By Will Light — February 1, 2012 | ONLINE ONLY

UNIVERSITY OF YORK 4-3 UNIVERSITY OF HULL (AET)
BUCS Northern Conferece Cup

Three times York were knocked down. Yet every time they hit the mat, they brushed themselves off, stared down their opponent and fought back harder.

It was this spirit that eventually gave Dan Turley’s team the keys to the next round, after a pulsating 120 minutes of football.

At times it was far from pretty, but the match also had flair, controversy and genuine excitement, all wrapped up to make a delightful parcel of a cup tie.

It was Hull that struck first. After stinging Dom MacMahon’s fingertips with a freekick, some searing pace from a Hull attacker allowed him to break free of York’s grip, and, despite keeper pressure, he was able to tuck the ball lovingly into the bottom corner of the net.

After a period in which space was at a premium, York found an equaliser. Tom Clarke whipped in a wonderful ball from deep, a cross that left the Hull keeper utterly stranded. He failed to track Alex Reid’s run at the far post, and he promptly poked home.

In the latter stages of the first half, the game became increasingly physical, primarily due to the approach of the Hull team. The referee at times looked to be losing control of the tie, with York winning a free kick virtually every time they entered the final third.

Against the run of play, Hull found the lead, after a rapid break caught York unawares. The ball found its way into the box, where a Hull man showed considerable trickery before smashing past MacMahon.

The second half saw a game beginning to open up. Hull enjoyed two early chances, one of which was cleared brilliantly off the line by Tom Brandreth, whilst York saw a point blank header saved.

When it finally came, York’s equaliser was sublime, a long ball into the box finding Tom Clarke, who let it bounce once before lashing a half volley into the far corner.

York’s joy, however, was short lived. Dan Turley found himself dispossessed in controversial circumstances, after a Hull striker appeared to kick his heels without seeing any of the ball. The player wound his way into the box before crashing a strike home, amidst angry remonstrations from the York players and supporters.

At this point, nothing was in York’s favour. Increasingly frustrated as decisions continually went against their side, the team in yellow and black continued to pepper the Hull goal in vain as the minutes ticked away

Finally, York found their equaliser, deep into added time. A long throw arrowed into the box, eluding everyone but Dan Jones, who saved his side’s cup chances when he dived in to sweep home.
The game went to extra time, and at this point momentum was firmly in the hands of York. After Tom Clarke blazed a ball inches over the bar, they took the lead for the first time in the match.

An Ollie Harrison cross plopped onto the head of Tom Brandreth, who guided it home and was promptly smothered by team-mates, who held him aloft as a hero.

Still, more than a half remained of extra time, resulting in what Sir Alex may eloquently describe as ‘squeaky bum time’. Dan Jones performed miracles in completing a goal-line clearance after MacMahon had strayed off his line, before MacMahon himself made an excellent save after a Hull shot looked destined for the corner of the net.

Hull, however, will travel back to Humberside wondering how they didn’t earn the 4-4. In their final attack, a cross from the by-line found an attacker merely a yard out, but he somehow contrived to glance a header across the face of goal. It was a spectacular miss, worthy of Rosenthal himself, and the jeers of the York crowd provided a lovely cherry on top of a quite humiliating cake for the Hull player.

Captain Dan Turley was justifiably delighted with the result. He told Nouse: “‘It was such hard work to come back three times. I couldn’t fault anyone’s effort out there today. Hopefully we’ll carry this form into our next games.”