Football 1sts continue NUL form

University of York 1sts 2 - 0 Leeds Met Carnegie 1sts

A tale of two leagues is an apt phrase to sum up the football 1st team’s season so far, with no points from three games in BUCS and three wins and a draw from their NUL campaign. The Yorker reports on a fine performance that leaves the football 1sts at the top of the NUL table.

From hardship grows team spirit, and with it a real sense of fiery determination that the 1st team can take this fine NUL form into BUCS and kick start their season. Facing the Leeds Met 1st team, after losing to their 2nd team earlier in the season, and with injuries and absentees again prevalent including captain Witherwick, York were all too aware of the stiff task ahead.

In came Barnett, Brennan, Murphy and Worrall as changes to Wednesday’s team meant Evans was moved into the back three alongside Gardner and Worrall. Barnett started as right wing back with Brennan in centre midfield and Murphy up front.

York began brightly by forcing the Leeds Met keeper into a string of saves; the most notable a Brennan effort forcing a corner as York moved the ball into wide positions quickly, creating numerous openings. The white rose held a near monopoly on possession in the early stages with an in form Mcleod operating in front of the defence, shipping the ball wide to Cooper and Barnett who formed the basis of most York attacks.

However, it was Leeds Met who had the first real chance of the match, their number 9 whose shot from the right side of the penalty box was saved magnificently by the agile Emmerson. Leeds Met’s only other first half chance of note was a free kick which somehow dribbled onto the post before finally being cleared. York began to assert real authority over the game, in particular Murphy who terrorised the Leeds Met defence with his strength and pace. If his finishing could match his build up play he may already have the 20 goals, rather than just one, that he assured team mates he would score this season.

The best chance of the half fell to Wilson, whose ferocious 20 yard strike was tipped onto the inside of the post to only roll agonisingly across the goal line. Though fortune did favour York a couple of minutes later where a deflected Barnett cross found the net to give them a deserving 1-0 lead at the half time interval.

Perhaps the biggest positive this season for York has been their defence, having only conceded six goals in eight games, with three of those coming in a single match. Today they were equally assured as Evans and Worrall filled in assuredly, accompanied by the omnipresent Gardner.

As the game wore on, Leeds Met’s inability to gain possession, but also to threaten the York goal once they did obtain it, steadied any home nerves in the last ten minutes. As the match entered injury time, a long Emmerson kick released Gouland through on goal where he expertly lofted the bouncing ball high over the approaching keeper and into the empty goal. As long as Gouland scores the main chance that presents itself, he will sleep soundly at night alongside his favourite Leeds teddy bear.

York will be keen to extend this promising form into the BUCS league, where the performances have matched those on Saturdays, but the appearance of Lady Luck has left Witherwick wondering if she could not change her Wednesday seminars.

Team: Emmerson, Gardner, Evans, Worrall, Mcleod, Brennan, Wilson (Witherwick, 80), Cooper, Barnett, Murphy, Gouland.

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.