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Photos: Valeria Vallone
Two goals from Joe Easter helped York 2nds record a fifth consecutive win, a comprehensive 6-2 victory over Teesside 3rds.
York dominated for most of the match, clearly outclassing their opponents. The only blemish was a ten minute spell in the first half when Teesside were allowed to score two sloppy goals, which brought the scores level after York had led 2-0 early on.
They re-established a lead before half time thanks to Easter’s second, before consolidating in the second half. Three goals added gloss to the victory late on, but 6-2 fairly reflected the gulf in class between the two sides.
The opening 15 minutes saw all the pressure coming from York. Right back and captain Matthew Bainbridge was involved early, miscuing his own shot after a bursting run in the 3rd minute, then setting up Freddie Ferrao with a wonderful cross one minute later. Ferrao could have done better with the finish.
Ferrao was lively all game, and could have scored more than his one goal had he been on better finishing form. Nonetheless, it was he who broke the deadlock in the 10th minute.
Matt Seed played a ball over the top from centre back, into the path of Jon Gill. Gill’s square ball was perfectly placed across goal, leaving the goalkeeper stranded and allowing Ferrao to tap in to an empty net at the back post.
Soon it was 2-0, as Easter bagged his first of the game in the 17th minute. The Ray Parlour-esque central midfielder found space on the edge of the box. His on target shot took a wicked deflection, and with the Teesside ‘keeper having already committed to his dive, the ball flew into the opposite corner.
York’s slick passing play suggested they were going to run away with victory, but a couple of defensive lapses let Teesside back in to the game.
They pulled it back to 2-1 in the 20th minute. The goal-scorer struck his half-volley well, and York ‘keeper Luke Bradley could only get fingertips to it. But the York defense failed to close down the Teesside man, who found himself in acres of space on the edge of the box to get his shot away.
And shortly afterwards the scores were level, as Teesside’s lofty striker scored. Having only just been denied as his curling shot went just over the bar, the forward (who was easily 6’8”) nipped in as Seed failed to deal with a ball over the top and coolly lobbed the onrushing Bradley.
York’s earlier slick play now became more frantic, with captain Bainbridge becoming more frustrated with the team’s attempts to play tricky balls over the top, rather than keep the ball on the ground.
Nonetheless, York did manage to settle the storm, and Teesside provided no further threat in the first half. Shortly before the break, Easter’s second put York 3-2 ahead.
Easter had initially set up Ferrao, whose shot was too close to the ‘keeper and saved for a corner. The resulting corner was cleared, before Easter, lurking on the edge of the box, drove a shot which was well saved by the diving Teesside stopper.
From the second corner, it was the same story. But this time, the ‘keeper was blind-sighted, and another well driven shot from 20 yards by Easter went inside the post. Both of his goals had come from outside the penalty area.
That goal was of great relief to everybody viewing. York had been the better side and deserving of the lead. Nonetheless, Bainbridge gave an impassioned team talk during the interval. His instructions were largely followed as York regained their composure in the second half.
York had the lion’s share of early pressure in the second period, though it was Teesside who had the best chances. Luke Bradley was twice called into action with good saves, and on the hour mark the men from Middlesbrough hit the bar with a header which can have been no more than five yards from goal.
In the 72nd minute, York’s two goal lead was re-established with what was probably the goal of the game. A pass out wide to left back Matt Darling was overhit, but Darling didn’t give up on it, and his slide kept the ball in play and found Graeme Kimber up the left wing.
Kimber’s cross into the box was neatly cushioned by the chest of Tim Earnshaw into the path of Connor McCoy. On the half-volley, McCoy got his foot over the high-bounce of the ball and fired his shot inside the far post.
Earnshaw came close himself two minutes later, as his flick from inside the six yard box nearly found the goalkeeper unawares. Shortly after that, Kimber could have also got himself on the scoresheet, but he mis-hit his early shot, trying to catch out the backtracking ‘keeper.
York would add to their tally, though, as two goals in two minutes rounded off their scoring for the day. The first was a simple finish for substitute Andy Fernando; a tap in from two yards after McCoy’s perfectly place corner evaded all of the Teesside defenders.
Then Kimber player in Gill down the inside left, and he curled a right footed shot past the goalie from 10 yards out to make it 6-2.
This was not the end of the action, though, as both sides had a chance to score another late on. York had Bradley to thank for keeping the score down as he pulled out a terrific save, diving to his left to keep out a close range shot, a save which even prompted compliments from the opposition.
Then Kimber again came close with the last move of the game. After being played through, his first shot was too close to the ‘keeper, who got a big hand to it. The ball looped up to provide Kimber with a second chance but, from a very tight angle, he couldn’t turn it into the open goal, instead finding the side-netting.
As the Teesside ‘keeper took his goal kick, the referee blew for full-time. A generally impressive performance by York 2nds, which confirmed a comfortable victory and continued their rich vein of form.
York: Bradley; Darling, Dunk, Seed, Bainbridge; Gennoy (Kimber); Ferrao (Fernando), Easter, McCoy, Earnshaw (d’Albertanson); Gill.