U15s York & District 4 – 0 Doncaster (1st Round Yorkshire Cup)

Yorkshire Cup Round 1
York & District v Doncaster
Date: 3rd February 2024
Venue: York
Team Lineup: Ben Alder, Sam Parris, Matteo James, Harley Waddington, Charlie Anderson, Lucas Matthews, Bodhi Justice, Harry Waines, Isaac Arif, Finn Davis, Ewan Daly, Dara Sanusi, Olaf Gorczyczweski, Charlie Goodwin

Another round of knockout football for York’s U15s, but this time in the Yorkshire Cup, saw the home team see out a comfortable win against a spirited Doncaster side. Although deserved winners, it wasn’t until the second half where York really kicked into gear and the clean sheet was something for the defence to be proud of.

The Doncaster team were big and physically daunting so it was a good test for the York team to counter this. The first half followed a pattern of York mainly in control but not really creating any clear cut chances. The movement of the ball was a little laboured as both teams were settling into the game. Bodhi justice, Harry Waines and Charlie Goodwin were the main driving forces in midfield, ensuring that York dominated possession, but the play through the final third was yet to get going with only a few half chances created and shots from distance. Sam Parris at right back found himself with a lot of time and space on the ball, and despite some great runs forward as well as passes into the channels it failed to materialise in any meaningful attempts on goal.

Doncaster carried a threat and the back four of Parris, Matteo James, Harley Waddington and Charlie Anderson needed to be vigilant. Ben Alder in goal was as solid as ever and dealt with any freekicks and corners expertly, as well as a telling contribution in the second half. On the wings Ewan Daly and Finn Davis were struggling to get into the game early on as most of the attacking threat was central, using the power of Olaf Gorczyczweski as the lone striker. However Doncaster were managing to keep York at arms length. The breakthrough came around 10 minutes before halftime when a York freekick was floated into the box and Harry Waines managed to get a mix of his shoulder and back onto the ball to deflect it over the line. Certainly not a pretty goal but a goal all the same and this helped to settle York down as they went in 1-0 to the good at half time.

With the additions of Lucas Matthews and Isaac Arif, York kicked it up a notch in the second half. Now the ball was moving faster, the wingers getting far more involved and York were much more of an attacking threat. Goals 2 and 3 were well worked with switches of play angled runs. With Dara Sanusi dropping into midfield he played a good ball into Daly, who’s lovely around the corner pass set Arif free on the wing who switched play to Matthews who found the arriving Justice in the box to smash a shot into the top corner for 2-0. Then a similar move saw Daly tee up Justice for a simple tap in and his second of the game. Now York were comfortably in command.

At the other end Doncaster were creating moments and a brilliant save from Alder kept Doncaster at bay with the score at 1-0. In fact the back 4 were defending very well and were the source of the strong foundations from which York built their attacks with Sanusi and Goodwin pulling the strings in midfield. York were in full control and other chances came and went with Daly and Davis looking to get on the scoresheet. Gorczyczweski was then played in down the left by Daly, beating his marker he fired a right-footed shot well saved by the Doncaster goalie. However Gorczyczweski got his reward when a great ball from Matthews put him through on goal. Once he shifted the ball to his right foot there was only one outcome as he fired low into the bottom corner to round out a great team performance. 4 goals and a clean sheet represented a good day’s work. Into the next round, a tough away fixture against Barnsley in a couple of weeks, but a return to league duties next Saturday at home to Bradford.

Final score: York 4 – 0 Doncaster
Scorers: Justice x 2, Waines, Gorczyczweski