U11s Rotherham 2–10 York

York Schoolboys turned in a fantastic performance away to Rotherham on Saturday, to keep the pressure up on the league leaders. The weather was kept at bay for the duration of the game as a feast of goals from the York boys saw them turn on the style against a determined and tough Rotherham side.

York got off to a flying start with the returning Oliver Boast and fit again Ewan Daly making some early inroads into the Rotherham defence and a volley from Bobby Moore rattling the crossbar. The deadlock was broken around 10 mins in with a great goal from Charlie Calderwood, the first of three. Rotherham came straight back at York and caused some problems at the back. Their persistence paid off when a well taken corner was met with a back-post header to level the score. Not long after Calderwood added a second to restore York’s lead. However back came Rotherham again, getting in behind the York defence on a few occasions culminating in York conceding a penalty.

A big test for debutant Ben Alder in goal, who produced a wonderful save to preserve York’s slender lead. This was a pivotal moment in the first half as York then took a foothold in the game, with goals coming from Moore and Boast to finish the first half 4-1 in the lead.

The second half continued where the first left off with York in the ascendancy. Boast and Moore added further goals and then a wonderful assist from Michael Kydd was met on the half volley by Calderwood for his hattrick. Boast claimed his own hattrick with another driving run and finish before Daly was on hand to tap in the rebound from Kydd’s shot.

At the other end Rotherham still produced moments of concern for the York defence with a second well take goal but were being well marshalled by captain Theo Clarke, Kydd and Joe Turbine, who was a constant threat all game with his set piece delivery. In midfield Oliver Ellis and Finn Davis worked the wings well getting in behind the defence on a number of occasions to create multiple chances and Ewan Waddington added further steel and tenacity as well as an assist for the final goal of the game that was pounced upon by Boast to take his tally to 4 for the day.

This was a great response to the disappointment of dropping points last week and firmly puts York back in the hunt for top spot.

Scorers: Boast 4, Calderwood 3, Moore 2, Daly