Image by Tom Poole.
York City narrowly lost 3-2 against League One side Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park in the Emirates FA Cup First Round.
Despite a valiant effort, with outstanding goals from Tyrese Sinclair and Joe Felix, it’s Matt Bloomfield’s side who edge through to the Second Round.
Manager Adam Hinshelwood made two changes from the side which left it late to dramatically beat FC Halifax Town the weekend before.
Midfielders Dan Batty and Marvin Armstrong dropped to the bench for Ashley Nathaniel-George and Ricky Aguiar.
Wycombe Wanderers set the standard in the opening spells as Beryly Lubala and Matt Butcher struck off early chances.
Luke Leahy dispatched a penalty in the 14th minute after Lubala was tripped inside the area.
Gideon Kodua doubled The Chairboy’s advantage in no time at all after being slid through by Richard Kone in the 22nd minute, hitting low and into the far corner with a right footed strike.
Harrison Male prevented a third shortly after, equal to Kone’s bulleted header from close range.
City sprung back to life with a superb counter attack in the 31st minute, finished off with some venom in the far top corner by Tyrese Sinclair.
Space began to open up in the game for City to work with. Ollie Pearce, Luca Thomas and Sinclair all being crowded out when looking to strike.
Defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott stuck in two well timed sliding challenges to further prevent Kone from inflicting damage.
Josh Scowen rattled the woodwork for the hosts on the stroke of half time, picking up the ball outside the area after a well worked set piece routine.
A third was put on the score line in the 57th minute as Leahy, with precision, guided a close range free kick into the net.
Alex Hartridge nearly had a cross dip under Male’s bar, if not for the shot stopper being alert and pushing it back up and over for a corner.
Further pressure continued to be applied by Matt Bloomfield’s side as Butcher curled wide from the edge of the box after some fortunate bounces.
Substitute Dan Udoh could only find the side netting for the hosts as he looked to leave a mark in the 74th minute.
City did pick up some momentum in the closing stages. Both Pearce and substitute Dipo Akinyemi looked to get strikes off inside the area, which didn’t quite land as hoped.
Strong penalty appeals on the 90th minute mark were denied as Sinclair was visibly shoved over just inside the area.
York did get another goal back to mount real pressure on the hosts.
Pearce threaded through the rushing Felix, who effortlessly controlled to create space and stroke in a left-footed effort towards the far post.
A last minute scramble just went begging for York in the end.
Ryan Fallowfield’s threaded ball through to Marvin Armstrong in the middle saw the midfielder have his pass intercepted, but falling to Akinyemi who had a shot blocked in front of goal.
The block then fall to Fallowfield who flashed across goal from close range, with the ball hitting the corner flag and staying in for a further throw of the dice.
Pearce delivered back over to Fallowfield, who hung a cross up at the back post for Callum Howe to attack at.
Our captain brought it downwards, with Sinclair striking into a Wycombe body before Hunt sliced over.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS: George, Scowen (C) (54′ Humphreys), Hartridge, Butcher, Leahy, Bakinson, Kodua (67′ Wheeler), Kone (54 Udoh), Skura, Lubala (82′ Hanlan), Pattenden (82′ McCarthy).
UNUSED SUBS: Ravizzoli, Tafazolli, Morley, Onyedinma.
YORK CITY: Male, Fallowfield, Howe (C), Sinclair, Hunt, Pearce, Nathaniel-George (72′ Crookes), Aguiar (72′ Armstrong), Felix, Fagan-Walcott, Thomas (60′ Akinyemi).
UNUSED SUBS: Watson, McLaughlin, Batty, Chadwick.
ATTENDANCE: 2,765 (580 York City supporters)
