A DISAPPOINTING second-half performance saw the ten-men of York City kick-off their opening day of the Vanarama National League season with a defeat to Wealdstone.

A debut strike from Dipo Akinyemi opened his account for the club and the scoring for the afternoon, before a coolly-taken penalty from substitute Max Kretzschmar in the second half levelled the scoreline.

But the defensive errors continued for York, after a sloppy back pass from Michael Duckworth forced Callum Howe into a clumsy challenge, and as the last man, the debutant was shown a red card on his first competitive appearances.

And an underwhelming second-half performance was capped off after a clever reverse pass saw Jaydn Mundle-Smith race in behind, before slamming the ball home from a tight angle.

After an optimistic pre-season that saw City beat the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Tadcaster Albion and Farsley Celtic, spirits were high for a trip to the capital on the opening day.

With new ownership in at the club in the form of the Uggla family, son Matt was in attendance amid the York crowd to cheer on the side he purchased a majority shareholding in last June.

But after an encouraging first-half, Michael Morton’s side were unable to kick start their 2023/24 season with any points after a captivating second-half performance from the hosts.

Stuart Maynard’s side calmly kept hold of possession and forced errors from York, before taking advantage of the mistakes and producing some key moments in the match as a result.

It isn’t the start to the season any City fan will have been hoping for, as attentions turn to the Minstermen’s opening home match of the season next Saturday, August 12 (3pm) against Kidderminster Harriers.

Morton opted to alter the formation that he had adopted in pre-season, choosing to operate in a 3-5-2 formation that saw Levi Andoh return from injury and play in a  higher role up the pitch.

Despite the eventual result, it was York who began the match looking the brighter with Akinyemi heavily involved with play early on.

A clever pass from Dan Pybus found the former Ayr United striker, who expertly controlled possession before cutting inside and slicing his effort wide.

Maziar Kouhyar was playing in an unfamiliar position but looked dangerous pushing forward, after similarly cutting inside and firing a strike goalwards, but a crucial block saw his shot spin wide of the target.

The Minstermen had to do their defending as Micah Obiero caused issues down the right-hand side, with his cross forcing Adam Crookes into a pivotal block to keep Olufela Olomola from adding the finishing touches.

Akinyemi was getting his chances and found himself in the right positions, but he wasn’t able to capitalise on a Duckworth header after slicing a volley wide.

Pybus forced the first effort on target of the match just after the half-an-hour mark, after volleying goalwards at the back post, but his strike was tame and smothered by Jed Ward.

But the Minstermen did find their breakthrough and it deservedly fell to debutant Akinyemi, who made no mistake on this occasion.

A brilliant first touch from Andoh allowed the wing-back to break into the box, before cutting into the path of captain Lenell John-Lewis.

John-Lewis’ strike was mis-hit into the path of Akinyemi, who showed his composure to curl the ball into the far post.

It was the last real chance of the second half, other than an important challenge from Duckworth on Charles Clayden to keep the winger out of the box.

Heading into the second half, City held the majority of the possession again in the early stages, as Kouhyar latched onto a Pybus pass and let a fierce strike loose, that was bravely blocked wide.

Andoh also had a chance to produce from the edge of the box, but his long-ranged effort was skied into the stand behind the goal.

But after an encouraging hour of performance from York, it began to crumble as Wealdstone nabbed an equaliser.

A clumsy handball in the box from Kouhyar saw the referee award Wealdstone a penalty, which substitute Kretzschmar took advantage of after striking the ball into the right corner.

York failed to really respond and soon found themselves down to ten-men, after Howe was shown a straight red card for a tactical foul on Andrews, who appeared to be through on goal.

And with two minutes left on the clock, Wealdstone took advantage of York falling off, and took the lead.

A tricky reverse pass into Mundle-Smith saw the defender smash the ball home from a tight angle, beating David Stockdale at the near post and handing Wealdstone the three points.

Wealdstone: Ward, Cook, Dyer, Clayden, Barker, Mundle-Smith, Allarakhia (Kretzschmar, 45), Charles, Campbell (Andrews, 74), Olomola (Adarkwa, 90), Obiero

Subs not used: Baptiste, McGregor

Goals: Kretzschmar (60), Mundle-Smith (87)

Yellow card(s): Obiero (28), Charles (45), Clayden (61)

York City: Stockdale 6, Duckworth 6, Howe 6, Crookes 7, Andoh 7, Dyson 6 (Woodyard 6, 67), McLaughlin 6 (Hurst, 90), Pybus 6, Kouhyar 7, Akinyemi 8, John-Lewis 6 (Latty-Fairweather, 84)

Subs not used: Campbell, Castro

Goals: Akinyemi (39)

Yellow card: Duckworth (90)

Red card: Howe (83)

York’s star man: Dipo Akinyemi. A bright debut from the striker who opened his account with the club, worked hard and made his presence known.

Referee: Andrew Humphries

Attendance: 1805

Shots (on target): 3 (2) | 11 (2)

Corners: 6 | 5

Offsides: 2 | 1

Fouls committed: 8 | 6