A STRONG York City side crashed out of the North Riding County FA Senior Cup with a woeful display, falling to a 3-1 defeat against Whitby Town last night, writes Paul Connolly.

Steve Torpey took charge of the Minstermen for the trip to the coast, making 11 changes to the starting XI that drew at Dover, with Vadaine Oliver returning to the side.

It was the hosts who started the game the brighter and led within five minutes.

David Carson played Callum Martin into space on the right. The wing-back lofted a ball to the penalty spot where it was met by Steven Snaith, who lost his man to head home from close range.

The goal stunned the visitors, who took their time mustering a response.

Just before the 20 minute mark, Daniel Nti forced a corner. The resultant delivery was met by Luke Woodland, whose powerful header forced a reaction save from Shane Bland.

Bland’s fine form continued soon after. Callum Rzonca picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and fired a rasping effort goalwards, but the stopper was equal to it, pushing it wide.

City started the second half as poorly as they did the first, and were two goals down after five minutes.

Martin sent an inswinging corner to the six-yard box, where the visitors’ defence looked all at sea, allowing centre-half Luke Bythway to tap home with ease.

The Minstermen responded in a better fashion this time, and cut Whitby’s lead within a minute.

Oliver forced a corner with some good footwork before meeting the resultant delivery, shaking off his man and sending a bullet header past Bland with ease.

Whitby could have regained their two-goal cushion just two minutes later. Martin’s free-kick found David McTiernan in acres of space, but he couldn’t guide his header goalwards.

Chris Hardy’s men, who sit fourth in the Evo-Stik northern premier division, showed their promotion credentials with a goal worthy of winning any game.

Carson picked out Dale Hopson from deep in his own half, before continuing his run. Hopson beat his man, before sending the ball into the path of the onrushing Carson, who fired the ball into the top corner, one-on-one.

City pushed Whitby late on, looking for a route back into the game but couldn’t beat gloveman Bland who first plucked Nti’s free-kick from the top corner before saving with his feet from Scott Fenwick’s low drive, to ensure Whitby’s progression into the semi-final.

Whitby Town: Bland, Martin, McWilliams (Bythway ’39), Weledji, Bullock, Robinson, Gell, McTiernan, Hopson (Roberts ‘87), Snaith (C), Carson. Subs not used: Fryatt, Hume, Dixon (GK).

York City: Simpson, Walton, Brettel, Galbraith (Rogerson ’70), Woodland, Dixon, Rzonca (Bruton ‘70), Fenwick (C), Oliver, McDaid (Jackson ‘80), Nti. Subs not used: Whitley (GK).

Attendance: 328

Referee: Matthew Dicicco (Middlesbrough)