York Men’s 1sts claim BUSA league title
University of York Men’s 1sts 2-1 Leeds University Men’s 2nds
Date: Saturday 26th January 2008
League: BUSA Northern Conference Men’s 3B
An accomplished and professional performance from York Men’s 1st team was just enough to overcome the challenge of Leeds and secure the league championship with one round of fixtures remaining. Second-half goals from Mark Gouland and Thomas Wilson secured the firsts their second promotion in two seasons, opening up an unassailable six-point margin at the summit ahead of today’s opponents.
Entering the big match, rearranged from Wednesday afternoon, captain Dominic O’Shea urged his team to thrive from the pressure of the occasion and capitalise on home advantage to claim the Northern Conference 3B trophy. The adventurous 3-5-2 formation, which had delivered six BUSA league victories prior to today was again employed, benefitting the attacking instincts of Alex Cooper and Henry Smith down the flanks and offering a versatile approach to forward moves. The three-man central midfield of Wilson, Andrew Ramsden and Matt Witherwick remained resolute in the scrappy central third, enjoying the physical challenge of the Leeds strategy.
Given the expectation before the match, the sizeable crowd gathered on the 22 acres found themselves largely disappointed during a nervy and well-matched opening half, where the blustery conditions stifled the effectiveness of the long ball. Neither side really settled into their usual rhythm, which had hitherto served them well this season and the focus was most definitely on physicality over creativity. There were half chances at both ends; Ramsden dispatching a header over the crossbar early on for York, while home goalkeeper Andy Emmerson was called upon to parry a potent effort from the edge of the penalty area.
York were quick to identify and exploit the weaknesses down the right-flank, with the energetic Smith regularly getting beyond the wing-backs and latching on to the long-balls from the defence, which swirled unpredictably in the wind. However, in the attacking third, the final pass was absent and the strike partnership of O’Shea and Gouland struggled to make an impression against a bullish Leeds back four. The home side appeared most potent from set-pieces launched forward, although direct free-kicks were disappointing efforts. The most enterprising attack of the opening 45 minutes came when Leeds struck the right post with Emmerson beaten after a neat through pass had unlocked the York midfield.
The second half presented a complete contrast as wide spaces began to appear in the midfield, the game’s tempo rose several notches and chances were plentiful at both ends. First, York forced the goalkeeper into a quick-fire double block as Cooper and O’Shea worked space in the penalty area, the latter doing well to retain his balance to release a powerful shot. The title-chasers started to dominate possession and the chances started to flow for the first time in the match, an excellent aerial ball from Cooper found O’Shea, but the striker could only fire into the side-netting from close range.
The York team sensed the crucial breakthrough was imminent and they weren’t disappointed. When the tireless O’Shea won a free-kick on the right-wing, a pin-point ball from the ebullient Johnny McWilliams found the head of Gouland who didn’t need a second invitation to put York into a deserved ascendancy. Suddenly, the flair and confidence of this successful season came flooding back and the second goal wasn’t long in coming.
Shortly after O’Shea had rifled a half-volley infuriatingly wide, a free-kick earned on the left-wing this time was swung in venomously by Wilson. The sheer volume of bodies challenging for the ball deceived the goalkeeper, who misjudged its flight and gave York the decisive goal with just ten minutes remaining. However, the celebrations proved short lived as the game swung in the favour of Leeds late on.
Substitutions soothed the nerves to an extent, but Leeds squandered an excellent opportunity to extend the title race to the final day. A testing cross was met at close-quarters but the ball shot agonisingly across the face of goal, offering York an enormous reprieve. The sense of relief was palpable as the final whistle blew, confirming that York Men’s first team were champions of their league again, capping off an excellent season.
York team: (3-5-2) Emmerson; McWilliams, Rixon, Evans; Smith, Ramsden, Wilson, Witherwick, Cooper; O’Shea (Capt.), Gouland
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‘York Men’s 1sts claim BUSA league title’
Really it should say ‘a BUSA league title’ Bath and Loughborough would tear York to pieces, but since they’re in the south they can’t.