The Minsterbelles fall to a narrow defeat at Maiden Castle against Durham Cestria.
A second half strike from Ellen Turnbull was enough for the hosts to take all three points and move to the top of the table.
York welcomed Jess Holder and Elisha Hardcastle back after illness kept them both out last weekend, there was also a place on the bench for Holly Findlay as she returned to the club from Barnsley. Anna Bowman was also handed her debut as she made the starting eleven.
Durham were on the front foot from the off, in the 7th minute a vital intervention from Jess Heald prevented Durham opening the scoring, a brave block from the full back inside the 18 yard-box.
A minute later York created their first opening, Milly Ash slide Jess Holder in behind, the forward chased after the ball before firing on target but her shot was denied by the keeper’s legs.
Becky Sidwell was called upon on a number of occasions in the first 20 minutes, first denying Jordan Atkinson diving to her left parrying out in the 13th minute.
Her second stop in the 15th minute saw the City keeper diving at full stretch keeping the score line 0-0. In the 16th minute Sidwell caught Turnbull’s effort at her near post.
York managed to win a corner in the 17th minute, the cross found Alice Hughes in the box who couldn’t direct her attempt on target as the ball bounced wide.
In the 25th minute the hosts struck the woodwork, Atkinson’s half volley hit the crossbar bouncing down in the six-yard box before Sidwell gathered.
Turnbull again came close for the hosts but for another impressive Sidwell save, the winger’s header was well placed but the City keeper was equal to it.
On the stroke of half time Sarah Burn took aim from outside the box again forcing Sidwell into a smart save as the sides went into the break level.
City turned to the bench at half time replacing debutant Anna Bowman with Olivia Sellars.
In the 49th minute Turnbull flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal as York survived an early second half scare.
After 51 minutes Nikki Brown was forced off with an injury, she was replaced by Abbey Fredericksen City also subbed off Ash for Findlay in the hope of finding the opening goal.
Durham however, took the lead in the 58th minute, Turnbull tapped home from inside the six yard-box after Atkinson picked her out with a cross.
In search of an equaliser, York took a corner short, Findlay delivered a cross which Sellars met with a header but she couldn’t direct her shot beyond the keeper who gathered in the 70th minute.
With 15 minutes remaining Sidwell was again on hand to save, tipping Erin Nicholson’s strike around the post.
The final chance of the afternoon went the way of the hosts, substitute Jessica Foster’s goalward effort was saved by Sidwell who’d had an impressive afternoon making a number of important saves.
The Minsterbelles return to action in two weeks’ time with Barnsley the visitors to York St John’s Sports Park, Sunday 4th December, kick off 2pm.
Minsterbelles: Sidwell, Jeffels, Cattle, Cassidy, Heald, Hughes, Hardcastle, Brown (Fredericksen), Bowman (Sellars), Ash (Findlay), Holder.
Subs not used: Smith, Harriott.