Photo by Tom Poole
York City won 3-2 at Braintree Town on Saturday afternoon, completing an incredible turnaround after being two goals down.
Braintree had the lead inside four minutes. A ball across the face of goal was met by new signing Terrell Works, who steered the ball in from inside the box.
City came inches away from an instant response. Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s cross was met by a strong header from Josh Stones, but Mason Terry produced a great save to deny him.
The hosts came close to doubling their lead not long after. A header back by Callum Howe was intercepted by John Akinde, who ran through on goal, only to be denied by Harrison Male, who made a fantastic save.
Joe Felix found himself in a shooting position at goal. His shot from the edge of the box whistled just over the bar in the 18th minute.
Marley Marshall-Miranda brought Braintree on the break from two blocked City shots, he could only roll his effort from the edge into the palms of Male.
Alex Newby came close on the half-hour mark. His left-footed shot from inside the box was well-tipped behind by Terry.
Chay Cooper was looking to place his name up in lights when he sent the ball goalwards, but his left-footed bending shot went just wide of the mark.
Fagan-Walcott was next to have a go at goal. His shot from inside the box was blocked and cleared away by the hosts.
Just two minutes into the second half and Braintree had a second. A replica to the first goal, another ball into the box into the path of Works who finishes the ball home from inside the box.
Ollie Pearce nearly had one back a minute later but his shot from very close range was again kept out by Terry.
City were awarded a free-kick in a shooting position in the 54th minute. Just like Tuesday, Alex Hunt stepped up to bury one right into the top-corner to bring City back into the game.
York had another free-kick moments later. Hunt stepped up again but this time to be denied by the right-hand post.
Goran Babic was looking to test Male when he fired a shot to his near post, Male got down well to make the save.
Works had a golden chance to seal his hattrick and Braintree’s third. A ball into the box met him with only the goal to aim for but he blazed his shot over the bar from six-yards out.
Right up the other end and York had a glorious chance of their own. A long ball forward was latched onto by Pearce who ran through on goal only to be denied by another great save.
With 15 minutes to go, City were level. A superb cross from the right by Felix was met by sub Joe Grey in the box who nodded the ball past Terry.
We kept on pushing for a late winner, and came so close, as Fagan-Walcott saw his shot deflected over the bar.
Greg Olley, who had come off the bench for his first minutes in thirteen months, almost had a dream goal himself, his effort blocked on the line in the final minute of the 90.
Within seconds of the eight added minutes being indicated, a penalty was awarded to City for a handball inside the box.
There could be nobody else to step up and take it in front of the away end than Pearce, who coolly dispatched his penalty in the 93rd minute, sending everyone supporting York City into delirium.
With still the remainder of injury time to go, a slight scare came when James Vennings struck one well from the edge of the area, but he could only watch the ball fly past the post, as the Minstermen saw out an impressive comeback victory.
Braintree Town: Terry, Francis-Clarke, Langston, Vennings, Marshall-Miranda, Cooper, Akinde (Hockey 60′), Babic (Omrore 90′), Pinnington (Kamara 90+6′), Terry (Hubbard 90+6′), Works.
Subs not used: Mchpherson.
York City: Male, Kitching, Fagan-Walcott, Howe, Sinclair (Grey 61′), Hunt, Pearce, Boateng (Batty 68′), Felix (Fallowfield 90+4′), Stones (Olley 61′), Newby (Brookes 90+4′).
Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Palmer.
Attendance: 1,409 (336 away fans).
