U14’s York 3 – 6 Leeds
Leeds started this game like a greyhound coming out of the traps and utilising the wings.
The visitors made good progress scoring in the 1st, 8th, 20th, 24th and 37th minutes. York struggled to keep pace with the stronger opponents. With Louis Powell making a number of important saves, Evan Turbine, Will Hotson, Tom Coy and Jacob Batty battled hard in defence. But as the game went on the tide was held.
A long kick, from the Leeds goalkeeper was met with a strong defensive header from Hotson. This encouraged York to build in mid field, Ellis Cattaneo passed out to York’s left wing where Joe Sidebottom was waiting to skip past a Leeds defender and release a pass for Archie Colley to run onto. Colley beating the central defender to the ball, a small drag back and a drop of the shoulder put the defender on his heels and set up a 1v1 with the keeper, Colley’s right footed shot across goal hitting the bottom right hand corner. York were on the score sheet.
Half time 1-5.
York maintained the pressure in the second half, building up through the centre with Adam Guilfoyle and Ellis feeding the strikers Colley and Sidebottom. Following a weak goal kick, Sidebottom challenges and wins the ball from the defender and goes direct at the goal keeper. A right footed shot goes low past the keeper into the bottom right corner 2-5.
York, on the front foot, kept battling and winning the midfield contest. Sidebottom dropping off his marker picked the ball up central and a simple pass splitting two defenders put Colley up against the keeper again. A low shot through the keeper’s leg saw York’s 3rd, 3 – 5.
Leeds were still dangerous and physical, when a coming together with Evan Turbine and a Leeds midfielder the referee opting for a Leeds free kick. A 25 yard lofted kick which looked to be sailing over the crossbar, stalled in the head wind and dropped just under the crossbar putting on end to York’s fight back. The referee brought the game to a close soon after, leaving the final score at 3 – 6.
MOTM – Adam Guilfoyle.