York City U19s lost 3-1 at home to FC Halifax Town in their fourth game of the season.
The opening goal came in the 18th minute. Down the right-hand side, a Halifax man played a clever pass for his teammate to latch onto, and he unselfishly squared the ball to another blue shirt in front of goal, who lofted it into the net.
Looking for a quick response, City had a unique opportunity two minutes later, having been awarded an indirect free kick inside the penalty area. Sutton Greening’s attempt was cleared, but only as far as Jake Roberts, who smashed a shot wide of the right post.
Roberts was in the limelight again, come the 24th minute, as he was taken out by the goalkeeper just inside the box.
Greening dispatched the subsequent spot-kick into the bottom-right corner to level things up.
The Shaymen tried to threaten Cam White between the sticks on a couple of occasions, not long after, but he was hardly troubled.
An excellent chance did, however, evolve for Halifax, as the ball over the top found their ‘number five’, and with little time to consider his options, he attempted a lob which ended up behind the goal.
Next, Donny Day had his first opportunity, striking from an angle; the ‘keeper did well to keep hold of the effort.
Just before the 45-minute mark, Grenning saw his hopeful free-kick blocked away by the Shaymen wall.
Deep into first half injury time, the away team restored their lead. A man in blue was able to advance down the byline before pulling the ball back for the ‘number seven’, who found the back of the net from point-blank range at the second bite of the cherry.
Halifax almost extended the advantage just moments after returning for the second half, as their second goalscorer had his deflected shot cleared off the line.
City had a chance of their own on the counter attack in the 54th minute – Ben Farrar ran onto a good through ball down the right, and forced an initial save out of the Town shot-stopper, before Ollie Belleh’s try on the rebound was also pushed away by the goalkeeper.
Five minutes later, the Minstermen were put on the back foot. Adam Tweed was shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident, and a penalty awarded as well.
The Halifax striker buried it from 12 yards into the opposite corner from which Greening had put his earlier in the game.
With a mountain to climb now, City pushed for a way back. Belleh had a shot blocked, while substitute Ed Campbell crashed one into the side netting.
Lucas Russell came the closest to rescuing even a goal in the closing stages, but his effort from an angle wasn’t enough to beat the ‘keeper, and the young Minstermen fell to their second defeat of the season.
They are back in action next Thursday, when they enter the FA Youth Cup, away at Bradford Park Avenue (7pm kick-off).
York City: White, Kydd (Campbell 70’), Tweed, Belleh ©, Baker, Beadle, Roberts (Kettlewell 70’), Shaw, Farrar (Hewson 64’), Greening (Russell 61’), Day.
