Photo by Matthew Appleby
York City U19s kick-started their 2025/26 National League U19 Alliance North season with a 3-2 win, in dramatic style.
It took just four minutes for the game’s first chance to arrive, and it was in Boston’s box, as Lincon Newall got his head on a corner, but could only guide it wide.
The post was soon struck as well by Sutton Greening, but no one able to tap in the rebound.
Tom Hewson looked lively in the opening stages too, and forced the ‘keeper into a good save in the 20th minute with a strike from the right-hand side of goal.
However, his time on the field was cut short due to injury, having to be replaced by Lucas Russell after just half an hour.
The visitors’ shot-stopper had been back in action again before then, getting down low to prevent a Greening free-kick from sneaking into the bottom corner.
Eventually, the long-awaited opener came for the young Minstermen – an excellent ball over the top from Greg Baker picked out Donny Day, who coolly took the chance and slotted it under the ‘keeper and into the back of the net.
Just before the break, the goalscorer had another opportunity, finding himself in a similar position, but on this occasion, the ‘keeper came out on top, blocking Day’s effort with his outstretched leg.
The second half began in the same fashion as the first, with the hosts looking more dominant, and in the opening five minutes, another shot on target was notched.
Oz Shaw received the ball on the ground inside the area, and rolled an attempt towards the far corner, which was ultimately a simple stop for the man in goal.
As the game approached the hour mark, the Pilgrims sprang into life, and having not yet had a real chance in the match up to this point, managed to pull themselves level.
A long free-kick was looped into the mixer, and diverted home by one of their players.
Aiming to restore the lead, Adam Tweed tried a deep searching cross from the right, which actually evaded everyone completely and clipped the top of the crossbar.
But minutes later, City fell behind, as a yellow shirt struck a successful half-volley, after a free-kick had fallen to the penalty spot.
Heading into the final phases, with City still fighting for an equaliser of their own, a free-kick was awarded right on the perimeter of the 18-yard box.
Greening, who had already scored two set-pieces in pre-season, stepped up to take this one, and as if you knew it was going to happen, his effort flew past the wall and crept into the corner, making it 2-2, with not long to go.
The Minstermen had no time for celebration, as there was still enough time on the clock for a winner.
And that proved to be the case, with substitute Michael Kydd putting the perfect driven cross in from the right for Day to convert from close range and wheel off in jubilation.
Boston came scarily close to adding another twist to the tale in injury time, as a long-range effort had Campbell White beaten, but thankfully for him, the ball crashed straight off the woodwork, which would be just about the final action.
York City: White, Newall (Clarke 65′), Binns (Campbell 86′), Belleh (C), Baker, Beadle, Tweed (Kydd 75′), Shaw (Roberts 75′), Hewson (Russell 29′), Greening, Day.
