YORK City’s winless start to the season continued after a sending off to goalscorer Adam Crookes allowed Rochdale to take all three points in North Yorkshire in a 3-1 victory for the visitors.

Michael Morton’s side are now without a victory in their opening six matches of the Vanarama National League season, as pressures continue to grow on the management team.

Supporters made their feelings known in York’s third defeat of the campaign, chanting for Morton to be sacked as City slipped to 23rd in the National League, only ahead of Southend United who were slapped with a points deduction last week.

The quadruple signing at the back end of last week of Dan Batty, Jack Stott, Kai Kennedy and Rory Watson were all involved in the squad, but were unable to change the Minstermen’s fortunes.

Morton’s status in the job won’t have been helped by what was a baffling performance by referee Richard Aspinall, who awarded Rochdale two penalties, City a red card and showed cards to nine players throughout the match.

There was confusion amongst the York defence and supporters when a penalty was awarded against Callum Howe in the 36th minute for an alleged shove in the penalty box, before Tyrese Sinclair grabbed his first of the afternoon with a composed penalty.

York did draw the scores level on the brink of the half-time whistle, as Crookes rose highest to glance an inch-perfect header home from Batty’s corner.

However, Crookes would turn from the hero to the villain in the second-half, pulling Kairo Mitchell down and being shown a straight red card, as well as a second penalty for the visitors.

Sinclair stepped up again, and whilst Ryan Whitley did get a hand to his effort, Sinclair’s strike was too powerful to be kept out.

Matters were made even worse after numerous missed opportunities for York allowed Rochdale to prevail, latching onto a Paddy McLaughlin space, and seeing Ian Henderson delicately lob the ball into the back of the net.

Morton named one change to the York side that were denied a win at Dorking Wanderers, with Lenell John-Lewis absent due to his late sending off.

Zanda Siziba came into the starting eleven, meaning new signing Kai Kennedy could make his debut from the bench and impressing in his limited minutes.

Today’s match was also dedicated to the wonderful cause that is the Pavers Foundation, helping raise funds for those in need in Ukraine as part of the club’s Community Day.

York are the only side in the National League yet to win a game this season, and it showed on the day with a complete lack of quality.

However, Whitley was quickly tested by a venomous Ryan East strike, forcing the City shot-stopper to tip his effort over the bar.

Rochdale thought they had taken the lead after a nice move saw Mitchell tuck the ball into an empty net after Henderson’s pass, but thankfully he was ruled out for offside.

Whitley was again tested as Harvey Gilmour’s strike forced a reactive stop onto the post, before the City goalkeeper was beaten from the spot.

An alleged shove from Howe was penalised by the referee, seeing several bookings handed out, before Sinclair stepped up to hammer his effort into the roof of the net.

York responded after 11 minutes of stoppage time were played out at the end of the first-half, as Batty had an impact on his home debut, producing a teasing corner that was glanced home by a towering Crookes in the box.

Heading into the second half, City’s late resurgence was quickly undone by another mistake at the back that cost Morton’s side dearly.

A clumsy challenge from Crookes saw the referee award a second penalty and a straight red card to Crookes, allowing Sinclair to step up again and comfortably slam his penalty home.

Both sides shared chances as York looks to respond again, with Mitchell firing wide and Kouhyar forcing Louie Moulden into a save, before Howe came closest with a powerful header that forced a diving stop from the Rochdale goalkeeper.

Akinyemi netted his third of the season at the weekend, and looked to add to his tally as Moulden made an incredible stop to tip the striker’s header onto the crossbar.

The former Ayr United forward again had a chance when again rattling the crossbar, meeting McLaughlin’s cross and slamming a ferocious volley against the woodwork.

But the main difference between Rochdale and York this afternoon was the visitors ability to finish their chances, something which Henderson showed.

The experienced strike raced in behind after a McLaughlin mistake, and coolly dinked an effort over an unlucky Whitley, settling the result and handing Rochdale the three points.

York City: Whitley 7, Fallowfield 7, Cordner 6, Howe 6, Crookes 4, Batty 7 (McLaughlin 5, 45), Stott 6 (Latty-Fairweather 6, 55), Kouhyar 7, Dyson 5, Siziba 5 (Kennedy 6, 73), Akinyemi 6

Subs not used: Castro, Watson

Goals: Crookes (45+10)

Yellow cards: Batty (11), Howe (35), Cordner (36), Fallowfield (53)

Red cards: Crookes (51)

Rochdale: Moulden, Keohane, John (Taylor, 73), Ebanks-Landell, Oduroh, Ferguson, East, Gilmour, Sinclair (Conway, 80), Mitchell, Henderson

Subs not used: McDermott, Nevett, Afuye

Goals: Sinclair (36, 53), Henderson (90)

Yellow cards: John (45), Oduroh (45), Taylor (85), Moulden (90)

York’s star man: Maziar Kouhyar. Very few players really stood out this afternoon, but Kouhyar had a good effort and was unlucky not to grab an assist or a goal on the afternoon.

Referee: Richard Aspinall

Attendance: 5466 (862)

Shots (on target): 7 (4) | 8 (5)

Corners: 8 | 4

Offsides: 5| 9

Fouls committed: 11 | 4