York’s unbeaten start to the season was always going to end at some point, but the manner in which they were condemned to a first defeat at Cheltenham on Tuesday night was a disappointment, with all three of the home side’s goals resulting from defensive errors. For the Robins, the result ended a long wait for a win over City: their two-goal hero Jake Evans was born four years after their last victory back in 2004. Yet the Minstermen could have comfortably avoided defeat had they shown more discipline and organisation at the back.
Scott Lindsey named an unchanged side from the win over Exeter at the weekend, and the Minstermen picked up where they left off in the opening exchanges with plenty of possession in attacking areas. In the first minute, Cheltenham keeper Wyll Stanway had to be alert to block Joe Felix’s cross from the right, and when the ball rebounded into the path of Alex Hunt, his attempt was diverted wide by Shaun McWilliams. York then had three consecutive corners, but nothing came from them.
City’s fourth corner of the game led to the opening goal after 12 minutes, courtesy of Ollie Pearce’s first strike of the season (Pearce presumably taking inspiration from August now having passed). Harry Boyes’ delivery from the right was headed clear into the path of Alex Newby, whose first-time effort from the outside the area was saved by Stanway. First to the rebound, though, was Pearce, who made no mistake from a couple of yards out. As against Exeter, the early goal was just reward for the attacking intent with which City started the game.
The lead lasted just five minutes, however, as a penalty offered the hosts a route back into the game. A punt into the box by James Wilson saw Robbie Cundy go to ground after tangling with Ollie Banks, and referee Steven Copeland hesitated briefly before pointing to the spot. Charlie McCann’s spot-kick was saved by Alfie McNally in the City goal, but following up was Jake Evans who had the simple task of slotting home from the edge of the six-yard box. City’s wait for a first clean sheet of the season would continue, then, despite the Robins having offered little threat from open play up until that point.
As the half progressed, Cheltenham began to find their footing, with their high press causing occasional discomfort for York when playing out from the back, and Andreas Weimann’s physicality up front troubling the centre-backs. The better chances continued to fall for City, though: Joe Grey headed over from a free-kick, a strike by Boyes from just inside the area flew just over the bar, and Stanway got down well to save a Pearce effort from long range. A few minutes before half-time, City made strong appeals for a penalty for handball when Newby’s goalbound strike was blocked by Wilson, but the referee was unmoved, and the score remained 1-1 at the break.
Cheltenham manager Steve Cotterill made a change at the start of the second half, with defender Pierce Sweeney replacing winger Jordan Shipley. If the switch looked like it might make the home side more defensive, though, that wasn’t how the opening stages of the second period played out, with the Robins starting the half brightly. They had a penalty claim waved away when Weimann went down under a challenge from Morgan Williams, then sloppiness at the back led to another Weimann chance but Williams blocked his attempt. York went close when they won a free-kick just outside the box following a foul on Newby, but Alex Hunt’s effort curled narrowly over.
Then, on 65 minutes, the home side took the lead. With City’s back line slow to get back into position after conceding a throw-in, the ball came to Jake Evans in space, and the 18-year-old loanee from Leicester found the bottom right corner of the net with a superb left-footed strike from distance. While the finish was excellent, it was the failure of any of York’s defenders to track Evans’ run that gave him the time and space to tee up his shot.
A triple substitution for City followed, with Scott Lindsey introducing Jeff King, Arthur Read and Jovan Malcolm. And, just as he had done against Exeter, Malcolm got on the scoresheet shortly after joining the action. Harry Boyes’ pinpoint delivery from the left met the run of Malcolm, and the loan striker was able to nod past Stanway into the far corner to draw City level. A second goal scored with his head for Malcolm in just his second appearance, and something of a lifeline for City whose second half performance had been less assured than the first.
Having laid on the assist for the equaliser, Boyes twice found himself with shooting opportunities, but both efforts were hit wide. Then, at the other end, Evans was presented with an excellent chance to complete his hat-trick when he was found by a cross from the left, but McNally was equal to the shot this time, reacting quickly to save. The game was becoming stretched, with neither side willing to settle for the point.
With five minutes remaining, some more casual play by City at the back let Cheltenham in, and on this occasion they were punished. Substitute Read was dispossessed by McCann while bringing the ball out from defence, and with referee Copeland uninterested in Read’s appeals for a foul, McCann was able to advance before unleashing a low strike beyond McNally. The young keeper may feel he could have done better with a shot that flew under him, but any blame for the goal could be shared by Read who lingered on the ball longer than was necessary.
City pushed forward in search of another equaliser, and forced a save from Stanway when a cross by King was flicked goalwards by Read. There was a further opportunity in stoppage time when Boyes’ free kick found the head of Williams, but his attempt sailed harmlessly over the bar. Cheltenham substitute Kirsten Otchere wasted a chance when he blazed wide from long range following a counter-attack, but the Robins were able to see out the win.
Lindsey’s post-match comments saw him hit out at some of the refereeing decisions which he felt had cost his side the match. While it may be true that both the penalty awarded against Banks and the foul not given on Read are decisions that could have gone either way, there must also be concerns about City’s defence looking vulnerable against the first opponents who have really tried to press them high this season. York continue to look dangerous going forward, and a first football league goal for Pearce could be the spark that ignites another free-scoring season for him. But if the Minstermen are serious about competing at the top end of League Two, their attacking threat will need to be complemented by greater defensive solidity.
'How(e) Cardiff Missed' or 'Never sub Felix' would be my three worders. Very disappointing to watch the debacle that went on in defence.
Used iFollow for the first time on video and it worked well in France.
The mistakes for the goals are very poor, but I also think Cheltenham got their gameplan spot on. Didn’t let us play out and forced us to go long, stopped Hunt and Banks getting on the ball. Second half they really kept Grey quiet too. Very open in transitions as well.
We aren’t going to have it our own way in every game like in the NL. This is the level now, teams will be more robust. The mistakes are bad, but we’ve still had a good start and played some nice stuff. KTF