by JOSH Stones was delighted with a bright start to the second half of York City’s 4-2 win over Rochdale.
Stones had been frustrated with his own performance after York went into halftime with the score 1-1 in the first half and had pushed himself to make an impact when he returned over the white line for 45 minutes of the second on Tuesday night.
Advertising
That pep talk he gave himself at half-time had reignited the hunger in Stones as he pounced on a loose ball just a minute into the second half before cutting inside and firing neatly past Oliver Whatmuff to restore City’s lead with just over 60 seconds on the clock.
York were not happy with their one-goal lead and neither was Stones, who picked up the ball on the left wing just three minutes later, shot inside and beat the Rochdale goalkeeper again to score his brace.
For the 21-year-old, it was an evening he can be proud of. Although he couldn’t decide which of his two goals he should prefer, he was also happy with the team’s performance against promotion rivals Rochdale.
Advertising
“The game plan was always to go after them, we had our game plan based on man-to-man and where to go,” Stones reflected.
“I kind of told myself at halftime to attack them because I wasn’t happy. I think that was the worst 45 points in the first half I’ve ever had.”
“I played for them, I gave them so much!
“I told myself to go after them and the gaffer said the same thing and said we would get our rewards.
“That’s what I try to do every game, to send them home with nightmares.
Advertising
“It’s a team effort, we controlled the game in the second half and managed the game really well.
“We really sent them home in the first ten minutes of the second half and then just built on that and controlled the game.”
“With the game management we kept the ball and when we have the ball they can’t score.
“I have to look after her, when you’re in the moment and you’re running, you can’t see what’s around you and you just have your head down.
“You go for the goal, I had two one-on-ones last week that I should have scored and when I came through tonight I thought about thinking about it.
Advertising
“Their goalkeeper went down twice last week and I think teams are watching that. So they knew I like to play it flat so I tried to eat it.
“I said to the boys: If you put it in the back, I know I will finish them off.
“It’s about playing to my strengths and keeping the ball, we can now alternate that.”
“Ollie [Pearce] It’s technically incredible that he can drop into the pocket and get the ball, so I’m one on one with the centre-back.
“I would defend myself against anyone.”
Advertising
It is often said that a quick start to the second half, such as City had with three goals in 13 minutes, was due to a managerial overdrive at half-time.
Josh Stones felt he needed to improve on his first half performance and did so with a quick brace in the second half. (Image: Tom Poole)
But Stones admitted manager Stuart Maynard felt no anger at the break and praised the coach for the tactical changes he made and the calm he showed to put York back in front.
Advertising
Stones added: “We changed our game plan a little bit, we put our full-backs on the top line and let our eights drift outwards.
“We knew in the second half that we had had the wind in the first half, so the ball held at the back.
“We knew we could get after them in the second half and test them and it paid off.
“I wouldn’t say that [he was] Unhappy, as a team we have to stop because if we score, [we need to] calm.
“We have to manage the game, we have to work on that as a team.
Advertising
“He’s pretty calm and that rubs off on us. It gives us a little bit of calm to get our thoughts together at halftime and then come out and do what we did.”
Stones has now scored five goals in his last four games, benefiting from a number of starts alongside fellow striker Ollie Pearce in the forward line.
Pearce has been in equally impressive form and now leads the Enterprise National League goalscoring charts with 15 goals in 18 games, helped by five goals in his last three games.
Advertising
The pair’s partnership has always been a matter of concern for City fans, who have been crucial in ensuring the two forwards at the top can form a relationship that comes to fruition.
Now it looks like it’s going to happen, with Stones admitting: “The formation we play suits us better. We also have strength behind the ball and Ollie is incredible.”
“Every time he gets the ball you know he’s going to find a pass and I think even in the penalty area we occupy the defenders for each other.
Advertising
“I’m shutting down defenders and keeping them busy and he’s doing the same for me, so it’s working well at the moment.
“We’re tight-knit, we’re tight-knit as a group, but I would say he’s one of my best friends, as are some of the other guys.
“I think it helps when you go on the pitch, even when I wasn’t playing and he was playing in front of me, the relationship never changed.
“You can’t say you should play in front of him because everyone knows he’s incredible [player].
Advertising
“At this level you can’t bench him, he’s too good for this level and the higher level.
“He’s an incredible player but I think it helps when you have a relationship off the field.
“Me and Ollie are close, it shows how happy we are for each other when we score.
“He always told me to keep going, then you’ll get your chances and you’ll be rewarded.
“Thanks to Ollie, he’s a good person and an even better player.”
As part of the City’s post-victory ritual, an outstanding player is often chosen to be celebrated with three fist pumps by fans after a game.
Both Stones and Pearce shared the honor on Tuesday night: “He deserves every applause he gets and every cheer he gets. Like I said, we’re close and doing it together is a nice feeling.”
