YORK City’s chances of victory disappeared quicker than referee David Coote’s vanishing spray after Tom Pett rattled in a spectacular second goal for Stevenage on 64 minutes.

It is more than a year since City fans witnessed their team score more than two goals in a Bootham Crescent fixture – during the 3-1 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge last January, when Ryan Bowman opened the scoring before Wes Fletcher bagged a brace.

That tally has not been matched in 27 games on the Minstermen’s own turf since and no side in Sky Bet League Two have netted fewer home goals this season than Russ Wilcox’s inherited outfit, who have managed just nine.

Incredibly, last season’s leading marksman Fletcher has also failed to score in open play at Bootham Crescent since that double against Dagenham, converting only one penalty in 13 outings.

Following the Stevenage loss, confirmed by Pett after Adam Marriott’s first-half effort, City lie only one point above the second-bottom Daggers.

Wilcox, meanwhile, has now suffered the first back-to-back league defeats of his three-month tenure and, although the scorelines against strong Wycombe and Stevenage outfits would suggest no cause for alarm, the comprehensive nature of those reverses and the potential for bigger losing margins has proven a setback following the post-Christmas mini revival that offered justified optimism – not just based on last season’s unlikely catapulting from the lower reaches to the play-offs.

Just as when City went down 1-0 at Wycombe seven days earlier, on-loan Peterborough keeper Bobby Olejnik was busier than he should be against Stevenage and Wilcox will be looking to address the number of shots on goal opposition sides have been afforded by his team during the last two contests.

The Minstermen certainly looked vulnerable defensively through the left channel, resulting in ever-present full-back Femi Ilesanmi’s early second-half replacement by out-of-position winger Anthony Straker.

A stop-start first half, littered with spoiling tactics and niggling fouls, was dominated by Stevenage when they concentrated on playing football with skilful pair Pett and Charlie Lee a constant menace.

City began the game sloppily with Olejnik’s clearance, after the official had failed to flag Lee offside, falling straight to the Borough forward, prompting John McCombe to make a lunging challenge that earned him a third-minute yellow card.

Simon Walton’s free-kick then bounced wide and, shortly afterwards, Pett sped clear of McCombe and his rising 15-yard shot almost slipped through the fingers of Olejnik before he collected the ball safely.

City briefly threatened when Michael Coulson’s 18th-minute free-kick narrowly cleared the bar and Hyde got his boot to a low Russell Penn cross but the ball rolled gently to Stevenage keeper Chris Day.

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Chris Whelpdale, though, sidefooted wide at the far post after Marriott had charged past Ilesanmi and delivered a low right-wing cross that Brad Halliday failed to cut out.

Further chances saw Lee stab wide after a sweeping move down the left and Olejnik produce a stunning reflex save to deny Pett, thrusting out his left arm to push away the winger’s eight-yard attempt.

He was left helpless on 39 minutes, however, when Lee teed himself up for an edge-of-the-box volley following a spot of clever ball juggling.

His dipping strike crashed against Olejnik’s crossbar and Marriott stooped to head in the rebound.

Midfielder Dean Parrett went on to flash a 20-yard drive wide on the stroke of half-time before McCombe headed well over from a Halliday cross.

After the break, Olejnik made a fumbling save from Lee’s low drive, while Josh Carson drilled a well-struck 25-yard effort narrowly wide for the Minstermen.

But Olejnik went on to make a flying save to palm away Lee’s diving header and, after Hyde’s 20-yard shot on the turn was safely gathered by Day, Graham Westley’s men doubled their lead.

A short-corner routine caught City napping as Pett escaped Coulson’s attentions 30 yards from goal and, after receiving the ball from Parrett, crashed a terrific shot into Olejnik’s top left-hand corner.

Shortly afterwards, Wes Fletcher had a great opportunity to reduce the deficit when the ball fell to him in the six-yard box following Carson’s free-kick but the City striker blasted straight at Day.

Olejnik, meanwhile, was needed again to thwart Pett after he charged through the right channel and Lee also drove wide from 15 yards.

City’s efforts to get back into the game were largely unconvincing with Hyde heading and volleying against the David Longhurst Stand, either side of substitute Lindon Meikle flicking out a foot to guide Luke Summerfield’s free-kick wide.

Fellow replacement Carlton Morris’ deflected drive was also pushed behind for a corner by Day, who went on to save McCombe’s downward header in stoppage time.

Another blank scoresheet means City have now gone three consecutive games without finding the net for the first time since last January.

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Match stats

Bobby Olejnik: STAR MAN 7 – suffered a couple of anxious moments but kept the scoreline respectable with impressive saves.

Brad Halliday: 6 – kept his head up and did not hide on a difficult afternoon for a young professional.

Keith Lowe: 6 – largely solid but will be disappointed by how many times the back line was breached.

John McCombe: 5 – forced into picking up an early yellow card and was walking a tightrope from that moment on.

Femi Ilesanmi: 5 – failed to address gaping spaces between himself and McCombe an troubled by Pett before being withdrawn.

Michael Coulson: 5 – went close with a free kick but made little impact in open play and could have responded quicker for second goal.

Russell Penn: 5 – not as prominent as City fans have come to expect in the midfield minefield.

Luke Summerfield: 6 – tried his best to provide some rare moments of quality with his passing ability.

Josh Carson: 6 – worked hard and went close with well-struck drive before making way for Meikle midway through the second half.

Jake Hyde: 6 – showed some intelligent touches in the first half but nnnot clinical enough in front of goal.

Wes Fletcher: 5 – repeatedly stopped in his tracks by Stevenage’s uncompromising centre-backs and a little down on his luck.

Subs: Anthony Straker 6 – willing (for Ilesanmi, 56), Lindon Meikle 6 – busy (for Carson, 68), Carlton Morris 6 – competitive (for Fletcher, 68). Not used: Tom Platt, Lewis Montrose, Dave Winfield, Marvin McCoy.

Stevenage Chris Day, Ronnie Henry, Dean Wells, Darius Charles, Jerome Okimo, Tom Pett, Simon Walton, Dean Parrett, Chris Whelpdale, Charlie Lee, Adam Marriott. Subs not used: Sam Beasant, Bira Dembele, Andy Bond, Calvin Zola, Chris Beardsley, Tom Conlon, Roarie Deacon.

Star man: Pett – terrific goal and proved elusive.

Referee: David Coote (Newark).

Rating: 7/10 – managed game well.

Booked: McCombe 3, Wells 19, Carson 46, Walton 80, Penn 88.

Attendance: 3,107 (281 from Stevenage).

Shots on target: City 5, Stevenage 9.

Shots off target: City 6, Stevenage 5.

Corners: City 6, Stevenage 10.

Fouls conceded: City 13, Stevenage 17.

Offsides: City 2, Stevenage 1.