U15s York V East Riding (League)
U15 York & District 1 – 2 East Riding
30th September 2023 – York
Team Line Up: Ben Alder, Luca Long, Oliver Waygood, Sam Parris, Harley Waddington, Lucas Matthews, Bodhi Justice, Harry Waines, Finn Davis, Charlie Goodwin, Ewan Daly, Matthew Orr, Olaf Gorczyczewski
York were back in league action at home on Saturday 30th September against regular title challengers East Riding. The visitors edged a very close contest which left York feeling disappointed not to have earned at least a deserved point. However despite the defeat this was an encouraging performance from the York boys who created a number of scoring opportunities, especially in the first half, and they fought until the end to force a draw.
A late withdrawal and some injury niggles resulted in an early reshuffle of the starting 11 for York, but they started the game brightly. Isaac Arif and Charlie Goodwin were making great runs down the channels and getting in on the East Riding defence, with Goodwin in particular producing a number of great crosses which Matthew Orr narrowly heading wide or over the bar. Arif was very threatening with his pace up front and broke the offside trap on a number of occasions. In midfield Harley Waddington was clearly showing his understanding with Goodwin as they combined on multiple occasions to create attacking opportunities. Bodhi Justice, Lucas Matthews and Olaf Gorczyczewski added steel, possession and creativity to the midfield, with Sam Parris, Oliver Waygood and Luca Long protecting Ben Alder in goals, restricting to East Riding to some speculative long shots and corners.
York also had a large number of corners in the first half, with excellent delivery from Goodwin, resulting in further headed chances for Waddington, Parris and Orr. Ewan Daly on the left flank was combining really well with Long and Matthews from a defensive standpoint as well as creating overlaps, crosses and attacking opportunities. 0-0 at half time and all to play for.
Second half started with a similar pattern and both teams creating half chances. Daly produced a great run down the left to square the ball to Goodwin who couldn’t quite get it on target. Harry Waines and Finn Davis were also adding energy and skill to the midfield, and Davis forced a great save from the East Riding keeper. However, confusion in the York defence after a slow restart from substitutions meant a 2v1 situation which Alder could not prevent East Riding taking the lead, arguably against the run of play. The York team felt aggrieved at the manner of the first goal, but they had no one to blame other than themselves for East Riding’s second when the failure to clear a corner resulted in confusion, uncertainty and a two goal deficit.
Credit to York as they fought back, and Davis had another chance to shoot in the box with the goal at his mercy, but opted to take another touch and lose the opportunity. However great work from Gorczyczewski tee’d up Goodwin at the edge of the box to rifle home a deserved goal and set up a grandstand finish, but York just couldn’t find the equaliser as the final whistle blew.
A brave defeat against a very strong side, but equally disappointing as York were more than worthy of a share of the spoils.
Final score: York 1-2 East Riding
Goalscorer: Charlie Goodwin
