The football first XI travelled away to play top of the table Durham firsts in their opening BUCS match of the new year, still in search of a league victory this season.
Despite being without the inspirational Matt Mawdesley, prompting some minor re-shuffling both in defence and midfield, York were boosted by the return of Tom Day, who was in line to make his first appearance of the season following a long spell out due to injury.
The home side started the stronger, playing the ball around neatly on a 3G surface conducive to a passing game, and hit the post within the opening couple of minutes with a firmly struck drive from just outside of the box. Although chances were scarce for Durham, the warning signs were still there for the visitors, who failed to get a foothold in the game in the opening exchanges, and after a quarter of an hour found themselves a goal down. A long throw-in wasn’t dealt with at source and the ball was flicked straight into the far corner, leaving Dominic McMahon with no chance as the ball trickled agonisingly out of reach.
Halfway through the first half, however, York started to grow in confidence and began constructing some flowing moves of their own. Driving runs from Jack Beadle and Ollie Harrison down both flanks heaped pressure on the Durham defence, resulting in a flurry of corners. One of which was hung up at the back post and met brilliantly by Lynch coming up from the back who saw his effort spectacularly saved low down to his left by the Durham ‘keeper. The ball looked destined to creep inside the post. This prompted a momentum shift in favour of the away side, and shortly afterwards following good work from Davies, the ball found its way to Alex Reid 12 yards out, whose shot was parried into the path of Clarke who unfortunately was unable to finish on his weaker foot.
At the break, York should count themselves unlucky to go in a goal down.
As a second half of few chances drew on, York pushed for an equaliser, allowing for a more open last twenty minutes. However just as they looked to be threatening, they were dealt a killer blow. After a mix up following a free kick deep in the opposition half, they were left outnumbered at the back and the home side broke with pace and precision to double their lead. Shortly after the result was put beyond doubt when possession was lost in defence and the Durham striker finished astutely to make it 3-0.
That was the way it finished and, on reflection, although the score-line perhaps flattered the hosts, the result was at least a fair one. The defeat leaves York bottom of the league and in desperate need of a victory, with only four games remaining in the season.