Image by Mark Comer
The Minstermen won 2-1 away at Dagenham & Redbridge in the Vanarama National League on Tuesday night.
Changes from Saturday saw Dan Batty, Aiden Marsh and Zanda Siziba return to the starting line up.
Dagenham started the game quickly in the fifth minute, Lewis Page down the left-hand side delivered in well to Frank Vincent, but he cannot read the situation quick enough and glances his header well wide.
Our hosts continued to set out their stall in the 12th minute when Charley Kendall swivelled on the ball before drilling an effort just wide from outside the area.
The home side then missed their best chance of the fixture so far from a handful of yards out in the 19th minute as the ball came in, Josh Rees latched onto the loose ball, however he rashly blasted It over the bar.
Pressure continued to mount on the Minstermen defence in the 26th minute. Vincent drove inwards from the right to cause problems, he laid it off to Ryan Hilk who cut in onto his right foot to bend a precise shot into Ryan Whitley’s palms.
Whitley pulled out a spectacular high-flying save three minutes later when the City defence was again stretched on the wings, Hill cut inwards again and had his shot flying into the top corner before a finger tips save put a stop to the effort.
The Daggers continued to dominate majority of the ball and create half chances as City held in until half time.
City started the second half on the front foot. Ryan Fallowfield got the Minstermen moving in the opening exchanges, winning a corner which was dealt with by the hosts.
Fallowfield then broke down the right-hand side in the 48th minute, sending his cross into the area for substitute Lenell John-Lewis to volley wide.
Midfielder Olly Dyson’s superb backtracking from an initial York City corner halted a rapid Dagenham counterattack in the 54th minute, intercepting the sidewards pass which was coming into the area to tee up the attacker.
Our hosts eventually took the lead on the hour mark through the troublesome Hill, his run into the area left unmarked and picked out Page who did well down the left-hand flank to advance.
The Daggers nearly doubled their lead through two different chances in the 64th minute, Whitley left his line to press Vincent who broke the offside trap, however his lobbed effort flew just wide of his net before another effort crossed in from the right-hand side was steered over by Kendall this time.
Freddie Sears then looked to produce the goods for the Daggers, picking the ball off Will Smith at the in the centre circle and driving the entire Minstermen half before being his left-footed strike was denied by Whitley.
Substitute Scott Burgess was picked out with a lovely pass inside the area by Dipo Akinyemi in the 76th minute, he struck an effort low at a tight angle which Daggers’ ‘keeper Elliott Justham dealt with.
John-Lewis then tested ‘keeper Justham in the 81st minute, letting the ball roll across him before lashing a shot with power which was beaten away, Callum Howe ploughed in to latch onto the floating ball but again Daggers dealt with it.
City notched the equaliser in the 85th minute after Burgess’ cross deep from the right-hand flank was received well by John-Lewis who peeled off his man, took a touch and buried it high into the net.
The Minstermen continued to apply pressure late into the game, substitute Callum Harriott hacked at two different efforts in the 90th minute. Firstly, bending a shot on his right foot, and then being teed up by Akinyemi inside the area to test an near post effort which went just wide.
City did it again on the road and snatched a 90+4th minute late equaliser through Akinyemi who slalomed through the box before sending a low driven effort across net to nestle into the far corner and clinch the winner.
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE: Justham ©, Hare, Tavares, Hessenthaler, Vincent, Rees, Hill (82’ Appiah-Forson), Page, Phipps, Kendall (90’ Ibie), Sears.
UNUSED SUBS: Francis-Clarke, Longe-King.
YORK CITY: Whitley, Fallowfield ©, Cordner (70’ Burgess), McLaughlin, Dyson, Akinyemi, Howe, Batty, Marsh (38’ Lenell John-Lewis), Siziba (46’ Harriott), Smith.
UNUSED SUBS: Castro, Kennedy.
ATTENDANCE: 1,315 (176 York supporters.)
Supporter image by Ryan Brookes.
