Why City have recently insisted on shooting towards the South Stand in the first-half
ADAM HINSHELWOOD has explained why York City have developed a recent trend of shooting towards the South Stand in the first-half of home matches.
In all three of York’s last three home matches, against Darlington, Maidenhead United, Yeovil Town, City have opted to shoot towards their home supporters in the first-half, despite it being a usual idea where it is preferred to be shooting in that direction for the second-half.
Despite the usual trend, York have started each match quickly, scoring in the 15th minute against Darlington, the 16th minute against Maidenhead and in the 11th minute against Yeovil Town.
The decision to shoot towards the South Stand hasn’t been down to a tactic or a superstition of Hinshelwood however, with the boss admitting that it’s not a factor in the match he tends to think too much on, but is instead due to the antics of captain Callum Howe.
“It’s just how the captain feels really, you can’t really have a preference because what if a team does turn you around?” Hinshelwood confirmed.
“Straight away you feel like you’re on a bit of a back balance, but we don’t make anything of it really.
“I’m not too fussed either way, if we’re shooting towards the South Stand then it’s an opportunity for us to try and get into a good start and get some goals early in the game, which we have done.
“There’s going to be times where we shoot that way or potentially behind and we don’t score, so you can’t read too much into it.
“We’ve got to stick to how we play, we’re in good form at the moment.
“I think it’s no coincidence, that all the goals come in that end when you’ve got all of your fans behind you, they make a lot of noise coming from that area behind the goal and it almost sucks the ball in it seems at times.
“I’m not surprised by that, but we don’t want to make a big thing out of it.
“Whichever way we kick, we’ve got to make something of it and have no excuses.”
It may be just one of the reasons behind York’s impressive home record so far this season, that has made the LNER Community Stadium into something for a fortress this campaign.
David Ajiboye scores in front of the South Stand against Darlington. (Image: Tom Poole) City have lost just once on home turf all season, a 2-0 defeat to Boston United in October, winning eight and drawing once in the following matches in North Yorkshire.
Hinshelwood hopes to continue building momentum on home soil, saying: “We’ve gained a bit of momentum and every team wants to try and gain that at home, we want it to be a tough place to come.
“I think that we have made it that over the last few weeks, with our play as well, we’ve played some really good stuff in that.
“A bit of momentum at home is so important to keep us where we are in the league, we’re going to be reliant on that, so we’re keen to carry that vein of form.”
