York City and Sutton United battled out a score draw in the opening game of the 2025/26 Enterprise National League season..
City were left feeling like they could or should have had the lead in the 6th minute. Some neat play from Alex Newby and Ollie Banks allowed Tyrese Sinclair room to shoot, but he placed his effort over the bar.
York were handed a golden chance to redemption when Sinclair was tripped inside the box. Last season’s top scorer, Ollie Pearce, stepped up to place an effort beautifully into the top-right-hand corner.
Sutton were looking for a quick response in the form of an audacious effort from Liam Vincent but his shot from range was well blocked by the City back-line.
The Minstermen were handed another spot kick after 25 minutes. A handball from a yellow shirt gave Pearce the chance to double his scoring tally. Unfortunately for City, this time he was only able to strike the post.
Newby was having a good start to life in a City shirt and nearly grabbed a goal of his own, his shot from outside the box landing just wide of the mark.
City came inches away from doubling the lead, Newby’s shot from range struck the post before the rebound from Mark Kitching was well kept out by Jack Sims.
Out of nowhere Sutton had an equaliser, a cross from the left was met in the box by David Ogbonna who slid the ball past Harrison Male and into the net.
Newby stepped up to strike the ball from a free-kick but his curving effort went just wide of the right-hand post.
Pearce was looking for an early chance in the second half, his shot from outside the box rolling wide of the post.
Sutton were of little few chances in this contest but did have a header from Harry Phipps collected by Male.
Callum Howe found himself in a goal-side position when he got on the end of a Malachi Fagan-Walcott cross but the shot was collected by Sims.
City were piling the pressure on in the second half. Newby again with anther shot in the 55th minute but this one was deflected into the arms of Sims.
The second goal came shortly after. A City corner being turned into the back of the net from inside the six-yard box with Howe and a Sutton man both gunning for the same ball.
Joe Grey nearly had his first goal in city colours just minutes after coming on. His shot was well saved over the bar by Sims.
Sutton rescued a point not too long before the end when Brandon Njoku bundled the ball home from inside the box.
Full Time: 2-2
Attendance: 5,937 (199 away).
York: Male, Kitching, Fagan-Walcott, Palmer, Sinclair, Pearce, Howe, Boateng, Felix, Banks, Newby.
Sutton: Sims, Vincent, Phipps, Simper, Nadesan, Pruti, Taylor, Jones, Ogbonna, Harris, Woodyard.
