York City U19s got back to winning ways at York College on Wednesday afternoon with a 4-2 win over South Shields in the National League U19 Alliance North.
Cam White, Jake Roberts, and Ethan Stiver were added to the starting lineup in place of Dom Zubrickas, Lincon Newall, and Tom Hewson.
A South Shields man went for goal from a fourth-minute free kick, but could only shank his effort high over the crossbar.
Shortly after, Eddie Kettlewell was played through by Jake Roberts; however, the offside flag was raised before the winger took aim.
The Mariners took the lead in the tenth minute when a pass out of defence went straight to the Shields number eight, who coolly lobbed the ball into the net from 35 yards.
City responded quickly to draw level. While playing out from the back, the visitors were dispossessed inside the ‘D’ by Kettlewell, who stabbed the ball into the path of Sutton Greening, and the forward found the bottom corner with ease in the 16th minute.
South Shields went close soon after, only denied by a good block from Oz Shaw, who diverted a close-range effort onto the roof of the net.
Shaw’s influence soon extended to the other end, as he gave City the lead from behind eight minutes before the break.
A corner from the left was headed clear as far as Jake Roberts, who picked out Shaw down the right. The defender needed just one touch to send a cross-cum-shot looping over the ‘keeper and into the goal.
The link-up was almost replicated two minutes later, this time Shaw slipping Roberts through on goal, but the latter was excellently denied by the ‘keeper’s body before Ethan Stiver placed the rebound narrowly wide.
In first-half stoppage time, Greening burst into the box and was brought down before he could get a shot away.
Having fouled the last man, a straight red card was shown to the South Shields defender, and a penalty was awarded.
Quite literally the final kick of the half, Greening’s spot-kick down to the left was really well saved by the ‘keeper, but the referee controversially blew for half-time while York’s top scorer smashed home the rebound, meaning the goal would not stand.
City continued to push after the restart. A 60th-minute corner picked out Shaw, who volleyed over from inside the box, before Lewis Beadle went close from a dangerous free-kick, forcing the shot-stopper to parry away.
Lucas Russell was next to try his luck after a short corner routine created space just outside the area, his effort flying narrowly over.
In the 75th minute, Shaw – who hadn’t netted once for the U19s prior to this game – grabbed his second of the afternoon. Greening’s corner delivery into the mixer was met by the York number five, who powered home a header, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Two goals behind, South Shields were looking for a late resurgence. A shot from far out whistled over the goal frame, before they struck the crossbar moments later.
City put the outcome beyond doubt in the 82nd minute when Josh Binns scored his second goal in as many games. Tom Hewson made a good run to latch onto Ollie Belleh’s through ball before squaring the ball across goal, allowing Binns to take a touch and drill home.
The Mariners reduced the deficit shortly after with a shot on the turn from inside the box, finding the bottom corner, but it proved too little, too late.
Greening had the final chance of the game, his free kick sailing narrowly wide, as the Minstermen ran out 4-2 winners.
York City: White, Kydd, Beadle, Belleh (C), Shaw, Russell, Roberts (Campbell-Baldwin 70′), Stiver (Newall 68′), Kettlewell (Hewson 65′), Greening, Binns.
Sub not used: Baker.
