Derby Delight

York destroying St John

England against Germany, Churchill against Hitler, good against evil, York against St John. This battle was up there with the greats (besides Roses of course), and the 3rds' fixture was the most competitive football fixture being played this year with both the 1sts and 2nds cancelled because of teams competing in the BUSA plate knockout.

After injuring his 'big toe' in pre-Varsity training, skipper Broadhurst was only able to manage from the sidelines as one of the strongest looking 3rd teams this season took their places on the pitch. York started brightly, having reverted back to 4-4-2 after a mid-season flirt with 3-5-2. This gave more time and space to the inventive wingers of DeGirolamo and Clarke and the back line was looking to get these players into the match as much as possible.

Passing the ball comfortably across the back, St John were getting frustrated within minutes as they dived into horrible looking challenges. York kept their cool however, and a quick break on the right saw a opening for Williams only for the keeper to hold on to the ball. St John continued to try and break the players legs including a horrific high,two-footed, late lunge on Johnson, only for the referee issuing the statement that 'under no circumstances would he book anyone for anything first time'.

Under these new guidelines Brennan used his experience to break-up the St John attacks with annoying fouls and wind-up tactics on the frustrated St John midfield. Both his and Johnson's incisive passing saw York keep possession with Tam 'the Sheriff' Sherif and Parris 'Sinama-Pongolle' Williams causing havoc in the defence of St John, with hacked clearances their only form of resistance.

This pressure resulted in York's opening goal. A nice passing move between Ford, Brennan and DeGirolamo ended up in Sherif with the ball at this feet at the edge of the box. The striker shimmied one way and hooked the ball the other only for the St John defender to haul him down. The ancient ref had no choice but to award the penalty. Sherif stepped up and nonchalantly slotted the ball into the right hand side of the net sending the keeper the wrong way with his shifty eyes. Another flowing move minutes later should have resulted in a second only for Williams to round the keeper but then send the ball into the side-netting.

York St John found a new impetus but could find no way past the back line of York, with Lewis' aerial dominance and Nightingale's calm presence on the deck proving a fruitful combination. However on the 41st minute mark, a skewed clearance from Lewis ended up in a corner to St John. With what can only be described as a dwarfish team, York looked considerably smaller to the giants of St John. The inswinging corner could only be flicked on by notable dwarf exception Lewis only for the diminutive DeGirolamo to be outjumped by the St John defender who duly nodded into the unguarded net.

Broadhurst's usual motivating speech at half-time galvanised the spirits of the York players, and a Ranieri-like three man switch ended up with added firepower but a more shaky structure to the team. A change in the St John line-up brought a target man up front who caused problems at throw-ins and set-pieces in the final third. However, this allowed more space in the centre of midfield for Brennan and substitute Omarov. The pairing soon utilized this space and a cutting-edge move going across the field ended with a not so cutting edge shot shanked wide. Two breaks by the nippy St John striker brought two match saving tackles from captain Nightingale, with more and more pressure on the York defence. This was made worse when Lewis pulled up with a groin injury with fifteen minutes to go and the injury plagued McKellow was brought in as a makeshift centre-half.

However, Broadhurst's changes eventually brought their rewards with the bright Cooper, skinning his man and from 30 yards, looping the ball over the stranded St John keeper sending the jubilant crowd of manager and subs into raptures. This resulted in a rejuvenated St John bombarding the home defence, with the new back-line repelling attack after attack. With minutes to go a quick counter-attack sent Cooper through on goal who's one-on-one with the keeper could have settled the tie. Unfortunately the new recruit spanked the ball wide of the goal much to the delight, and relief, of the St John crowd. The York boys held firm to get the three points and the pride of victory over their (nearly) closest rivals.

Match Ratings

Henderson – looked comfortable in goal, with not much to do: 7/10

Hewitt – the right back got forward well and communicated effectively across the back line: 8

Lewis – Dominated aerially against the tiny St John striker: 8

Nightingale – Never put a foot wrong in the game and two match saving tackles: 9

Ford – Looked assured at the back first half, always does his job: 7

Clarke – His infamous Cruyff turned the St John's left back inside-out first half: 7

Johnson – Always a creative force, and always a danger going forward: 8

Brennan – The old man of the team is always going to cause problems both in the opposition's half and in his own backline: 8

DeGirolamo – Effective going forward and works hard coming back. Quiet second half: 7

Sherif – In a Sheringham role, he always looks dangerous and no defender can get round that backside to challenge: 9 (MOM)

Williams – With the ball at his feet looks exceptionally dangerous, ineffective and out of position second half: 8

Substitutes

McKellow – The other Mr Experience in the side. Besides a slice which put their striker through on goal, always looked solid: 7

Omarov – His incisive passing always causes problems: 7

Cooper – Often ran into blind alleys first half but then got his goal with a superb effort: 8

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