Photo by Mark Comer
York City produced a spirited second-half showing to come back from 2-1 down and win by two goals at Eastleigh on Saturday afternoon.
The first clear chance of the game came when a Ben Brookes long-throw was flicked on in the box into the path of Ollie Pearce, who directed the ball goalwards but was denied by a close-range save by Nick Townsend.
Townsend was called into action moments later when a Brookes cross from the left found its way to Ollie Banks on the edge of the box, who shot on the half volley, but Townsend did brilliantly to tip the ball behind for a corner.
Pearce had the ball in the net in the 13th minute with a fantastic finish, but the celebrations were to be short-lived as the flag went up for offside.
Another Brookes long-throw found its way to Malachi Fagan-Walcott in the box, who flicked the ball onto Josh Stones, who went for goal, but again Townsend made the stop.
Joe Felix was next to put Townsend to the test when he went for goal from inside the box, but the Eastleigh keeper once again got down to make the save.
The relentless City pressure finally paid off in the 25th minute. Banks with a teasing ball into the box reaching Ollie Pearce who toe-poked the ball past Townsend to give City a deserved lead.
Against the run of play Eastleigh drew level. A cross from the left met Luke Skinner at the back post who nodded the ball past Harrison Male to level the scoring.
Eastleigh turned the game on its head on the stroke of half time. The ball came across before falling kindly to Skinner once more who placed the ball past Male to give the hosts the lead.
City had a glorious chance to get level in the opening minutes of the second half. Brookes with a perfect cross to pick out Stones but the forward placed his header over the bar.
York were creating the chances once again in the second half. Felix’s cross reached Kitching at the back post but this header was held by Townsend.
The Minstermen got the equaliser in the 70th minute. Alex Hunt’s ball across the box was steered home at the back post by Ollie Pearce once more.
Skinner so nearly had his hattrick two minutes later when the ball dropped to him inside the box. This shot was held by Male.
In another twist in a thrilling game of football, York took the lead again. On debut. Craig Hewitt found time to smash the ball into the net from the edge of the box.
The second half pressure paid off once more. A ball in from Pearce reached Josh Stones who planted his header right into the top corner to seal the three points in dramatic fashion.
The final chance of the game came in the form of a Luke Humphries shot for the hosts. His effort whistled wide of the post.
Eastleigh: Townsend, Brindley (McCallum 85′), Vokins, Humphries (C), Eweka, Evans, Saunders, Pierre, Lundstram, Skinner (Davis 74′), Harris.
Subs: McNamara, Fernandez, Waruih, Stone, Jones.
York City: Male, Kitching (Fallowfield 79′), Fagan-Walcott, Howe (C), Hunt, Stones, Pearce (Fadera 86′), Brookes (Hewitt 69′), Batty, Felix (Nathaniel-George 69′), Banks.
Subs: Sykes-Kenworthy, Watson, Kettlewell.
Attendance: 3524 (308 away)
