Roses men’s hockey 3rds: York 4-1 Lancaster

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Photos: Thomas Shutt

York blew away Lancaster with an imperious and clinical first half performance at the men’s 3rds hockey.

Lancaster had started the brighter of the two teams pushing York back into their own half and pressing well when out of possession.

However, it was York who made the first breakthrough through the efficient Dave Washington, slamming home from the edge of the D after a short corner, five minutes in.

The lead was to be short lived, though, as Lancaster immediately pulled one back in the seventh minute following a short corner, with a screamer into the corner leaving York keeper James Robinson rooted to the spot.

Declan Hall then missed a very presentable chance to put York back in front, but stabbed wide on the stretch with the goal gaping.

Meanwhile, on the sideline, Simon Varley had commandeered the megaphone and was hurling abuse at the Lancaster players, with left back Tate being singled out in particular.

As York started to level the possession stats, they forced a flurry of short corners and eventually made the pressure pay as Isaac Barker crashed home a very scrappy goal from one yard out.

Almost immediately York managed to add another, again profiting from a short corner as Chris Daniels managed to sweep in, 3-1 York.

The rout continued as York added a fourth from another short corner in the twenty-third minute.

Three goals in six minutes saw Lancaster’s heads go down and York maintained pressure until the break with a high tempo and direct style of hockey.

Some impressive dribbling from the York wingers forced yet more short corners, but sadly none were capitalised upon.

Lancaster started the second half in bright fashion, earning more short corners, yet when the pressure didn’t pay, the pace of the match slipped with both sides seemingly content; Lancaster on damage limitation mode and York’s urgency out of the window.

As the game wore on, York carved out various good openings with Chris Baldrey particularly energetic and dynamic in the middle of the field.

Poor control by Washington on the edge of the D saw a chance go begging and Charlie Tyler’s excellent run and shot only found the side board.

Lancaster’s misery was compounded as one of their players saw yellow with ten minutes remaining of the match and only a couple of excellent saves and desperate defending by Lancaster prevented the match from turning into a rout.

All in all, a comfortable win for York at the JLD, but one always felt there was another gear to move up into if need be.

Vision Man of the Match: Chris Baldrey