City secured their first victory of 2025/26 on Saturday evening, winning 2-0 at Truro City.
Manager Adam Hinshelwood made a solitary change from our opening day draw with Sutton United, as Alex Hunt came in to replace Ashley Palmer.
League newcomers Truro immediately took the front foot straight from kick-off, breaking down the middle, and forcing Harrison Male to remain calm to smother a chance in the opening minute.
City had a few half-chances in the first knockings, but nothing really came of them.
Most of it was from down the right, with Alex Newby and Joe Felix putting the crosses in, and the closest we came was the latter’s low ball into the box, which was flicked over the bar by Ollie Pearce.
The hosts had the better of the opportunities towards the end of the first 45, with the best so far coming from Dom Johnson-Fisher in the 33rd minute.
He latched onto a through ball which put him one-on-one with Male, but could only drag his shot wide of the right-hand post.
Connor Riley-Lowe was next to come close for the Tinners minutes later from the edge of the box, lifting an effort just over the top of the goal frame.
Five minutes shy of the break, Moroccan winger Yassine En-Neyah found himself with a great aerial chance in front of goal, but his header was guided narrowly wide of the post.
The Minstermen would be the last to notch an attempt on goal before half-time, through a unique Tyrese Sinclair move.
His driven shot from distance deflected off a home player and up into the air, giving the City man time to dart forward and win the header, which tested ‘keeper Dan Lavercombe to save it.
Moving into the second half, Newby was keen to find the back of the net early on, receiving a pass from Sinclair before unleashing an effort high and wide of the target.
Mark Kitching had been one of the top performers in the game up to this point, and didn’t let his form slip, taking on a couple of Truro men down by the byline before pulling the ball back for Newby, whose stab at goal was aimed straight at the hosts’ shot-stopper.
Down the other end of the pitch, a long throw caused problems in the City box, as a header from Callum Howe flicked the ball onto the roof of the net, and out for a corner.
However, York took control soon after, with Sinclair’s last action before coming off consisting of a good bit of play – winning a foul inside the opposition half initially, the tricky winger received the ball again quickly, bursting forward, cutting in, and releasing a fierce effort towards goal, which was claimed by the ‘keeper.
Josh Stones took his place on the field as part of a double substitution from Adam Hinshelwood with fifteen minutes left to play.
The best chance of the game so far arrived soon after, as Pearce tried his luck with an excellent half-volley which forced Lavercombe to parry, before Kitching’s follow-up was also somehow kept out.
The resulting corner came out to Joe Grey, who whipped it back into the mixer for Malachi Fagan-Walcott, whose low shot was saved but spilt by the ‘keeper, but Kitching was alert to tap it home on this occasion and give City the lead in the 83rd minute.
To put the icing on the cake, sub Stones sealed the win off the bench with our second goal, in the 87th minute.
Another good attacking move saw three men in blue break forward, turning into a three-on-one situation.
Grey had the ball on the right, he gave it to Pearce in the middle who slid in Stones with a single touch, and the striker coolly side-footed it past the ‘keeper and into the far corner, sending the 409 travelling supporters into delirium at the opposite end of the ground.
Once that second goal had gone in, the result was never in doubt, and the Minstermen managed to hold out for a clean sheet too, securing a first win of the season.
York City: Male, Felix, Howe ©, Fagan-Walcott, Kitching, Banks, Boateng, Newby (Nathaniel-George 74’), Hunt (Grey 62’), Sinclair (Stones 74’), Pearce.
Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, Palmer, Brookes.
Truro City: Lavercombe, Bell (Love-Holmes 89’), Riley-Lowe ©, Dean, En-Neyah (Starkie 78’), Rooney, Johnson-Fisher (Taylor 78’), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hasani (Pyke 84’), Jephcott, Law.
Subs not used: Sanders, Sanogo, Pyke, Stone.
Attendance: 3,065 (409 City fans).
