By Rory Watson | Image by Tom Poole
The Minstermen won 2-0 against Woking in the Vanarama National League at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A second half double from Billy Chadwick and Dipo Akinyemi wrapped up a hard fought victory at home, whilst also significantly strengthening City’s survival chances.
Adam Hinshelwood made two changes to his side, drafting in Lenell John-Lewis and the returning Adam Crookes in place of Ryan Fallowfield and forward Sam Fishburn.
Fallowfield was awarded 2023/24 Clubman of the Year prior to kick off, as voted for by the supporters, and was subsequently presented with the Bill Fenton Memorial Trophy.
Woking talisman Ricky Korboa dragged an early chance wide for the visitors in the 8th minute.
Maz Kouhyar was unlocked by Alex Hunt in the 11th minute, a curling lofted through ball landed with the winger.
He took the ball into the area before checking onto his left foot and thumping narrowly over the bar.
Marvin Armstrong replicated the chance a minute later, moving the ball onto his right foot inside the area, after being found by Dipo Akinyemi.
Billy Chadwick was handed a big chance in the 30th minute, being slipped through by Danny Amos before stretching at a chance which Will Jaaskelainen halted.
Lenell John-Lewis expertly picked out striking partner Akinyemi in the 36th minute, but a misdirection of the chance saw the header fail to trouble Woking.
The ball was squared into the danger area just before the half closed, with Hunt’s cross unable to be diverted towards goal amongst the bodies.
A dead ball from Amos was attacked by John-Lewis at the start of the second half, looping a header narrowly over the bar.
The LNER Community Stadium burst into pandemonium in the 59th minute. Akinyemi fed through Chadwick, who hit hard and accurate across goal to fire City into the lead.
John-Lewis continued to be at the forefront of everything tricky for Woking, dragging wide in the 70th minute after latching onto a cross from Callum Howe.
The captain then setup Akinyemi, who netted a jubilant second for City. The forward wrapped his foot around the ball, effortlessly curling a shot into the far side of the net.
City saw the game out after, picking up an incredibly value three points in front of a bumper home crowd.
YORK CITY: Sykes-Kenworthy, Crookes, Akinyemi (79’ Burgess), Kouhyar (87’ McLaughlin), John-Lewis ©, Howe, Batty, Chadwick, Amos, Hunt, Armstrong.
UNUSED SUBS: Campbell, Duckworth, Smith.
WOKING: Jaaskelainen, Moss, Cuthbert ©, Wilkinson, Korboa (71’ Grego-Cox), Akinola, Odusina, Anderson (62’ Luker), Edwards, Kendall (71’ Browne), Berkoe.
UNUSED SUBS: Casey, Oyeleke.
ATTENDANCE: 7,657 (303 Woking supporters)
WAITROSE MAN OF THE MATCH, CHOSEN BY WATERMARK PLUMBING SUPPLIES: Billy Chadwick.