Photo by Tom Poole.
York City ran out 2-1 winners in their first game of pre-season 2026/27 against Barnsley.
The first chance fell City’s way. Alex Newby feeding the ball wide to Dipo Akinyemi who went for goal first time but hie shot flew just over the bar.
Barnsley had a chance of their own minutes later on the counter which brought a brilliant tackle from Zak Johnson who denied the visitors.
Akinyemi was involved once more when he teed up Mark Shelton on the edge of the box but his resulting shot flew over the bar.
Josh Earl tried his luck from range but his effort took a heavy block from Alex Newby to drag it over the bar.
York City took the lead in the 20th minute. Akinyemi with a ball inside to Greg Olley who charges at goal before placing a shot into the bottom right-hand corner.
Akinyemi had another chance with another effort from the left, this one going over the bar.
The returning City man forced Rogan Ravenhill into a great stop down to his right to deny City a second.
Barnsley drew level in the 37th minute when Cameron McGeehan latched onto a loose ball in the box before poking the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.
The second half saw a complete change in 11 for the Minstermen with Barnsley remaining unchanged.
The visitors started the second half brightly. Cleary with a ball across the face of goal which just evaded the leg of Corey O’Keeffe and went out for a goal-kick.
Charlie Lennon was next to have a go for Barnsley. His left footed curling effort landed just wide of the mark.
Ollie Banks went for an audacious effort from range but it rolled wide of the left-hand post.
City retook the lead with ten minutes to go when Ollie Pearce was bundles over in the box. Pearce who won it, scored it to give City the upper hand.
Banks had a chance not long after but his shot from the edge went just over the bar.
The final chance of the game fell to Pearce who shot on the spin but it hit the left-hand post before the rebound was hooked away.
York City first-half: Sykes-Kenworthy, Johnson, Brookes, King, Shelton, Akinyemi, Olley (Stiver 44′), Felix, Williams, Newby, McArthur
York City second-half: Sykes-Kenworthy (Trialist 60′), Fallowfield, Kitching, Medley, Palmer, Grey, Hunt, Pearce, Maguire, Read, Banks.
Barnsley: Ravenhill, O’Keeffe (de Gevigney 59′), Lopata (Hudson 59′), Earl (Kay 59′), Gent (Woodcock 59′), Bland (Nwakali 59′), McGeehan (Middleton 59′), Kelly (Lennon 59′), Taylor (Gould 59′), Yoganathan (Farrell 52′), Clearly (Alker 59′).
Attendance: 2,632 (872 away)
