- Photo: Oliver Todd
Hull managed to rescue a draw against a York side who really should have put the game to bed having dominated the visitors for large periods of the game.
It did not take long for Hull to break the deadlock, as a confusing melee inside the York box was brought to an end with the away team winning a penalty for a mistimed challenge on an onrushing attacker.
York struggled initially to enforce themselves after this setback, as they gave away a succession of free kicks. Fortunately, Hull were wasteful and York began to gain a foothold in the game.
Corners seemed to be York’s main threat, as quality deliveries from Jon Gill and Angus O’Brien provided Hull with some nervous moments. Yet York were still finding it difficult to break down a stubborn Hull defence, and looked vulnerable against the visitor’s counter-attacking play.
The midfield duo of Sam Earle and Gio Pilides looked the most likely to provide the inspiration for an equaliser and it was the former whose delightful through-ball over the top of Hull’s backline was poked only just wide by O’Brien.
After the interval York stepped up the intensity and the quality. Earle began proceedings with another searching pass, which only just eluded O’Brien, who was also making a real nuisance of himself. The resulting corner allowed centre-back Sam Sperling to force a header towards goal but his effort just went wide.
O’Brien was once again in the thick of things as he embarked on a powerful run but with two men square of him with the goal gaping, he chose to shoot instead of pass and the keeper smothered his ineffectual effort.
York’s pressure was certainly telling and it was with little surprise that Earle was involved heavily in the equaliser. Another pin-point pass from the midfielder found its way to striker Elliot Rous Ross, who chose the right option and squared it for O’Brien who side-footed home, albeit via a deflection. It was just reward for O’Brien, who had troubled Hull all game down the left flank, and York, who had controlled the play for much of the match.
The goal inspired York further and it was not long until they took the lead. The impressive Pilides swung in a dangerous corner, which bounced out to defender Matt Bainbridge who remained composed to lay the ball to Rous Ross. The striker made no mistake as he powered the ball past the helpless Hull goalkeeper.
York only looked more threatening after taking the lead, and Pilides’ controlled through-ball found substitute James Briars, but his attempt was straight at the ‘keeper who saved easily. Another Pilides cross found Sperling, but again the defender’s header flew inches wide.
Earle was still pulling the strings in the middle and his pass was picked up by Dave Lewis who waltzed passed the Hull left-back before sending in a teasing ball to Pilides, whose shot was brilliantly saved by the Hull ‘keeper.
It was therefore rough justice when the York backline failed to clear a Hull attack and their striker fired into the top corner to equalise with nearly the last kick of the match. It was unjust on a York side who had been superior for much of the game, and showed some real moments of quality, particularly from the midfield duo of Sam Earle and Gio Pilides.
Captain Stuart Dunk was pleased with a “very good performance” but bemoaned the fact that they “conceded two controversial goals, and we really deserved to win.”
VISION MOTM: Sam Earle.