Image by Tom Poole
York City drew 2-2 away from home at the VBS Community Stadium against Sutton United in the Vanarama National League on Saturday afternoon.
Adam Hinshelwood made five chances to the side which beat Rochdale mid-week, as squad rotation plays a part following Saturday – Bank Holiday Monday matchdays in quick succession.
Rory Watson, Darragh O’Connor, Dipo Akinyemi, Ashley Nathaniel-George and Marvin Armstrong all came in, replacing Harrison Male, Tyrese Sinclair, Billy Chadwick, Ricky Aguiar and Cameron John.
Joe Felix hit at goal inside the opening minute, picking up on the clearance of Alex Hunt’s cross from the right.
Ollie Pearce and Felix again had shots blocked in the tenth minute before Nana Boateng had his stopped just before the line by O’Connor.
Sutton United should really have broken the deadlock in the 13th minute when Jayden Harris found the side-netting, with the goal gaping after Watson was beat to the ball.
Dipo Akinyemi squandered an equally golden chance in the 24th minute as he found himself in front of goal from close range, slicing at Ryan Fallowfield’s perfect cross.
Harris and Akinyemi had further chances for their sides in the half.
The Sutton United man burst past City’s back line to hit a shot, blocked away for a corner, before Akinyemi spun on the ball and charged to do similar.
Callum Howe closed out the first half, nodding a Hunt corner wide at the back post.
Marvin Armstrong broke the deadlock minutes into the second half, converting Akinyemi’s square ball after he timed a run to pick up a long ball to perfection.
Will Davies levelled it up in the 50th minute, rising highest to plant a header goal-wards.
Sutton United had their second in the game through substitute Josh Coley in the 73rd minute, after he flicked his header in via the far side of goal.
It was the battle of substitutions in the second half. City’s Lenell John-Lewis popped up in the 85th minute to prod home an equaliser after brilliant work from Pearce had the forward around the ‘keeper.
Harris proceeded to rattle the woodwork for Sutton two minutes later in a game that had become a real end-to-end occasion.
John-Lewis could’ve put the icing on the Minstermen’s cake in the 90+4th minute when Ricky Aguiar picked out the forward free in the area, however the forward planted his connection over the bar.
York City are next in action on Bank Holiday Monday against Boston United. Click here to purchase tickets.
SUTTON: Arnold, French (C), Simper, Davies, Barbrook (67′ Wadham), Muller, Boateng (67′ Coley), Waller, Sivi (67′ Nadesan), Jackson, Harris.
UNUSED SUBS: Sims, Ransom, Odelusi, Vaz.
YORK CITY: Watson, Fallowfield, O’Connor (62′ John), Howe (C), Hunt (67′ Aguiar), Akinyemi (62′ Sinclair), Pearce, Nathaniel-George (62′ Chadwick), Armstrong (75′ John-Lewis), Batty, Felix.
UNUSED SUBS: Male, McLaughlin.
ATTENDANCE: 2,624 (409 York City supporters)