Armley CCFC v York Elim (Away) 29/09/18 – League Game
Armley went into this game with massive anticipation and the view that three points would not be enough; goals and more goals were what were wanted. As the Manager Kris Broughton said during the warm up, “Let’s make a statement of intent here boys, let’s show the rest of the league why we’re champions!”
However, whilst Armley welcomed back Aiden Crossthwaite from a hamstring injury, four key players were still unavailable, which at least allowed others the opportunity to stake their claim for the shirt.
As the first half kicked off, a beautiful late summer’s morning soon became progessively hotter for the York goalkeeper, whose hands were kept warm from near constant Armley bombardment, but amazingly, despite almost total possession and chance after chance, the score remained 0-0 until the 43rd minute, when a move straight from the training ground saw Aiden Crossthwaite flight a high, searching ball into the York six yard box which, though parried by the York keeper, was pounced on by Tom Wilson, who made no mistake with his low drive into the York net; Armley 1-0 York.
Within a minute, Armley should have scored a second. Awarded a free kick in a wide position on the left wing, Ryan Haigh delivered a fabulous curving drive onto the York bar which left the York keeper rooted to the spot; the rebound fell kindly to Neil Griffiths who had anticipated the drop of the ball and headed it with power the two yards into what should have been an empty net, only for the ball to hit an oblivious York defender in the face and be deflected behind for a corner. With the Armley players still scratching their heads at this image, the referee blew his whistle for half time.
During half time, the tireless Greg Hill was taken off and was replaced by Kris Broughton up front.
As the second half kicked off, the well worn phrase “Game of Two Halves” could not have been more fitting for this match; with the Armley players still uncomprehending at how the score was not at least and with no exaggeration 6-0, incomprehension turned to frustration which quickly led to a loss of discipline, and ten minutes into the half Armley found themselves back on level terms when a sloppy goal, born of careless individual errors, allowed York to score totally against the run of play. Armley 1-1 York.
Remarkably, the next 15 minutes saw not one Armley attack, with the game being played almost exclusively in the Armley half by a York team clearly sensing blood with the Armley players unable to mount any form of attack. Fortunately however, the Armley defence remained resolute, and York just could not make that vital breakthrough.
On 67 minutes, the goalscorer Tom Wilson was brought off to be replaced by Greg Hill.
Normal service was happily resumed on 70 minutes, when Armley got their necks in front with a spectacular and much needed goal from Ryan Haigh. Another high curving ball from Ryan, this time a corner, was floated in from the left; the York keeper made a desperate grab for the ball, flapped at it, and it came off him for Ryan’s first and Armley’s second goal of the game. Armley 2-1 York.
For the next 15 minutes or so, Armley were once more hard pressed by York’s incessant pressure, until this was finally, and comically relieved by help from an unexpected source, as a Goose, which had been sitting on the touchline all game, decided to invade the pitch, necessitating a short break in play. Whether by accident or design, this break appeared to allow Armley to regroup, and on 85 minutes the fourth and final goal of the game was scored by Armley, to finally knock the stuffing out of a valiant York. Once again, Ryan Haigh contributed with an assist, which saw the ball put through to a determined Greg Hill who, despite simultaneous challenges from two York defenders, beat them both to the ball and poked his lunging shot past the York keeper; Armley 3-1 York.
On the 86th minute, Kris Broughton came off to be replaced by the ever-enthusiastic Jake Newton, and on the 88th minute the final Armley substitution was made, with Ash Heaney and Simon Yeadon being replaced by Tom Wilson and Lee Wade respectively.
Full time Armley CCFC 3-1 York Elim
Final words from the manager; “That obviously wasn’t a game for purists or any spectators with a weak heart, but with four of our best players out and others playing who up until now have had limited game time, I’ve got to be happy with the 3 points, and especially the way we ground out the result”.