U18s sneak narrow win on their travels - Head of Youth Tom Spall reports...

We didn't start too well in this game compared to recent starts and our football was a bit sloppy at times and the tempo wasn't at a level that we usually play to. York had the better of the first 15 minutes and our centre backs were forced to make some last ditch tackles to keep us from going behind. Both Danny Hone and Lee Welburn, who was playing his more natural position, did very well in the heart of the defence.

After Luke Baxter made some decent saves it seemed to give us a lift and we started to get into the game a little. Martin Pembleton managed to break through their defence a couple of times and he played a good one-two with Tom Garrick and was very close to giving us the lead. It was clear that we were missing the presence of Lenny John-Lewis up front though so we had to change our tactics and play the ball down the sides.

We took some paint off the walls at half-time and read the lads the riot act and they came out in the second half looking like a completely different side. They dominated throughout and played some great football.

Tom Garrick picked up a nasty gash on his ankle after about an hour and we brought on U16 Liam Hutchinson and with his first he set up Gary King to finish from the edge of the box. We never looked to be in any danger after that. Martin Pembleton had a couple more chances near the end of the match to seal it for us but they didn't really create anything.

It was definitely a game of two halves, and the three points took us top of the League. You've got to give credit to the lads who work their socks off throughout the week in training and in the matches. The only time that we've had to tell them to put more effort in was at half time against Peterborough United in a pre-season friendly.

Although at this level results are not the be all and end all, the lads are developing a winning mentality which will put them in good stead for when they make the step up.

City U18's: Baxter, McCormack, Hewitt, Welburn, Hone, McGovern, Roberts, Pembleton, Garrick, King, Cooper