York City U19s exited the National League Football Academy Cup at the first stage away at Chester on Wednesday.
Ollie Belleh and Ben Farrar were two of the names that dropped out from our previous game, with Donny Day taking on the captain’s armband.
Chester had the first slight chance of the match, as a well-worked move saw their number seven get on the end of a cross from the right, but his header was easily claimed.
A defensive mishap almost saw the hosts edge in front, as their forward was allowed to latch onto a loose ball at the back and try to chip Cam White, with the effort going narrowly wide.
Oz Shaw attempted a volley for City’s first opportunity. From within the box, he struck from an incoming corner, but a blue shirt was there to clear.
The Seals took the lead in first-half stoppage time – an adventurous shot from range managed to get the better of the York shot-stopper and into the net it went.
Now into the second half, Sutton Greening was looking for an equaliser, and he almost got one, bursting forward with pace before driving an effort towards the bottom corner, which the ‘keeper had to get down low to tip around the post.
Next to try his luck was Lewis Beadle, as the ball bounced out to him on the edge, but his dipping half-volley fell too far to drop into the goal.
Another chance for the Minstermen, and it was created by Greening, who squared into the box for Day, who looked destined to score, but in the end, sliced his shot wide of the right post.
Greening once again was involved in a positive attacking move, the forward cutting inside from the right before unleashing one just shy of the upright.
All the pressure in this half so far had been going the way of the visitors, so it came as a rare occurrence when Chester went near with a header over the bar.
But the momentum swung their way before the 75-minute mark, when Adam Tweed was shown red for a late challenge.
City were soon punished for not taking their chances, as an inviting cross from the right was comprehensively headed home by a Blues man not long after the sending off.
Just three minutes after their second of the game came the third.
Once more, it was a cross that caused problems for York, who were unable to clear the ball before it could be laid off to one of the second-half substitutes, who rolled it into the bottom corner.
It was 4-0 by the 82nd minute. City had fallen victim to another precise ball in towards the back post, which was tapped home.
York City: White, Tweed, Binns (Roberts 56’), Shaw, Beadle, Baker, Kydd (Newall 62’), Russell, Hewson, Greening, Day ©.
Sub not used: Zubrickas.
