York City Academy put in an exceptional performance on Thursday evening to ease past Bradford Park Avenue with a 6-0 win in the FA Youth Cup Second Round Qualifying.
Our opponents had the first chance of the game, but Cam White had no issues with holding a long-range shot.
Ben Farrar threatened down the other end, he could only notch a tame effort from close, which the ‘keeper had no trouble with.
Jake Roberts was next to be front and centre of a City chance, as his downward bouncing header surprised Josh Owen, who just about managed to claim.
Eleven minutes into the cup tie, and the Avenue were awarded a penalty for a foul, a chance to take the lead.
John Lupaka stepped up to the spot and placed his shot towards the bottom right corner, but Campbell White guessed correctly and dived at full stretch to deny the Bradford striker.
Four minutes later, a second penalty was given in the game, this time in favour of York.
It was set-piece specialist Sutton Greening who stood over this one, and once that whistle blew, the number ten was the coolest man in the ground, dispatching from twelve yards.
In the 20th minute, mayhem for Bradford at the back post eventually saw Greening scramble home his second of the evening.
And less than a minute later, phenomenally, he had his hat-trick, all within the opening half hour.
The ball was laid off to him inside the box, and with the ‘keeper rushing back across goal, Greening fired into the net before Jones could get there.
Lucas Russell tried for a fourth soon after, but his shot from range was caught by the shot-stopper.
Avenue were still looking for any kind of lifeline at the end of the first half, and almost had it, as a man in white hit one towards an empty net, but Greg Baker was there on the line to stick a boot out and superbly turn it onto the crossbar.
The young Minstermen would head in three goals to the good at the break, and they emerged for the second half applying the same pressure.
Jake Roberts went alone for the opening chance of this half, after he was set free down the left wing, and drove into the box, but couldn’t beat the ‘keeper, who did well to save the eventual opportunity.
Six minutes on, City had another golden opportunity. This time it was Ben Farrar, who challenged the ‘keeper down at the byline, and won the ball back, before pulling it back to Donny Day in front of an open goal, but he scuffed his wide, and the score would remain 3-0.
The opposition had a couple of half-chances after that, with shots that hardly troubled White between the sticks, and a vicious free-kick headed clear by the wall.
York came close in the 65th minute, as a looping free-kick into the mixer found a red shirt, but the header was directed narrowly over the crossbar.
It should have been four in the 74th, when there was mayhem in the Bradford box, and after pinball right in front of goal for a few seconds, somehow our opponents managed to defend it and get rid.
However, City did grab another goal a few moments later. Substitute Ed Campbell found the ball down the right and raced forward, before unleashing a strike past the oncoming goalkeeper, who was left helpless.
Eddie Kettlewell made sure his name was on the scoresheet too, adding a fifth.
Also having come off the bench, he earned the goal, having put the ‘keeper under immense pressure, before stealing the ball off him, and tapping into an empty net.
And then, right at the very end, Tom Hewson completed the scoring, finding the perfect angle on the right of goal, and unleashing a great strike past Owen and home.
That would be the final action on a sensational night for York City Academy, as they progress into the next round of the FA Youth Cup.
Bradford Park Avenue: Jones, Woodcock, Duffy, Feltham, Hannah, Asamoah, Lupaka, Bedeau, Nsingi, Martins, Nazare.
Subs not used: Owen, O.Farrar, Bah, Brentley, Lee, Thomas, Hayes.
York City: White, Kydd, Beadle, Belleh ©, Shaw, Baker, Roberts (Kettlewell), Russell, B.Farrar (Hewson 64’), Greening (Campbell 72’), Day.
Subs not used: Ozisik, Zubrickas, Hagan, Cofinas.
