Football 1sts back on track

Despite last weekend's thrashing by Leeds, captain Dom O'Shea decided to stick with the same starting eleven for this BUSA fixture against Leeds Trinity. He was forced to make one change however. Andy Rixon's injury in the Leeds match meant a 1st XI debut for defender Greg Gardner, who had been having an impressive start to the season with the 2nd XI.

The demoralising effect of the Leeds defeat was seen from kick-off, as York started poorly and were put under immediate pressure by their opponents. After 5 minutes, a fragile York - looking for a steady start to boost their confidence - did what they had been dreading the most: they conceded a goal.

And what a goal it was. As if a goal from the opposition wouldn't have been damaging enough for York's confidence, goalkeeper Andy Emmerson decided to really put his team's bouncebackability to the test by scoring a goal himself. A through ball down the right channel sparked a frantic race for the ball between Emmerson and the Trinity winger. Winning the race for the ball but being forced wide in the process, the Trinity player crossed the ball into the centre. Emmerson, running back towards his goal, attempted to intercept the cross and put the ball out for a corner, but unfortunately for him and his team, he ended up diverting the ball into the far corner of the net, much to the Trinity players' delight.

Slowly but surely however, York began to grow into the game. An O'Shea free kick on 15 minutes and a Silson shot from outside the box a minute later showed threatening signs that York were steadily gaining back their confidence.

Sensing this, the Trinity players decided to try and frighten their opponents into submission. Foul followed foul as the first half went on, but both teams could see that it was York who were seizing control of the game.

Despite their control however, York reached the final few minutes of the first half still behind to Trinity's early goal. However, just before half time, York got the equaliser they had been craving for. A deep cross from the right wing by fresher Alistair Laird found Henry Smith free at the back post, and he powered his header across the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

The start of the second half saw York continue to put pressure on Trinity, with a free kick by Wilson on the edge of the area drawing a great save from the Trinity goalkeeper on 47 minutes. However, sensing that York's attacks were beginning to lack impetus, O'Shea decided after 60 minutes to replace Laird with Ed Murrills, another player promoted from the 2nd XI.

His impact was immediate. Good play down the right from Murrills found Smith in the centre, who laid the ball off to the onrushing O'Shea. But with the keeper beaten, his shot ran just the wrong side of the post.

On 77 minutes, it was Murrills again who was involved in a great chance for York to take the lead. His cross from the right found Gouland unmarked in the six yard box, but the striker somehow headed the golden opportunity wide.

However, just eight minutes later, Gouland redeemed himself with the winning goal. Recieving the ball twenty yards out, he smashed it along the ground. To the ecstasy and relief of the York players, the ball clipped the post and nestled in the back of the net. Despite defensive confusion providing Trinity with a great chance to spoil the show late on, York managed to hold onto their lead and gain a valuable, morale-boosting win.

After the match, captain Dom O'Shea said: "I’m really pleased to come off the back of a 6-0 defeat and put a couple past a pretty good Leeds Trinity team. I’m pleased for all the lads as well, because in the changing room on Saturday, everyone was a bit down, having been beaten, but we turned it around today. I couldn’t have really asked for more than what we got."

In response to the fans' cries for Matt Witherwick's introduction during the match, O'Shea replied: "I would’ve liked to have got him on, but at one all, when it was really tight, I didn’t really want to make changes to the team. But I’ve spoken to him, and he’s not too down about it. He knows he’ll get his chance, and he’ll take it when he does."

York 1st XI (4-4-2): Emmerson, Evans, MacWilliams, Gardner, Cooper, Laird (Murrills 60), O'Shea, Wilson, Smith, Gouland, Silson.

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