Photo by Tom Poole
The Minstermen played out a score-draw with Woking on Bank Holiday Monday.
Josh Stones and Alex Newby replaced Ollie Pearce and Tyrese Sinclair as a double-swap for York City following our midweek draw at Southend.
Alex Newby registered the first shot of the game, his left-footed effort from the edge of the box was well blocked by the hosts.
City had two corners in the space of 30 seconds. Both were swung in by Alex Hunt, but Woking were able to get to the ball to clear away both times.
A great chance fell to the Minstermen on the counterattack. Josh Stones rolled the ball to his right, where Alex Newby took a swipe at goal, but Tom Norcott made a good stop to deny him.
Ollie Banks was looking to put his name up in lights when he hit a free-kick from range. His effort landed wide of the post.
Against the run of play Woking had the opener, Aaron Drewe with a blistering run down the right before firing a deflected shot past Harrison Male.
City were looking for an instant response and it nearly came when Newby’s teasing cross from the right met Josh Stones inside the box but he could only place his header over the bar.
York were still looking lively. Joe Grey with a chance to pull the trigger on the edge of the box but Timmy Akinola put in a great tackle to deny him.
Cards captain Harry Beautyman came close to doubling the lead on the stroke of half time. His shot from inside the box was well blocked.
The final chance of the first half came when Banks went in search of a curling shot from inside the box. Norcott did well to push the ball away.
Alex Hunt swung the ball in from a free-kick inside the early stages of the second half. The ball just evading the head of Mark Kitching and out for a goal-kick.
Out of nowhere City had the equaliser. Alex Newby’s ball in from the right beating everyone before looping over Norcott and into the back of the net.
York were starting to turn the screw. Sub Tyrese Sinclair with a ball into the box which was deflected into the path of Joe Felix who hit the ball first time but it was blocked out for a corner.
Woking were still finding areas to attack into. Sub Aiden O’Brien with a great chance from inside the box but Male pulled off a great save to deny the hosts a second.
Both teams were gunning for the win. Josh Osude with a shot going just over the bar for Woking before a great chance fell to Tyrese Sinclair who shot first time from an Ollie Pearce ball in, also shooting off target.
Ultimately, neither side could find a late winner, and the result from last season’s encounter in Surrey would be replicated in 2025/26.
Woking: Norcott, Drewe, Akinola, Odusina (Okoli 63′), Richards, Andrews, Akinola, Hinds, Turner, Beautyman (Osude 76′), Ashford (O’Brien 68′).
Subs not used: Ross, Hall, Hyde.
York City: Male, Felix, Howe ©, Fagan-Walcott, Kitching, Banks, Boateng, Grey (Nathaniel-George 55′), Stones (Pearce 55′), Hunt, Newby (Sinclair 55′).
Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, Palmer, Brookes.
Attendance: 3198 (527 City fans).
