BUCS men’s hockey: York 3rds 12-0 Teesside 2nds

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Photos: Philip Mourdijs

After a tumultuous season, York’s men’s 3rds hockey team enjoyed by far their best result of the campaign, hammering a poor Teesside side 12-0 on the JLD yesterday evening. Four goals from Rob Smith and a hat-trick from Nick Mitchell contributed to the goal tally, but it was an excellent team performance which enabled York to secure a resounding victory.

The win was York’s second in BUCS this season, and leaves them with six points from five games, sitting in mid-table, whilst Teesside 2nds continue to struggle at the foot of the division. Yorkshire League has not treated York well, as they are stranded at the bottom of their division, despite some encouraging performances of late, where York have been unfortunate to be consigned to defeat.

Yesterday however there was only one winner, as York opened the scoring in the very first minute, Mitchell handing York the dream start with a clever finish from close range. Only minutes later York were 2-0 up as the same man again found the net, this time at the far post.

Teesside were hindered by being a man short, but in truth the extra player would have been unlikely to make a difference, as York dominated from the first whistle to the last. Not to be outdone by Mitchell, Rob Smith scored three goals in ten minutes, the first a tap in after Chris Butterworth had clattered an effort into the post, the second a thundering finish from six yards, and then after his third he nonchalantly strolled off for a rest on the bench.

York were not satisfied with 5-0 however, and goals from Isaac Barker, Max Fox and Phil Hughes made the scoreline 8-0 at half-time. Butterworth and Dave Washington were afforded space to dominate the midfield battle, whilst Andrew Lister and Chris Baldrey dealt with Teesside’s rare forays into York territory.

The same pattern continued after the interval, as York proceeded to pepper the Teesside goal with more shots. Captain Declan Hall was unfortunate not to get his name on the scoresheet, but he did provide a series of assists, even if it wasn’t his finest day in front of goal.

At the other end York ‘keeper James Robinson was a mere spectator, his only touches being to collect the ball when it went out of play. However his ludicrous yet amusing celebrations were most certainly a sight to behold every time that York found the back of the net.

Four more goals followed in the second half, the pick being a crashing drive into the top corner by the excellent Phil Hughes. Mitchell completed his hat-trick, Fox bagged his second, and Smith sauntered on to casually net his fourth, and if York had been more clinical at times it could have been closer to twenty.

Everyone wanted to get their name on the scoresheet, and Butterworth was only denied by firstly the post and then the crossbar. All in all it was an impressive performance by York, which should provide them with a confidence boost going into the remainder of the season.

Vision MOTM: Phil Hughes

York Squad: Robsinson, Pilgrim, Lister, Baldrey, Barker, Washington, Butterworth, Smith, Merriman, Hall, Mitchell, Mcgaw, Willows, Hughes, Fox