Classy football fourths end year on a high with Bradford rout
UNIVERSITY OF YORK FOURTHS 4
UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD SECONDS 1
BUCS League 6D – Wednesday 9th December
A superb display from midfield maestro Phil Taylor helped York fourths to a well-fought 4-1 victory this Wednesday against Bradford seconds. After inspirational substitutions and the game firmly in the balance at 1-1 with Bradford proving hard to break down, Taylor capitalised on a goalkeeping error to send York on their way to their second win in three games.
A goalkeeping crisis hit the York squads this week with three of the five stoppers unavailable, but with only three teams playing this week it meant that the fourths were the team most affected. Captain Collins, however, was able to use his vast array of contacts and sign the Derwent College first team ‘keeper Roy Moore, who went on to make some fine saves in order to keep York’s lead intact.
The hosts took the lead 15 minutes into the game when striker Tom Ragan slotted the ball past the keeper after an excellent one-two pass with midfielder Tom Prifti. But the Brazilian style football that the fourths are famous for unfortunately stopped as York began to sit on their lead, letting a poor Bradford side create chances.
The visitors got a deserved equaliser on 35 minutes when York failed to deal with a corner and the ball fell to an unmarked Bradford player who was more than happy to equalise for his team. The goal did not give York the boost they needed and they battled until half-time despite looking unlikely to regain their lead.
A stern telling off at half-time from a very animated Collins gave York the motivation to go out and take the game to Bradford. York took to the field and their quality began to finally shine through. They started to create chances, but it wasn’t until Collins made the brave decision to bring on a new left and right back in Liam Regan and Joe Jenkinson that York’s fortunes changed.
Thirty seconds after Regan came on York scored their second goal, thanks to Taylor pouncing on a parried shot from Jack Crane. Once the home side had regained the lead they never looked back and went on to please the fans with goals and the majestic trickery of Alexandre Poodlé.
Collins came off to a standing ovation from the crowd and on came fans’ favourite Angus O’Brien. It didn’t take long for the replacement to make an impact when the bean pole striker gambled on a goalkeeping error. O’Brien, the Bradford goalkeeper and a defender all went for the ball and the defender collided with the goalkeeper. With both down injured Angus put the ball in to an empty net. After much confusion, on the referee’s part, the goal did not stand. In all the mix-up the Bradford defender punched O’Brien in the face, but the consistently bad referee turned a blind eye.
The ever enthusiastic Crane was the next to get himself on the scoresheet. A long cross from Prifti was met by the face of Crane and it just went over the line. Ragan soon after got his second of the game which firmly cemented him as UYAFC fourth team top scorer for this term and captain Collins hopes there will be plenty more from the striker.
The win puts York on six points from four games but, with a game in hand of their closest rivals, they can now look forward to pushing higher up the table and challenging the top teams.
A special mention to James Loftus, whose confidence on the ball in defence brought much needed stability to, what has often been, a shaky York defence. Also, Crane for his, at times, over the top enthusiasm and attacking prowess made him very difficult to play against. Taylor, who ran the game from midfield, rarely lost the ball and was effective in both York’s defensive and attacking play. Finally to Alexandre Caz Petitcolin, whose constant trickery on the left-hand side left all the Bradford players wanting a piece of him.
York Line-up: Roy Moore, Jonny Hyde, James Loftus, Sam Gibb, Jack Crane, Tom Prifti, Phil Taylor, Alexandre Caz Petitcolin, Matthias Vermeulen, Alex Collins (c) Tom Ragan
Substitutes: Joseph Jenkinson, Liam Regan, Angus O’Brien,
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