Steven LegardYork Citycomfortably saw off Alfreton Town, winning by two goals without reply in the torrential rain to reignite their charge for promotion.
Goals from Matty Blair and Lanre Oyebanjo after Jamie Reed failed to finish from the spot, saw York finish outright winners, during a second half onslaught. Gary Mills made several changes to the first eleven that were defeated against Fleetwood. Adriano Moke was rewarded with a call up, after he impressed on Saturday, Chris Smith recovered in time to regain his place at centre back and Danny Pilkington made a rare appearance in the starting line-up, as the manager decided to switch things around.
City overwhelmed the home side early on; Pilkington almost put York ahead with the first shot of the game, Lanre Oyebanjo’s long fierce throw was flicked up at the back post by Pilkington and palmed over the bar by Jon Stewart’s outstretched glove. The attacker was amongst the goal threatening action again, moments later when Adriano Moke’s through ball to Jamie Reed was laid off to Pilkington, but he dinked the ball just over the bar.
The Minstermen carried on piling on the pressure and were set to make it a difficult afternoon for the Derbyshire side, as they bombarded forward time after time, in pursuit of goals. Stewart pushed away McLaughlin’s left footed strike, as he added to the attempts on goal and Matty Blair saw his effort ping off the post, as the keeper looked clearly beaten.
As York’s momentum continued, they almost let their guard down when Chris Doig’s short was held up by the stodgy pitch and allowed Wilson to advance onto a one on one position, but Ingham stood his ground well and denied the striker a clear goal scoring opportunity.
After the brief scare,York carried on from where they left off and dominated proceedings. Matty Blair’s vigorous cross was cleared as far as Oyebanjo and he set himself up, unleashing his shot straight at the keeper. Quick, initiative build up play from Patrick McLaughlin and Danny Parslow made its way to Pilkington, on the edge of the box, but he could only manage to skim his attempt wide of the keepers post, just before the half time break.
Not long after the referee commenced the second half, York were rewarded their best goal scoring chance yet. After a moment of hesitation, the referee pointed to the spot as Jamie Reed was fouled just inside the area, as he ran towards the goal. The striker picked himself up and placed the ball on the spot, but his side footed effort straight down the centre was hooked away by Stewart’s sprawled legs.
Frustrated at the disappointing penalty,York carried on determined to find the opener and amend from their missed opportunity. Lanre Oyebanjo’s drive into the box was intercepted by Reed, as he pulled it from under his feet and took a swipe, which was deflected off for a corner.
After several challenging balls into the area, the most dangerous of all cleared by Alfreton’s Daran Kempson, under the bar, it was time to directly test the Alfreton shot stopper once again. This time Jamie Reed tricked Kempson at the near post, to advance and lay off to Adriano Moke, as he moved into the box and struck a venomous shot, which was tipped over by the keeper.
In reply, Alfreton conjured up a volley by Adam Cunnington that just whizzed past Ingham’s right post, and another shot by Nicky Deverdics which also failed to trouble Ingham, flew wide as well.
As the heavy downpour of rain increased,York produced their long awaited first goal of the game on the 69 minute. Moke’s burst into the box, at pace was followed by a neat ball to Blair to hit first time and slot into the bottom corner, past the helpless keeper.
Once City had a goal under their belts, they quickly went in search of another. Patrick McLaughlin unselfishly played in Lanre Oyebanjo to tap the ball in at close range, as it zipped underneath Stewart’s body for City’s second on 76 minutes.
Looking at ease with a two-nil lead, the horrendous playing conditions were increasingly determined to put a halt toYork’s free flowing football and any potential for further goals. The ball was struggling to fulfil intended passes, as it trickled along the sludgy surface, however York comfortably saw out the remainder of the game in simple fashion and kick started their push for promotion again, with all three points.
