A Key Moment But Not Defining

Big win for the Bees, but nothing is won yet

York City. 1^st vs 2^nd in the National League at The Hive and billed as the proverbial six pointer in the title race conversation. But as I’ve heard from both camps the result doesn’t define the season and I’m very much agreeable to that.

I’ve stated for a few weeks there will be a lot more twists and turns and no idea in whose favour. Forest Green proved that on Saturday coming unstuck at Braintree Town, whichever way the result was to go the emphasis and pressure was still on all three clubs to get the points.

Both sides off the pitch sold well, a crowd in excess of 4000 announced during the game, half term a help, the magnitude of the game and the half price offer for season ticket holders to bring a friend.

As is always the case there are issues within the club off the pitch, but that’s saved for another blog. We’re here for the game itself and here it goes at full pelt.

And I say that because the Bees were literally at full pelt from the first minute. A change in the announced line up with Mark Shelton unable to take to the field and replaced by Rhys Browne. Was it enforced during the warm up or was it a tactical mind game? You choose on that one.

The question is where do you start exactly? A back four having played a three all season and just 48 hours to get that drilled into the players, unfamiliar to all and absolutely no doubt for York.

A two man front press increased to three at times with Callum Stead and Ryan Glover both going with their men to make life uncomfortable, relentless pressure from the beginning that didn’t let up all night.

The visitors really weren’t comfortable at the back passing it around and their indecision along with the pressure created chances that should have been finished before the opening goal arrived.

Browne and Idris Kanu with better composure had efforts at open goals and sight of the goal not hitting the target and you wondered if that would come back to haunt especially if York found their mojo and got going.

But the opening goal did go to the home side, Ade Oluwo’s flicked header coming back to him via Lee Ndlovu’s head and the centre half volleying past Harrison Male, all from a Glover long throw.

The press and pressure continued so much so that Adam Hinshelwood made a change just after the half hour mark, the very ineffective Dan Batty replaced by Josh Stones.

But the change made no difference, the ball still didn’t stick up front for York and the Bees controlled everything going in 1-0 to the good at half time.

Would one goal be enough? York made further changes in an attempt to retain possession from the front men but the same story despite going more direct and away from the Hinshelwood principles.

Six minutes into the half, the lead was doubled. A superb passing movement saw the ball through to Ndlovu inside the penalty area, the angle nice to slot past Male.

Just five minutes later, the game was over as a contest when Anthony Hartigan put a free kick into one of those areas, no one got a touch, Male left it alone and the Bees had three, a shocker of goal to concede defensively.

The chances still came for the Bees but couldn’t add to the scoreline. York did get one back in stoppage time, an error from the debut keeper after Ollie Pearce had hit the ball onto the post and onto the other post in the last minute, a win for Barnet taking them seven points clear at the top of the table.

A simply scintillating performance that York couldn’t live with and had no answer to at all, the substitutions made no impact, and they were second best all evening.

Certainly be unfair to single out any home player as better than any others, they were all excellent to a man even Tom Savin who despite his late error was pretty comfortable enough, little to do mind you, having not even trained with the team prior to the game.

It wasn’t something I saw coming, and I still maintain that the result doesn’t define either team’s season yet. Forest Green are providing their own twists and turns picking up a single point from six in their last two outings. Both York and Barnet have tricky ties coming up in their next two games.

Often Dean Brennan has been accused of not getting it right in the big games, certainly came up trumps in this one without a shadow of doubt. The players carried out the gameplan to the letter, a more comprehensive performance I don’t think you’ll see this season in black and amber.

Much will be made of the post-match interview whether you agree or not, it’s been a staple at times, but this isn’t the place to discuss that, I might have time before the weekend to pen another piece, but we’ll see how we go.

In the meantime, rewatch the highlights or the match, marvel at the well oiled machine we have that is now 18 matches unbeaten and looking every inch like they’re capable of pulling this one off, BUT one match at a time……

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