Photo by Tom Poole
York City registered a comfortable victory over Gateshead FC this evening after goals from Stones, Felix, Hunt and Pearce sealed the three points.
The first chance of the game came from a Dan Batty corner. His ball reached Callum Howe at the back post, who headed the ball back across goal into the path of Malachi Fagan-Walcott, but his header was well collected by Tiernan Brooks.
Josh Stones had a glorious chance just a minute later when he latched onto a Ben Brookes through ball, but his shot from inside the box was saved brilliantly by Brooks.
Stones was to convert his second chance; however, when Brookes played Mark Kitching down the left, who fed in a dangerous cross towards Josh Stones inside the box, who powered the ball home.
City doubled the advantage after 17 minutes. Brookes, with a cross from the left, went all the way through to Joe Felix at the back post, who cut the ball onto his left foot before placing the ball into the net.
Stones had another chance on the 25-minute mark when he latched onto a Alex Hunt through ball but again Brooks made a good save to deny him.
York were running riot in the first half and had a deserved third goal. Kitching and Brookes connecting down the left once more to feed in another excellent cross this time to Alex Hunt who buried his header past Brooks to extend the lead.
The final chance of the first half came when Stones fed the ball back to Hunt who shot from the edge of the box but his effort was blocked wide.
Ollie Banks had the first shot of the second half. His effort from range was tipped over the bar by Brooks.
Gateshead had seen little chances so it was no surprise to see Jacob Butterfield trying his luck from range. Harrison Male pushed his effort wide of the post.
Fenton John had the Heed’s next chance. His shot from his left foot flew high and wide of the target from inside the box.
Academy player Eddie Kettlewell came off the bench to make his first senior appearance with five minutes to go. He won City a corner in his opening minute. The resulting corner was played short to Alex Hunt who striked at goal from outside the box, only to see his shot denied by Brooks.
Ollie Pearce put the icing on the cake in the 92nd minute when he was met in the middle by a Ollie Banks cross to nod the ball past the keeper once more.
Late drama struck when Pearce was brought down in the 95th minute to award City a sport kick and a chance to make it 5. Pearce stepped up but Brooks guessed the right way to save to penalty.
York City: Male, Kitching, Fagan-Walcott, Howe, Hunt, Stones, Pearce, Brookes, Batty, Boateng, Felix.
Subs: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, Nathaniel-George, Fadera, Banks, Kettlewell, Stiver.
Gateshead FC: Brooks, Johnson, Ferguson, Adom, Telford, Butterfield, Bakare, Home, Hurst, Edwards, Melbourne.
Subs: Leech, Nouble, Grayson, John, Pennant, Williams, Chapman.
Attendance: 4,952 (108 away fans).
