Photo by Tom Poole
York City thrashed Carlisle United at the LNER with a dominant 5-0 victory over the Cumbria side.
Carlisle had the first shot of the game. Luke Armstrong with a shot from the right-hand side of the box, but he could only find the side netting.
It took four minutes for the deadlock to be broken. A ball from the right fizzed across the face of the goal, and there was Malachi Fagan-Walcott to place the ball home from the back post.
Mark Kitching nearly made it two when his shot from the left side of the box stung the diving palms of Gabriel Breeze.
Alex Newby found himself controlling the ball from a right-sided cross, but his shot from close range was well blocked by the visitors’ defence.
Moments later, a great chance fell to Ollie Pearce when Joe Felix’s pass found its way into the number 10’s path, but his shot from inside the box was saved by Gabriel Breeze.
Tyrese Sinclair had room to shoot in the 3oth minute, but his shot was blocked into the path of Hiram Boateng, who also went for goal, but again the Carlisle defence was on hand to put the block in.
City were dominant in the Carlisle half and came inches away from a second when Alex Hunt’s cross into the box was headed onto the post by Kitching before Sinclair’s rebound was blocked and cleared away.
York had a deserved second goal when Pearce was brought down one-on-one at goal before he placed his winning penalty down the middle of the goal.
Sinclair forced Breeze into making a fingertip save around the post when he caught his shot on the turn.
Pearce had his second and York’s third just minutes later. A cross from the right meeting the header of Pearce who guided the ball past Breeze once again.
Early into the second half Carlisle again had the first chance but Armstrong’s volley landed wide of the post.
Just three minutes into the second half and City made it four. Joe Grey’s cross from the right reaching Alex Newby who placed a header right into the top corner leaving the keeper with no chance.
Carlisle had yet to call Harrison Male to make any save of note but came close when Georgie Kelly fired a shot from range, only for his effort to take a heavy deflection to drag it wide.
Male was called into action minutes later when Morgan Feeney’s header from close range was sailing towards goal but Male got a crucial touch to tip it away.
Callum Whelan had one of Carlisle’s final chances in this contest but his shot with Male off his lane flew high over the bar.
Josh Stones sealed the victory when his left footed shot rolled under the goalkeeper.
York City: Male, Kitching, Fagan-Walcott, Howe, Sinclair, Hunt, Pearce, Boateng, Felix, Grey, Newby.
Subs: Sykes-Kenworthy, Palmer, Brookes, Stones, Batty, Banks.
Carlisle United: Breeze, Davies, Thomas, Linney, Murray, Wearne, Ellis, Gilliead, Mugabi, Armstrong, Macadam.
Subs: Feeney, Whelan, Kelly, Luamba, Jones, Grant, Lewis.
Attendance: 7,272 (1,527 away fans).
