With the smell of chocolate hanging heavy in the air over Bootham (formerly Kit Kat) Crescent, old acquaintances were renewed, a couple of pints were had, as we happily avoided Lichfield – as that would have meant that we’d missed York altogether.

I’ve spent some time on those terraces – happy times (mostly), sad times (a couple) hot, sweaty times, wet times, and tonight, a fun time. Folks negotiated the novelty of terracing with some difficulty (especially those in their brand new sparkly white summer holiday trainers). Those that were lucky enough to be allowed in by kick-off time, that is. We’d hoped for a sighting of a few more of the new signings than just Gardner, but it was a pleasant enough evening with an otherwise familiar set of faces lining up...

Ming
Ferdy Turner Titus Bards
Steed Catts Gardner Colback
Rico
Tounkara

I say familiar, but unless you watch either Oldham or our reserves, you won’t have seen our young centre forward, Oumare Tounkara. He’s a big lad, who tried to put himself about a bit and showed a few nice touches, but the first half really belonged to Catts, who seemed intent on showing Gardner that he was capable of clattering about without getting sent off. When Bards skipped inside and fired home on 13, after York having most of the early ball, it was a bit of a relief, and the game continued in the same vein for the rest of the half. They knocked it about, we tried to tee-up Gardner, who obliged with a few efforts, then it was ooh-ahh, Tounkara who fired home from inside the box to make it 2-0. Ming looked to have given away a penalty, but the ref waved on, and we arrived at the break reasonably happy with the proceedings – especially after one particular goalmouth scramble in which York should have scored.

Only one change for the second, with Carson on for Ming, and the banter started in earnest. Michael Ingham, four games, millions of bench-warming days, and lots of swearing, as I recall, happily responded to comments from the crowd and joined in at every opportunity. We upped our game a bit, but so did York, and when Bramble went to ground in the box, the York player went down and it was a penalty. Mind, Ingham laughed his head off and mimed a dive, although it was too far away for us to judge one way or the other. 2-1, and the substitutions came tick and fast. On came Elmo (another who joined in the banter, although I doubt if he understood most of it), Jordan Cook, Lynch, Adam Reed, Blair Adams, Laing, and Liam Noble, in place of Steed, Tounkara, Ferdy, Bards, Gardner, Catts, and Rico. To be honest, our most consistent passage of decent play came late on, when most of last season’s reserves were on the field and able to play the impressive passing game that they’d developed. Cook flashed a header past the front post, Elmo got down the wing, and we looked generally composed.

All in all, a good day at the office. Nothing spectacular, and I suspect there’s much more to come from Gardner. No injuries, a couple of goals, and a good work-out against a spirited and hard-working York side who hit the woodwork twice.

Man of the Match? Probably Catts for his first half display, in which he showed that he can be a ball-winning midfielder – OK, it was only York, but you can only play against the opposition on the field.

Keep the Faith

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