Image by Tom Poole.
York City won 3-1 against Darlington FC in the Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round at the LNER Community Stadium.
Despite the visitors initially taking the lead, goals from David Ajiboye, Ricky Aguiar and Tyrese Sinclair booked The Minstermen their place in the fourth round.
Manager Adam Hinshelwood made four changes to the side which beat Maidenhead United 6-2 the weekend before.
Alex Hunt, Ollie Pearce, Marvin Armstrong and Malachi Fagan-Walcott dropped out, with Dipo Akinyemi, Ricky Aguiar, David Ajiboye and Jeff King coming in.
Visitors Darlington opened the game quickly when Cameron Salkeld broke the line down the left flank, he crossed in to Matty Cornish who nodded a header straight at Harrison Male.
Injury knocked City’s shape after just 12 minutes when Adam Crookes had to be replaced by Marvin Armstrong, forcing midfielder Ricky Aguiar to drop into central defence.
Cornish then proceeded to slot Steve Watson’s side into the lead a minute after following a City mistake.
The Minstermen wasted no time in responding as David Ajiboye calmly converted one-on-one against Pete Jameson two minutes later.
Ashley Nathaniel-George’s threaded through ball was executed to perfection for the on-loan winger to steam on through.
Jameson was later equal to a fine effort from Tyrese Sinclair, who struck from a familiar position outside the area in the 31st minute, tipping it over.
Striker Dipo Akinyemi was then denied from point blank range a minute later.
Dan Batty’s delivery from the right was headed down the throat of Jameson’s goal, with the shot-stopper parrying back into the area. Armstrong looked to follow up with two strikes, both of which were blocked.
The number nine then planted a connection off the post from close range minutes before half time.
Jeff King executed a one-two, turning on the pace to breeze past Caden Kelly and deliver to the front post for Akinyemi.
Captain Callum Howe flicked over just before half time too, heading a Batty set-piece unmarked from the right.
Darlington let off two half chances in the second half through Cedric Main and Kallum Griffiths, who both ended up dragging efforts wide before Caden Kelly sent one high and wide.
Substitute Jack Lambert tried to use the weather to his advantage in the 61st minute, sending a powerful strike goalwards from distance with the aim of nature taking some course.
Stand in central defender Aguiar hit sweetly in the 69th minute to give York City the lead.
After a corner was cleared, Aguiar picked up on the clearance outside the area before dispatching a well struck guided effort into the far side of goal.
Sinclair topped up his tally for the season four minutes after, smashing home from a yard or two out after Ajiboye’s square ball invited him in.
Darlington supporters thought they had a late push on in the 84th minute. Male was well alert to deal with a Darlington strike, stretching to guide it wide for a corner.
The resulting set piece caused a scramble in the area, and right on the goal line. Referee Andrew Miller saw a foul amongst it and blew up, only for it to be a free-kick and not a goal as suspected for the travelling support.
Male was then equal to a Tom Platt power hit from just outside the area, with minutes to go, diving low to his right to palm away.
YORK CITY: Male, Crookes (12′ Armstrong), Howe (C), Sinclair (82′ McLaughlin), Akinyemi (62′ Pearce), Nathaniel-George (71′ Chadwick), Batty, Aguiar, Felix, Ajiboye (82′ Fadera), King.
UNUSED SUBS: Watson, Thomas.
DARLINGTON: Jameson, Barrow (C), Lees, Forbes, Cornish (59′ Lambert), Hatfield (86′ Rivers), Main (86′ Alshabeeb), Flint (75′ Platt), Salkeld (59′ Maskell), Griffiths, Kelly.
UNUSED SUBS: Hedley, McGrath.
DUTCH BARN ORCHARD VODKA MAN OF THE MATCH, CHOSEN BY YORKSHIRE ACTIVITY CENTRE: Ricky Aguiar.
ATTENDANCE: 3,316 (751 Darlington supporters)
