York City U19s ended the season on a positive note, edging out AFC Fylde in a nine-goal thriller on Wednesday lunchtime.
There were two changes to the starting eleven following our 9-2 win over Solihull Moors last week – Eddie Kettlewell and Jake Roberts replaced Sutton Greening and Elvis Hall, who, along with Adam Tweed, missed out through suspension.
City could not have gotten off to a better start, as Ethan Stiver arrived in the area to slide Eddie Kettlewell’s driven cross into the bottom corner, within forty seconds.
A similar opportunity arose six minutes later – Kettlewell sent a low ball into the box, this time looking for Josh Binns, whose first-time effort was well blocked by a defender.
Fylde were handed a route back into the game in the 12th minute when a penalty was awarded, and their taker made no mistake, firing high into the net.
Kettlewell remained at the heart of the Minstermen’s attacking play, producing a mazy run before the ball fell to Lucas Russell, whose effort was comfortably held.
The hosts then took the lead in the 23rd minute, a low strike slipping past Cam White, before the City goalkeeper was called into action again to prevent a quick third.
Ben Farrar flashed an effort wide shortly before the break, as York looked to respond.
Two minutes into the second half, Kettlewell came close to an equaliser, cutting inside and curling a superb effort against the far post.
Fylde extended their advantage soon after with a low finish into the bottom corner, punishing City for missed chances.
However, the two-goal cushion did not last long. Farrar latched onto a through ball from Greening, broke clear of his marker, and calmly finished to reduce the deficit.
City continued to push, with both Oz Shaw and Kettlewell heading wide in quick succession, while Fylde also threatened with a deflected effort that was gathered by White.
The equaliser came for City on the hour, remarkably from Russell, who hadn’t scored this season until his goal last week.
Beadle played a great ball across from the left to pick out the midfielder, who chipped the ‘keeper with his first touch.
Changes were made by Tim Ryan in the 65th minute – Dom Zubrickas was introduced between the sticks, while Tom Hewson replaced Stiver.
Just under two minutes after coming on, Hewson made an immediate impact, meeting Greening’s cross with a diving header at the back post to complete City’s turnaround.
Momentum continued to swing in York’s favour as Hewson was fouled as the last man, resulting in a red card for Fylde. Beadle’s resulting free-kick was on target but comfortably claimed.
City were then awarded a penalty in the 81st minute after Greening was brought down. The substitute stepped up himself and fired into the top corner to make it 5-3.
Farrar was looking for number six when he almost got into a one-on-one situation, but a last-ditch lunge from a defender blocked his eventual shot.
Two minutes from full-time, Fylde set up a tense finish when they pulled a goal back with a close-range tap-in, but City held on in the end to see out a win on the final day of the season.
York City: White (Zubrickas 65′), Kydd, Beadle, Belleh (C), Shaw, Stiver (Hewson 65′), Roberts (Greening 46′), Russell, Farrar, Kettlewell, Binns (Campbell-Baldwin 46′).
