Saturday the 6th of August saw the Youth Team face Hartlepool United at home in the first match of the new Football League Youth Alliance, North East Conference season. Hartlepool always have a good, physical team and this day was no different. The match began at a much faster pace than the pre season friendlies and early on with a fairly strong wind behind them, Hartlepool took the game to York. Although Hartlepool had the better of the early chances none of these really troubled the York keeper Ben White. As the first half went on, York began to get a foothold in the game and started to create some chances themselves, the closest of these probably came when Arran Hudson shot a few yards wide from just outside the box. The first half came to an end with both sides struggling to create decent goalscoring opportunities.

The second half saw York come more into the game and start to gain greater control. The York full backs, Arran Hudson and Tom Allen, made some strong runs down their respective flanks and York began to create chances. Hartlepool again had the odd chance of their own, the best of which was a lob by their striker which hit the side netting. A few minutes later, a great last ditch challenge from the York centre back George Foster-Vigors kept the score at 0-0. At the other end the Hartlepool goalkeeper could only parry a strong shot from Tom Platt, however no one could benefit from the rebound. Then after Reece Kelly's good cross from the right, Rob Moncor calmly slotted the ball past the Hartlepool keeper, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

It now seemed as though the game was heading for a goalless draw when, with a couple of minutes left York's George Foster-Vigors, (now playing at right back) passed the ball into the midfield. Some good play saw the ball slipped through the Hartlepool defence by Rob Moncor. Tom Owen ran on, collected the through ball and was one on one with the keeper. With no hesitation, he stroked the ball past the keeper into the bottom right of the goal, 1-0 to York. There was no time left for Hartlepool to get back into the game and York defended well to see out the game. It was a hard earned victory with a great clean sheet and a superb winning start to the season. The Youth Team will be looking to continue this success into their next league game away at Chesterfield on the 13th August.