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Photos: Philip Mourdijs
York men’s 1sts retained their unbeaten status in BUCS this year, as they secured a 1-1 draw against Leeds 2nds on the JLD this afternoon. A Leo Watton penalty flick earned York a share of the spoils, as York recovered from falling a goal behind to produce an excellent performance, which could have warranted them more than a single point. The game however was hindered by controversy, as umpiring decisions incited tempers from both sides.
A lively start to the encounter saw Leeds threaten in the second minute, as a shot from the edge of the D was flashed over the bar. Minutes later though York almost opened the scoring from a short corner, as Laurie Torrington’s trademark drag flick crashed into the post with the keeper beaten.
The early stages saw an extremely high standard of play, as both teams moved the ball around purposefully, exploiting the full width of the pitch. Leeds looked dangerous on the break, and one such move was excellently snuffed out by Jimmy Johnson.
Minutes later Leeds opened the scoring; a reverse shot was fired goalbound from the top of the D, and deflected past ‘keeper Callum Chaundy at the back post, to hand the visitors the advantage. Their lead however was short lived.
The ball was played into the path of Jammy Wilson, who was subsequently clattered by the outrushing Leeds keeper, leading to the award of a penalty flick. Watton stepped up and placed his flick into the bottom left hand corner, only to be forced to retake. However he handled the pressure superbly and instead firmly stroked his second flick into the other corner, to make the score 1-1.
Leeds though almost retook the lead soon after, as a dangerous breakaway attack drew a fantastic save for Chaundy, before the second attempt was cleared off the line by Tiernan, as York survived the danger. The first of three yellow cards was then handed out by umpire Dong oh Shin, this time to a Leeds player for dissent.
The JLD then witnessed a sensational moment of brilliance, as Hugo Christie skipped past one defender, before unleashing a wonderful shot which crashed in off the bar. However the goal was disallowed as Christie was adjudged to be outside of the D. The scoreline remained 1-1until half time, but tempers were beginning to boil, as umpiring decisions caused frustrations among both sides.
Leeds started the second half in dangerous fashion, and Chaundy was forced into saving a drag flick with his outstretched hand. Yet York almost took the lead five minutes into the half, as an excellent move saw the ball find its way to Torrington, who was denied by a sprawling save.
Indeed York enjoyed a threatening period of play, as they piled the pressure upon the visitors, with one Leo Watton drive down the heart of the pitch causing danger for the Leeds defence. However Watton was then yellow carded for obstructing a Leeds forward just outside the area, and York’s woes were compounded by the award of as short corner. Yet Leeds preceded to waste two short corners, letting the home side off the hook.
York had plenty of chances to win the game, and can be construed as guilty of wasting numerous one on ones with the ‘keeper. Credit must go to the Leeds keeper, but on another day if York had been more clinical they could have walked away with all three points. Fred Isaac had one such chance, but the Leeds ‘keeper smothered his effort, which was cleared to safety.
York continued to look dangerous, and Torrington almost scored the winner from a short corner going into the last ten minutes. He received the ball, skipped past one man, but then drag flicked wide from ten yards, when usually so reliable from such a position. Soon after Tom Armston Clarke, who had worked tirelessly all day, turned skilfully, before firing a revers shot off only for it to be blocked at the near post by the ’keeper.
The third yellow card of the day was then awarded to a frustrated Christie for dissent, before the controversy deepened when York were seemingly awarded a generous penalty flick after a scramble on the goal line. However the decision was then overturned and York portrayed as being guilty of committing an offence.
Both teams continued to push for a valuable winner, but neither were to receive such reward, as the closing stages failed to produce a third goal of the contest, resulting in a final scoreline of 1-1, which extended York’s unbeaten run in BUCS.
After the game York captain George Richards commented: “Leeds are a notoriously difficult team to get a result against, and I was frustrated in a way as we played some very good hockey today In terms of the patterns of play, but unfortunately we just lacked the finesse and clinical nature in front of goal that we’ve had in games prior to this. I’m happy that we’re still unbeaten in BUCS.”
Vision MOTM: Tom Armston-Clarke