LUMHC 2 - 4 UYHC
After a brief interlude watching LUWHC complete their indoor games, the Men's Indoor 1s looked to emulate their second team counterparts, as well as avenge the indoor loss that they received last year in York. Boasting a strong side containing the likes of experienced veterans Alex Beauchamp (Rosie), Matt Davies (Smiler) and outgoing chairman Matthew Bridger (Pooh Bear), the 1s felt they had a good chance of defending home court advantage.
In a similar vein to their second team colleagues, they flew out of the traps, obviously having seen that the York goalkeeper looked shaky in his warm-up, and wanting to force an early mistake. Ex-Rossall School teammates Liam Ganose and Dylan Jordan (Dylscoop) showed the partnership they have developed over the years, with Liam feeding the ball into the channel, only for Dylan's swept effort to be saved by the York keeper. Having enjoyed a bright start, the home side were pegged back just a few moments later, as the York attackers played a ball onto a foot of a Lancaster defender. The resulting short corner was fired into the Lancaster net to undo all of the good work that had been done in the early stages of the game. Only a smart save from Smiler after a York counter-attack prevented a further increase in York's lead.
The healing was only temporary as another short corner was given away by the home side, once again after being caught short at the back with a large amount of bodies thrown forward in attack. Smiler made an outstanding save from the initial flick but his defenders didn't help him out as the rebound was bundled in to give York a scarcely-merited 2-0 lead. Almost straight from the push-back another short corner was given away, and Smiler was given no chance this time, as the ball was pushed by the injector to the far right hand side of the D, where a York attacker was waiting to slot the ball in at Smiler's exposed near post. 3-0, and York had barely had to work for it.
Despite the disappointing score line, the 1s replied in the only way they knew how to, by trying to get back into the game. Pooh Bear and Minnie tried to calm everybody down with a sustained period of possession, as Simon Jackson (Dynamo) and Dylfly made particularly incisive runs off the ball. Liam was also beginning to become more influential, and he found Dylfly on one of his baseline runs, who drew the keeper before rolling it across the goalmouth. Unfortunately Elliot Mason (Jedi) miscontrolled the ball so it bobbled up off his stick before he could put it in the goal, meaning that his goal was ruled out. Nevertheless, it was much better play from LUMHC, looking to gain a crucial goal before half-time to swing the momentum back in thier favour. Liam was at the heart of everything good produced by the home team, relieving pressure with his mazy runs which drew in multiple defenders, before laying it off to open teammates. This led to a period of sustained pressure through a number of shorts. However, unlike their York counterparts, the 1s weren't clinical enough with these opportunities, creating half-chances but nothing clear cut, meaning that the half time whistle blew with the score still at 3-0.
In a similar vein to their second team colleagues, they flew out of the traps, obviously having seen that the York goalkeeper looked shaky in his warm-up, and wanting to force an early mistake. Ex-Rossall School teammates Liam Ganose and Dylan Jordan (Dylscoop) showed the partnership they have developed over the years, with Liam feeding the ball into the channel, only for Dylan's swept effort to be saved by the York keeper. Having enjoyed a bright start, the home side were pegged back just a few moments later, as the York attackers played a ball onto a foot of a Lancaster defender. The resulting short corner was fired into the Lancaster net to undo all of the good work that had been done in the early stages of the game. Only a smart save from Smiler after a York counter-attack prevented a further increase in York's lead.
The healing was only temporary as another short corner was given away by the home side, once again after being caught short at the back with a large amount of bodies thrown forward in attack. Smiler made an outstanding save from the initial flick but his defenders didn't help him out as the rebound was bundled in to give York a scarcely-merited 2-0 lead. Almost straight from the push-back another short corner was given away, and Smiler was given no chance this time, as the ball was pushed by the injector to the far right hand side of the D, where a York attacker was waiting to slot the ball in at Smiler's exposed near post. 3-0, and York had barely had to work for it.
