U14s York 0-3 East Riding

York hosted East Riding in the league with York getting the game under way on a glorious sunny morning.  With both teams settling into the game it was East Riding breaking down the left, the winger looping a cross into the sun that had defenders and attacker losing sight off the ball, that came off the back head of the ridings striker, wrong footing York Keeper Joseph Hodge and landing in the back of the net putting East Riding 0-1 in the 3rd minute.

The early goal seemed to unsettle the York players, with East Riding starting to dominate the game with Joshua Byfield, Leo Jones, Ben Fawcett and Sid McCoy in the back four defending resolutely aided by Elliot Oliver, Ben Calam, Harvey Stephenson and Charlie Fort from midfield as East Riding searched for another goal.

York were forced into an early substitution as Joshua Byfield had to be replaced by Ben Rhodes after landing awkwardly during a tackle in the 12th minute.  With York still defending bravely and keeper Joseph Hodge untroubled in the York goal, their troubles were compounded when Ben Fawcett was forced off due to injury, replaced by Olly Hanley and a re-shuffle at the back on 21 minutes.

York started to settle into the game after the early shock, with Luke Jones hitting a free kick from 25-yards out that was always rising and sailed harmlessly over the bar.  Minutes Luke Jones carved through the Riding defence after picking up a pass from Liam White; but the on-rushing East Riding Keeper stood tall with Luke putting his resultant shot wide of the right upright.

As York Pushed for an equaliser East Riding broke down the left with the winger cutting inside and striking a sweet shot that left York keeper Joseph Hodge little chance giving East Riding a 2-goal lead going into the break.

York started the second half with a change of formation with three at the back and three up front with the introduction of Ed Hammond, looking for an early goal to get back into the match.  Both Ed Hammond and Liam White had shots off target before Ben Calam had Yorks first shot on target.  Luke Jones drove the ball across the goalmouth, after driving down the right wing to the by-line, with Liam White and Ed Hammond running in on goal; but it was too close to the Riding defender as he cleared the danger.

East Riding had chances as they hit York on the break but Ben Rhodes Leo Jones and Sid McCoy protected their keeper along with Elliot Oliver, Ben Calam, Olly Hanley and Harvey Stephenson.  Ed Hammond’s shot on the turn in 8-yards out was well kept out by the East Riding keeper as he got a strong hand to it.  Minutes later Harvey Stephenson tried his luck from distance, with a well struck shot that was always going wide.

On the hour mark, with York stretched, East Riding again broke down the left with the winger finding his striker unmarked in the box for him to power a header to the left of the York keeper giving East Riding a 0-3 lead.   York still looked for a consolation with Sid McCoy testing the keeper from range before the game finished 0-3.

Managers Comments: – (Alan Oliver / Neil Stephenson): Had a word with the lads, all agreed to take my comments onboard, but should remember that players at this standard only need one chance to punish you. We had 3 clear chances to change the game but it just never happened. In the first half, we were lackless in our performance, and that is how they got the two goals. We raised the game in the second half, we had chances to turn the game around which just didn’t happen. We then switched off again to let them have the third goal. We need to have more talking on the pitch, a higher tempo and be quicker with our decision making.

Man of the Match: –  was awarded to Ben Calam

Scorers:

Squad: Hodge, Leo Jones, Rhodes, Fawcett, McCoy, Hanley, White, Calam, Stephenson (C), Oliver, Fort, Luke Jones, Hammond, Byfield.   (Unavailable: – Ryder, Claudius-Cole, Storr).