By Ben Edwards | Image by Tom Poole
Adam Hinshelwood’s first game in charge of the Minstermen ended in a 3-2 defeat at the LNER Community Stadium, as two goals just minutes either side of the interval halted York’s first half momentum.
Hinshelwood opted to make five changes to the starting lineup, with Michael Duckworth, Tyler Cordner, Paddy McLaughlin, Billy Chadwick and Charlie Allen coming in.
Eight minutes into the game, Danny Amos won a free kick after being tripped 25-yards from goal. He whipped the set-piece into the penalty area from the left flank, though it was well dealt with by the Wealdstone defence.
George Sykes-Kenworth was called into action for the first time after 16 minutes. He got down low to Sean Adarkwa’s effort at the near post to concede the first corner of the game.
The Mintstermen looked to counter-attack quickly from the corner, with Allen driving quickly down the left wing. He cut inside and saw his shot blocked.
A mix-up between Barrett and Jack Cook saw the ball roll behind for a first Minstermen corner of the game. It was punched clear by Marcus Dewhurst, with the ball falling to Allen, who mis-hit it on the volley.
McLaughlin nicked the ball off a Wealdstone defender, and had yards of space to run into. He saw the run of Dipo Akinyemi, who dropped the shoulder to beat his man, but the touch was heavy and ran through to the visiting ‘keeper.
City came so close to opening the scoring just after the half-hour mark. Batty won the ball high up the pitch, before giving it to danger man Akinyemi. Again he beat his man and put in a superb cross. This time, it was met by a York City man in Chadwick. The ball found it’s way to Allen inside the penalty area, whose effort was incredibly tipped onto the post by Dewhurst.
The deadlock was broken after 36 minutes, and it was a deserved goal based on the run of play. A long ball over the top by Sykes-Kennedy unleashed Chadwick in behind, who managed to beat the onrushing goalkeeper to the ball, dinking it over the shot-stoppers head and into the back of the net – his first goal for the Minstermen.
With eight seconds of normal time remaining in the first half, Tarryn Allarakhia clipped the ball over the top to Ferguson. He had plenty of space, but his touch was heavy and the ball rolled through to Sykes-Kenworthy.
In the only minute of injury time at the end of the first half, Wealdstone found an equaliser. Ferguson whipped in a free-kick from the right flank to Cook, who headed home.
Just three minutes into the second half, the visitors found themselves ahead. Barrett got the ball out of his feet in the penalty area, before scuffing a shot to the back post, where Max Kretzschmar tapped the ball into the empty net.
Amos did well to block a cross, conceding a corner on the left-hand wide. The outswinger met Cook with a free header, though it was tame at comfortable for Sykes-Kennedy to smother.
Wealdstone continued their dominant start to the second period, after a one-two between Ferguson and Sam Bowen saw the latter play it to Allarakhia on the left. He tried his luck from a narrow angle, rocketing it just over.
The Wealdstone lead was doubled 30-seconds before the hour mark. It was Kretzschmar with his second of the game, as Cordner missed his header allowing the visitors number 10 a one-on-one with Sykes-Kenworthy. He made no mistake, placing the ball into the bottom left corner with composure.
A great move from the Minstermen saw Amos play the ball into the feet of substitute Lenell John-Lewis, who fed in Akinyemi down the left. He cut inside before unleashing a shot on his right foot which was saved by Dewhurst, and Amos couldn’t convert and the back post.
Akinyemi again got the better of Cook, but his left-footed effort at a tight angle didn’t trouble Dewhurst.
On a hattrick, Kretzschmar tried his luck after receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area from Allarakhia before firing over.
City pulled one back, and it was Chadwick with his second of the game with 12 minutes remaining, finishing excellently with the outside of his foot from 20 yards.
Very strong appeals for a Minstermen penalty were waved away. Callum Howe rose highest to flick the ball on in the penalty area towards Akinyemi. The York City players and supporters felt he was dragged down, though referee Zac Richardson-Kettle waved the appeals away.
It was Chadwick’s turn to try for a hattrick from the edge of the penalty area, as his effort curled just over the crossbar.
Chasing the equaliser, Amos picked out John-Lewis in the penalty area, but his flicked header was straight at Dewhurst.
Wealdstone looked to finish the game off in the fourth of five added minutes, with Corie Andrews laying the ball off to Allarakhia, but his shot was blocked.
YORK CITY: Sykes-Kenworthy, Duckworth, Cordner (66′ Smith), McLaughlin (70′ Woodyard), Davies (66′ John-Lewis), Akinyemi, Howe (C), Batty, Chadwick, Amos, Allen.
UNUSED SUBS: Barnes, Hunt.
WEALDSTONE: Dewhurst, Cook (C), Barker, Dyer, Barrett, Allarakhia, Ferguson, Kretzschmar (81′ Henry), Bowen, Mundle-Smith, Adarkwa (64′ Andrews).
UNUSED SUBS: De Silva, Tracey Cesay, Mason.
ATTENDANCE: 4,592 (179 Wealdstone supporters)
WAITROSE MAN OF THE MATCH: Billy Chadwick