Despite the disappointing score line, the 1s replied in the only way they knew how to, by trying to get back into the game. Pooh Bear and Minnie tried to calm everybody down with a sustained period of possession, as Simon Jackson (Dynamo) and Dylfly made particularly incisive runs off the ball. Liam was also beginning to become more influential, and he found Dylfly on one of his baseline runs, who drew the keeper before rolling it across the goalmouth. Unfortunately Elliot Mason (Jedi) miscontrolled the ball so it bobbled up off his stick before he could put it in the goal, meaning that his goal was ruled out. Nevertheless, it was much better play from LUMHC, looking to gain a crucial goal before half-time to swing the momentum back in thier favour. Liam was at the heart of everything good produced by the home team, relieving pressure with his mazy runs which drew in multiple defenders, before laying it off to open teammates. This led to a period of sustained pressure through a number of shorts. However, unlike their York counterparts, the 1s weren't clinical enough with these opportunities, creating half-chances but nothing clear cut, meaning that the half time whistle blew with the score still at 3-0.
The second half begun with the sports hall filled with the sound of air horns, provided by 2nd XI member Ted Clifton (cheers Ted). The intimidating atmosphere seemed to impact the York players, as the Lancs boys were spurred on by the partisan home crowd to emulate the many famous comebacks of recent times (Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool particularly springs to mind). The crowd went wild as Liam completely bamboozled an opponent, dropping his shoulder and going in the opposite direction before finding a foot in the York area. Once again, the Lancaster short corner routine malfunctioned, letting the visitors off the hook and resulting in a counter-attack at the other end, which was clinically dispatched into the bottom corner to increase York's lead to an seemingly unassailable 4 goals.
This goal did not dampen the enthusiasm of the home crowd, who carried on supporting their heroes to the end. This support was rewarded a few minutes later, as Dynamo pounced on a mistake by the York keeper in the box to slot home and give the crowd belief that a famous comeback was on. The noise inside the sports hall reached defeaning levels when only a minute later Dynamo stole in front of the York keeper and outrageously flicked the ball into the back of the net after good work by Pooh at the back. Cries of 'Zigga Zagga Zigga Zagga Lancaster' filled the hall as the 1s pushed for an improbable comeback, yet they had left it too late. Just a few minutes after Dynamo's brace, the full-time whistle blew to leave the final score as 4-2 to York. The boys showed great application and resilience to win the second half 2-1, but ultimately they left themselves too much to do after an indisciplined and sloppy first half. Nevertheless, they can be happy with their performance in the knowledge that next year should bring an even stronger team effort during indoor.
LUMHC 1s - UYMHC 1s: 2-4
Dynamo (2)
LUMHC Starting 6: Matt Davies, Dylan Jordan, Matthew Bridger, Tom Moody, Liam Ganose, Alex Beauchamp
Substitutes: Elliot Mason, Simon Jackson
Man of the Match: Liam Ganose for controlling the midfield and the tempo of the game, as well as finding teammates when necessary with good ball pace and accuracy. Also broke a few ankles.
This goal did not dampen the enthusiasm of the home crowd, who carried on supporting their heroes to the end. This support was rewarded a few minutes later, as Dynamo pounced on a mistake by the York keeper in the box to slot home and give the crowd belief that a famous comeback was on. The noise inside the sports hall reached defeaning levels when only a minute later Dynamo stole in front of the York keeper and outrageously flicked the ball into the back of the net after good work by Pooh at the back. Cries of 'Zigga Zagga Zigga Zagga Lancaster' filled the hall as the 1s pushed for an improbable comeback, yet they had left it too late. Just a few minutes after Dynamo's brace, the full-time whistle blew to leave the final score as 4-2 to York. The boys showed great application and resilience to win the second half 2-1, but ultimately they left themselves too much to do after an indisciplined and sloppy first half. Nevertheless, they can be happy with their performance in the knowledge that next year should bring an even stronger team effort during indoor.
LUMHC 1s - UYMHC 1s: 2-4
Dynamo (2)
LUMHC Starting 6: Matt Davies, Dylan Jordan, Matthew Bridger, Tom Moody, Liam Ganose, Alex Beauchamp
Substitutes: Elliot Mason, Simon Jackson
Man of the Match: Liam Ganose for controlling the midfield and the tempo of the game, as well as finding teammates when necessary with good ball pace and accuracy. Also broke a few ankles.