6.30pm 20 April 2026
York League, Division One
Rufforth United 3 Thorpe United 3 (att 17)
A motorway closure meant it was touch and go whether I'd make it to Rufforth, just outside York, in time for kick off. Luckily I did, just, and was rewarded with a memorable game.
Both teams had plenty to play for. Rufforth are battling for promotion while Thorpe went into the game bottom of the division, but with games in hand on the teams above them.
A draw will have suited the visitors more than the hosts, but Thorpe will probably see this as two points dropped as they led 3-0 with just 25 minutes left to play. That said, they were hanging on at the end.
They took the lead, against the run of play, after 11 minutes, and withstood plenty of Rufforth pressure to hold their advantage into half time. They then had the perfect start to the second period, doubling their lead just seconds into it.
A few minutes later Rufforth lost the ball cheaply while trying to play out from the back and it was 3-0 to Thorpe.
But the tide turned. Thorpe lost their goalkeeper to injury with half-an-hour left, replacing him with an outfield player, and soon after that Rufforth pulled a goal back.
Once they scored their second an eventual equaliser looked inevitable, and despite the visitors' best efforts they got it. They still had time to find a winner, but Thorpe held onto claim a point, and deservedly so.
Rufforth Playing Fields caters for tennis and cricket as well as football. From the clubhouse the football pitch is on the far side of the cricket pitch. There's a dugout on either side.
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