Lancaster 3-1 York
With the Red Rose only needing 4 more points, the Men’s Football Firsts began the game knowing that a victory would seal the Roses tournament.
The expectations of the match seemed to somewhat hinder the teams as both Lancaster and York played out an intense start. The first ten minutes was a tale of hard fought battles in a combative midfield with the odd half-chance.
The first real opportunity for either side came after the 10-minute mark, when Lancaster midfielder Daniels’s free-kick was met with a header by Martindale which was well saved by York’s goalkeeper.
Despite Lancaster’s first major chance, York began to get themselves into the game with some nice passing and movement from their three front men. However, the intensity of the game meant that York’s link up play never amounted to any decent chances and it was only Lancaster who came closest to scoring first when Hull’s great effort from the left wing struck the inside of the post.
The Lancaster captain came agonisingly close again just a couple minutes later with a superb run and chip that went the wrong side of the far post.
Lancaster were finally taking a hold of the game, when in the 35th minute winger the best move of the game resulted in Martindale side footing brilliantly into the right corner. Lancaster midfielder Hannity began the play with a great run through the middle before passing to Hull on the right wing who subsequently picked out Martindale on the edge of the box to score. The goal brought an end to an otherwise uneventful half.
Unlike the first half, the second half began in action-packed style. Within the first minute of the second half, York equalised with a twenty-five yard strike that flew past Marjason in the Lancaster goal. It was an exceptional strike and having hardly even touched the ball, Lancaster were immediately taken aback.
However, after the goal was scored, the match reverted back to its previous state of play of nervy but physical midfield battles. The match slowed right down until the last twenty minutes when Lancaster, on the back foot, were bombarded by York pressure.
The Reds’ defence was well matched, however, and provided some heroic last ditch tackles, not least from centre-back Haythorn who was subsequently taken off for the after affects of a last gasp header to deny York a goal.
If the start of the match had been a dull and compact affair then Lancaster’s final fifteen minutes was an exciting finale. Hull should have scored in the seventy-fifth minute when he rounded most of the York defence and goalkeeper before striking his shot directly onto the only remaining defender who cleared off the line.
The Lancaster crowd could not believe the miss, but to Hull’s credit, the Lancaster captain contined creating chances nonetheless and led his team by example. Within a couple minutes, Hull made immdiate amends by dribbling through the York defence and setting up Sissling who put Lancaster into a 2-1 lead.
To the delight of the Lancaster crowd, Hull capped off a superb performance with a well deserved goal that secured Lancaster’s victory in the eighty-nineth minute – his dribbling prowess once again too much for the White Rose.
Speaking to SCAN after the game, Hull described the feeling of winning Roses as “excellent, considering last year’s disappointing performance,” adding that “the team have taken it really seriously this year and have played really well.”
Lancaster’s 3-1 victory and additional four points means that Lancaster seal the Roses 2012 tournament, returning the trophy to the Red Rose after a year’s absence.
