Leeds Schools' FA "A" 0 v York 2 - 22nd November 2008 - Headingley Campus, Leeds
This was surely the coldest day of the year so far, bright and sunny with a raw wind biting in to the faces of spectators and players alike. The venue was the excellent pitches at Leeds Carnegie.
Leeds started extremely brightly. The team held its shape really well, after some detailed match planning from Mr Smith and Mr Rossiter. Each member of the team knew his role and it wasn't long before the chances started to come. Some neat interplay between Scott Townend and Michael O'Donoughue on the right eventually played in Jack Waters on the left who was unable to get quite enough on the ball to steer it home. An opportunity fell moments later to Ross Kershaw whose powerful shot tested the York keeper. Andrew Slinger's decent effort from distance shortly afterwards just found the wrong side of the post.
York were finding it hard to match Leeds' determination at this point. The Leeds' full backs Andrew Slinger and Joe Firth were able to support the attack and overlap along the flanks well. From past experience though, Leeds knew that this York team could play some quality football and that was always the risk.
More chances followed. Oscar Bailey was upended by the strong York central defender on the edge of the box. The resulting free kick failed to test the keeper.
When Oscar Bailey managed to outmuscle the York defender to the ball just outside the box moments later, a goal was surely on the cards. Bailey slid the ball calmly beyond the onrushing keeper but his effort was agonisingly inches wide of the left hand post. When the York keeper managed a miraculous double save, firstly from a strong drive from Scott Townend and then a follow up from Oscar Bailey, Leeds suspected that their dominance could not last for the full hour.
Half time 0 - 0
After the first half, Leeds had the benefit of the wind behind them and there was much reason to be optimistic. York's half time team talk must, however, have been a good one. They started, for the first time in the match, to take the game to Leeds.
When Daniel Sefton misread a clearance, the York attacker was unfortunately on hand to take advantage and to tuck the ball away beyond Daniel Crook, who had replaced Ross McKenna in the Leeds goal at half time. A lucky and perhaps undeserved goal. Unfortunately for Leeds, this gave a boost to the York team, who started to play with more confidence.
When York played some good one touch football on the edge of the Leeds box, the resulting shot was high above Daniel Crook in goal and in to the net, doubling the lead. From then on, Leeds played deeper in their own half.
This really was a game of two halves with Leeds totally dominant in the first half of this Carnegie Transpennine league fixture, only for York to come away with the spoils at the end of the day. It also proved that the team has to put away the opportunities when they arise to avoid being caught out on the break.
Full time 0 - 2