The Minstermen lost 1-0 against Solihull Moors in the Vanarama National League at ARMCO Arena on Saturday.
Jack Stevens curled in late for Moors to secure a fifth-place finish, whilst results elsewhere ensured City would remain in the fifth tier for the 2024/25 season.
Adam Hinshelwood made two changes to his side which beat Woking in our final LNER Community Stadium fixture.
Rory Watson and Ryan Fallowfield returned from respective injury and suspension, replacing George Sykes-Kenworthy and Maz Kouhyar,
An uneventful opening 45 minutes opened up the final matchday of the season.
Billy Chadwick had Nick Hayes picking the ball out his net in the 13th minute, only for the assistant referee to duly flag out the possible opener for offside.
Tahvon Campbell looked to replicate three minutes later, however Rory Watson was having none of it and hit away the shot despite a clear whistle.
Watson was called upon again in the 18th minute, handling a simple catch following a Solihull shot from outside the area.
City won their first corner after 26 minutes, following Chadwick’s shot deflecting wildly up and over, however failed to use it for any real chance.
Solihull cleared any danger before having a chance of their own through Jamey Osborne, who saw his distance shot blocked right back to him.
Marvin Armstrong looked to have had the clearest sight at goa in the 32nd minute, charging into the area but stumbling at the last hurdle before Moors pinched the ball.
Solihull Moors whistled a powerful strike just wide of Watson’s left-hand post in the 34th minute. Nana Boateng flicked the ball from inside the area to outside it, with a charging Joe Newton striking with the outside of his left foot.
A medical emergency within the away end saw the game halted for roughly four minutes, with the supporter wheeled away seemingly okay in the end. Both sets of medical staff were quick to respond to the situation.
The second half followed similar pattern to the first, as a largely tame half unfolded.
Callum Maycock got off a shot in the 55th minute, only to see the left-footed effort bounce off his own player and out for a City goal kick.
City zipped the ball quickly in the 60th minute, unlocking Ryan Fallowfield down the right-hand flank.
Our 2023/24 Clubman of the Year crossed at the first chance to the prowling Lenell John-Lewis, but the forward was beat to the delivery by a Moors man who cleared for a corner.
It was pinball for phases of the game around the 65th minute mark, with Campbell having an effort blocked before substitute Jon Benton skimmed a free-kick off the roof of Watson’s net.
Solihull Moors’ Man of the Match Tyrese Shade was thwarted at close range by the pouncing Watson, who denied the number ten a finish from close range after he was fed through in the 71st minute.
Jack Stevens thought he may have won Solihull a free-kick in a promising position, after skipping just outside the box and tumbling, only to be flashed a yellow card by referee Paul Marsden.
The hosts struck late on through Stevens, curling into the top corner from inside the area to nick victory.
SOLIHULL MOORS: Hayes, Clarke, Newton, Osborne © (81’ Mafuta), Maycock (89’ Labadie), Shade, Stevens, Benn, Campbell, Boateng (56’ Benton), Whitmore.
UNUSED SUBS: Morrison, Craig.
YORK CITY: Watson, Fallowfield, Crookes, Akinyemi (56’ Burgess), John-Lewis ©, Howe, Batty (66’ McLaughlin), Chadwick, Amos, Hunt, Armstrong.
UNUSED SUBS: Sykes-Kenworthy, Duckworth, Smith.
ATTENDNACE: 2,800 (1,153 York City supporters)