A LATE goal from Amari Morgan-Smith saw York City start the Vanarama National League season with back-to-back defeats, after a 1-0 loss to Kidderminster Harriers.

York began their home campaign back at the LNER Community Stadium against newly-promoted Kidderminster, hoping to pick up their first points of the season after last weekend’s defeat to Wealdstone.

A new look City squad with 13 new signings in the building went into the 2023/24 season with plenty of encouragement, after a positive pre-season that saw draws against Sky Bet Championship sides Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough, before going onto to defeat the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Garforth Town, Tadcaster Albion and Farsley Celtic.

However it’s not been the start to the season many City fans will have been hoping for, despite neither Wealdstone or Kidderminster being predicted to pull off any surprises this season.

It would be a familiar face to haunt Michael Morton’s side, as Morgan-Smith, who made 48 appearances for the Minstermen in previous spells, netted a late winner despite some York pressure.

It was again the case of York being majorly in control for the majority of the game, but quality in the final third let Morton’s team down as Dipo Akinyemi failed to add to his account after netting the opener against Wealdstone last weekend.

Also returning to face his former side was Russ Penn, who made over 100 appearances as a player for the Minstermen, but was this time in the dugout as Harriers manager.

Penn helped guide Kidderminster to promotion from the Vanarama National League North last season via the play-offs, defeating Brackley Town in the final, and beginning the current National League season with an impressive goalless draw against a very strong Woking outfit.

Morton was forced into changes due to injuries to Michael Duckworth and Lenell John-Lewis, as well as a one-match suspension being served by Callum Howe.

Tyler Cordner, Quevin Castro, Zanda Siziba and Alex Woodyard were all handed first starts by Morton, whilst Paddy McLaughlin was rewarded with the captain’s armband in John-Lewis’ absence.

Despite the eventual result, it was York who began the match the better after a clever pass from Dan Pybus found Castro in behind the Kidderminster defence, but his shot was easily smothered by former Wrexham shot-stopper Christian Dibble.

Kidderminster did begin to build some pressure on the City defence after a quiet first-half,  with Zak Brown side-footing an effort narrowly wide of the target, before Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, brother of Liverpool midfielder Alex, couldn’t guide a free header on target from close-range.

Levi Andoh looked to build on his impressive performance last week after letting fly from 30-yards, but his strike floated over Dibble’s crossbar.

A factor that was letting the Minstermen down were the quality of their crosses, which too often failed to find their marker, as Siziba’s attempt was far too high for an unmarked Akinyemi.

David Stockdale was called into action for the first time on his return to playing in front of the York home supporters, making a reactive stop to parry Morgan-Smith’s volley.

Adam Crookes went close when powering a Maziar Kouhyar cross over the crossbar.

Heading into the second half, York showed immediate improvements with a welcome urgency to get forward, which saw Akinyemi feed Pybus possession on the edge of the box, but he was only able to bend his strike above Dibble’s goal.

Kouhyar continued to improve when latching onto his cleared cross, and let a fierce strike loose that narrowly evaded the target.

Olly Dyson was introduced from the bench and looked to have an immediate impact, dragging a strike wide of the target from distance.

And despite the growing pressure from the Minstermen, it was Kidderminster who took the lead.

Some disappointing defending from the home side allowed Morgan-Smith to rise highest and squeeze the ball beneath Stockdale, who failed to collect the ball within the six-yard box.

It was a bitter blow for York, who looked for an immediate response as Kouhyar’s venomous half-volley forced a clever stop from Dibble.

And as the referee prepared to blow the full-time whistle, Dyson saw another strike edge wide of the target, seeing the Minstermen fail to pick up any points on the second weekend of the National League season.

York are back in action next Tuesday night for their third game of the season, hosting Altrincham at the LNER Community Stadium (7.45pm).

York City: Stockdale 6, Crookes 6, Cordner 6, Andoh 5, Kouhyar 7, McLaughlin 6, Pybus 5, Castro 7 (Dyson 6, 66), Woodyard 8 (Hurst, 83), Siziba 6 (Harriott 6, 72), Akinyemi 6

Subs not used: Campbell, Latty-Fairweather

Yellow card(s): McLaughlin (78), Kouhyar (79)

Kidderminster Harriers: Dibble, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Knight-Percival, Preston (Penny, 90), Pearce, Richards, Lissimore, Leesley, Hemmings (McNally, 73), Brown (Phillips, 59), Morgan-Smith

Subs not used: Penny, McNally, Phillips, Lambert, McDongah

Goal(s): Morgan-Smith (83)

Yellow card(s): Leesley (79), McNally (86)

Referee: Farai Hallam

Attendance: 4371 (181)

York star man: Alex Woodyard. A commanding performance from the latest City signing who controlled the midfield and was a calm presence in the middle of the park.

Shots (on/off target): 7 (2) | 5 (4)

Fouls: 10 | 5

Offsides: 2 | 2

Corners: 4 | 8