Molly keeps football 2nds jolly

University of Teesside 2nds 3 - 3 University of York 2nds (AET). York win 6 - 5 on penalties.

Substitute Luke ‘Molly’ Molyneux’s extra time goal and decisive penalty in the shoot out kept York 2nds in the BUCS cup in a dramatic tie that kept the team’s 100% record intact.

This Wednesday the 2nd XI had a tough trip to an icy Teeside for the first round of the cup. The 2nds went into the game on the back of an unbeaten start to the season and there was an understandable air of confidence about the team despite facing opponents from the division above. This confidence dissipated very quickly as York made a sluggish start with the majority of the team playing as though they were still on the coach with the lacrosse girls.

Despite the best efforts of skipper Alex Richards to rally the troops and insert some cohesion into York’s play, the first half remained scrappy and disjointed. The poor playing surface and blustery conditions were not conducive to York’s passing game but against a physical yet technically inferior Teeside 2nd team York had every reason to feel disappointed with their first half performance.

This disappointment turned especially sour after going a goal down; a long kick from the Teeside ‘keeper was not dealt with allowing a sharp striker to steal a yard and finish emphatically. There were some flashes of quality from the lively Joe Cooper and imposing Dan Cox and the goal aside, the defensive display was solid but that did not save the team from a stern team talk at half time.

There was a marked improvement in the second half with Mark Johnson and the ubiquitous Kit Edwards starting to exert more influence on the tie bringing wing backs Jack Crane and Chris Barnett into the game creating more clear-cut goal scoring chances from the flanks. The sustained period of pressure finally paid off when a cross from the right was not dealt with properly by the portly Teeside ‘keeper under pressure from a looming Cox, leaving Joe Cooper to bundle the free ball in at the back post.

While it was an improvement York still failed to play to their full potential and even with the equaliser under their belts the away side only matched an underwhelming Teeside outfit and failed to dominate. The introduction of Luke Molyneux did add an element of control for York in the midfield and was a far more telling sub than the brief cameo from Ben Smith on for Dan Cox who survived a mere 10 minutes before being chewed up by the now infamous Teeside defender Ramon. York finished the stronger but the match finished tight with few clear goal scoring opportunities for either side.

The start of extra time seemed to inexplicably spark York into life and the first half saw the team play some fluid, attacking and confident football. The midfield began to overwhelm the tiring opposition and when Chris Grayland decided to maraud forward creating an extra man it provided space for Joe Cooper to run onto a well weighted through ball and slot home with a superb pinpoint finish in off the post.

The goal tightened York’s strangle hold on the game and after scintillating play and good link up play between Molyneux and Johnson a third goal was poked home by Molyneux making the score 3-1 by the end of the first half of extra time and the game appeared to be sewn up.

Unfortunately the Teeside team had different ideas and in front of a growing partisan crowd started the second half of extra time much the stronger. York in contrast seemed to forget that there were another 15 minutes to play, and after a few half chances Teeside pulled a goal back through a wonder strike; their striker turning deftly onto a lofted cross before hammering home an unstoppable strike. The goal opened up the final 10 minutes with clear chances going begging for both sides with Mark Johnson, Joe Cooper and Kit Johnson all going close.

The end to end action was exactly what York wanted to avoid and after some lucky deflections Teeside scored a fortunate equaliser moments before the final whistle. Penalties loomed and saw York come together as a team and Jack Crane give some invaluable penalty advice to ‘keeper Sam Clitheroe. The exact words are a closely kept Crane-family secret but the Yorker understands it was something about pointing.

Teeside decided to take first and (after some pointing from Clitheroe) their striker drilled a clean strike that looked destined for the bottom corner but for an outstanding dive from Sam which saw him tip it round the post. Alex Richards stepped up for York and confidently powered the ball home to take the initiative (0 – 1).

Teeside levelled and Mark Johnson calmed slotted his penalty to retake the lead (1 – 2) before another good Teeside penalty levelled things again. Jack Crane stepped up confidently to take the third penalty but unfortunately put it too close to the robust Teeside ‘keeper who pushed the shot back to keep the scores level (2 – 2).

The Teeside captain was then thwarted by another outstanding save by Clitheroe to reassert York’s advantage which was unfortunately short lived when goalscorer Joe Cooper sent the ‘keeper the wrong way only to see his shot come back off the post (2 – 2). Teeside held their nerve to score their fifth penalty and it took an emphatic top corner finish from Grayland to keep York in the tie (3 – 3).

Sudden death began with Teeside scoring a firmly hit penalty and Chris Barnett held his nerve to keep draw York level (4 – 4). The Teesiders again slotted home their penalty and an unwilling Kit Edwards manned up to take the pressured kick which York needed to keep their cup dream alive. The diminutive Edwards scored (5 – 5) and the Teeside penalty taker screwed his penalty wide leaving Molyneux to grab the glory and score the winning penalty (5 – 6).

York progress to the next round of the cup after a battling performance and can take positives from another victory against allegedly stronger opposition. York 2nds will face Leeds Met 3rds in the next round who will surely be another stern opposition, one that plays two leagues above the York side, but as we have seen this fact surely won’t phase Richards’ rowdy side.

Team: Clitheroe; Grayland, Gibb, Worrall; Barnett, Crane, Richards, Edwards, Johnson; Cooper, Cox (Smith (Molyneux))

Scorers: Cooper (2), Molyneux

The Yorker Man of the Match: Cooper

In other football news the university's 1st and 4th teams were pitted against each other in the BUCS cup first round last Wednesday. After a frustrating half hour for the 1sts, they finally broke the deadlock thanks to a Gouland penalty. The 4ths stayed resolute however, and saw out the half with a respectable 1 - 0 scoreline.

Early in the second half the 1sts’ dominance and class shone through and the ridiculous levels of possession were finally converted into goals, albeit scrappy ones, thanks to Gardner, Witherwick and McLeod. The 4ths, led by new captain Condron, showed great spirit and determination to never collapse against a side four divisions above them. A late penalty from McLeod made the final score 5 – 0 and York 1sts go on to host Northumbria 2nds in the next round.

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