York City Futsal were never likely to recover after conceding four times during the opening quarter on their way to a 5-1 defeat to National Super League leaders London Helvecia at the YorkSport Arena.
However, they tightened up considerably after the break and Jamie Bettson went on to claim his fifth goal of the season as consolation.
For the visitors, Lucas, Calvin Dickson, Liam Palfreeman, Russ Goldstein and Richard Ward were each on the scoresheet.
Table-topping Helvecia had earlier greeted their opponents with a scintillating, high-pressing approach that reaped instant dividends, beginning when a cross-shot from the right found the back of the net after only four minutes.
That was soon added to as a searching pass forward was slipped beyond home goalkeeper Martin Michels, before moments later a driven cross, again from the right, was lifted high into the roof of the net.
And a fourth goal smartly followed when the ball was neatly despatched from a central-right position.
York skipper Fabinho Almeida at least struck a couple of replies wide as the visitors were noticeably falling deeper; although London broke again and a cross from the right was poked narrowly wide at the far post before City’s fourteen-goal leading scorer Daniel Pedras found only the side-netting.
Despite their tempo unsurprisingly dropping from earlier, Helvecia were still always comfortable and sharp in possession, until Almeida next drove a shot towards former York keeper Jonny Sim.
The visitors replied wide of the far post after another right-sided delivery, and then almost took advantage of City’s out-of-position custodian right at the end of the opening period.
Michels was soon called into early second-half action before a superb individual run from England Under-19 international Michael Bulmer and a quick exchange of passes allowed Jamie Bettson to reduce the deficit.
The leaders responded with a distance shot coming back off an upright before a half-volleyed finish promptly restored their four-goal advantage, although York soon produced another fine move which had the ball cleared off the line.
Meanwhile, their opponents flashed another shot wide and also struck a post during the later stages, before England keeper Sim twice denied his former club further reward.
At least there was consolation elsewhere for City with their relegation rivals Tranmere Rovers and London Genesis being defeated by Birmingham and Manchester respectively.
Weekend Results: Manchester 8-7 London Genesis; Oxford City Lions 5-1 FC Salisbury United; Tranmere Rovers 3-8 Birmingham; York City 1-5 London Helvecia
Photo by kind permission of Ian Parker
