WHILE there was no sugar-coating the disappointment of York City’s opening-day defeat at Victory Park, Chorley will always be a tough nut to crack with or without summer signing Louis Almond.

As City spluttered to a mid-table finish last season, the Magpies stole into a play-off position with a late charge and then, over the summer, prised away Almond, whose fitness problems at Bootham Crescent had only led to a short-term contract offer.

The foundation of Chorley’s success in 2017/18 was National League North’s second-best defensive record and, as the Minstermen were left to reflect on the deflation of kicking off a fifth successive campaign without a victory, some solace might be found in the reality that Martin Gray’s team will come up against few back-lines as uncompromising as Saturday’s hosts, who were marshalled as impressively as ever by imposing skipper Andy Teague in tandem with the equally no-nonsense Courtney Meppen-Walter.

Almond, meanwhile, was limited to a 15-minute cameo outing at the end of a game that was ultimately won by Adam Blakeman’s edge-of-the-box strike on the stroke of half time.

Earlier, the bustling forward play of Jordan Burrow and Jake Wright had encouragingly unnerved the hosts’ three centre backs but, by the time Simon Heslop’s stoppage-time drive was routinely gathered by ex-Forest Green keeper Cameron Belford, City had not mustered a single goal attempt for half-an-hour as even the introduction of last term’s 25-goal leading marksman Jon Parkin failed to provide attacking inspiration.

It could have all been different had Wright opened the scoring on seven minutes when he charged on to a Wes York pass through the right channel.

But the ex-Harrogate Town striker went on to hit the base of Belford’s near post and the visitors then saw strong penalty appeals rejected when following-up winger York appeared to be upended.

More spot-kick shouts followed when Alex Kempster was swiped at in the box by Scott Leather, but referee Matt Corlett had already stopped play for an earlier Chorley infringement.

At the other end, a 20-yard Josh Wilson effort drifted wide and Marcus Carver prodded over after Blakeman’s long throw had troubled Hamza Bencherif.

Josh O’Keefe, finding plenty of space in the middle of the pitch, also sliced off target from distance for the hosts, while Burrow’s header floated over following Kallum Griffiths’ deep right-wing cross.

Moments later, positive forward charges by Burrow and Wright led to a 20-yard chance for the former that was pushed behind for a corner by Belford.

But the Magpies forged in front on 38 minutes when City failed to adequately clear a delivery into their 18-yard area and left-wing back Blakeman was afforded the time to tee himself up just outside the box before aiming a low drive into the unsighted Adam Bartlett’s bottom-left corner.

After the interval, York intercepted a loose pass across the Chorley back line and charged forward before unleashing a 20-yard shot that produced a flying save from Belford.

Carver then cleared the City goal with an acrobatic overhead attempt, before the visitors were denied by another Belford stop when he pushed skipper Newton’s free kick on to the crossbar after Wright had tangled with Meppen-Walter.

But, only a Burrow clearance on 68 minutes, prevented an unmarked Wilson’s goal-bound header from doubling Chorley’s advantage following Blakeman’s corner.

Joe Tait was also required to divert Carver’s shot on the turn away from goal and Bartlett pushed away a curling 20-yard Alex Newby shot before safely gathering a weak attempt from the latter’s twin brother Elliot.

Moments later, Almond found the sidenetting from an unfavourable angle, while fellow replacement Dale Whitham’s half-volley hit the roof of stand with his first touch.

Heslop’s tame attempt then failed to extend Belford and the Minstermen's fate was sealed.

City ratings

Adam Bartlett 6 – unsighted for goal and otherwise, had little to do but was assertive off his line

Kallum Griffiths 7 – good, strong full back’s performance, defending well and offering support for attacks

Hamza Bencherif 6 – shaky moments in first half and might have been more harshly punished for appearing to catch Carver with a stray arm

Joe Tait 6 – solid display until latter stages when he tired and Almond’s movement caused him a few problems

Sean Newton 7 - rarely troubled down his side and unlucky not to get on the scoresheet with his free kick

Wes York 7 – needed to be involved more but threatened when he charged forward with the ball

Russ Penn 6 – mopped up play well during opening exchanges but knock restricted his mobility and arrived a little late to a couple of challenges before subbed

Simon Heslop 6 – didn’t really impose himself on proceedings and game largely passed him by

Alex Kempster 6 – made a couple of wrong decisions and not always comfortable defending in wide-midfield role

Jordan Burrow 6 – toiled well but with very little reward against an uncompromising Chorley back line

Jake Wright 7 – a real irritant during the opening exchanges with his persistence unsettling the home team

Substitutes: Adriano Moke 6 – peripheral (for Penn, 60), Macaulay Langstaff 6 – subdued (for York, 64), Jon Parkin 6 – shackled (for Burrow, 69).

Subs not used: David Ferguson, Ryan Whitley.

Star man: Newton

Chorley: Cameron Belford, Matt Challoner, Andy Teague, Scott Leather, Courtney Meppen-Walter, Adam Blakeman, Alex Newby, Josh O’Keefe, Elliot Newby (Dale Whitham, 84), Marcus Carver (Lewis Short, 90+5), Josh Wilson (Louis Almond, 75). Subs not used: Adam Anson, Wes Fletcher.

Chorley star man: Blakeman – decisive strike and delivered good set-pieces

Referee: Matt Corlett: 6/10 – City looked unfortunate not to receive at least one spot kick

Booked: Bencherif 26, O’Keefe 45+2, Tait 90+2

Sent off: None

Attendance: 1,520

Shots on target: Chorley 4, City 5

Shots off target: Chorley 8, City 1

Corners: Chorley 5, City 3

Fouls conceded: Chorley 13, City 6

Offside: Chorley 0, City 0