YORK City are through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup following a hard-fought 1-0 win at Warrington Rylands.

The visitors took the lead through Sean Newton's 40th-minute free kick and held on in the face of a tenacious and determined effort from the hosts.

In just their second ever FA Cup match at Gorsey Lane, Rylands acquitted themselves well and made life very difficult for York with swift and direct passing through midfield.

Richard Scarisbrick could have made all the difference after the restart with a penalty but he put it wide.

Rylands put plenty of pressure on York but the higher-tier Minstermen saw the game out.

York boss Steve Watson made no changes from the side that beat Notts County 3-0 in the final game of pre-season. The only differences lay on the stripped-back bench, with Josh King and Owen Gamble missing out.

Goalscorers in the first half last week Akil Wright and Jake Cassidy were rewarded with starting berths while Alex Wollerton returned to the substitutes bench. Supporting Wright in midfield was Michael Woods and Paddy McLaughlin.

Warrington Rylands had proved themselves to be no pushovers in the FA Cup, beating fellow Ste 5 side 1874 Northwich 6-1, Step 4 side Clitheroe 1-0 and seeing off Step 3 side Whitby Town on penalties.

With seven goals between them in this Cup campaign so far, Ste Milne and Andy Scarisbrick were on from the start, with striker Kane Drummond – who also netted in the 74 thumping – in attack.

Rylands had the most exciting of the early chances, and City had Pete Jameson to thank for keeping them level inside the first 10 minutes. Milne shook off the attentions of Robbie Tinkler to the right of the box and chipped in for Drummond to head from inside the six-yard box. Though the effort lacked power, it was a good reaction save from the keeper, who was quick to get up and save from the drilled second follow-up attempt.

As might have been expected, York had more of the ball at their feet – but it was far from comfortable. A greasy surface and sharp opposition meant they had no time to settle, and had to be on their guard for quick balls through the midfield.

A case in point was McLaughlin’s excellent block off the line from Drummond, who was set free by a great chipped ball from Stephen Wolhunter. Paul Shanley had scuffed majestically high from a cross following good Rylands play down the right.

By the half hour, the cumulative fouls amassed by both sides was nearing double figures. Kieran Kennedy received a yellow for a sliding tackle which sent Shanley theatrically up into the air.

Meanwhile, York had their closest effort yet from a free kick 20 yards out, Sean Newton curling left-footed towards Graeme McCall’s top right corner. The keeper was equal to it and McLaughlin grazed the top of the crossbar with the follow-up volley.

Newton put York in front in the 40th minute. The 10th foul of the game arrived – captain Gary Kenny sliding in on Cassidy – and gave the centre-back a central free kick from 19 yards out. He made no mistake this time, planting it low through the wall and to McCall’s bottom left.

It should have been two a couple of minutes later. Olly Dyson, who had been an engaging figure on the ball across the front line, delicately played Wright through one-on-one with McCall but the midfielder drove his shot against the left-hand upright.

The second half started with the pace and fluidity the game promised before the break. Scott Barrow and Cassidy looked to link up heading into the area and, when that move broke down, Wright looked to lay off Woods from inside the area, the latter seeing his shot blocked. For Rylands, a diving Milne turned his acrobatic effort over from Warren Gerrard’s whipped cross in.

Ten minutes after the restart, Rylands had a penalty. Shanley went down under Tinkler’s challenge to the delight of the 300 fans in attendance. Scarisbrick sent Jameson the wrong way but hit the outside of the keeper’s left-hand post.

Straight from the goal kick, Rylands came back at York in numbers and Jameson had to turn Milne’s low effort round the post.

The hosts were geed up and pushed for the equaliser but, in doing so, left space at the back for Dyson to exploit. The striker lost possession under good defensive pressure.

Just after the hour, McCall was called on to keep Rylands in the game, and he did so fantastically, getting down quickly to turn away Cassidy’s header from eight yards.

Substitute Matty Brown and Cassidy both had good chances to make York’s lead more secure in the following 10, the former skying his shot after good hold-up play from fellow sub Reon Potts, while Cassidy – collecting a pass from the driving Newton – went high and wide.

All the while, Rylands asked questions of York’s back line with their quick forward play and some good interplay with 15 minutes to go set Drummond running through on Jameson but City were able to scramble the ball away.

Freddie Potter's header with two minutes to go went inches wide.

Rylands: McCall, Simpson (Denman 90), Wolhunter (Freeman 71), Kenny, Gerrard, Sheen (Potter 73), Doyle, Scarisbrick, Milne, Shanley, Drummond. Subs: Jones, Lees, Morris, McNamara.

Yellow cards: Sheen, Simpson, Doyle

York: Jameson 7, Duckworth 5, Barrow 6, Newton 6, Kennedy 6, Tinkler 5 (Brown 65), Wright 6, Woods 6, Cassidy 6, Dyson 6 (Potts 65), McLaughlin 6. Subs: Flatters, Spratt, Wollerton, Guilfoyle.

Goals: Newton (40)

Yellow cards: Kennedy

Star man: Pete Jameson. Though he had few material stops to make, his double save in the first half could have been the building block for York's win.