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Photos: Vivan Jayant
So far its been a difficult season for York men’s 4ths football, but a spirited team effort with goals from influential skipper Chris Boyd, and fresher Greg Fearn, helped York to a 2-2 draw against Huddersfield 2nds.
Every game before Christmas ended in defeat for the squad, but they have started the New Year with resurgence, narrowly beating York 3rds in a friendly last Wednesday, and following that up by claiming their first point of the BUCS season here.
Huddersfield were always going to be difficult opponents, having only suffered defeat once in the league before Christmas, but York will perhaps feel disappointed that they didn’t claim all three points, in a game which honestly could have gone either way.
York had the chances to obtain a crucial victory, but at the other hand Dave Marshall was called on to preserve York’s point more than once.
York started somewhat nervously in a scrappy affair on a slow muddy pitch, with Huddersfield doing the early pressing. Yet despite Huddersfield’s possession the first real chance fell to York centre forward Ollie Murray, who capitalised on some sloppy Huddersfield defending by Palmer and Weaver, yet he could only stab his effort wide of the post.
After fifteen minutes a well worked short corner left York exposed, but the Huddersfield header flew harmlessly wide of the near post.
Soon after neat control and an excellent turn by Jacques provided Huddersfield with an opportunity, but his scuffed shot was easily saved by Marshall in the York goal.
As the game progressed, York grew into it and started to enjoy more possession and territory, and an excellent snap shot by midfielder Dan Postings was turned around the post by the Huddersfield keeper for a corner, which was poorly defended but Huddersfield survived.
For Huddersfield their main threat was coming down the right, but excellent defending by left back Will Dodgson, and a powerful display from centre halves Boyd and Brad Wood, prevented any real danger.
On the half hour mark substitute Joe Knott, who’d replaced the injured Murray, found the lively Connor Meckin, but the striker’s effort sailed comfortably over the bar.
For the first half hour it had been a game of few real chances. Yet the breakthrough came for York after 38 minutes. Fearn’s cross was nodded on target by Josh Allen, whose attempt was excellently saved. The danger however was only half cleared, and the ball broke to captain Boyd, who from 20 yards out thundered an unstoppable drive into the top right corner to give York the lead.
Huddersfield responded positively to falling behind, with Marshall denying Jacques an instant equaliser. For the rest of the half though there were no real chances, as York continued to defend well and hold onto their slender 1-0 lead.
York began the second half brightly, and Knott set Meckin through for an excellent chance, which he fired narrowly over from 12 yards. Huddersfield responded with a series of dangerous attacks but strong defending first by Dodgson then by Wood snuffed out the danger.
York continued to pose a threat from set plays, as headers from Arloo and Wood were well saved, whilst at the other end Dodgson made a crucial clearance to preserve York’s lead. On the hour mark Weaver almost equalised for Huddersfield, and was only denied by the combination of a fabulous save from Marshall, and some last ditch defending.
However York’s lead was not to last for much longer. After 63 minutes a foul by Dodgson gave Huddersfield a free-kick in a dangerous position, which was only half saved by Marshall and Palmer reacted first to bundle home an equaliser from two yards out.
Things soon got worse for York as a dangerous run by Huddersfield number 2, Callum, forced a great save from Marshall, but the rebound was acrobatically directed towards goal and scrambled into the vacant net to give Huddersfield the lead.
But Callum was lucky to remain on the pitch a few minutes later after an attempted head butt against Fearn in retaliation towards a late, but not malicious, challenge. Fortunately for him the referee was facing the other direction and missed the incident. Without doubt TV cameras and an FA inquiry are needed, which would surely result in a three match ban.
Huddersfield continued to press for a third goal which would kill off the game, and a flash shot across goal only went narrowly wide. Yet York had not given up, and continued to battle hard, fighting for every ball.
With only ten minutes left a long throw by Wilcox was flicked on into the path of Fearn whose header was firstly saved, but he then managed to poke home the rebound despite the efforts of Ludley and Weaver. York had managed to equalise and scented victory, as the game became more stretched with legs beginning to tire.
Marshall though was once more called into action for York, this time to deny Vaughn with an excellent stop. York’s best chance to win it came in the 84th minute. An exceptional in swinging cross by Fearn from the left gave Wilcox a free header at the back post, but his effort hit the post with the keeper beaten.
Another opportunity presented itself for York on the break, as Knott and Meckin combined resulting in a dangerous delivery which was diverted inches wide of his own goal by a Huddersfield full back. Yet York had to be careful at the back, and good defending by Arloo and Boyd was required to snuff out danger.
In the end the game finished as a draw, both teams had chances to claim victory, and despite probably slightly edging the encounter, I think York will take a draw.
After the game captain Boyd told me “I think we should have won, we had the chances and defended well, just conceded goals down to mistakes. Nevertheless I’m happy with the lads’ performance and we battled and played really well, a point is better than a loss, and a definite improvement.”
He attributed man of the match to Will Dodgson, but there were many worthy candidates; Dodgson, Boyd and Wood who were rocks at the back, Fearn for his excellent delivery, and Meekin for his tireless work ethic. It was a tight encounter but one which there was numerous positives to draw from, and overall it was a fantastic team effort which earned a well-deserved point.