York Steal Point With Late Free Kick
- Johnnie Lowery
- Mar 12, 2017
- 2 min read
In a game that came to life in the last 20 minutes or so York City fought back from two goals down to snatch a late point courtesy of an excellent Yan Klukowski free kick.
The first half contained few chances, with Sutton just about the better side but never particularly looking like scoring. The best chance actually fell to the visitors’ Vadaine Oliver, who headed wide from 8 yards out when he really should have hit the target. At the other end Bedsente Gomis hit a volley just wide after his original effort had been blocked, with Kieron Cadogan just unable to set up anyone in a yellow shirt. Right at the end of the half Cadogan again did well to beat his man and find Dean Beckwith, but the centre back gave a typical centre back’s finish, firing well over the bar.
The second half started in a similar vein to the first, with neither side doing enough to get in behind their opponents. Adriano Moke fired a volley from the edge of the box straight at Puddy, the effort powerful enough but lacking in direction. It looked like the game would grind into a dull 0-0 draw before a moment of magic 15 minutes from time. A cross from the left hand side was headed away 30 yards from goal, with Nicky Bailey arriving and hitting the ball first time with a stunning volley that found the bottom right hand corner. This sparked the game into life, Kevin Amankwaah seeing a header cleared off the line and Adam Coombes not far off his first goal for the club when he flashed just over. A second goal did eventually come for Sutton, and in bizarre fashion. Under pressure from Dan Fitchett, York City defender Sean Newton overhit his pass back to Kyle Letheren, finding the bottom corner in doing so. Many would have thought this signalled the end of City’s chances, but just two minutes later Scott Fenwick headed home from a corner and in the final minute of stoppage time Klukowski curled in a free kick from the edge of the box to send the visiting supporters into raptures.
Assistant manager Micky Stephens gave his thoughts to SUFCtv after the game:
“The overall feeling is disappointment, probably in the cold light of day we’ll see we’ve got a point from it, but having been 2-0 up we certainly should have seen the game out”
“They’re searching for points themselves, so they’re obviously going to leave nothing on the pitch, but I thought we’d done enough to win the game – we just didn’t manage the last 20 minutes too well”
“Overall we’ve taken a point so we can’t be too disappointed”
On the game against Forest Green at Gander Green Lane on Tuesday night:
“We had a terrific game up there, I thought it was a good footballing game up there, and they’re obviously still pushing”
“Top, bottom, or middle they’re all tough games and we’re just enjoying them all really”