Image by Tom Poole
York City drew 1-1 against Tamworth at The Lamb Ground on their return to Vanarama National League action on Saturday afternoon.
The Minstermen took the lead through Ollie Pearce but were pegged back late in the second half after Tom Tonks’ long throw was converted by Jordan Cullinane-Liburd.
Adam Hinshelwood made four changes to the side which beat Darlington in the Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round at the LNER Community Stadium.
Adam Crookes, Dipo Akinyemi, David Ajiboye and Jeff King all dropped out for Alex Hunt, Ollie Pearce, Marvin Armstrong, and Malachi Fagan-Walcott.
Tamworth won a set-piece early down the right-flank. The fourth minute delivery was met at the far side by Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, who hit into Dan Batty before following up on that to balloon the ball over the bar.
City saw a chance of their own blocked early in the first half too. Footwork from Ashley Nathaniel-George in the 11th minute, whilst coming in from the left flank, concluded in a block by Ben Milnes.
Ricky Aguiar proceeded to crash the ball off the bar minutes later for The Minstermen after picking up on a cleared City corner.
Kai Williams then went close for Tamworth a minute later, floating an effort goal wards which was seen out in the end by Harrison Male.
Ollie Pearce smashed in York City’s opener in the 17th minute after good work down the right by his team-mates.
Nathaniel-George slotted through Joe Felix, who picked out the forward in the area. He shifted the ball onto his right foot before powering the ball in at Jas Singh’s near post.
Tamworth put out strong appeal for a penalty in the 20th minute when George Morrison hit the deck. Referee Sam Mulhall’s position during the play was good enough to observe, with play continuing.
Tom McGlinchey snatched at a chance in the heat of the moment on the 28th minute. The ball fall to him on the edge of the area after a rebound, which was immediately sent over.
City’s patient play throughout the remainder of the first half fall just short in the area, with a number of crosses and set pieces thrown into the box by The Minstermen.
Callum Howe was on hand to prevent a 52nd minute strike from the edge of the area by Morrison,.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott opted to try and utilise the long route four minutes later, lofting over the top to Pearce.
The forward latched onto the ball but had his shot blocked by the Tamworth tracker.
Further patient play by The Minstermen saw Aguiar and Tyrese Sinclair have shots blocked by The Lambs’ defensive contingency.
City broke at pace in the 71st minute, in search of a doubler, following Sinclair’s good hold up play. The winger threaded through the overlapping Pearce, who fed the ball back to Sinclair for him to shoot down Singh’s path.
Howe displayed strong appeal for a handball in he 78th minute when winning the header on a corner, which also allowed Fagan-Walcott to flick the ball towards goal at close range. The following corner then called Singh into a parried save.
York were punished for not putting the game to bed when a 90th minute long throw from Tom Tonks was converted by Jordan Cullinane-Liburd inside the area.
Two chances, one each for both sides, followed in the dying moments.
Singh flapped at a cross in the 90+6th minute when looking to claim a cross. Felix flashed the ball back into the middle but substitute Luca Thomas turned it wide at pace.
Tamworth went up the other end a minute later via the right flank. The ball ended up going central to substitute Alex Fletcher who dragged wide from just outside the area.
TAMWORTH: Singh, Tonks (90+2′ Fletcher), Milnes (C) (81′ Wreh), Creaney, Fairlamb, Williams (88′ Ponticelli), Morrison, Cullinane-Liburd, McGlinchey (81′ Enoru), Hollis, Crompton.
UNUSED SUBS: Cockerill-Mollett, Digie, Phillips.
YORK CITY: Male, Howe (C), Sinclair, Hunt, Pearce, Nathaniel-George (72′ Akinyemi), Armstrong (90+4′ Thomas), Batty, Aguiar (83′ Fallowfield), Felix, Fagan-Walcott.
UNUSED SUBS: Watson, Chadwick, Ajiboye, King.
ATTENDANCE: 1,739 (620 York City supporters)
