York City suffer heavy defeat to league leaders Chesterfield

After a spirited first-half that saw York head into the break level and goalless, Chesterfield showed their quality in the second forty-five to claim a comfortable victory at the SMH Group Stadium.

A brace from well-travelled striker Will Grigg, partnered by excellent finishes by Ollie Banks and Tom Naylor, saw the York pick up back-to-back defeats with the relegation zone looming.

Banks opened the scoring after York failed to clear their lines, allowing the midfielder the time and space to rifle a powerful effort into goalkeeper Rory Watson’s bottom corner.

Naylor added to the scoreline on the hour mark with a well-struck half volley from the edge of the box, seeing his effort nestle into that same bottom corner.

Grigg had his first of the evening after a mistake by Watson allowed the striker to race ahead of the City defenders, before latching onto the ball and slotting the ball home.

But the Minstermen’s misery was added to in the final ten minutes, as Grigg curled the ball home from an acute angle to secure a comfortable victory for the hosts.

Ardley opted to make just the one change to his side after falling to a 3-1 defeat against Eastleigh on Saturday, with Adam Crookes dropping out of the squad due to a tight hamstring.

Paddy McLaughlin started in left-wing back in his place, whilst Olly Dyson slotted into midfield.

Aiden Marsh and Will Smith were both in the squad too after Ardley confirmed to the media that he was attempting to extend the pair’s loan spells.

McLaughlin had shown his ability to perform in wing-back earlier this season, playing in the role in place of the injured Thierry Latty-Fairweather.

He nearly had his first goal from defence after almost catching goalkeeper Ryan Boot out just two minutes in, as his cross caused issues for the shot-stopper, who was forced to tip the ball behind his goal.

City looked to establish an early lead with Ryan Fallowfield bursting into the box and pulling the ball back into Scott Burgess, but his strike was blocked by a collection of Chesterfield bodies.

Dyson will have fond memories of the SMH Group Stadium after his strike at Chesterfield last season, and came close to grabbing an assist on his return to Derbyshire, with his cross volleyed goalwards by Lenell John-Lewis. However, the City captain’s effort was blocked by Jamie Grimes.

Rory Watson was called into action for the first time of the afternoon when dealing with a tricky cross-shot from Ollie Banks, stopping a frustrated Will Grigg from tapping home at the back post.

York were looking to utilise an offside trap throughout the match but failed to implement it in the 23rd minute, seeing Grigg race towards the byline before pulling back to Armando Dobra, but Watson was on hand to parry the winger’s strike wide of the target.

The first-half lacked action towards its latter stages, but Watson remain vigilant to smother Mike Jones’ strike from the edge of the box, before Smith made a crucial interception to cut out a through ball to Grigg.

Heading into the second half, City supporters felt positive after some comfortable defending throughout the opening forty-five.

But Chesterfield quickly acted to take the foothold in the game, scoring just three minutes into the half.

A cross initially from Liam Mandeville found Grigg, who got to the ball ahead of Cordner before powering a header against the City crossbar.

But York failed to clear their danger, and struggled to regroup as the Spireites maintained their pressure and spread the ball into the path of Banks, who struck a venomous effort into Watson’s far corner, putting Chesterfield ahead.

The Minstermen did look for an instant response through McLaughlin, who fired an effort on the turn from the edge of the box, but Tyron Williams was well-positioned to block the effort.

But Chesterfield were quick to add to the deficit, netting a second on the hour mark.

Another poor clearance saw the ball fall to the experienced Naylor on the edge of the box, who struck a well-hit effort through a crowd of bodies, before his strike nestled into Watson’s bottom corner, doubling the Spireites advantage.

With York now collapsing and Chesterfield dominating the match, the hosts soon added their third.

A low driven effort from Banks on the edge of the area was matched by Watson, but the City shot-stopper was unable to hold onto the strike and instead spilled his effort into the path of Grigg, who coolly slid the ball home from close-range.

Chesterfield were hopeful of adding a fourth, as Michael Jacobs picked out substitute Ryan Colclough on the wing, but he got his angles wrong and curled an effort wide of the target.

City’s day was summed up in the 83rd minute and with time running out, as a sloppy pass from Watson allowed Grigg to claim back possession, before curling the ball home from an acute angle.

York remain just one place above the relegation zone in 20th position on 15 points, and are back in action on Saturday, October 28 (5.30pm) for their Yorkshire derby with FC Halifax Town that will be televised on TNT Sport.

Chesterfield: Boot, Mandeville, Grimes, Williams, Horton, Naylor, Jones, Jacobs (Berry, 75), Banks, Dobra (Colclough, 67), Grigg (Curtis, 84)

Subs not used: Freckleton, Sheckleford

Goals: Banks (49), Naylor (61), Grigg (71, 83)

Yellow cards: Dobra (32)

York City: Watson 5, Fallowfield 6, Cordner 6, Howe 6, Smith 5, McLaughlin 7, Woodyard 7, Dyson 6, Burgess 6 (Castro, 85), Kennedy 6 (Siziba, 81), John-Lewis 6 (Marsh, 81)

Subs not used: Whitley, Hancox

Yellow cards: Castro (89)

York’s star man: Alex Woodyard. The midfielder battled hard for York and at times won the midfield battle sitting in the hole, whilst also consistently making himself an option to string the defence to the attack.

Attendance: 6933 (554)

Referee: Aaron Bannister

Shots off (on target): 3 (8) | 4 (0)

Corners: 3 | 5

Offsides: 3 | 3

Fouls committed: 3 | 7