Image by Adam Davy
The Minstermen drew 0-0 against Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena in the Vanarama National League on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides struggled for attacking inspiration for the majority, with hosts Rochdale coming out on top in the end as City held firm for the point on the road.
Neal Ardley made eight changes to the side which was dumped out of the Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round the Saturday prior away at Nantwich Town.
Midfielder Olly Dyson wasted no time in stinging the palms of Louie Moulden in goal, arrowing a half-volleyed effort at his nearside after just eighteen seconds.
Captain Ethan Ebanks-Landell yielded penalty claims after falling in the area on the 24th minute mark, however referee David McNamara’s clear view saw the defender booked for simulation.
Both City and Dale came alive in the 28th minute as the game began to open up from its closed shop opening exchanges.
Loanee left-back Luke Daley did exceptionally well to claw a boot and pip the ball from Ryan East, who was at point blank range to shoot, before a Callum Harriott counterattack unlocked the rushing Will Davies who drew a corner from the shot.
Harriott looked to turn on the heat in the 40th minute, stepping over and weaving around Dale defenders before blazing a curling effort up and over the bar.
City closed out the even half with ease, as Harvey Gilmour tested the gloves of George Sykes-Kenworthy with a lightly hit set-piece from the edge of the area just before the interval.
A lack of cutting edge continued to hider both sides in the fixture as the second half followed the pattern of the first.
Tyrese Sinclair overhit an attacking free-kick in the 56th minute as Dale looked to knock on the door of Sykes-Kenworthy, scuffing a further chance along the grass a minute later.
The forward was a man on a mission as he burst down the left-hand flank in the 61st minute, driving inwards with the ball but having his effort blocked out by the City defence. Dale remained in possession however, recycling the ball around before the header of Ian Henderson dropped just wide after a flick on.
Hosts Rochdale continued to show the more attacking intent as the fixture went on and City’s backline retreated, Jimmy Keohane was next in line to send an effort inches over the bar in the 73rd minute.
Forward Henderson looked to have replicated his goal in the reverse fixture in the 77th minute as the ball pinged around before falling to the striker, who dinked over and into the net, before the assistant referee chalked it off for offside.
Sykes-Kenworthy kept his clean sheet intact three minutes later, diving down low onto the powerful effort of Sinclair from a handful of yards out at the near-post.
Substitute Lenell John-Lewis provided one last corner for City in the 90+3rd minute after his presence in the area saw one last chance produced by the forward flash at Moulden, who pushed away.
ROCHDALE: Moulden, John, East, Ebanks-Landell ©, Sinclair, Clayton (19’ Oduroh), Uchegbulam, Keohane, Nevett, Gilmour, Henderson.
UNUSED SUBS: Taylor, Afuye, Mann, Burgess.
YORK CITY: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield ©, McLaughlin, Davies, Dyson (73’ John-Lewis), Harriott (70’ Kouhyar), Howe, Daley (81’ Latty-Fairweather), Burgess, Woodyard, Smith,
UNUSED SUBS: Stockdale, Cordner.
ATTENDANCE: 2,804 (630 York City supporters)