This week saw the Youth Team face Darlington in what would definitely be another tough game. Mike Atkinson and Ben Weir made their first league starts of the season with the Youth Team looking for a good performance to get back to winning ways after last week's defeat at Bradford. York started very brightly with the first chance of the match coming when some good closing down from Rob Moncur forced the Darlington defender to give the ball to Charlie Binns. A perfectly weighted pass from Binns to Tom Platt gave him the chance to shoot. However the shot was deflected and the keeper saved well.

The game was fairly even in the first half with both sides creating chances. Darlington had a free header in the box which was headed over the bar. The left midfielder then had a shot from close range saved well by keeper Ben White. York's next chance came when Vinnie Dhesi collected the ball from Binns and played Tom Owen in behind the defence. Owen did well to keep the ball in and found Dhesi with the return pass, but an awkward bounce meant Dhesi had to stretch and the ball looped over the cross bar. The first half came to an end at 0-0 with both sides having their fair share of chances.

York again started well in the second half and a high ball from Rob Moncur created indecision in the Darlington defence. The left back seemed to head the ball back to his keeper, however the keeper failed to collect and Owen took advantage of the hesitation and nipped in. He took the ball away from the keeper and as the angle to goal narrowed an attempted square ball to his strike partner was cut out by the retreating defender. The first goal of the game came in similar circumstances but at the other end of the field. A long Darlington throw bounced in behind the York defence. A mix up between the goalkeeper and defence allowed the Darlington striker to steal the ball and slot into an open net. York pushed for an equaliser but found it hard to break down the strong Darlington defence, and their good defending and strong attack allowed them to double their lead on 82 minutes from another throw which this time found the striker's feet inside the box. He did well to gain a yard and fire into the bottom corner, leaving White no chance in the York goal.

York pressed to get back into the game but could not penetrate the well drilled Darlington defence, and they held onto their two goal lead. A disappointing defeat on the day but this will be put out of our minds as we prepare for the Youth Cup game on Wednesday.