York City drew 1-1 in their opening 2024/25 Vanarama National League fixture away to Southend United at Roots Hall on Saturday afternoon.
Billy Chadwick setup an early chance for York, crossing from the right-flank to the far post for Dipo Akinyemi, who clawed a shot wide with his left foot.
A warning sign was flashed over by Southend after Oli Coker’s 9th minute dead-ball free kick delivery was sent over.
Gus Scott-Morriss scored in the 16th minute, from an identical free-kick routine which was just taken from the right-hand flank instead of the left flank on the initial occasion.
Akinyemi pounced on a mistake by Scott-Morriss minutes later. Our number nine drove into the box but had his cutback in the area cleared by Ollie Kensdale.
Chances were few and far between for The Minstermen in the first half. Akinyemi scuffed a header over in the 32nd minute after a quick move.
Dan Batty’s diagonal pass picked out the running Chadwick down the right. He turned on the ball, rolling back to Joe Felix who laid the cross up for the forward.
York began the second half with a good opening. Chadwick had space to run into down the right, but was beaten in the end by the intercepting Joe Gubbins.
Callum Howe met the 49th minute corner won, sending a tame back-post header the direction of Collin Andeng Ndi.
The Minstermen latched onto a mistake by Andeng Nid minutes later, with Chadwick the lucky receiver. He moved it on to Armstrong, who picked out Alex Hunt centrally. The midfielder opened up to swing a shot at goal.
Cav Miley looked to doubled Southend’s slender lead in the 56th minute after bringing down the ball from a header, smacking it wide just outside the area.
Substitute James Morton hit a shot from a similar distance. His left-footed effort easily handled by Harrison Male.
Penalty appeals were waved away a minute later after Tyrese Sinclair beat his man, before hitting the deck. Referee Farai Hallam quick to wave away appeals.
A combination of substitutes by Adam Hinshelwood were starting to knock at the Southend door.
Sinclair’s precise cross from the left-hand flank just evaded Lenell John-Lewis’ connection at the far side.
Ashley Nathaniel-George did well in the 81st minute to retain the ball and setup Cameron John inside the area, who struck a shot that drew a beaten save from Andeng Ndi.
The equaliser following from the resulting corner. Substitute Lenell John-Lewis rose highest to send the ball into the back of the net in front of the York City travelling support.
Another header nearly added to City’s joys. Sinclair hung a cross up from the right-hand flank for John-Lewis, who sent the connection just over the top of the bar.
York’s last chance to hook three points from the fixture fall to Sinclair in the 90+1st minute. A free kick in a very promising position was hit low and firm by the winger.
SOUTHEND: Andeng Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Ralph (C), Kensdale, Bridge (89′ Crowther), Cardwell, Walker (85′ Wood), Gubbins (54′ Morton), Taylor, Miley, Coker (79′ Waldron).
UNUSED SUBS: Hillson, Wind, Faulkner.
YORK CITY: Male, Fallowfield, Howe (C), Hunt, Akinyemi (70′ John-Lewis), Pearce (70′ Nathaniel-George), Armstrong (54′ Aguiar), Batty, Chadwick (54′ Sinclair), John, Felix.
UNUSED SUBS: Sykes-Kenworthy, O’Connor, McLaughlin.
ATTENDANCE: 7,962 (501 York City supporters)