York’s footballers
completed a memorable day as the 2nds, 3rds and college barbarians sides all recorded wins, in addition to the 1sts win which ensure a 100% record in Varsity with four victories out of four.
A last gasp goal from Andy Fernando gave York 2nds victory, after Hull had twice fought back from a goal down.
On a treacherous pitch, Hull immediately put the visitors on the back foot, striking the post early on. York responded well, however, and began playing the better football.
The breakthrough eventually came courtesy of the referee who awarded York a soft-looking penalty for a push on Tom Day. The impressive Jon Gill duly dispatched.
Hull equalised right on half time after a counter-attack down the right. The winger’s cross found their captain, who’s looping header floated over Luke Bradley.
A great period of play midway through the second half saw York re-take the lead. First Freddie Ferrao hit the post, before sub Fernando found Josh Spurling in the box who coolly finished in the bottom corner. Hull soon equalised again after a period of sustained pressure, their captain again heading home, this time from a corner.
There was still time for late drama as York got the winner their overall play deserved. Deep into stoppage time, a long throw from Connor McCoy found Fernando, who volleyed past the keeper, sparking wild celebrations from the sidelines.
York 3rds won a hard fought contest against their Hull counterparts 3-2. A brace from winger Tom Parish, after David Kirk’s opener, sealed the deal barely halfway through the second half.
York dominated the first half with a slew of chances before a scrappy goal against the run of play put Hull in front. A searching corner met the edge of a Hull boot, as the ball agonisingly trickled into the corner of the York net.
With the score standing at 1-0 at half time, York had due cause to feel a tad cheated by their one goal deficit . York came out revitalized in the second half and kept the pressure up until striker Kirk finally got on the score sheet with a goal just after 60 minutes when he managed to get on the end of a lofting Joe Mann cross.
Barely two minutes later a second cross from Mann found Parish to put York in front. Less than ten minutes after this Parish added his second to the tally, masterfully chipping the ball over the keeper to make it 3-1. A late Hull consolation proved of no consequence, and York held on for a hard fought victory.
After a shaky first half, York’s Barbarians soared past Hull 4ths (Scarborough)with an impressive 5-2 victory.
The game began much like it ended; York being on top form and keeping Scarborough on the defensive. They were outpacing and outmaneuvering their opponents, skillfully keeping the ball on one side of the pitch. Within minutes, Joe Mann scored the team’s first goal and set a solid rhythm for the rest of the players.
However, Scarborough soon answered this with two quick goals of their own, one of them a penalty (a “dubious” one, York’s Mark Kearney later added), and pulled into a 1-2 lead. Stunned, York had trouble getting back into the game for the rest of the half.
In the second period, though, the Barbarians, spurred on by Johnny Grout’s pep talk, went on a brutal attack. Andrew Jopson, Joe Mann, and Andrew Lewis each scored a goal within minutes of each other, while Scarborough also contributed a goal.
From there, the match became a casual game for the Barbarians. The last fifteen minutes were spent carelessly kicking the ball around, since both teams knew who had won. Not bad for a team that had only played together for two hours.