York City U19s fell to their first defeat of the National League U19 Alliance North 2025/26 season, at home to Hartlepool United, on Wednesday afternoon.
After a thrilling opening couple of games, which saw us win 3-2 against Boston United and South Shields, division newcomers Hartlepool were next up.
A number of changes had been made following last week’s game against the Mariners, with Ben Farrar notably leading the line.
Michael Kydd made his first start of the campaign, as did Theo Clarke at centre-back, and Lucas Russell, who slotted into a midfield two.
The game started slowly, with neither side having any clear-cut chances early on.
Russell made his mark in the 11th minute, putting in a well-timed challenge inside the box to deny the Pools player advancing any further.
Two minutes later, the visitors latched onto a mishap at the back and came close with a hopeful lob over the bar.
It was soon the Minstermen’s time to have a go for goal, a double chance evolving from close range.
A deep cross from Lewis Beadle found the head of Kydd, whose attempt tested the ‘keeper’s instinct reflexes, before Ollie Belleh touched the rebound over the top.
Farrar had his involvement in the next City opportunity, nodding a tame effort goalwards at the back post in the 22nd minute.
Later, a good run from Adam Tweed left him with the obvious option to thread the ball through the gap to Donny Day, but the goalkeeper shut it down, racing out at speed to block the latter’s prob at goal.
The momentum kept increasing, with chance after chance coming for the hosts, but none of them would end up counting on the scoresheet.
It was actually nearly Pools who got themselves ahead against the run of play 32 minutes in.
A clever backheel flick from the winger allowed him to spin and run onto it, pulling the ball back to the edge of the box for the ‘number 10’ to hit one, deflected behind well by a City defender.
Despite plenty of moments where that opening goal could have been found, the half-time whistle sounded with the teams locked in at 0-0.
Eight minutes into the second half, Hartlepool scored that first goal.
It was a well-worked move, with a succession of quick passes inside the Minstermen half, before the ball was laid off for the ‘number nine’ to lift it into the net.
Kydd tried to get City back on terms rapidly, but his adventurous shot from the right of the box could only find the side netting.
Forward Farrar had another chance in the game in this half, but failed to capitalise after turning his man and shooting into the legs of the oncoming shot-stopper.
In the 66th minute came arguably the best chance of the half, as a driven cross was aimed towards Day in front of goal, but when the ball rolled into his path, he managed to divert well over the goal frame with an outstretched foot.
The pressure remained firmly on, with a viscous strike rippling the side netting, and then a double-chance from a corner.
Pools had one of their own with ten minutes to go, but Cam White was alert to punch the high effort clear.
However, a minute later, it was mayhem in City’s own box, as a couple of unfortunate touches allowed a man in orange to tap the visitors’ second into an empty net.
Now two down in the clash, it was a long way back for York, with little time to go.
In fact, they had some of the best chances of the game in the closing stages, a flick over the bar, and a low shot which rolled narrowly wide.
Russell attempted a looped cross-shot next, which the ‘keeper was forced to tip over the frame, just to be safe.
The resulting corner dropped in the danger area, and a scramble eventually ended up in the arms of the ‘keeper, which would be the final action of an entertaining game at the Training Ground.
York City: White, Tweed, Beadle, Belleh ©, Baker, Clarke, Kydd (Campbell 60’), Russell, Farrar, Greening (Roberts 46’), Day (Hewson 70’).
