October 12, 2023...Analysis: 'I'm Extremely Proud and Thankful for What They've Given Me All Year' (from York United FC website)

ANALYSIS: 'I'M EXTREMELY PROUD AND THANKFUL FOR WHAT THEY'VE GIVEN ME ALL YEAR'

There was playoff disappointment last Wednesday night but still lots to take from 2023.

THE DETAILS

STARLIGHT STADIUM JINX CONTINUES

No matter how good York United were at Langley, they still fell short. The Nine Stripes showed enough fist in the playoff contest but were undone by a stoppage time goal to eliminate them from the postseason tournament. In the first half, Osaze De Rosario had his goal-bound shot cleared off the line and Brem Soumaoro's thunderbolt skimmed the crossbar. Those chances would have put York in the lead going into the break but it wasn't to be.

Head Coach Martin Nash said: "I thought it was a really good performance to be fair. I thought we possessed the ball well, we were able to cause some problems. [We had] half chances, we hit the bar, but we just couldn't find a way to the back of the net and it hurts. This is the second time here this year that we've given one up in the last two, three minutes, so that hurts."

YORK UNITED PROUD IN DEFEAT

With 56% ball possession, total shots of 15 versus 12 and four of those shots on target, York United were still unable to find a goal. However, The Nine Stripes’ approach and energy level were apt and they played like the home team.

"It's painful because I thought we played so well, did enough to win again and we didn't give them many decent chances," Nash said.

The display means York United are catching up on their overly-regimented opponents who recorded 4-1 victories in two previous encounters.

Nash added: "I thought we defended set pieces really well in the first half and I thought we were in control of the match, even up 'til the end there - until they scored. I thought it was great performance and I think it hurts for how well we played and how much the guys put into the game."

THE DETAILS

SEASON ENDS WITH SO MANY POSITIVES

This year’s select band of players deserve the plaudits even though they failed to go one better than their last playoff appearance in 2021. Nash expressed satisfaction at the sacrifices and contribution by the lads in what he described as a difficult season.

He said: "I just told them how proud I was of the effort and how they've come together. It's been a tough year but they've stuck at it and when we needed it, they really stuck together as a group. Even the guys that weren't in the squad were cheering the guys on. It was a complete team effort."

"When you have that kind of camaraderie in a group, it goes a long way. There were points in the season where this group could have fallen to pieces but they stuck at it, they believed in what the coaching staff was trying to get out of them and what we could accomplish as a group. I'm just extremely proud and thankful for what they've given me all year long."

KMP PUTS ON MVP SHOW

Kadin Martin-Pereux starred in our season-finale and the 20-year-old left back seems to have made that role bona fide. Martin-Pereux created the most chances (2) in the match. He was an attacking threat and alongside Kevin Santos they pushed back Dada-Luke and Steffen Yeates.

KMP was making his sixth appearance for the club after joining the club in September.

Ridwan Ibrahim Asante

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