York City U19s fell to a second consecutive 4-3 defeat on Wednesday away to Guiseley, despite a dominant showing.
Captain Ollie Belleh dropped out of Tim Ryan’s squad through suspension, with Sutton Greening coming in and Oz Shaw taking the armband.
Tom Hewson and Jake Roberts replaced Ben Farrar and Adam Tweed in the starting lineup.
Guiseley got themselves in front inside sixty seconds. A corner from the left was allowed to bounce in the box before Lawrence Ford headed home the opener.
That lead only lasted for ten minutes, though. Josh Binns’ low cross in from the left found its way to Roberts, who struck home the equaliser.
In the 20th minute, the Lions restored their advantage. After being awarded a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the ‘D’, Lucas Alexander blasted the ball through the City wall and into the back of the net.
Shortly after, Guiseley went close again with a blocked effort before the follow-up was curled wide.
Roberts then had a chance to level for a second time but saw his shot well-saved by the ‘keeper at point-blank range.
Hewson was next to try and go for goal, receiving the ball inside the box, chesting it down, but firing high and wide on the half-volley.
Less than a minute later, Guiseley were caught in possession at the back by Binns, who picked out Hewson in the box, but the forward agonisingly tapped wide of goal with the first touch.
City were soon made to pay for those missed opportunities. A lofted pass down the line found Zac Rushworth, who coolly advanced and slid the ball past Cam White to make it three.
In the second half, Greening took aim from range, though his tame shot was comfortably claimed by the ‘keeper.
Five minutes into the half, the hosts grabbed another goal to further reduce York’s chances of getting anything from the match.
Emre Can was played through and made no mistake against White, rolling the ball under him before wheeling off in celebration with a backflip.
A couple of minutes on, Greening almost pulled one back, curling an effort towards the bottom corner, only to be denied by the strong hand of the Lions stopper.
Eddie Kettlewell was the next City player to go close, breaking into the area before driving a shot narrowly past the far post.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Shaw reduced the deficit for the Minstermen. Hewson flicked the ball through to the defender, who had pushed furthest forward, and his effort found the net via a deflection off the ‘keeper.
There were penalty appeals late on when Hewson went down in the box, but the referee waved them away.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Hewson did get his goal, bringing down a long kick from White, and shooting past the ‘keeper at his near post to make it 4-3, but that is how it would end at Steeton.
York City: White, Kydd, Beadle, Russell (Hall 56′), Shaw (C), Greening, Roberts (Campbell-Baldwin 56′), Kettlewell, Hewson, Newall (Stiver 46′), Binns.
Sub not used: Zubrickas.
