York City 0 Bolton Wanderers 2

Ian Appleyard at Bootham Crescent

YORK City suffered a two goal defeat against Bolton Wanderers in their latest pre-season game at Bootham Crescent.

Goals from Mark Davies and Jamie Proctor secured victory for the League One side whose goalkeeper Mark Howard saved a Scott Fenwick penalty.

Defeat was harsh on the Minstermen and the performance was a significant improvement on their last home display, a 6-0 defeat by Middlesbrough two weeks earlier.

Manager Jackie McNamara made just one change to the side which beat Stalybridge Celtic away a week earlier, goalkeeper Scott Flinders dropping to the bench to give an opportunity to a mystery trialist.

The un-named goalkeeper had not even had a touch of the ball, however, when Bolton midfielder Mark Davies found the net after three minutes.

It could have got even worse just moments later as Zach Clough shot narrowly wide in Bolton's next attack.

Bolton totally dominated the opening exchanges, passing the ball quicker, and breaking at pace. Clough's dribbling was a particular problem for York's defence.

It was nearly 12 minutes before visiting goalkeeper Mark Howard had anything of note to do - gathering a weak shot from the edge of the box by York captain Jack Higgins.

However, York - employing a 3-5-2 system - began gaining a foothold in the contest and Scott Fenwick was inches away from sliding in Aidan Connolly's dangerous cross.

Connolly was then unlucky not to score when flashing a shot wide of the post from the edge of the box.

As in previous games, Simon Heslop and Clovis Kamdjo sat as a midfield pair protecting York's defence. Scottish winger Connolly was the main source of creative inspiration and covered plenty of ground in the hole behind strikers Fenwick and Danny Nti.

Referee Ross Joyce cautioned Fenwick and Bolton defender Mark Beevers when the pair clashed immediately after the interval.

It then took a great block from Ben Clappison to deny Bolton's Davies after he made room for the shot.

The trialist goalkeeper produced a brilliant reaction save on 53 minutes to boost his chances of landing a deal with the Minstermen. Diving high to his right, the goalkeeper blocked a close range header from Clayton with his out-stretched right hand.

McNamara had decided to shake things up and make wholesale changes just after the hour mark. However, his side blew a gilt-edged opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot as the substitutes prepared to come on.

Bolton goalkeeper Mark Howard raced to the edge of his area to challenge Connolly but bundled York's player over as he attempted to head the ball.

Fenwick stepped up to take the resulting penalty but Howard saved his shot low to the left.

McNamara introduced Scott Flinders, Franklyn Clarke, Danny Galbraith, Yan Klukowksi, Josh Robinson, and Reece Thomas with Shaun Rooney, Alex Whittle, Kamdjo, Higgins, and Connolly coming off. Tyler Walton, Kaine Felix, and Richard Brodie replaced Heslop, Danny Nti, and Fenwick soon aferwards and Charlie Wardle came on near the end.

Clayton fired narrowly over the top on 70 minutes as Bolton threatened to double their lead.

York had probably done enough to warrant a share of the spoils but any hope of collecting a draw disappeared on 84 minutes when Matt Fry tripped Bolton substitute Jamie Proctor in the area. The former Bradford City striker duly slotted home the subsequent penalty kick to give Bolton a two goal advantage.

Meanwhile, a brand new sign was on display on the The David Longhurst Stand following a fund-raising appeal set up by fans.

The Shipton Street Stand was named in Longhurst's honour after the striker died on the pitch due to a heart condition during a game against Lincoln 26 years ago.

York City: Trialist (Flinders 62); Rooney (Clarke 62), Higgins (Robinson 62), Fry (Wardle 87), Whittle (Galbraith 62); Nti (Felix 79), Heslop (Walton 73), Kamdjo (Klukowski 62), Connolly (Thompson 62), Clappison; Fenwick (Brodie 83). Substitutes not used: Kennedy.

Bolton Wanderers: Howard; Richardson (Eardley 35), Finney, Beevers (Collins 80), Moxey; Spearing; Pratley, Davies (Vela 56); Clough (Proctor 26); Madine (Samizadeh 72), Clayton (Newell 77). Substitutes not used: Amos, Perry, Jaaskelainen, Earing, Lonsdale, Brockbank, Grivosti.

Referee: R Joyce (York)