Photo by Tom Poole
York City’s 2024/25 campaign came to a close after a 3-0 defeat to Oldham Athletic in the Vanarama National League Play-Off Semi-Final.
The visitors had the first shot of the game after two minutes, when midfielder Vimal Yoganathan picked up a loose ball and struck wide.
Ten minutes later, Dipo Akinyemi burst down the left wing into the box, before beating his man and poking an improvised shot at Matt Hudson’s front post. However, the goalkeeper was equal to the effort.
Oldham applied further pressure as the first half went on. Mark Kitching had a header cleared off the goal line by Tyrese Sinclair.
Shortly after, on the 22nd minute, the deadlock was broken when a Harrison Male pass to Alex Hunt on the edge of the defensive box was intercepted by Yoganathan. The ball fell to Joe Garner, who drilled a left-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner.
The last chance of the opening 45 saw Mike Fondop hit a half volley from distance which dipped on goal. He, however, was denied by an acrobatic save in the York goal by Male.
Oldham doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half when Fondop pulled the ball to the edge, where Yoganathan was on hand to pick up. The on-loan Lactic then drilled a low effort past Male.
Before the Minstermen could settle after going two behind, the score turned to three moments later. Joe Pritchard met a cross into the box and headed in.
Oldham asserted their dominance as the half continued. The most significant opportunities came through a volley struck wide by Tom Pett and a 1-on-1 shot by Fondop, which was denied by Male.
With five minutes of normal time to go, Pearce did have the opportunity to pull one back. However, a curling free kick on the edge went wide of the post.
The game finished 3-0, meaning the Minstermen exited with Oldham through to the final at Wembley.
YORK CITY: Male, Howe, Sinclair (Luamba 59′), Hunt (Batty 76′), Akinyemi (Stones 60′), Pearce, Nathaniel-George (John-Lewis 82′), Richardson (Armstrong 60′), John, Felix, Fagan-Walcott.
SUBS NOT USED: Chadwick, Watson.
OLDHAM ATHLETIC: Hudson, Ogle, Kitching, Pett, Monthe, Fondop, Garner (Norwood 80′), Raglan, Evans (Rossiter 85′), Yoganathan (Conlon 77′), Pritchard.
SUBS NOT USED: Donaghy, Lundstram, Sutton, Uchegbulam.
ATTENDANCE: 8,153 (1,612 away fans)
