May 9, 2023...Analysis: Plenty of Positives to Take Into Wednesday's Huge Quarter-Final Showdown (from York United FC website)

ANALYSIS: PLENTY OF POSITIVES TO TAKE INTO WEDNESDAY'S HUGE QUARTER-FINAL SHOWDOWN

There was a derby defeat to Forge FC but next up is the Canadian Championship clash with Vancouver Whitecaps.

THE DETAILS
WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS
If everyone has a calling, then Paris Gee was born to defend and it doesn’t matter whether it's on the flanks or in the middle. Once again, he was played out of position and adjusted superbly to centre-back. He was partnering fit-again Roger Thompson for the first time and the duo were above average albeit some initial struggles which capitalized on by Campbell for the match-winning goal early on in the first half.

A MATTER OF TIME FOR DE ROSARIO
Last season's top-scorer earned a late call into the starting line-up due to Mo Babouli's injury and maybe - just maybe - that could account for his profligate first half. The striker spurned two scoring opportunities which could have given The Nine Stripes the lead. But, The Gaffer is calling for patience.

"I thought Osaze - mentally - got right into it. We wanted him to play higher than he did early on and then once that happened he was getting in behind and causing all sorts of problems," Nash said.

"He's got a lot of chances this year but it’s not just falling for him. I think he's the type where once he gets one, he's going to go on a streak. I'd be concerned if he wasn't getting into the areas so he's just got to keep applying himself in the same way."

INJURY CURSE
In the absence of Jonathan Grant and Brem Soumaoro, Nash had to hatch a strategy to solidify his defence and stop a rampaging Forge FC side. To make matters worse, his tactic was torn up after maestro Mo Babouli suffered a problem just moments before the team took to the field.

"I mean it [game plan] changed a lot in five minutes because it was right at the end of the warm up," an unhappy Nash revealed.

But he is expecting the team’s talisman to make a quicker than expected recovery to full fitness.

He added: "I don't think it's [Babouli’s injury] very bad. But I had to make the decision not to risk him, just in case it made it worse so we'll get him checked out properly and see. But it [Babouli's sudden absence] changes things: like, we work in a certain way. So, we had to kind of adjust quickly in how we wanted to push the game. I thought we did okay. I thought the effort was there. I thought we created enough chances. I think there's nothing negative I can say about the game, just that we didn't take our chances."

Babouli's injury had another knock-on situation, reducing the York United bench to just six substitutes. Included in that group were Toby Richardson - signed on a development contract - and 18-year-old new Noah Abatneh.

ENTHRALLING DERBY
As a whole, the 905 Derby met expectations. Both teams put on a high-quality show. There was very little to choose between the two sides. It had key ingredients of a derby clash including a feisty end which had Forge’s Ashtone Morgan - an 86th minute substitute - sent off just five minutes after arriving on the field. York had 48% of the ball as against 52% by the visitors while the hosts produced 14 shots; one more than the Hamilton-based side.

Forge FC’s Head Coach Bobby Smyrniotis said in his post-game talk: "I think if I sat in the stands today, it was a little bit exciting at some points. There were opportunities, there were chances. As a football purist, maybe I would have liked a little bit more of ball movement and so on, but I thought it was indicative of the game.

"We know that York is always putting in their best effort and they're a team that right now has injuries to players. It doesn't matter who's on the pitch for them. They're always going to give their best and that's another example of it today."

Ridwan Ibrahim Asante

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