By Roger Baxter
The York men’s hockey seconds produced a sterling all-round performance to deservedly beat a Sheffield side coming from two divisions above them and progress to the next round of the BUCS Northern Hockey Cup. Managing to combine efficiency at the back, grit in the middle of the park and flair, up front, Tom Chevins’ team must be well satisfied with what was their best performance of the season so far.
On a positively Siberian astroturf, the usual stick-beating rituals to begin the match were followed by a protracted and engaging battle in the middle third of the pitch; the hockey equivalent of trench warfare provided an intense, high-tempo spectacle. The flair in possession showed by the Sheffield players indicated that they had come from a higher league, but York defended equally as well as their opponents throughout the first half, and pressured while doing so rather better; Alex Alonso, Sam Unsworth, and Joe Walsh, on York’s right flank and centre midfield, linked up particularly well during the first half . Having traded penalty corners to little effect for the opening minutes, the first real chance of the half fell to James Talbot, who fired a rising snap shot into the stretching gloves of the Sheffield keeper.
This was the cue for more engagements in the centre of the pitch, and it appeared as though the half would end scoreless. York, however, would be the team to go in a ahead. A quick break down the left saw a cross into the area passed by James Wilson onto Talbot, who cut inside before delivering an impressive backhanded finish into the Sheffield net, which was immediately followed by the whistle for half-time.
Sheffield’s response was ferocious following the restart. Two penalty corners were dealt with in a rather panicky fashion, the second being cleared off the line, with Chevins stranded and beaten. York, however, showed real fighting spirit to come back into the half, and the game became a mirror image of what it had been in the first period. A final reward for York’s endeavours came after a penalty corner won by Wilson; this was fired to the edge of the D and passed to Walsh, who finished low into the net with a smart finish.
York were exultant, and a moment of sloppiness 3 minutes from time which allowed Sheffield a consolation goal from a break could not spoil a magnificently fought win for the 2nds. They may well face their counterparts in the firsts in the next round of the cup, and a just reward that would be.