York’s smooth progression provides kick-start for season

by Adam Shergold | October 30th, 2008

UNIVERSITY OF YORK HOCKEY MEN’S FIRSTS 2 - UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS HOCKEY MEN’S FOURTHS 0
BUCS Cup (Hockey) First Round, Wednesday 29th October 2008

Recording their first victory of the season, York’s hockey team earned comfortable progress into the second round of the BUCS Cup competition at the expense of Leeds University fourths, a side plying their trade two divisions below them.

Entering the game off the back of a narrow reverse in their opening BUCS league fixture last Wednesday, York seemed revitalised by the distraction of the cup and were in the ascendancy from the outset. Andy McIlwraith culminated a flowing move within the first minute with a venomous effort which fizzed narrowly wide of the post.

Initially, Leeds seemed incapable of stringing a pass together, yet alone a coherent attack, but their defensive line remained impregnable, drawing fouls out of York captain Billy Walsh on a couple of occasions. Somewhat inevitably, York did at length work a clear-cut opportunity when Richard De Boltz wriggled clear, his shot well deflected by the Leeds goalkeeper’s shinpads.

Forcing a succession of short corners, York pressed the issue, but Walsh couldn’t force the ball through the forest of bodies crowding the penalty area and the stalemate remained. Remarkably, in a rare counter-attack, Leeds managed to get the ball in the York net but the scorer was deemed to have kicked the ball in.

Henceforth, York’s defence was unconquerable, with Rob Newton marshalling, and this provided the necessary impetus for the rest of the side, rewarded on the stroke of half-time when Andy Harris culminated a move of tidy interplay.

In a low-key second period, York gradually coaxed the game from their opponents by playing an expansive game in possession. Chances, however, were few and far between: Walsh exhibited good vision but his shooting radar was slightly askew. It required Dan Alder’s neat finish eight minutes from time to settle matters and finally kill off the challenge of an often sloppy Leeds side. York now face a double-header of away fixtures in the league, against Durham and local rivals York St. John, in the next few weeks, likely interspersed with a second round cup fixture they will approach with renewed confidence.

Prior to the first’s fixture, York’s second side were left heartbroken by a last minute Teesside winner in their BUCS Cup encounter. Despite facing higher league opposition from the North-East, York bossed proceedings and generated numerous chances in one of their finest overall performances, but to no avail.

Speaking to Nouse after the match, York Captain Billy Walsh said, “We produced an unspectacular, but professional performance to beat a team who were highly motivated. It is always difficult to maintain a high level of performance against a team from a lower league, but we were efficient and patient and got what we deserved in the end in a more comfortable victory than the scoreline suggests. Strong performances all round, particularly from man of the match Andy Harris in the centre of midfield.”

York Line –up: Tom Chevins (GK), Rich Larkin (RB), Andy McIlwraith (LB), Rob Newton (Sweeper), Tom Harcourt (CB), Chris Carr (RM), Billy Walsh (CM), Andy Harris (CM), Rich De Boltz (LM), Mark Inman (FW),Nick Latcham (FW)

Mike Giblin (Sub), Tom Arkle (Sub), Dan Alder (Sub), Niko Bode (Sub)