York City killed off by the club that wouldn't die

Lancashire minnows Accrington Stanley take their proud motto seriously, as highlighted by three last-minute equalisers in as many seasons against the Minstermen prior to the current campaign.

Unfortunately, for the sodden 273 City supporters that travelled across the Pennines, their team could not summon up the same spirit during a 3-0 defeat at the Crown Ground.

League status was surrendered with a whimper and, even though Newport’s 1-1 draw at Luton rendered the outcome of this game meaningless, Jackie McNamara’s team were not to know that, as they succumbed to a goal from Tariqe Fosu and Josh Windass’ second-half brace.

In a terribly one-sided contest, City did not muster a single shot – on or off target – until the 80th minute when Bradley Fewster cleared the crossbar from eight yards.

Infuriatingly, this performance was also served up by the same starting XI that had swept aside Portsmouth with aplomb just four days earlier.

The decision to reward that display by fielding an unchanged side looked flawed from the start, though, as Josh Carson, operating again as a makeshift left back, was given a torrid time by home winger Piero Mingoia.

City’s experienced midfield trio James Berrett, Luke Summerfield and Russell Penn, meanwhile, offered neither attacking support, nor defensive protection, for their team during an aimless afternoon.

The farcical sight of defender Dave Winfield being employed as a centre forward, for the entirety of the second half, then, provided perhaps the most insane chapter of a crazy season.

Accrington, in contrast, were well-organised and passed the ball around with pace and purpose.

Home striker Billy Kee threatened twice with early headers – clearing the crossbar with his first attempt from an Adam Buxton right-wing free kick and then forcing Scott Flinders into a save after meeting Mingoia’s cross from the same flank.

Carson, meanwhile, survived strong home shouts for a penalty when he threw his arm up in the air and handled Mingoia’s cross.

Referee Carl Boyeson controversially ruled, however, that contact with the ball had been made an inch outside the box.

But City’s reprieve was short-lived as the visitors fell behind on 35 minutes when Fewster lost possession and Windass pulled a low cross back from the right byline that Flinders failed to grab, leaving Fosu to finish with composure from eight yards.

Further Mingoia and Tom Davies attempts missed the target prior to the interval.

John Coleman’s team continued to apply the pressure after the restart with Flinders pushing away Davies’ header from a centre by Mingoia, who also drilled a long-range effort down the City keeper’s throat.

Following a Carson mistake, Kee then saw a low shot smothered by Flinders before he sidefooted well off target from the rebound.

The hosts belatedly doubled their advantage on 69 minutes when City were caught sleeping at a Buxton corner, which was taken short to Seamus Coneely and, although Scot Bennett headed his right-wing cross clear, Windass’ firm low volley beat Flinders from the edge of the box.

Windass went on to test Flinders from 25 yards before City finally created a chance with Fewster shooting over on the turn after Ross Etheridge had failed to hold on to Lewis Alessandra’s low cross from the right.

A glancing Kyle Cameron header also bounced wide following a free kick by Summerfield, who called Etheridge into his only save of the match on 87 minutes with an edge-of-the-box effort.

Berrett drove over from 12 yards, meanwhile, after bursting through the right channel, before Windass added a third goal in the second minute of stoppage time.

He beat Flinders from ten yards with the aid of a deflection off Luke Hendrie after exchanging passes with Brad Halliday, who was allowed to carry the ball to the right byline.

Defeat and its consequences provoked angry scenes at the final whistle as City supporters saw their team’s win-less run on the road extended to a 21st game.

When the club last went out of the Football League in 2004, there was at least a sense of unity at Bootham Crescent, but that has been eroded at nearly every layer during this most wretched of seasons.

City

Scott Flinders: 4 – inability to keep hold of Windass’ low cross set tone for rest of game

Luke Hendrie: 5 – stuck to his task but tied in knots at times by Fosu

STAR MAN Scot Bennett: 7 – maintained a professional standard right until the end

Kyle Cameron: 6 – kept his discipline at the back and used the ball well

Josh Carson: 4 – could not get close to Mingoia and looked like a makeshift full back

James Berrett: 4 – found it hard to pull strings from deep midfield position

Russell Penn: 4 – industrious but his touches on the ball are hard to recall

Luke Summerfield: 4 – hardly involved until late shot called Etheridge into his only save

Lewis Alessandra: 4 – well shackled and made few inroads against Accrington defence

Bradley Fewster: 4 – grew frustrated with scraps he was left to fend off

Danny Galbraith: 4 – was so anonymous, it took a while to realise he had been replaced at half-time

Substitutes: Dave Winfield 5 – grafted (for Galbraith, 46). Subs not used: Michael Ingham, Kenny McEvoy, George Swan, Reece Thompson, Derek Riordan, Matty Dixon.

Accrington

Ross Etheridge, Matt Pearson, Tom Davies, Mark Hughes, Adam Buxton, Brad Halliday, Seamus Conneely, Piero Mingoia, Josh Windass, Tariqe Fosu (Shay McCartan, 78), Billy Kee. Subs not used: Jason Mooney, Dean Winnard, Anthony Barry, Terry Gornell, Sean McConville, Rommy Boco.

Accrington star man: Windass – tormented City in usual fashion

Referee: Carl Boyeson rating: 7/10 – generally sensible with decisions

Booked: Summerfield 33, Hendrie 59, Fosu 70.

Attendance: 2,222 (273 from City)

Shots on target: Accrington 8, City 1

Shots off target: Accrington 13, City 3

Corners: Accrington 6, City 1

Fouls conceded: Accrington 9, City 18

Offsides: Accrington 1, City 4