YORK Schoolboys Under-12s footballers took to the pitch for the first time in 2018 - and beat Barnsley 1-0 at home thanks to a late goal.

The hosts, although lacking their usual spark, quickly began to dominate possession and territory, fashioning their first chance from an early corner, with Jamie Hudson's header from Dan Gallagher’s cross only flicking over off the top of the bar.

Ben Myers had York's next sight of goal with a 20-yard left-footed strike, but it was turned away by the keeper for a corner, and Liam Mainprize's effort from the resultant set-piece was headed off the line.

Adam Clarkson got his head on another Myers corner, but was denied by the keeper, before a Barnsley midfielder lofted a shot from 30 yards which was saved by a back-pedalling Henry Jackson.

York continued to press, but seemed to struggle to piece together their high-tempo passing game. Still, Gallagher made some good runs down the wing, and one cross required an excellent clearance from a defender to avert danger.

Eight minutes from time, Barnsley had a chance to win it from close range, but a miss-kick sent the ball wide. Ronnie Kelly had only just had an off-target effort at the other end, having picked up the loose ball from a ferocious Mainprize challenge.

The deadlock was finally broken with five minutes remaining, when Clarkson's goal-bound effort from distance was steered into the opposite corner of the net by man-of-the-match Mainprize.

York Schoolboys U11s lost 2-0 at home to a strong Leeds 'B' as they fell to their first league defeat of the Yorkshire Schoolboys season - an unbeaten run they had carried over from last year's cohort of U11s.

The hosts started the brighter of the two teams, spending a lot of time in the opposition half, but Leeds 'B' always looked dangerous on the counter attack, and on the 10-minute mark, they broke forward and delivered a right-wing cross which resulted in a York own goal.

Both sides created half-chances in the remaining stages of the first period, with York's best opportunity coming from Arthur Jefferson-Hallett’s saved long-distance shot.

Just before half-time, the visitors broke again, but Will Hobson was on hand to make a good challenge and stop the striker in his tracks.

York were hoping to start the second half strongly, but Leeds always looked the more likely to add to their tally.

The second soon came, as a disappointing York free kick was cleared for the Leeds striker to score an impressive individual goal, and solid defence denied the hosts the chance to get back into the game.

York’s man of the match was Kiam Browne.