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Photos: Adam Green
Chris Menon and Andy Thomas inspired York to their fourth consecutive league victory as Hull 1sts were swept aside 9-5.
In addition to goals from captain William Chun and Josh Illsley, the pair scored seven times between them to sink their local rivals. It means York now sit top of the BUCS Northern 2B table, three points clear of Durham 2nds.
York also managed to extend their remarkable six-year unbeaten record against Hull, a team they beat on three occasions last season, including the semi-finals of the BUCS Cup.
The result continues UYLC’s sensational start to the season as the women’s 1sts, who earlier crushed Newcastle 3rds 28-1, also sit top of their division.
Today’s match, on the new 3G pitch at Heslington East, was no demolition job such as the 42-0 thrashing of Leeds 2nds last week, but rather a professional, determined performance to neutralise dangerous opposition.
And York began that task from the first minute. The Hull ‘keeper was forced into four point-blank saves from Chun and Thomas, before Menon showed his brilliance.
Skipping away from two Hull players, the club president slammed the ball home from close range to give the home side a deserved lead.
Moments later, York grabbed a second when Thomas drifted in from the right, exploiting an avenue in the Hull backline to fire into the bottom corner and provide his team a platform for victory.
In fact, York were playing so well that it was not until the last minute of the first quarter that ‘keeper Billy Rooks was forced to make a routine save.
Hull could not get much worse and they upped their display from the second quarter onwards. Rooks made two excellent reaction saves as the away side enjoyed more territory and York were camped in defence.
However, a rapid breakaway dealt another severe blow to Hull. Menon collected the ball straight from Rooks, before sprinting upfield and smashing home a third.
York were playing smart lacrosse and were in a comfortable position when the half-time whistle sounded.
At the start of the goal feast that was the third quarter, York hit the ground running to go 5-0 up as Thomas scored his second and Menon bagged a hat-trick as he meandered his way through a sluggish Hull defence before pulling the trigger.
Chun then added a sixth but Hull scored a quickfire double on the counterattack to make it 6-2, quelling any thoughts of a humiliation.
Just before the break, Menon scored his fourth and York’s seventh from a tight angle when Hull were sleeping from the face-off.
York appeared content to sit back at the start of the fourth quarter, but this invited further Hull pressure and the White Rose rivals scored another two goals to make it 7-4 in York’s favour.
Thomas grabbed his third as the home side broke out successfully and at the other end Scott Nucky produced a superb tackle to deny a certain Hull goal.
Hull scored a late consolation to make the final score 9-5 to York and afterwards captain William Chun was pleased with his side’s showing.
“We all know that this was our first proper challenge and we have been training for this for quite a while. We played well in the first half, in the third quarter we were slacking a bit, but in the last 10 minutes we stayed ahead to win.”
Vision MOTM: Chris Menon