[visiongallery set=72157629483126595]
A goal from future captain, Declan Hall, with only two minutes remaining earned York a point in a thrilling encounter, against table toppers Northumbria at the JLD. It was York’s final BUCS match of the season, and although they had could not catch Northumbria in the table to attain promotion, there was still a great deal of pride to play for.
Events started disastrously for York, who found themselves behind after barely a minute. Sloppy passing in midfield was punished, as Northumbria capitalised and broke forward, resulting in a simple tap in at the far post. York however responded in superb fashion, quickly winning a short corner after good work down the right by Max Fleming and Hall. Danny Williams cleared the cross bar with the resulting flick, but minutes later found the net after his attempt from another short corner beat the Northumbria keeper.
The eventful nature of the early period continued, as York took a 2-1 lead after only 10 minutes, when Fleming’s superb cross was turned home by Hall at the back post. York were enjoying their best part of the game, dominating proceedings, but the second goal seemed to revitalise Northumbria.
Soon after this early action, York keeper Mike Ward was called into action to deny Northumbria with a sprawling save. York then had to survive a series of four short corners in close succession, as Northumbria piled on the pressure. At the other end Joe Lancaster was denied by the visitors’ keeper who smothered his effort, which was then cleared to safety. Eventually the visitors’ pressure told, as a shot from the Northumbrian skipper from another short corner, thundered past Ward to make the contest all square.
The pressure did not relent after the equaliser, and Ward was again called into action to save York, and some desperate defending was required by the likes of Randall, Forrester and Waghorne, to prevent York from trailing at the break. The last play of the half was another short corner, which drew a fantastic save from Ward from close range. Somehow York managed to go in at halftime all square, even though they were under the cosh.
The second half continued in similar fashion to the first, as a scramble in the York area, led to the award of another short corner. This was converted by the Northumbria captain to give his side the lead early in the second half. York slowly managed to regain a grasp on the game, as it started to open up with their legs tiring. Williams won a short corner, whilst a through ball by Chris Buttersworth was deflected goal-wards by Forrester, but both attempts came to nothing. York created another chance through good work from Fleming and Lancaster, but the resulting shot was easily saved, and the danger passed.
Northumbria were then temporarily reduced to ten men, as their goal scoring skipper was yellow carded, for petulant and aggressive actions. York, however, were unable to take advantage of the man advantage, and instead the best chances fell to the visitors, who had a short corner drag flicked high and wide, and a great three-on-one chance, which was only scuppered by excellent defending by Buttersworth. York were then hindered by a yellow card for Buttersworth, who’d already been shown a green, for dissent, swinging the numerical advantage in the visitors favour.
York just about managed to survive a scrambled short corner, whilst Williams was denied at the other end. With only two minutes remaining, Buttersworth, having returned to the pitch, fired a brilliant ball into the box from the left, which was steered home by Hall, to claim a late equaliser. Dissent and further petulance saw a second yellow card be handed to the Northumbrian captain, who threw his stick down in disgust. All of this was much to the amusement of the crowd, with onlookers Bercis and Walsh branding him as “a ham-handed Neanderthal”. The thrilling contest finished 3-3, as York showed their ability against the top team in the league.
An overjoyed captain Waghorne commented, “I’m so proud of the lads, we showed fantastic spirit and great work throughout, I’m delighted”. Umpire Dong-Oh-Shin, who is running for the York Sport Presidency, remarked, “Umpires can only see so much, the Northumbrian Captain got very frustrated, it’s a shame to see someone so negative and abusive”. Nevertheless it was a fantastic game for the spectators, and an excellent result from York, who can take great pride in their efforts.
Vision MOTM: Danny Williams
It’s a shame you didn’t win the league!!!