The Minstermen extended their unbeaten run in pre-season to five games following a comprehensive 4-0 victory away at Tadcaster Albion.
Goals before half-time from Adam Crookes and Zanda Siziba saw the Minstermen lead at the break, before Siziba’s second of the game and a Dan Pybus strike saw the Minstermen secure the victory at the So-Trak Stadium.
Mikey Morton named a few changes to the starting eleven that featured against Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday evening, as Maison Campbell came into start between the sticks for the Minstermen, whilst there was a start for winger Maziar Kouhyar, who came off the bench in midweek to net the winner against the League Two side.
Whilst two trialists featured on the bench for Morton’s side, there was also a place on the bench for recent new signing Quevin Castro, who joined the club in the summer from West Bromwich Albion.
City enjoyed early dominant pressure in the Tadcaster half and went close to taking the lead with a great chance through Paddy McLaughlin after only eight minutes, but after finding time and space with the ball on the edge of the area, the midfielder was unable to keep a right-footed effort down as it flew over the bar.
The Minstermen took the lead in the 11th minute through Crookes, who was in the right place at the right time at the far post to score an easy finish after having the ball squared across goal to him by Siziba from the right.
York went close to doubling their lead only three minutes later after good work down the left by Kouhyar saw the ball fall to Lenell John-Lewis inside the penalty area, but his low effort was met by a smart save by Tadcaster goalkeeper Joe Wilton, before Siziba had an effort on goal from distance which once again called the Tadcaster goalkeeper into action.
The Minstermen doubled their lead on the half-hour mark through Siziba, who picked up a short ball out wide, before cutting inside from the left and unleashed a curling right-footed effort, which beat Wilton at his left-hand post.
York had fewer chances to extend their lead even further before the break, as John-Lewis and Crookes both had efforts which forced Wilton into making further saves.
The Minstermen started the second-half strongly just as they did in the first and went close within the first seven minutes as they looked to add a third goal of the afternoon. Tadcaster’s substitute goalkeeper was forced into making a smart double save to deny both Kouhyar and John-Lewis, after City looked to break down the left.
City added their third goal of the afternoon on the hour mark, courtesy of Siziba’s second goal of the contest. The former Yeovil Town winger broke through a body of Tadcaster defenders, before beating the ‘keeper with a low finish into the bottom-left corner across the face of goal.
Another great break down the right then saw Siziba play through John-Lewis into the area, but after beating the ‘keeper at his left-hand post, his effort was denied by the linesman’s flag.
Pybus added the Minstermen’s fourth of the afternoon with twenty minutes to go after beating the ‘keeper from the edge of the area after the midfielder danced his way through a handful defenders, before getting a shot away on goal.
City later had chances through substitutes Scott Burgess and Cedric Main, but neither were unable to beat the substitute keeper as the Minstermen ran out 4-0 winners.
The Minstermen will be back in action on Monday evening for their second away pre-season game in the space of four days when we travel to Selby Town (7:30pm kick-off).
Tadcaster Albion: Wilton (GK), Owen, McDaid (C), Thirkell, Qualter, Hardcastle, Ahmed, Kitchen, Stephens, Greenway, Kay
Subs: Roper, Graves, Walters, Holmes, Trialist A, Ibrahimi, Trialist B, Trialist C, Trialist D, Trialist E, Trialist F
Goals: N/A
York City: Campbell (GK), Duckworth (Fallowfield 77’), Howe, Cordner, Crookes, McLaughlin (Hancox 77’), Dyson (Burgess 77’), Pybus (Castro 71’), Kouhyar (Trialist B 77’), John-Lewis (C), Siziba (Main 71’)
Unused Subs: Trialist A
Goals: Crookes (11’), Siziba (30’, 60’), Pybus (70’)