A YOUTHFUL York City reserves side went down 2-0 to Chesterfield at the Proact Stadium.

Having scored on his youth-team debut at the weekend, Gabby McGill – the son of City chairman Jason – started the Central League match alongside fellow under-16 schoolboy Ryan Edmondson in attack, while Sam Fielding and Alex Bruton were the only visiting players with first-team experience in an all-teenage line-up.

First-half goals from Joel Phillips and Joe Rowley secured victory for Chesterfield, whose right-back Iffy Ofoegbu, at 17, was the only member of the hosts’ side with senior appearances to his name, having played twice in the Checkatrade Trophy this term.

The Spireites forged ahead after just 53 seconds when Ofoegbu’s excellent right-wing cross was headed past Ryan Whitley by Phillips.

Whitley was then at full stretch to keep out Charlie Wakefield’s firm 15-yard drive and Owen Darwent curled wide from the edge of the box.

At the other end, Josh Rogerson’s header from a Fielding corner was punched away by home keeper Dylan Parkin.

But Rowley went on to head narrowly wide after a curling Jack Brownell free kick and Whitley was forced into a fine reflex save from Ofoegbu’s well-struck volley, before Chesterfield doubled their lead on 20 minutes.

Phillips found Rowley unmarked in the box with his head and he beat an exposed Whitley from eight yards.

For City, McGill’s 25-yard angled shot lacked the power to trouble Parkin and Aaron Brettell headed over from Fielding’s free kick.

After a cross from the right by McGill was cleared to the edge of the box, Fielding also clipped the crossbar in first-half stoppage time.

In the second half, Edmondson lifted a 15-yard half-volley over following a header by McGill, who went on to force Parkin into a smart save from the edge of the box.

Just past the hour, Robbie Foster brushed the sidenetting with a deflected close-range attempt for Chesterfield, while Fielding drove wide with a highly-ambitious, 40-yard effort.

Sub Brad Freer also shot straight at Parkin from the edge of the box and Harry Thompson sliced wide from the same range.

Home midfielder Brownell, meanwhile, drove over from 20 yards at the end of a strong run as the game petered out.

City: Whitley, Kemp, Rogerson (Lawrance, 46), Brettell (Freer, 46), Jackson, Bruton, Fielding, Thompson, Haswell, Edmondson (Berry, 77), McGill (McNaughton, 77).