Photo by Tom Poole.
The Minstermen fell two goals short to Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup Preliminary Round on Monday evening.
Crawley had a bright start to this contest and landed their first shot after 10 minutes. Malcolm Ebiowei with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box which was saved by Alfie McNally.
Jack Hunt fed in a teasing cross looking for Dipo Akinyemi who took a swipe at goal only to be denied by some great defending from Crawley.
City came inches away from taking the lead after 23 minutes. Alex Hunt’s corner reaching the towering head of Zech Medley but his header went just wide of the post.
Crawley Town opened the scoring. Kellan Gordon with an excellent ball across the box which reached Gianmarco Di Biase who steered the ball home.
The visitors nearly made it two minutes later. Ebiowei with a shot from close range which was somehow kept out by McNally with an incredible diving save.
York came very close to drawing level at the start of the second half. Ben Brookes with a lovely ball into the box which was headed on by Dipo Akinyemi but went straight at Vito Mannone.
The Minstermen were pressing for the equaliser and came close once more when Medley got on the end of an Alex Hunt corner but his shot on his left-foot rattled the crossbar.
Ollie Pearce found room in the box to head at goal but his effort went into the side netting.
Crawley were handed a pen with four minutes to go, Zak Johnson with a late challenge. Danilo Orsi stepped up to slot away the visitors second.
York City: McNally, Medley, Johnson, Grey, A.Hunt, Pearce (C), Brookes (Newby 56′), Akinyemi (Olley 77′), Williams, Banks, J.Hunt (Felix 67′)
Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, Read, Shelton, Farrar, McArthur.
Crawley Town: Mannone, Gordon (Russell 53′), Barker (C), Farquharson (Arganese-McDermott 80′), Ebiowei (Kamara 53′), Watson, Duke-McKenna, Di Biase (Orsi 53′), Arthurs, Adeyemo, Krasniqi (Williams 63′)
Subs not used: Izquierdo, Mrisho, Williams, Tinsdale, Aderoju.
Attendance: 4,788 (192 away fans).
