York City 0-2 Hull City (26/12/03)

[MarkW]

Such is the financial gulf that separates the footballing sides of York and Hull, it was perhaps no surprise that class in the end told, and the Tigers ran out 2-0 winners in this Boxing Day derby. That said, Hull certainly did not have things all their own way and if City had capitalised on their spirited start to the second half, then maybe the paupers and not the princes, could have won the day.

On a blustery windswept Bootham Crescent, Hull started the brighter, worrying the Minstermen with their pace and movement. In the tenth minute, Damien Delany almost put the visitors infront from close range. His shot was bravely blocked by Ovendale however, and City boss Chris Brass hacked the ball away for a corner.

City's first real sight of goal, saw a wonderful Merris cross from the left find Nogan only four yards out, but the City striker managed only a bizzare air-shot when a goal looked certain.

At the other end, Hull pressure continued as the visitors forced four quick corners. From the last of these, Stuart Green shot powerfully from the edge of the box and saw his effort graze the left hand post, with Ovendale beaten.

Hull's quick passing and movement off the ball was creating problems for an overworked City defence, who never looked entirely convincing. The York rear-guard relied heavily on an offside ploy, which looked increasingly vulnerable to the pace of Elliot, Burgess and Price.

On twenty-three minutes, only a last ditch block by Brass saw Hull denied the opening goal, as Burgess again got through on goal. Minutes later the Tigers towering striker once more came close with a well struck shot from twenty yards.

Stuart Elliot for Hull was also proving dangerous, creating two further chances. The first was thwarted by a brave Ovendale dive at Elliot's feet and the second, a header, crashed into the side netting from a Jason Price cross.

City too had their moments however, with Cooper missing a point-blank header for the second game running. On this occasion, Shaw had charged down a goalkick allowing Nogan to cross and the City midfield battler headed inches wide with the whole goal to aim at, from five yards.

As the half-time whistle blew, City looked the more relieved, although with the wind gusting towards the Shippo, they still had everything to play for in the second half.

The second forty-five minutes started frenetically and it was the re-charged hosts doing the pressing. In a golden ten minute spell, City were desparately unfortunate not to go infront. Firstly, Edmonson pushing further forwards, forced a low save from Musselwhite with a powerful low drive from all of forty yards. Then after good work by Bullock, Edmonson again shot strongly from the right, just missing the left hand post.

On fifty minutes, Parkin and Merris combined in a clever one-two, which took the City defender into the area, but his low shot was pushed round the post by Musselwhite.

In between these City opportunities, Hull had escaped down the right through the impressive Jason Price. The tall striker entered the box and his low drive from the right just managed to disect the gap between on coming Hull forwards and the left hand post. This was to be only a temporary reprieve.

On fifty-five minutes the Tigers were infront. Once again Hull pace and quick passing caused an overlap and unfortunately for City the spare man was Burgess. The Eire U-21 International made no mistake with a crisp half-volley from eighteen yards, giving Ovendale no chance as the ball flew low into the net.

Urged on by their large and vocal following, Hull surged forward and on sixty-six minutes extended their lead. Brass appeared to haul down Forrester in the City box following a ball in from Price and the referree pointed to the spot. The decision was not contested by the York players and it was Forrester himself who just beat the dispairing dive of Ovendale, to bury the spot kick low to the keeper's right. Two-nil.

Not surprisingly for a York team averaging less than a goal a game, a two goal deficit seemed to take the fight out of the Minstermen. Their best effort for the remainder of the half, was a twenty yard shot from the lively Jon Shaw, comfortably gathered by Musselwhite.

Hull had chances to extend their lead with Elliott contriving to shoot over the City bar from all of three yards, following a right wing corner. However, a 3-0 scoreline would have flattered the visitors in a match City never looked completely out of until the killer second Hull goal.

In the end, the better team probably won. Hull had class and guile to spare and this proved too much for York, who could only offer spirit and determination in return. Against lesser opposition, this may have been enough, but the Minstermen operate on a fraction of the budget enjoyed by Hull and today the gap was all too evident.

City must move on now, with a third festive game at Rochdale on Sunday. A welcome away win on Lancastrian soil will see a York return of six points from the three Xmas matches and all still to play for. There are not many better sides in this Third Division than Hull City and spirit and determination may still be sufficient to propell York to the 2004 play offs.


Attendance: 7923 (3320 away).

Man of the match (City): Dave Merris (solid in defense, massive work rate and starting to show real ability in providing crosses into the box).

Match Rating 7/10 (A good derby match, which perhaps died somewhat when Hull extended their lead).

Individual ratings:-

Ovendale (7) Did little wrong, stood no chance with either goal.

Edmondson (7) Came forward well at the start of the second half.

Cooper (6) Battled valiently, but lacked quality.

Parkin (6) Does not look entirely comfortable in defense and his distrubtion was wayward.

Chris Smith (7) Another assured display by the young defender. A class act who always seems to have that extra second or two on the ball.

Chris Brass (6) An improved performance from the City boss, holding an overworked defense together well. Blemish was however, conceding unnecessarily, the penalty.

Lee Bullock (6) Some decent touches, but too anonymous for long spells.

Lee Nogan (5) Not one of his better games, with a couple of horrible misses he will want to forget.

Darren Dunning (6) A quieter game than usual for the midfield dynamo.

Dave Merris ( 8 ) See above. Another great contribution from a player who gets better every game.

Jon Shaw (7) Showed some good touches and has the ability to hurt defenses with his pace. Faded a little in the final quarter.

SUBS

Mitch Ward on for Cooper 70 mins (6) Looked assured, but passed the ball square too often rather than forwards.

Gary Browne on for Nogan 74 mins (5) Little impact, looks too light-weight.

Sean Davies on for Merris 78 mins (6) Tactical switch to allow Parkin to play as a striker. The young defender looked solid and comfortable on his City debut.




Report by Mark Willis.
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York City;- 81 Not Out!!!