WYCT - Yorvik Blades (York) 27.10.07

So off we go to york, AGAIN, to play Yorvik in the first game of the group stage of the West Yorkshire Christian Trophy cup. Feeling a bit of a buzz, since the last time we played this fixture, just a few weeks ago, we won 5-2.

There are 11 of us, most notably Matt Lewney who having started with us this season has not played the same position twice. For this game, he's in goal!

After we kick off it seems apparent that this is not quite the same team we beat 5-2. The ball is spending most of it's time in the air, and we seem unable to get under it, or certainly unable to bring it under control in any real sense of the word. There's something else that seems strange too and, though this may not be the most appropriate place to discuss this (so therefore it will only get the briefest mention), it was a significant factor in the unfolding of the game. I'm going to say it... the ref; his decisions seem panicked, inconsistent and ill advised.

Moving on. We win a free kick, and we score, and we celebrate!!! The goal however, does not stand since Tom Winstanley, the scorer was off-side (we know that rule - right?).

Skip forward a short while and the joy of travelling this far North to win a game has faded since we find ourselves 2-0 down. And we seem apparently unable to do anything about it; we're still struggling for possession. Then comes a little relief in the form of the half-time whistle.

Having had a little time to reflect, we carry on this season in the way things have gone thus far: by playing far better in the second half.

The game is changed, we actually compete for, and win, balls. We think about how we use possession. We make better challenges, runs and passes of the ball. We give them someone to play against, at last!

While they do have several chances to finish the game off with one-on-one situations, they are unable to convert any, sometimes because of an ineptitute of the striker, other times because of brave, strong and relentless goalkeeping from Matt.

Eventually our break comes, Andy Amoss scores and sets up a tense, hard fought and very competetive remaining 10 minutes. And though bruises and exhaustion mount, the scoreline doesn't.

Yorvik Blades 2-1 Wakefield Baptist Church.