York City impress to earn much-needed victory over Oxford City

Cordner quickly got York into the driving seat with an exceptional strike from 35-yards out, finding the top corner with the help of the post after an exciting start from City.

Davies was quick to get in on the action after latching onto Scott Burgess’ low cross, turning the ball home from close-range to double York’s advantage.

The Minstermen dominated possession and looked confident throughout, with Neal Ardley’s side picking up a much-needed three points after the disappointment of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Hartlepool United.

Oxford have now replaced York in the Vanarama National League relegation zone, with City rising to 19th position on 22 points.

Davies came in for his first start in a York shirt after a substitute appearance on Saturday, replacing Lenell John-Lewis in the starting eleven as Ardley made four changes.

Thierry Latty-Fairweather came in for the injured Paddy McLaughlin, who felt a slight tweak in his achilles, whilst Burgess entered the frame in place of Kai Kennedy.

Also back in the starting eleven was Maz Kouhyar who made his long-awaited return after last playing against Solihull Moors in September, replacing the injured Will Smith.

Ardley lined his side up in a 4-4-2 with Dipo Akinyemi partnering Davies up front, with Kouhyar on the left and Burgess on the right, whilst Alex Woodyard recovered from a head injury on Saturday to retain his position within the starting eleven.

And just two minutes into the tie, it looked as if Ardley’s change of tactics could work, with Ryan Fallowfield picking out an unmarked Burgess in the box, before the midfielder swept his strike narrowly over Jack Bycroft.

Burgess’ miss was a frustration for the supporters, but they were quickly on their feet again with Cordner putting his name ahead for an early goal-of-the-season contender.

After weaving past an Oxford challenge, Cordner took aim from 35-yards out before arrowing an effort into the top left corner, ricocheting off of the post and into the Oxford net to hand the Minstermen an early, deserved lead.

It was nearly immediately two for York, as Kouhyar slid the ball into the path of Davies, but Bycroft was quick off of his line to thwart the danger.

City were bombarding the Oxford box with potential chances, as Davies saw a strike fall wide of the target, before Akinyemi latched onto Burgess’ cross before nodding wide.

But with the pressure of York really testing the Oxford backline, it didn’t take long for Ardley’s side to double their advantage.

Some nice football between Fallowfield and Burgess allowed the latter to square the ball into the centre of the box, finding an onrushing Davies who was able to poke an effort beneath Bycroft and into the back of the net.

Akinyemi was the next to test Bycroft, with his long-ranged strike comfortably held by the Oxford shot-stopper.

The visitors weren’t to be counted out however, and looked to pose a comeback with Fulham loanee Oliver Sanderson breaking forward and striking goalwards, only to be denied by a heroic block from Cordner.

George Sykes-Kenworthy also had his gloves stung for the first time of the contest, matching McEachran’s long-ranged half-volley, before scrambling to smother the follow up.

Burgess pulled the momentum back into the Minstermen’s favour when striking narrowly over the crossbar from the edge of the box, before Hull City loanee Olly Green forced Bycroft into an impressive stop, before Kouhyar nodded the follow-up cross wide.

Oxford had one final chance before the half-time whistle with Sanderson dispossessing Kouhyar and breaking forward, but Tafari Moore failed to hit the target when receiving the ball on the edge of the box.

Heading into the second half, Oxford made a change at the break in the hope of containing City, but were nearly punished after Davies phased his way past two challenges, before firing an effort over the bar.

York did have concerns of their own however after Akinyemi pulled up on the left-wing clutching his hamstring, with the City striker being forced off in place of Lenell John-Lewis.

City rallied and nearly added a third with Callum Howe heading narrowly wide, before John-Lewis saw an acrobatic attempt deflected wide.

Davies had a chance for a brace on his first start when striking on the turn, but City were again denied by a block, with Howe then enjoying another chance of his own that was headed agonisingly across the six-yard box, before John-Lewis’ follow-up was somehow kept out by the Oxford backline.

Time was running out for an Oxford comeback and City were enjoying the majority of possession, as Burgess pulled a teasing pull-back into the path of John-Lewis, whose first-time effort was expertly parried wide by Bycroft

Fallowfield was then involved when latching onto a brilliant switching pass from Davies, and elected to shoot from a narrow angle, only to strike the side netting.

But with York majorly dominating possession and keeping their energy levels high, Ardley’s side were able to hold out for a crucial three points at the LNER Community Stadium, at the expense of Oxford City.

York are next in action on Saturday, November 25 (3pm) when making the long trip down to Maidenhead United.

York City: Sykes-Kenworthy 7, Fallowfield 7, Cordner 8, Howe 7, Latty-Fairweather 8, Woodyard 7, Green 6 (Dyson 6, 71), Burgess 8, Kouhyar 7 (Kennedy 6,71), Davies 8, Akinyemi 7 (John-Lewis 6, 54)

Subs not used: Watson, Siziba

Goals: Cordner (6), Davies (17)

Yellow cards: John-Lewis (59)

Oxford City: Bycroft, Humphrey-Ewers, Moore, Carroll, Roberts (Kirby, 46), Kpekawa, Coyle, Smith (Ofosu, 86), McEachran, McQueen (Williams-Bushell, 69), Sanderson

Subs: Miccio, Fleet

York’s star man: Will Davies. A really encouraging first start for the striker who opened his account for the club and never stopped running. A good sign of things to come.

Referee: Michael Barlow

Attendance:  3678 (58)

Shots (on target): 10 (7) | 3 (3)

Corners:  5 | 3

Offsides: 0 | 0

Fouls committed: 8 | 3