YORK City suffered their first home defeat to Wrexham in 22 years as the Welshmen revelled in getting one over former boss Gary Mills.

The Dragons had not tasted victory at Bootham Crescent on any of their last nine visits since Gary Bennett grabbed the only goal of a 1995 clash when both teams were plying their trade in the third tier of English football.

A 3-1 Easter Monday defeat, meanwhile, means the Minstermen are still embroiled in a fight to stave off the threat of relegation to the sixth level of the game after Jon Parkin’s second-minute strike was over-turned by a Dan Parslow own goal and second-half efforts from Jordan White and Leo Smith.

The loss also completed the first back-to-back home defeats Mills has suffered during his second spell at the club, having picked up six points from a possible six on the road in between.

Defensive uncertainty played an instrumental part in this setback with Hamza Bencherif – absent due to the terms of his loan agreement with the visitors – sorely missed, having been an ever-present at the back in the 19 fixtures prior to this clash.

Indeed, it took just 21 seconds for former City striker Ntumba Massanka to breach the home defence through the left channel.

But Scott Loach smothered at his feet and the ball ricocheted wide off the on-loan Burnley forward.

Instead, the home side forged in front from the next attack when Asa Hall won a ball into the box and Parkin, after seeing his first effort blocked, saw a weaker second shot somehow creep past Robins keeper Shwan Jalal from eight yards.

After an off-balance White miscued well wide having been played through the left channel by Massanka, Hall went on to send a 20-yard half-volley over the visitors’ bar.

Massanka’s pace, meanwhile, caused the City defence difficulties again on 21 minutes when he escaped the attentions of Shaun Rooney but, with Loach a little slow off his line, he prodded the ball wide.

For City, Vadaine Oliver dragged off target with a highly-ambitious 35-yard attempt, before the Welshmen levelled on the half-hour mark.

After Alex Whittle failed to find Parkin with a left-wing centre, Anthony Barry broke down the right and sent in a cross that saw Wrexham win a couple of 50-50 balls prior to White’s close-range effort being saved by Loach, only for the ball to bounce into the net off a helpless Parslow.

Former City captain Russell Penn, whose every first-half touch was booed by the home crowd, then shot wide from the edge of the box, while Parkin missed the target with a powerful low drive after the ball had fallen to him 12 yards from goal. Parkin also lifted a shot over with the outside of his right boot after Oliver had helped on a long kick forward by Loach.

Following the break, Oliver and Parslow combined to create a good ten-yard chance for Simon Heslop that he sidefooted over.

Penn, meanwhile, went close with a 35-yard attempt, while Parkin drove wide of Jalal’s right-hand near post from an acute angle.

But it was the visitors who were next on the scoresheet when another cross into the City box – this time from the left by James Jennings – caused confusion and White volleyed past Loach from eight yards at the far post.

In response, Oliver volleyed into the ground and wide, before Amari Morgan-Smith burst forward and showed good footwork to create himself space for a shot that Jalal smothered well.

But Loach needed to make a good save down to his left to keep out a Jennings 12-yard drive on 77 minutes.

At the other end, Morgan-Smith’s volley lacked the direction and pace to trouble Jalal before Wrexham made the points safe after more sloppy home defending saw sub Smith squeeze an eight-yard shot into Loach’s bottom-left corner following a stoppage-time throw-in.

Oliver went on to force Jalal into a decent save from his powerful, ten-yard, diagonal drive, but the Minstermen finished the game well beaten.

 

City

Scott Loach 6 – some moments of uncertainty, but good save from Jennings

Shaun Rooney 5 – caught napping defensively too many times

Dan Parslow 5 – did not look as comfortable in central role

STAR MAN Sean Newton 7 – good long-range distribution and covered well at the back

Danny Holmes 5 – found the going tough at times and a little harassed

Simon Heslop 5 – could not impose himself in second half

Asa Hall 6 – drifted out of the match after starting positively

Alex Whittle 6 – lively in first half, but forced back more after break

Vadaine Oliver 6 – bright early on, then generally contained by visitors

Jon Parkin 6 – got City off to a great start, but might have added to goal

Amari Morgan-Smith 6 – offered team attacking energy in second half

Subs: Sam Muggleton (for Rooney, 74), Aidan Connolly (for Hall, 83).

Subs not used: Scott Fenwick, Adriano Moke, Kyle Letheren.

 

Wrexham: Shwan Jalal, Mark Carrington, Martin Riley, Olly Marx, James Jennings,, Anthony Barry, Russell Penn, Paul Rutherford,, Ollie Shenton (Leo Smith, 82), Ntumba Massanka, Jordan White. Subs not used: Iffy Allen, Izale McLeod, Chris Dunn, George Harry.

Wrexham star man: White – took up good positions in box

 

Referee: Anthony Backhouse rating: 5/10 – too many clean tackles punished as fouls

Booked: Penn 77, Smith 90+1

Attendance: 4,091 (879 From Wrexham)

 

Shots on target: City 4, Wrexham 4

Shots off target: City 7, Wrexham 6

Corners: City 3, Wrexham 1

Fouls conceded: City 12, Wrexham 7

Offside: City 1, Wrexham 2