Lenell John-Lewis penalty secures York City victory at Farsley Celtic

After falling behind to a fantastic finish from Farsley’s Joao Silva, a close-range strike from Maziar Kouhyar saw York draw level, before controversial penalty was awarded allowing John-Lewis to coolly tuck home.

The Citadel hosted City’s third pre-season fixture in four days after a 4-0 victory over Tadcaster Albion on Saturday, and a below-par 2-1 defeat to Selby Town on Monday evening after a rotated York side fell to the Robins.

Michael Morton opted to use a stronger side in the victory over Vanarama National League North side Farsley, whilst the home side saw Minsterman legend Clayton Donaldson start up front as part of his dual player-manager role with the Celts.

Donaldson wasn’t the only recognisable face amongst the Farsley line-up, with former centre-back Tom Allan leading the defence for the home side.

Morton also provided updates on the absent Alex Hurst, Levi Andoh and Dipo Akinyemi, who is yet to make his non-competitive debut after his transfer from Ayr United, with Hurst and Andoh nearing recoveries whilst Akinyemi is likely to start against Accrington Stanley on Saturday, July 29 (3pm) at the Wham Stadium.

Donaldson is highly-regarded amongst the York fanbase as the club’s previous Clubman of the Year, and scoring 49 goals in 118 matches, but it was no love lost as the 39-year-old opened the match up with a crunching challenge on Tyler Cordner, who thankfully recovered to continue.

York began the match the better side, utilising a trio of Kouhyar, Crookes and Pybus down the left-hand side, with the latter curling an effort narrowly wide of Zan Luk’s goal.

Despite the early pressure from the away side, it was Farsley who took the lead with their first chance of the match.

A counter-attack saw Donaldson help the ball on and into the path of Silva, who got the ball out of his feet before curling an unstoppable effort into Ryan Whitley’s far corner to gift Farsley an early advantage.

Silva was a danger and was growing in confidence, once again trying his luck from distance, but was unable to direct his effort on target as it rose over the crossbar.

Kouhyar was also causing issues down the wing and cut inside to test Luk, with the Farsley shot-stopper spilling his effort before thwarting Crookes’ follow-up effort.

A booking for Silva after fouling on a counter-attack allowed John-Lewis to meet Crookes’ delivery, but the towering forward could only nod wide of the target.

John-Lewis was again involved when latching onto Kouhyar’s deflected effort, but the City captain could only sweep his strike wide of the target from close-range.

The Minstermen’s pressure was rewarded as Kouhyar drew York level, as Olly Dyson’s shot deflected into the path of the Afghanistan winger, allowing Kouhyar to poke past Luk from close-range.

Donaldson proved that he still has energy in his legs after racing in behind the City defence and closing down on Whitley, but the Farsley boss could only slam his effort against the side netting.

Conor Branson had an opportunity as he headed wide from a free-kick, before Donaldson forced Whitley into an outstanding stop on the brink of half-time, with the City shot-stopper acrobatically tipping around the post.

Heading into the second half, the action was limited with both goalkeeper’s making routine stops.

Farsley did have the ball in the back of the net with a well-executed move, as Jordan Carroll’s cross was turned home at the back post, but the linesman’s flag saw the referee rule the goal out for an offside.

John-Lewis continued to impact the game when racing onto an in-swinging corner from Michael Duckworth, but ‘the Shop’ could only nod wide of the target.

In quite bizarre conditions, John-Lewis managed to break free of his marker and rush through on goal before being tactically fouled on the edge of the box.

However, the referee and the linesmen claimed to have their vision infringed, and awarded York a controversial penalty to the disbelief of the Farsley backline.

John-Lewis stepped up and calmly rifled his strike into the bottom right corner, beating Luk and handing City the lead for the first time of the evening.

The York captain was having an instrumental game, and crafted a move with some excellent vision to find Zanda Siziba in behind the Farsley defence, but the former Yeovil man’s eventual effort was heroically blocked by a Celts defender.

Quevin Castro was introduced as a 68th minute substitute, and showed his quality with some tricky footwork before forcing Luk into a clever stop from distance.

It would also prove to be the final opportunity of the match, as the Minstermen held their lead to secure their fourth victory of pre-season in the penultimate match.

Farsley Celtic: Luk, Leake, Branson, Misambo, Allan, Smith (Milambo, 62), Atkinson (Carroll, 45), Stephenson, Silva (Watson, 45), Donaldson (Anyiam-Osigwe, 75), Blair (Atkinson, 45)

Subs not used: Allen, Baptista

Goal: Silva (13)

York City: Whitley, Duckworth, Cordner, Howe, Crookes, McLaughlin, Pybus, Dyson, Kouhyar (Castro, 68), John-Lewis, Siziba

Subs not used: Campbell, Fallowfield, Hancox, Burgess, Trialist A, Barnes, Main

Goals: Kouhyar (26), John-Lewis (67)

York’s star man: Dan Pybus. A fantastic display from the midfielder who kept possession well and played in a more advanced role, stretching the Farsley midfield and being at the centre of play for York.

Shots (on target): 3 (2) | 5 (3)

Corners: 2 | 2

Offsides: 3 | 2

Fouls committed: 9 | 11