Image by Adam Davy
York City drew 0-0 away to Aldershot Town in the Vanarama National League at The EBB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Neither side could find a breakthrough throughout the open, end-to-end spectacle in Hampshire.
Adam Hinshelwood made one change to the side which beat AFC Fylde 3-0 at home seven days before, with Rory Watson replacing Harrison Male in net.
Ollie Pearce carved up York City’s first real opportunity when his 11th minute diagonal ball split through Aldershot’s backline to pick out Tyrese Sinclair down the right flank. The winger flashed his follow up strike across goal.
Midfielder Ricky Aguiar’s left footed strike cleared the crossbar a minute later after York’s short corner eventually fell to the midfielder on the edge.
Ollie Harfield and Sinclair’s 15th minute duel saw a freak accident finish the captain’s afternoon, with the Shots man stretchered off after medical attention from both sets of staff.
Aldershot’s Josh Barrett clipped a looping long-distance 21st minute strike off the top of the bar after Rory Watson rushed to clear the ball.
Strong penalty appeals by Aldershot didn’t phase referee William Davis in the 26th minute, who was close to the scene to disagree.
Barrett had a second close chance of the half when Theo Widdrington’s 31st minute through ball split City’s defence, however the forward hit into the side netting after going past Watson.
Marcus Dewhurst pulled out two superb stops to deny a deadlock breaker in the 37th and 38th minutes respectively.
The goalkeeper first denied team mate Cameron Hargreaves from slicing a York corner into the net before beating away Howe’s follow up header on the second set piece.
Adam Hinshelwood’s side applied late pressure in the half, but couldn’t quite find the opener as Ashley Nathaniel-George’s work concluded in the winger opening up and shooting wide.
Widdrington opened the second half for Aldershot with an effort wide of the mark, after reaching to drag the shot.
James Henry was next up for the hosts after Barrett teed him up, but he couldn’t keep his effort down either.
The ball sat up beautifully for substitute Dipo Akinyemi to hammer at in the 58th minute, however the forward sent the effort high and wide.
Further Shots pressure was soaked up by The Minstermen as Ryan Fallowfield got down to prevent a Hady Ghandour shot, before Scott scuffed towards goal too.
Winger Mo Fadera secured his Vanarama National League debut this afternoon, coming off the bench to make an impact.
Our debutant linked up with Marvin Armstrong just outside the area, who slipped through Nathaniel-George for a deflected shot towards goal.
Fadera then went on to flash a 71st minute left-footed strike just over the bar for City, before Armstrong followed up to do similar.
Shots’ stand-in skipper Widdrington replicated his half opening chance in the 86th, thumping wide of Watson’s right-hand post.
Defender Callum Howe was over to put in a last ditch block a minute later, preventing substitute Jack Barham from poking a close range shot at goal.
Akinyemi and Joe Felix took speculative distance shots at goal just shy of the full time whistle, with both blocked back to The Minstermen.
York City are next in action on Tuesday night when they travel to face Solihull Moors (7,45pm kick off).
ALDERSHOT: Dewhurst, Byrd, Harfield (C) (19′ Menayese), Maghoma, Widdrington, Hargreaves, Barrett (59′ Corbett), Scott (65′ Barham), Akpan (70′ A. Jones), Ghandour, Henry (59′ R. Jones).
UNUSED SUBS: Van Stappershoef, Tetek.
YORK CITY: Watson, Fallowfield, Howe (C), Sinclair (52′ Akinyemi), Hunt (67′ Fadera), Pearce (67′ John-Lewis), Nathaniel-George (90+2′ McLaughlin), Armstrong, Aguiar (56′ John), Felix, Fagan-Walcott.
UNUSED SUBS: Male, Chadwick.
ATTENDANCE: 2,567 (414 York City supporters)