U12s York 5-1 Sheffield

Top of the table clash sees York U12’s come out on top winning 5-1 after beating both storm Dennis and Sheffield at a wet and blowy York University.

Sheffield made the short trip up the M1 sitting in top spot with an impressive undefeated record, whilst York were 1 point behind the visitors eagerly snapping at their heels in an attempt to leapfrog them in the league. This was going to be a clash of the two best teams in the league with the added ingredient of storm Dennis to mix things up a little.

The match got underway 15 minutes early to beat the storm, York settled in immediately, playing some fast flowing football in difficult conditions, chances went begging with Ben Farrar, Ozzy Shaw and Noah Ward all seeing their chances fall the wrong side of the post. As is normally the case if you don’t put away your chances you get punished, in the 13th minute Sheffield who hadn’t really been in the match were awarded a free kick out on the Left wing, it was whipped in to the danger area with the help of “Dennis” and flicked off the unlucky head of Jack Huddlestone’s to fly passed the helpless Stan Connor in to the York goal. What a sucker punch 0-1 to table toppers against the run of play, this was now about character as Sheffield were buoyant and playing with more vigour, they thought they had ridden the York storm, if only they had checked the forecast for when the second York storm was due to blow in. It arrived in the 28th minute, with Matty Ellison winning a midfield ball to feed Farrar who hit a sweet left foot in to the net 1-1, two minutes later saw York score another, some fantastic play around the edge of the box saw Shaw slip the ball to Ward who rifled the ball in to the net , 2-1 York, the ref blew for half time.

A quick 5 minute team talk, then both teams were back at it, this was going to be a massive 30 minutes for both teams, who was going to hold their nerve? York again started well with a fast tempo supported by an impressive work rate and strong challenges. York’s defence of Harry Glaves, Jimmy Hendon and Jack Huddlestone were snuffing out any Sheffield attack, whilst Cam Mcmillan and Brogan Dunne put in a shift by working tirelessly in midfield. In the 42nd minute York were awarded a free kick, it was whipped in by Shaw causing a goal mouth scramble, it fell for Ward to stroke the ball home for his second and York’s third. York had now grabbed the initiative and looked to have winded Sheffield by being 3-1 up. Things got better for York in the 49th minute when Ellison received the ball about 30yds out in-front of goal, he unleashed a fierce drive that flew over the outstretched arms of the Sheffield keeper to smash in to the net 4-1. Credit to Sheffield they kept playing and as York had found out in previous games they knew to their cost they had to play until the final whistle. York kept focused and every player won their battles, in the 59th minute the game was won when James Borlase slotted home York’s fifth with a calm right footed shot that nestled in to the net. The ref blew for full time that saw York come out 5-1 winners and leapfrog Sheffield in to top spot.

Goals: – Ben Farrar, Noah Ward x 2, Matty Ellison, James Borlase

MoM – Noah Ward – 2 goals, plus an impressive work rate and did a superb 1 on 1 marking job on Sheffield’s danger man.