Hockey firsts consigned to relegation despite defiant stand in Varsity draw.
York St John 1
York University 1
A valiant performance acquired a draw for York’s hockey firsts against their cross-city rivals on Wednesday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough to stave off relegation from BUCS Northern Conference 2B.
Entering the match with the slimmest of survival chances, York, faced with an uphill struggle after falling behind early in the first-half, couldn’t find the essential winning goal to stay afloat. A deflated silence was the reaction to the final whistle, as Billy Walsh’s team contemplated life in BUCS League 3B next season.
Walsh, whose superb individual goal squared the match on the half-hour, tried to remain positive in the face of crushing disappointment, saying poignantly that “I am honoured to captain a team as committed and talented as this.”
“The players who have formed the backbone of the team this season showed their quality today: Rich Larkin charging down the right-wing, Andy Harris showing fantastic composure in the midfield and Rob Newton dictating the pace of the game from sweeper,” he added.
Rocked by initial league defeats against Northumbria and Durham before Christmas, the team struggled to generate momentum, hindered on several occasions by postponed fixtures and strong opposition. A spirited draw with league-leaders Durham at the end of February rekindled hopes of avoiding the drop, but these were dashed by Leeds in a single-goal defeat last Monday, and then York St. John two days later.
Walsh’s strike was an all too fleeting example of the team’s potential. Regaining possession in the central third, the captain adroitly negotiated a flurry of half-tackles while purposefully cutting from right to left, and swept an inch-perfect shot past the goalkeeper. At this point, York were firmly in the ascendancy, manipulating space on the right flank through link-up play featuring Larkin, Harris and Niko Bode, the forward. Bode was eye-catching throughout – York’s best player – showing acceleration to scythe past his markers and fizz inviting passes across the penalty area, which always evaded the stick of fellow attackers Mark Inman and Joe Spedding.
York’s pressure was an appropriate reaction to the controversial manner of St. John’s opener on the quarter-hour. When a feed from the visitor’s first short corner of the game wasn’t intercepted, an optimistic shot clipped in off the crossbar after taking a heavy deflection off an outstretched York body part to elude Sam Harriman in goal. Following deliberation between the two officials, the goal stood.
Inspired by the introduction of Nick Latcham from the bench, York responded to the blow with skill and gutsy determination; Walsh nudging a set-piece just beyond the onrushing Andy McIlwraith, before Bode shot low and accurate at the start of the second period, denied barely by the goalkeeper’s stick. Since St. John’s attempted aerial balls consistently failed to hit their target, York were given a blank cheque to forage forward after the break. Again led by the midfield axis of Walsh, Harris and Richard De Boltz, a number of presentable chances went begging; another Bode effort was smothered at close-quarters, while Walsh steered an attempt agonisingly wide. When the hosts’ had the ball in the net, with twenty minutes to burn, it was disallowed for an infringement and their fate was sealed.
Walsh acknowledged after the match, “We dominated, but were not clinical enough in the final third. Typical of a season when if the defence perform, the attack struggle and vice versa.”
The team must now refocus for their forthcoming Roses battle with Lancaster and, beyond that, a promotion charge next year.
Better news for the second team, meanwhile, who beat Sheffield University fifths 6-2 to confirm their survival. Goalscorers were Joe Lancaster (3), Adam Douglas (2) and Sam Butterfield.
York Line-Up
GK – Sam Harriman
RB – Richard Larkin
LB – Andy McIlwraith
SW – Rob Newton
CB – Mike Giblin
CM – Billy Walsh (c)
RM – Andy Harris
LM – Richard De Boltz
RF – Niko Bode
CF – Mark Inman
LF – Joe Spedding
Substitutes: Nick Latcham, Dan Alder, Jamie Harbor
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