U12s York 5-5 East Riding

This was a match between two well suited teams, with York sitting 2nd in the league and East Riding in 4th spot prior to kick off.

The match started at a good pace with both teams testing each other out, slick passing created chances at both ends with Stan Connor in the York goal providing some early saves to keep the score 0-0. However York grabbed the initiative first, Ben Farrar took possession about 30yds out, running at the defence, he managed to thread the ball wide to James Borlase who unleashed a goal bound shot that deflected off a defender that fell to the feet of Jamie Kay who calmly stroked the ball in to the net 1-0 York.

East Riding reacted with some positive play and again put pressure on the York goal, the pressure told, East Riding were awarded a free kick, it was swung into the box and East Riding won the challenge in the box for the ball to loop off an East Riding head and into the net 1-1. Straight from the kick off East Riding were on the attack again, York relied on their defensive back 3 with, Jimmy Hendon, Noah Ward and Jack Huddlestone to keep East Riding out, again the pressure told, the ball was spread wide to the right, a lovely cross again saw an East Riding player rise higher and head the ball in to the net, 1-2 East Riding. York required a response, the team dug deep and showed great character, the pressure York were creating started to cause panic in the East Riding box, the ball was played to Ben Farrar who turned his defender and was hacked down, penalty. Farrar stood up dusted himself down and took the spot kick, sending the keeper the wrong way, 2-2.

The ref blew for half time, 2-2, time for oranges and a quick breather.

The second half got under way, York came out with a new found vigour and took control of the play, some lovely midfield play found the ball spread wide to Farrar on the left, he took on the defender whipped in a cross that found Cam Mcmillan stood unmarked at the back post who rifled the ball in to the back of the net 3-2.

York were now looking confident, again some strong work in midfield saw Noah Ward win the ball, he delivered a chest high pass to Farrar who was stood 20 yds out, back to goal, Farrar controlled the ball on his chest turned the defender and hit a first time shot that hit the back of the net, 4-2. Although York were now looking good, East Riding were still playing some good football, again creating chances that were calling on Stan Connor to stay focussed between the sticks. However York won a corner that was whipped in by Borlase that found Matty Ellison rising high to head home 5-2 York.

The York boys were riding high, however East Riding responded immediately with a sucker punch goal from kick off, 5-3, the initiative had now swung, East Riding were up for this and York were now on the back foot. The pressure told, East Riding scored again from a goal mouth scramble, 5-4 !!! A great game for the neutral, not so great as a York supporter, York were now on the ropes and defending with all their might, it wasn’t to be, with 5 minutes to go East Riding hit the net again 5-5.

The ref blew for full time, a 5-5 classic that saw both teams play football to be proud of, a fair result at the end.

York School Boys MOM – hard to split between Ben Farrar for his 2 goals and assist and Stan Connor for some outstanding saves and Jack Huddlestone for his tremendous work rate and tackling

York School Boys goal scorers: – Farrar x 2, Mcmillan x 1, Kay x 1, Ellison x 1

MOM – Ben Farrar – Stan Connor – Jack Huddlestone