York City drew 2-2 with League Two side Notts County in their final LNER Community Stadium pre-season friendly fixture on Saturday afternoon.
Adam Hinshelwood’s squad has progressed fitness wise to see out 90-minute pre-season friendly fixtures as we approach the start of the National League season, with the manager utilising just one substitution during the game.
Notts County took the lead inside a handful of minutes. Jodi Jones converted by slamming the ball into the roof of the net after receiving a pass from an in-direct free-kick.
City sprung a strong counter in the 20th minute. Alex Hunt blocked an initial shot from Dan Crowley before York got going. Ollie Pearce took it all the way until squaring across for Marvin Armstrong, who couldn’t quite reach the ball to make a connection towards goal.
Hunt sparked City into a counter again down the left-hand flank three minutes later. Joe Felix chased before switching to Billy Chadwick on the right. He hit a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked away by the Notts defender.
Harrison Male denied Aaron Nemane from close-range in the 26th minute, turning away his shot by a save with his foot.
Notts County doubled their lead just before half-time. Nemane got in-behind down the right-hand flank, beating York’s high defensive line before squaring for Alassana Jatta to tuck home.
The Minstermen opened the second half slowly, but soon found their place in the game.
Akinyemi drew a save from Alex Bass after a speculative effort was handled by the County shot-stopper.
Chadwick had York back in the game in the 55th minute. Pearce’s driving run down the left-hand flank concluded with a lay-off to the forward who smartly curled into the far top corner.
Harrison Male had to keep Notts County out seconds after, denying Cedwyn Scott’s thunderous shot at his right-hand hear post.
York equalised in the 69th minute through Pearce, who setup the first. Armstrong slipped through Chadwick down the right, who travelled inwards before squaring to Pearce who swept his shot home.
Akinyemi had clear sight at goal four minutes later but frustratingly hit his short wide of Bass’ left-hand post.
City pressed well towards the conclusion of the game to find a winner. Armstrong did well to retain the ball in the 86th minute, but fired over after finding a sight at goal in a congested area.
Adam Hinshelwood’s side travel to Garforth Town on Tuesday night in a recently announced addition to the pre-season schedule.
YORK CITY: Male, Fallowfield, O’Connor, Howe, Hunt, Akinyemi, Pearce, Armstrong, Batty (61′ Aguiar), Chadwick, Felix.
UNUSED SUBS: Watson, McLaughlin, Gravata, Marshall.
NOTTS COUNTY: Bass, Bedeau (70′ Reynolds), Crowley, Austin (70′ McDonald), Jones (70′ Edwards), Nemane (70′ McGoldrick), Scott (70′ Cundy), Robertson (31′ Trialist A), Macari (70′ Chicksen), Jatta (70′ Gordon), Platt.
UNUSED SUBS: Slocombe, Stone.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ollie Pearce
ATTENDANCE: 2,131 (532 Notts County supporters)
