York City returned to the top of the Enterprise National League after recording six consecutive league away wins for the first time in club history, emerging 2-0 victors at Solihull Moors on Saturday.
Stuart Maynard was forced into just a single alteration following our 5-0 thrashing of Braintree a week earlier, with Joe Grey replacing Josh Stones in the starting line-up.
City started brightly and carved out the first opportunity of the contest in the seventh minute when Mark Kitching tried his luck with a curling effort from distance, but Laurie Walker got down well to make the save.
Less than a minute later, Greg Olley had an attempt from closer range, though a deflection diverted the ball behind for a corner.
The resulting set-piece caused chaos in the Solihull penalty area, with Zak Johnson’s initial header blocked before the hosts eventually scrambled clear.
Joe Grey then tested Walker once more with a strike from the right-hand side, forcing another save as York continued to apply the pressure.
League top scorer Ollie Pearce was involved at both ends of the pitch. He saw a shot saved by the ‘keeper before producing a vital defensive intervention at the other end, clearing the ball off the line from a Moors corner.
As half-time approached, the Minstermen pushed hard for an opener. Ben Brookes came close when he rifled one from range, only for Walker to parry it away.
The final chance of the opening 45 came in stoppage time. Jeff King pulled the ball back to the perimeter for Alex Hunt, whose strike was brilliantly tipped over the bar by the Solihull goalkeeper.
Ten minutes into the second half, City were briefly tested when Harrison Male made a simple but important stop to deny Conor Wilkinson. A swift counter-attack followed at the other end, with Grey seeing an effort blocked.
The hosts began to grow into the game, though their next attempt sailed well over the crossbar.
However, York’s sustained pressure eventually told just before the hour mark. Olley was brought down inside the box, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Hunt stepped up confidently, as he did against Carlisle not long ago, and despite Walker guessing the right way, the penalty was placed too precisely into the corner to be kept out.
With the Minstermen in front, Maynard made a triple change, introducing Callum Howe, Ollie Banks and Alex Newby.
City went close to extending their lead when a cross from the right found Pearce, whose clever flick couldn’t quite be kept down. Hiram Boateng then dragged a driven effort narrowly wide in the 71st minute.
The decisive second goal arrived with ten minutes remaining.
Ben Brookes delivered a pinpoint cross into the box to pick out Newby, who had time to control it before sliding the ball underneath the diving Walker and into the net in front of a jubilant away end.
Solihull offered little in the closing stages, failing to seriously test Male as we secured a third successive clean sheet and another crucial three points on the road.
Solihull Moors: Walker, Clarke, Green, Whitmore ©, Wilkinson (Stevenson 71’), Worman (Sonupe 79’), Lipsiuc (Rutherford 71’), High (Tipton 84’), Wakeling, Sbarra, French.
Subs not used: Flahavan, Osborne, Sutton.
York City: Male, Kitching, Hunt, Pearce ©, Grey (Newby 66’), Brookes (Fallowfield 88’), King, Boateng (Batty 75’), Olley (Banks 66’), Williams, Johnson (Howe 66’).
Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Hewitt.
Attendance: 1,759 (709 City fans)
