Photo by Tom Poole
York City sealed all three points against Woking at the LNER Community Stadium curtesy of a hattrick from Josh Stones.
Liftoff for the Minstermen came after just four minutes on the clock. A Dan Batty corner flew towards the back-post, Tyrese Sinclair was there to head the ball back across goal and into the path of Josh Stone who volleyed the ball on his left-foot and into the back of the net.
Woking were looking for an instant response when the ball was played to the right-hand side of the box to Inih Effiong who shot at goal from close range but could only find the stand behind the goal.
Stones was looking to double his tally when he got on the end of a cross from the right-hand side, but he couldn’t find the connection he was looking for as the ball bounced out for a goal-kick.
The early goal hadn’t phased the visitors, a header back across goal from a corner was headed on by Andrews from inside the box but he could only watch as the ball flew just over the bar.
Joe Felix was next to apply pressure on Woking. His cross from the right was met at the back post by Stones who headed the ball at goal but into the palms of Will Jaaskelainen.
As the game began to settle down, Stones again had the fans on their feet as he put in a fantastic tackle inside the Woking half to win possession back before playing the ball to Sinclair who took the shot on, but it rolled out for a goal-kick.
Cameron John was next to have a go at goal, his left footed shot from the edge of the box rolled wide of the post.
City took the same lead into half time.
The Minstermen registered the first chance of the second half when Dan Batty’s free kick flew towards the far side of the box, Howe was there to head at goal, but it went wide.
Some neat play from City between Alex Huntb and Stones allowed the striker to shoot but Woking defended well to reclaim the ball.
Another great chance fell to the Minstermen when a Batty corner was headed on by Howe and into the edge of the goalmouth, but Woking somehow saw the ball behind for a goal-kick.
The second killer goal came in the 72nd minute when Josh Stones received the ball inside the Woking half before working the ball inside the box before slotting it past Jaaskelainen to double the advantage.
Josh Stones had his third wrapped up with 10 minutes to go. A Joe Felix cross was headed on at the back post by City’s number 24 and into the net.
YORK CITY: Male, Howe, Sinclair, Hunt, Nathaniel-George (Luamba 69’), Armstrong (Aguiar 69’), Batty, John, Felix, Stones (John-Lewis 82’), Fagan-Walcott.
WOKING: Jaaskelainen, Jones, Odusina, Andrews, Beautyman, O’Brien, Effiong (Walker 64’), Hinds, Ward, Mazionis, Vincent (Morais 64’).
ATTENDANCE: 5,484 (144)
