James College Men overcame a spirited Bowlands College Men side in a hostile and tense affair.
Yorks James College started the brighter side employing the long ball strategy multiple times to great effect. Despite being the visiting side they were more than happy controlling possession of the ball and playing out from the back.
However the tide slowly began to turn in Bowlands favor winning successive corners and striking the left post in the culmination of a fluid attacking move.
James persisted, however once again opting for the long ball strategy and this time reaping the rewards with their captain slotting the ball coolly into the top right corner, giving James a 1-0 lead.
The bowland equaliser came soon after with pressure built over a series of free kicks paying off. A lofted free kick, not dealt with by James, was headed back across goal for the waiting centre half to head it into an empty net.
Straight after the break Bowland took the lead , for the first time,capitalising on a James mistake on the edge of the area, striking the ball across goal and into the bottom corner.
Responding almost instantly, James drew level, with a floated cross headered low and hard to the keepers left. Despite getting his gloves to the ball he was unable to keep it out of the net, almost palming it in.
James then took a much deserved lead once again from a low drilled cross that was slotted into the bottom left corner, finishing a brilliant counter attack. 3-2
James came close again rattling the woodwork with a powerful header but that proved to be there last chance of the game with Bowland launching attack after after attack. One bullet of a shot from outside the area crashed into the crossbar and another header went narrowly wide.
However James defence stood resolute and held out til full time, for a much deserved 3-2 victory.