Skipper Chris Smith dons York City scoring mantle in vain

IT might have been played at Kingsmeadow but there was very little majestic about the latest clash between York City and AFC Wimbledon.

Nor was it the coronation new City boss Nigel Worthington had hoped for, as he became the club’s first manager since Viv Busby to mark the start of his reign with a defeat.

Worthington, whose playing career included several intimidating visits to Wimbledon’s old Plough Lane ground, had warned his inherited team to expect a physical challenge against a home team under the guidance of former Crazy Gang member Neal Ardley.

And the determined Dons, who started the afternoon bottom of the League Two standings, went on to win their third out of four battles against the Minstermen this term despite captain Chris Smith twice heading his team back into the match.

Smith’s brace, at least, ensured the visitors scored more than once in a game for the first time since the 3-0 home victory over Burton on New Year’s Day.

But that was little consolation as City extended their ten-week run without a win to a 12th game.

In truth, other than Smith’s efforts, the Minstermen also carried a minimal attacking threat, managing just two other goal attempts all afternoon – a weak Ashley Chambers shot and a speculative late strike from substitute Jason Walker.

On-loan Aldershot striker Michael Rankine was preferred to Walker in the side’s lone central striker role, as Worthington fielded a 4-5-1 formation against the Dons with Paddy McLaughlin, also recalled to the starting line-up, assigned with the task of providing support from the middle of the park.

But Rankine’s effort levels, as well as his ability to hold up the ball, were well short of what was required for that system to be a success during the first half.

He improved a little after the break but, if the 28-year-old target man, who has not scored a goal in 30 matches, is to continue leading the line, he must attain the same standards that he displayed during his second debut for the club at home to Gillingham last month.

Anything less is unacceptable, considering the Minstermen’s perilous position and his potential to unsettle any back four when in the mood.

Chambers must also take the game to the opposition in the manner he did so well for Smith’s first equaliser for a full 90 minutes, having become a virtual bystander following the interval.

Replaced pair McLaughlin and Matty Blair, meanwhile, both paid for ineffective afternoons by being withdrawn midway through the second period.

While Worthington strives to find methods of making his team more potent from open play, however, there was encouragingly evidence of greater invention from set-pieces, which could prove decisive during the club’s crucial final nine fixtures.

Most were designed to free up space for Smith to arrive late in the penalty area and were clearly a product of training ground tuition.

At the other end of the pitch, though, too many crosses were delivered into the visitors’ box throughout the game and all three home goals were a result of Wimbledon being first to second balls in that 18-yard area.

The hosts, buoyed by a supportive and united home crowd, made all the early running with Rashid Yussuff scuffing a six-yard chance badly wide on five minutes from Brennan Dickenson’s low cross.

Sammy Moore also went close with the outside of his boot from 15 yards and Gary Alexander called Ingham into action after another centre from Dickenson.

The Wombles eventually made the breakthrough on 21 minutes, winning two challenges in the visitors’ penalty box before the ball fell to the feet of right-back Mat Mitchel-King, who fired a 15-yard volley into Ingham’s bottom left-hand corner.

Alexander then cleared the crossbar from six yards after meeting Moore’s corner with an outstretched leg and Pim Balkestein’s header from another flag kick was parried by Ingham with Jack Midson subsequently finding the sidenetting when it seemed easier to score.

Moments later, however, the visitors drew level with their first goal attempt of the match on 29 minutes.

Former Leicester attacker Chambers drove positively for the byline down the left flank before delivering a cross that saw Smith produce a controlled headed finish to beat Dons ’keeper John Sullivan from eight yards.

After Smith won another header in the opposition box, Chambers then had two stabs at a shot blocked by Dons defenders before aiming a third straight at Sullivan.

Alexander went closer on the stroke of half-time, heading against the underside of the bar after Blair had been caught napping when Jonathan Meades’ quick throw-in released Dickenson down the left.

Following the interval, Balkestein’s header from a Yussuf corner was tipped over by Ingham on 52 minutes and the City ’keeper also had to dive low to his left to keep out a close-range Midson effort.

Just past the hour, though, Ardley’s men forged ahead again when Midson climbed above Jamal Fyfield and Jack O’Connell to meet a high ball into the City box and Dickenson pounced to round Ingham before finding an unguarded net.

Smith, in no mood to surrender, went on to claim a second goal on 72 minutes when John McGrath curled in a free-kick from the right, won by Walker, that the skipper headed past Sullivan three yards from goal.

The Dons, however, were equally committed to the cause and, on 79 minutes, wrapped up the points.

Yet another corner delivered by Moore was this time headed clear by O’Connell but only as far as Harry Pell who, from 15 yards and with the aid of a deflection off McGrath, sidefooted in off Ingham’s left-hand upright.

The best City could muster, thereafter, was a long-distance Walker shot and an 85th-minute penalty shout when substitute Alex Rodman tumbled over Midson’s outstretched leg.

Instead of earning his team a spot kick, though, Rodman only succeeded in gaining himself a caution for simulation.

York City

Ingham 7 - made a couple of fine saves but left exposed at times by his team's failure to win second balls in the box

Parslow 6 - solid enough but Dickenson enjoyed a little fortune with his left-wing raids

STAR MAN Smith 8 - led by example with his two goals and strong at the other end of the pitch as well

O'Connell 7 - held his own for the majority of a physical test of his tender years

Fyfield 6 - kept Midson quiet for the most part but a bit reserved and unsure with the ball at his feet

Blair 5 - always a willing runner but could not make an attacking impact from the right wing and was replaced

Kerr 6 - positionally disciplined but peripheral with the new boss rarely looking for him to start off passing moves from deep

McGrath 7 - grafted well in the middle of the park and displayed his quality from set-pieces again for Smith's second goal

McLaughlin 5 - struggled to get into a predominantly aerial contest and did not fend off the scraps well

Chambers 6 - looked a real menace when he ran at the home defence in the first half but faded disappointingly in the second

Rankine 5 - competed better after a poor first half but must play to his full potential at a time the club needs him to do that most

Subs: Alex Rodman 6 - sprightly (for Blair, 66), Jason Walker 6 - committed (for McLaughlin, 66).

Subs not used: Lee Bullock, Arron Jameson, Chris Doig, Michael Potts, David McDaid.

Wimbledon: John Sullivan, Mat Mitchel-King, Pim Balkestein, Alan Bennett, Jonathan Meades, Sammy Moore, Harry Pell, Rashid Yussuff (Jesse Darko, 80), Jack Midson, Gary Alexander, Brennan Dickenson (Kevin Sainte-Luce, 67). Subs not used: Warren Cummings, Mikael Jaimez-Ruiz, Stacy Long, Luke Moore, Charlie Strutton.

Wimbledon star man: Brennan Dickenson - gave reliable service from the left flank and took his goal well.

Booked: Pell 69, Chambers 84, Rodman 85, Moore 90.

Attendance: 4,349 (529 from City)

Referee: Steve Rushton (Staffordshire)

Rating: 7/10 - decisive and always willing to communicate.

Shots on target: Wimbledon 10, City 4

Shots off target: Wimbledon 4, City 0

Corners: Wimbledon 9, City 2

Fouls conceded: Wimbledon 12, City 14

Offsides: Wimbledon 1, City 2