Photo by Adam Davy
The Minstermen played out a 1-1 draw with promotion rivals Forest Green Rovers on Saturday evening at the Bolt New Lawn.
A concussion injury for City captain Callum Howe meant he sat this one out, with Ashley Palmer slotting into the backline, and the armband being handed over to Ollie Pearce.
The hosts remained unchanged, with just a single switch on the bench – Adriel Walker out for Jili Buyabu.
Forest Green grabbed an early goal with the first chance of the game, Kairo Mitchell with a right-footed shot from inside the box on the volley.
Their lead lasted just ten minutes. Joe Felix found space down the right before being brought down in the box. Ollie Pearce stepped up, slotting the ball past Luke McNicholas and into the net.
The hosts had a good chance to retake the lead just minutes later. Nick Haughton found himself with room to shoot inside the box, but his shot to the near post was well kept out by Harrison Male.
Tyrese Sinclair went for an ambitious effort from range in the 28th minute, but his shot took a heavy deflection, leaving McNicholas in need to tip the ball over the bar.
Forest Green came inches away from taking the lead when a fantastic left-footed shot bent towards the top corner, but Malachi Fagan-Walcott stood tall on the line to deny the hosts a certain goal.
Joe Grey was looking lively and had a chance of his own not long before half time, his shot on the turn rolled just wide of the mark.
Forest Green had some unbelievable defending to do of their own when Ryan Inniss somehow got his head to the ball to deny Sinclair’s shot off the line.
Similar to the first half, Forest Green started the second half brightly. Tre Pemberton clipping the crossbar with a shot from inside the box.
York’s first chance came in the form of another Ollie Pearce shot. His great turn allowed him room to shoot but he dragged the ball across goal but it rolled out for a goal-kick.
Pearce had another chance shortly after when he got on the end of a Mark Kitching cross, but his shot on the left boot was held by the keeper.
The hosts were having a better half and were pressing for their second. A cross from the left being headed just over by Mitchell.
Alex Hunt went for an ambitious shot from range with 10 to play but this one didn’t trouble McNicholas as he made the save.
There was a simple save to be made for Male down the other end too inside the closing stages, McCallister’s deflected effort.
Forest Green Rovers: McNicholas, Inniss, Mendy, Mcallister, Haughton (Buyabu 46′), Knowles (Kengni 46′), Moore-Taylor (C), Moore (Balagizi 65′), Pemberton, Whitwell (Bunker 81′), Mitchell.
Subs not used: Pagel, Clarke, Marquez.
York City: Male, Kitching, Fagan-Walcott, Palmer, Sinclair (Brookes 75′), Hunt, Pearce (C), Boateng (Batty 89′), Felix (Fallowfield 89′), Grey (Banks 68′), Newby (Olley 68′).
Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Stones.
