UYAFC 1sts 4 – 1 Leeds Beckett 2nds
– McCoy opens scoring from the spot
– York pegged back soon after
– McCoy puts York ahead just before half time
– Victory assured through OG and Overo-Tarimo header
UYAFC 1sts claimed an impressive victory over Northern 2B league leaders Leeds Beckett 2nds in testing conditions at the 3G. York looked the most dangerous throughout, and despite being pegged back after taking the lead, showed great composure to wrestle back the initiative and comfortably take the three points.
Connor McCoy opened the scoring from the penalty spot but Leeds Beckett were soon able to equalise through their striker. However, McCoy managed to bag a brace and his team’s second just before half time through a deflected shot. The momentum gained through taking the lead before the interval was carried well into the second half by York, and the victory was assured through an own goal and a well-directed header from Mirhire Overo-Tarimo.
With gale force winds blowing across the 3G, it never looked to be a free flowing contest. The opening exchanges were frantic, with both sides struggling to put together any meaningful attacking moves. After 8 minutes however, the lightning quick Garo Heath, stationed out on the left wing, was able to find some space and drove into the box before being sandwiched between two Leeds defenders and earning his side a penalty. Heath’s Halifax teammate Connor McCoy stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and put York ahead.
The game fell back into its previous pattern, with neither side able to hold possession effectively. Heath’s pace got him into another promising position, but his first attempt was blocked and the follow up deflected narrowly over.
The wind was to play its part soon after, with a long ball over the top being helped on its way over skipper Dave Belshaw’s head, before being calmly lifted into the net by the Leeds front man.
With the scores level once again, it was Leeds who pressed for the goal to take them ahead. The ball fell nicely on the edge of the box and a stinging shot was unleashed, but York goalkeeper Balzan was equal to the task and managed to tip the ball to safety.
York slowly recovered from being pegged back, with striker Josh Bew starting to get more involved in play. He was sharply onto a short back-pass but the Leeds stopper was just able to get there first, with winger Fotheringham placing the resulting chance wide.
It was Bew again at the heart of the action as York took the lead just before half time. After being nicely played down the left, he showed good composure to thread a ball across the edge of the box for McCoy to latch on to and score both his and his team’s second, via a deflection.
As repeated time and time again in the footballing world, the few minutes before half time are some of the best to score in, and York definitely proved this to be true. They were immediately in the ascendancy at the beginning of the second half, with a corner being narrowly glanced wide and Heath, normally so lethal, blazing over from a decent opening.
The Black and Gold’s dominance was soon to pay dividends, with the industrious Overo-Tarimo providing a low ball into the box which found its way into the net via a Leeds defender, with Bew providing close attention.
If a two-goal deficit didn’t already look insurmountable for the visitors, York found themselves three ahead only minutes later. A McCoy corner was smartly nodded on by captain Belshaw, with Overo-Tarimo accurately directing the subsequent effort into the corner of the net.
Beckett attempted to claw back a goal soon afterwards but York stopper Andy Balzan made an outstanding save to deny what would have been a blockbuster of a goal. Solid throughout, Balzan managed to get his fingertips to a rising effort, with the ball ricocheting off the bar and to safety. Minutes later it was his counterparts turn and he proved he was also up to the task, acrobatically tipping wide a fierce shot from substitute Joe Easter.
The game fizzled out with no further chances of note. With the three points secured, York have moved up into 4th in the Northern 2B table on 9 points. Their home record of 3 wins from 3 games is impressive, but their away form definitely needs to improve if they are to push for a higher position. No wins from 3 away games belies this teams potential as a very solid outfit, and if that can be addressed, there is no reason to say they cannot be pushing for promotion.