23rd Mar 2019 Mens 3rd v City of York 6(Home) 5 - 0 win
With Tadcaster apparently having dropped points, Ben Rhydding 3rds took to the field for the last game of the season knowing that a win would secure them second spot and promotion. And with a league restructuring, this would effectively mean two promotions to Division 2.
Despite missing midfield lynchpin James Hudson, Andy Sutherland was prepared for playing centre midfield having been working intensively on upper body strength the night before lifting pint glasses in the pub.
Determined to keep our winning run going, Ben Rhydding started strongly, dominating possession but not carving out any clear cut chances. Cussons Sr epitomised the determination, smashing into a challenge but unfortunately missing the ball and taking the player and getting 2 minutes rest as a reward. Meanwhile at the other end on rare forays into our half, York forced keeper Pratt (who had been following the Sutherland match preparation method as well) into a couple of fine saves at 0-0 and reminded us that we would need to play our best to get the result.
Fortunately the breakthrough came mid-way through the first half with a lovely flowing move by the young forwards, Cussons Jr playing in Tom Young in space in the D who drew the keeper before sliding the ball to Worthington for a simple tap in.
Then as Ben Rhydding continued to press, in the absence of our regular shortcorner taker, Higgitt stepped forward and tried a new routine, electing to hit a weak shot directly at the keeper who cleared the ball only as far as Cussons Sr to slam home the rebound.
2-0 at half time, but we knew it was not over and York had enough to get back into this and the next goal would be crucial. And indeed York started the second half strongly, coming inches away from a goal as Ben Rhydding defence stood statuesque.
That jolted us back into action and centre forward Higgitt (who had allegedly given up scoring for Lent) ran powerfully at the heart of the York defence before slipping the ball to Cussons Sr who wended his way through a series of York players to the by-line before hitting a pinpoint cross back to Higgitt to sweep home.
We then focused on controlling the game, happy to let York play their nice passing hockey in their half, but not giving them any room or time as they got towards our goal. When Sutherland had a two minute rest for an exuberant challenge, we bolstered midfield and still continued to cause problems on the counter, but back to our full team again, with space starting to open up we took a vice-like grip on the game. Mark Horsman got forward from right back to smash a ball into the D looking for a deflection, but having evaded all Ben Rhydding sticks, the goalkeeper elected to clear the ball and put it straight to Tom Young who calmly controlled it and drove it home.
Then in the final moments, Andy Sutherland latched on to a half cleared ball to smash home from the edge of the D to make it 5.
A fantastic performance from front to back. Pratty, with two really important saves at 0-0, Horsman and Bretherick at right and left backs brought the ball out of defence calmly and started our attacks down the flanks. Rayner, sweeping in front of the defence, helped disrupt York attacks and get ours going again. Sutherland and Priestley in midfield worked tirelessly to regain possession and control the game. Super veteran Cussons Sr in midfield showed his dazzling stick skills, bamboozling York defenders from start to finish � despite regularly having 2 or 3 players in clos attendance, I�m not sure whether he was once fairly tackled in the entire game.
The front men of Cussons Jr, Higgitt, Young and Worthington ran themselves into the ground to create chances and to harry the York defence into mistakes.
And Snooky, back from a 4 week hamstring lay off came on to give more energy to the midfielders. But man of the match this week goes to Logie at centre of defence who snuffed out so many York attacks and, when they did break through, always seemed to be in exactly the right position to clear the danger.
After the match, some team awards: Joe Cussons: top scorer of the season, James Hudson: player of the season, Mark Horsman � most appearances, only missing one game throughout the campaign.
Huge thanks to all the players who have played for the 3rds at some point this season.
But especial thanks to all the umpires who give their time to allow us to play the game we all love and particularly to David Abbott and Hugh Lorimer who do such an incredible amount behind the scenes to make the captain�s job easy.
So mission accomplished. Captain Higgitt has managed to get the team promoted to a level he can�t keep up with and looks forward to immediate dropping to the 4ths with the record of one season, 2 promotions. Beat that.