, keeping the ball on the ground in an attempt to negate the effect of the wind. The best opening fell to Captain Matt Mawdesley, who saw his swerving, long-range effort spilled onto the post by the Trinity ‘keeper.
Somewhat against the run of play however, Trinity took the lead. Their bruising centre back carried the ball out of defence and was given far too much space before firing his shot into the top corner, past the despairing Luke Bradley in goal.
Just minutes later, the match entered a stoppage of nearly twenty minutes as York striker Phil Taylor and the Trinity goal-scorer clashed heads as they challenged for an aerial ball. Both players suffered nasty cuts but were encouragingly able to walk unaided off the pitch after the lengthy delay.
The visitors were perhaps hit hardest as the player involved had been a towering presence in their defence, and suddenly they looked increasingly vulnerable on set pieces. Such a set piece was to see York pull level. Ash Daly swung in a free-kick from the left and the wind carried it perfectly to Harrison who headed home.
Spurred on by their breakthrough, the men in gold and black soon took the lead. A hopeful ball into the box from Tom Day was deflected inadvertently by a defender into the path of Davies who calmly rounded the Trinity ‘keeper before tapping the ball over the line.
The visitors never really troubled the York defence who held firm for the remainder of the half. Indeed it was the home side who looked the most threatening. Day was holding the ball up and bringing Davies and sub Dalton Harris into the play—no mean feat in the conditions. Both Davies and Harris saw their one-on-ones fly over the bar, before the referee’s whistle finally brought a halt to proceedings.
Captain Mawdesley spoke of his delight at securing the three points, especially after fighting back from one-nil down in such awful conditions. The victory sees York remain top of their league with four games to go.
Bradley, Jones, Brandreth, Belshaw, Tringham, Davies (Atherton), Mawdesley ©, Daly (Kimber), Harrison, Day, Taylor (Harris)