YORK Schoolboys Under-13s hit the ground running in their first league fixture of the season with a deserved 3-1 victory at Nottingham.

The visitors started the brightest, dictating play and creating several chances that ultimately went begging.

Tom Algar finally broke the deadlock, driving a free kick from the halfway line that somehow found its way into the bottom corner through the crowded penalty area.

Nottingham responded well to going behind, but continued to give away cheap free-kicks.

As the game opened up, however, the hosts began to press more, forcing a series of corners which were well dealt with by York’s back line.

Just before the break, Tom Coy made a stunning saving tackle inside the box, which unfortunately ended in injury.

York ended the half strongly, with Dillon Meehan and Kieran Clayton directing play in midfield, but the second goal continued to elude them.

Nottingham started the brighter after the break, and grabbed an equaliser in the goalmouth scramble that ensued from an inswinging corner.

This time, it was York who had to respond, and midway through the half, Clayton latched onto a chipped ball from Ellis Cattaneo and thundered a volley into the top corner to restore the visitors’ lead.

York controlled the final 15 minutes, and man-of-the-match Kaiden Butler completed the scoring, slotting home after the keeper could only parry a cross into his path.

York Schoolboys U12s also made the perfect start to their campaign at Nottingham, turning around a one-goal deficit to emerge convincing 6-1 winners.

York were fastest out of the blocks, Adam Clarkson, Ronnie Kelly and Dan Gallagher all testing the keeper in the opening 10 minutes, but it was Nottingham who broke the deadlock, with a coolly-taken penalty.

York’s pressure in the second period first forced a fine save from the home keeper, before Kelly cleverly guided the ball home for the equaliser from a Chris Pooley free kick.

York started the final third the strongest, and finally took the lead through Clarkson, who netted the rebound from Kelly’s saved shot.

Gallagher added the third soon after, calmly converting a Kelly cross, before Liam Mainprize rounded the keeper to make it four.

Man-of-the-match Mainprize’s afternoon got better, volleying in from a corner by Gallagher, who was the provider again as Mainprize completed his hat-trick with a stooping header.

York Schoolboys U11s put in a solid team performance in a 5-1 friendly victory over Sheffield.

Undaunted by facing the side that defeated them 2-1 in February’s Yorkshire Cup, the hosts started strongly and were rewarded with a goal after 10 minutes.

Charlie Thompson sent a long pass from his own penalty area up to Alex Widdup, who returned the ball for Thompson to smash home.

Five minutes later, though, York struggled to clear a corner, and the ball was prodded home.

The hosts persisted with a high pressing game, and were rewarded when Widdup won the ball high up the field and placed it past the keeper.

Adrian Bajaziti’s left-footed strike from outside the area made it three, before a brace from James Rennocks completed the scoring.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Sheffield were awarded a penalty, which, heading for the bottom corner, was fantastically saved by Jacob Bryant.