NOT for the first time as York City manager, Nigel Worthington left former Canaries buddy Aidy Boothroyd feeling as sick as a parrot following their latest reunion.

And, to make Saturday’s 1-0 defeat even more difficult to stomach for Northampton Town chief Boothroyd, the home side’s 90th-minute winning goal was struck by a former Norwich City starlet Ryan Jarvis, whose teenage talent he had helped nurture as Worthington’s youth-team manager at Carrow Road a decade ago.

Boothroyd and Worthington first renewed acquaintances in their current roles three games from the end of last season when the latter masterminded a shock 2-0 win that derailed the hosts’ automatic promotion push and, ultimately, condemned the Cobblers to the uncertainty of a play-off challenge that ended in humiliating defeat to Bradford at Wembley.

By then, Worthington had already begun plotting to improve City’s fortunes following a campaign that had threatened to see the club become the first to be relegated straight back to the Conference.

The early signs suggest that the former Northern Ireland chief has made good progress in that respect.

During a first opening day victory at Bootham Crescent since 1999, when future Premier League outfit Swansea were also seen off 1-0, City were rarely spectacular but, then, nor were the likes of promoted trio Gillingham, Port Vale and Rotherham, or for that matter Northampton, on many occasions last season.

Instead, the Minstermen bore all the hallmarks of what Bootham Crescent regulars will be quickly recognising as key qualities in any Worthington team.

City were industrious, competitive, robust and well-organised against an equally uncompromising away team.

They also looked very fit.

Worthington has assembled a squad of athletes, evidenced by only one substitution during the course of the game despite the hot weather and victory being secured as the contest entered its final stages.

Some might argue that the home side were aided somewhat by Darren Carter’s 74th-minute dismissal for two bookable offences but, over the course of the game, City ’keeper Michael Ingham was not required to make a single save.

Ingham’s crossbar was rattled fiercely by Roy O’Donovan early in the second half but the visitors were, otherwise, kept at bay with central-defensive partners Chris Smith and David McGurk carrying on from where they left off last season.

In the first half, Northampton managed only one goal attempt when lone striker O’Donovan, left isolated for long periods, shot wide from the edge of the penalty box.

At the other end, last season’s ten-goal top scorer Ashley Chambers had come close to opening his account for the new campaign after only five minutes when Jarvis nudged the ball into his path but the former Leicester winger’s curling effort was kept out well by Matt Duke low to his left.

Estonian international Sander Puri, who delivered a couple of dangerous crosses during the opening stages, also switched play to create a second chance for Chambers on 27 minutes, but his 15-yard effort lacked the power to beat Duke.

Moments later, Richard Cresswell, relishing his return to the cut and thrust of League Two football, picked up a yellow card for a touchline lunge at Kevin Amankwaah that might have heralded greater punishment on another day from another referee.

Never one to shirk a physical battle, Cresswell had earlier marked the start of his third spell as a Minsterman by clashing heads with Northampton centre-back Matt Heath after only ten seconds. The pair have previously shared dressing rooms at Leicester and Leeds!

City did have the ball in the net on the stroke of half-time when Chambers struck after Duke had parried a swerving 20-yard drive from Craig Clay but skipper Smith was penalised for shirt-pulling in the box.

Chambers also went on to almost fashion an opportunity for himself with some nimble footwork before the half drew to a close but the visitors eventually cleared the danger.

The City winger wasted a glorious opportunity four minutes into the second half when he blazed over with the goal at his mercy after Lanre Oyebanjo’s long throw had bounced across the face of the six-yard box.

It was a miss that might have proven costly as O’Donovan charged on to a Carter pass through the right channel second later.

Exposed last man McGurk avoided giving away a penalty as he attempted to snuff out the attack but O’Donovan crashed a powerful shot against the underside of Ingham’s bar and City had survived their biggest scare of the match.

Carter, penalised for fouling Clay in the first half, was then sent off after he hauled down Jarvis with Cresswell driving wide from the subsequent free-kick.

Ex-Sunderland forward O’Donovan still managed to signal a final threat when he whipped a 20-yard shot narrowly over but Worthington responded by sending on a third striker Ryan Bowman in search of victory.

The 21-year-old forward wasted little time announcing his arrival, shooting into the sidenetting on 83 minutes but it was Jarvis, who had been switched on to the right flank following Bowman’s introduction, that made the eventual breakthrough.

Oyebanjo fed Chambers with an accurate ball down the right flank.

The latter’s tantalising cross to the far post was then met by a determined leap from Cresswell and, when the ball dropped to Jarvis’ feet 12 yards from goal, he drilled a low shot into Duke’s bottom right-hand corner.

Taking the end of last season into account, Jarvis’ goal also secured a fourth consecutive League win for the Minstermen – the longest run of victories since December 2009.


Match facts

York City 1 (Jarvis 90), Northampton Town 0

York City

Michael Ingham 7
Very quiet afternoon in goal but dealt with what he needed to do.

Lanre Oyebanjo 8
Never troubled defensively and looked to start attacks whenever possible.

Chris Smith 7
Made all the right decisions throughout the afternoon and never looked in danger.

David McGurk 7
Great sight to see him starting the season given past injury problems and, as ever, solid and unflappable.

Ben Davies 8
Promising debut from the on-loan 17-year-old, who snuffed out all raids down his flank.

Sander Puri 7
Delivered two or three quality crosses into the box but a little quiet after the break.

Craig Clay 8
Displayed mobility, desire and a willingness to shoot on goal during an encouraging start to his City career.

Tom Platt 7
Kept discipline and stuck to his task as part of the two-man central midfield.

Ashley Chambers 8
STAR MAN – unlucky to be denied a goal and should have claimed at least another, but always posed a threat.

Ryan Jarvis 7
Made tidy contributions prior to showing his match-winning capabilities at the death.

Richard Cresswell 8
The proverbial battering ram for his team, competing for every ball as well as showing class with some silky touches.

Subs: Ryan Bowman – lively (for Puri, 78). Not used: Chris Kettings, Daniel Parslow, Michael Coulson, Lewis Montrose, Jamal Fyfield, Tom Allan.

Northampton

Matt Duke, Kevin Amankwaah, Matt Heath, Lee Collins, Joe Widdowson, Danny Emerton (JJ Hooper, 90), Gary Deegan, Darren Carter, Ben Tozer, Ian Morris, Roy O’Donovan. Subs not used: Ishmel Demontagnac, Dean Snedker, David Moyo, Claudio Dias, Ivan Toney.

Star man: Duke – kept his team on terms going into the break with two smart saves.

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Rating: 5/10 – looked a little uncertain following his promotion to the Football League ranks.

Booked: Cresswell 30, Carter 32, Clay 55, Platt 79, Deegan 85.

Sent off: Carter 74.

Attendance: 4,388 (642 away fans).

Shots on target: City 7, Northampton 1.

Shots off target: City 7, Northampton 4.

Corners: City 7, Northampton 3.

Fouls conceded: City 9, Northampton 17.

Offsides: City 1, Northampton 6.