York’s football 1sts progressed to the next round of the cup with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle 3rds. The home side dominated the possession and looked extremely comfortable throughout, yet struggled to create the chances required to convert possession into goals, their two scores coming courtesy of a goalkeeping howler and a penalty.
York started well and had Newcastle flustered. They were getting balls in behind the defence and striker Tom Clarke was looking lively. Their opening goal on the ten minute mark was a moment of comedy, yet deserved nonetheless. A Newcastle defender passed the ball back to his ‘keeper, who dallied on the ball and was robbed by James Davis, who rounded him and slotted into an empty net to make it 1-0.
York continued to put pressure on the Newcastle players all around the pitch and were also delivering some excellent balls into the box. Ollie Harrison, who has been in fine form for Derwent this season, played Atherton in beautifully over the top but his shot was blocked, and Brandreth headed a whipped Tom Clarke free kick high and wide when he should have done better, but the chances were far too few and far between.
Newcastle’s striker almost levelled the game up but couldn’t find the target with his shot after a quick counter attacking move that showed rare signs of Newcastle danger.
After their promising start York went a bit flat, and despite playing well, seemed to lack the urgency and penetration that would have turned their performance into a big win. They went in 1-0 up at the break but looked somewhat subdued considering their lead.
Tom Clarke was a continuous thorn in the side of the Newcastle defence and he was involved in many of the second half’s early incidents. He hit a shot from the edge of the area over the bar after some nice York build up play and continued to trouble with his balls from the left, but his defining moment came when he was clumsily tripped in the penalty area and York were awarded a spot kick.
Clarke stepped up himself and placed the penalty into the bottom left, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way in the process and giving York a 2-0 lead.
Newcastle got one back through their number 9 after he was played in behind the York defence. The pacey forward’s initial effort was saved but the ball bobbled free, allowing him to round Luke Bradley in goal and slot home to make it 2-1.
The goal brought Newcastle into the game and they began to look a bit more of a match for the men in black and gold, but the home side kept composed and didn’t let the momentum turn.
The impressive James Davis almost had a second goal when he rounded the Newcastle ‘keeper, only to see his shot cleared off the line by a desperate defender who had scrambled back to keep his side in the game.
A bizarre moment then saw Newcastle go down to ten men for five minutes when their winger was forced off by the referee to remove an earring. York could not capitalise on their brief numerical advantage however, and it was Newcastle who were to have the last meaningful chance of the game. A dangerous low ball in from the right was met by a sliding striker, who couldn’t get enough on the ball to divert it past Bradley. The scores remained at 2-1 and York came away with the victory they deserved.
‘It was always going to be a hard game as teams in the leagues below always raise their games’, said York captain Dan Turley after the final whistle. ‘Football-wise we destroyed them, we kept to our game plan. At the end of the day you can only beat what’s put in front of you’.
Vision’s MOTM: Tom Clarke
Team: Luke Bradley, Dan Turley (C), Tom Brandreth, Oscar Lynch, Ollie Harrison, Ash Daly, Matt Mawdesley, James Davis, Alex Reid, Dan Atherton, Tom Clarke
