York City return to play-off places with 2-2 draw at Chorley

Kurt Willoughby put York in front with a first-half tap-in before Chorley drew level through a brilliant Willem Tomlinson strike minutes after the restart.

There was little between the two sides in the second period, as proven by two goals in the space of three minutes from either team.

Billy Whitehouse had first steered Chorley ahead before Mitch Hancox powerfully struck home a well-deserved equaliser.

While York may well feel as if they could have taken all three points on another evening but an away point at a side sitting fifth in the table is by no means a bad result.

The draw sees City now just a place behind Chorley, in sixth, with a one-point gap established inside the play-offs and a match in hand still in their favour.

The Minstermen also appeared to be reaching somewhere near their best in attack, a fact aided in no small part to the return of Hancox in central midfield after missing the last two matches with illness.

First-team coach Kingsley James could sit out as a result, with Jack McKay dropping down to the bench and allowing Maziar Kouhyar a more natural start on the right wing.

Kurt Willoughby retained his place on the opposite flank and he produced the match’s first chance, working some room with a trademark cut inside to his right foot before getting his shot horribly wrong and seeing the ball go out for a throw in.

With no Michael Duckworth for City, due to a groin injury, Olly Dyson continued at right back and Chorley immediately sought to exploit the makeshift side of York’s backline.

The pacy Millenic Alli twice beat Dyson out wide early on and he conjured a fine low cross for Connor Hall who should have scored from six yards out but put his effort wide.

York worked themselves back into the game and, even on the bobbly Victoria Park surface, managed to string together a sustained period of possession.

The pressure City built quickly paid dividends. Dyson produced a smart pass from his own half to put Lenell John-Lewis away in the right corner and the loanee squared for Willoughby to tap in at the far post.

Summarising York’s struggles in front of goal as of late, the goal was City’s first in their last five league games in the first half and their first open-play goal in the league since the visit to Southport last month.

Chorley’s response was swift, with Alli in particular proving their danger man. The left winger’s strike from outside the box forced a sharp save by Peter Jameson.

The York goalkeeper was beaten minutes later as City’s set-piece fragilities were on show. A crossed free-kick found an unmarked Jack Sampson at the back post, only for the number nine to shoot wide.

Whenever York were able to get the ball on the deck for a consistent period, they looked capable of scoring with their build-up play particularly exciting.

But Chorley, while never especially playing long-ball stuff, threatened in the direct exchanges and City remained shaky at the back, especially from set pieces.

As the first half drew to a close, the Magpies grew stronger and, when Maxim Kouogun was unable to clear a long goal-kick, Hall shot wide outside the box.

Chorley kept up that first-half momentum shortly after half time and found an equaliser it would be hard to argue they weren’t deserving of just five minutes into the second period.

City were again found wanting from a set piece as a short free-kick was played to an unmarked Willem Tomlinson who produced a stunning rifling shot beyond Jameson from outside the box.

Manager John Askey was clearly unhappy with a foul not given on Hancox only a minute or so and received some stern words from referee Jamie O’Connor on the touchline.

York did soon settle back into the game and twice came close to moving back in front. John-Lewis could not quite control a header from Paddy McLaughlin’s smart cross before Kouhyar stung the palms of Matt Urwin with a long-range effort.

Nothing could separate the two sides in the reverse fixture at the LNER Community Stadium back in December and it the match, from the hour mark onwards, appeared to be heading in the same direction as the pair of play-off contenders matched each other for long periods of the second half.

If either side looked liked finding a winner, it was York however. The visitors somewhat gained the upper hand in this nip-and-tuck affair when Willoughby shifted play onto his right and curled off target while Hancox’s follow-up hit from a corner also went wide of goal.

Chorley though went in front for the first time when City failed to properly clear a ball in from the right and Whitehouse steered a trickling strike into the far corner.

Only seconds later though and parity was restored. Hancox produced a sublime strike from the edge of the penalty area and drilled the ball into the right corner. It was no less than York deserved for their efforts.

Before the full-time whistle, Willoughby curled a free-kick wide but both sides eventually had to settle for a point apiece.

Chorley: Urwin, Halls, Leather (C), Baines, Whitehouse, Calveley, Sampson (Blyth 90’), Tomlinson, Blakeman, Alli (Shenton 75’), Hall (Holmes 61’).

Subs not used: Henley, Carroll.

Goals: Tomlinson (50’), Whitehouse (79’)

Yellow cards: Leather (84’)

York: Jameson 7, Dyson 6, Kouogun 6, Brown (C) 7, Barrow 6, Wright 6, McLaughlin 6, Hancox 7, Kouhyar 6, John-Lewis 7, Willoughby 7.

Subs not used: Campbell, Sanders, McKay, Longdon, Donaldson.

Goals: Willoughby (17’), Hancox (81’)

Yellow cards: Hancox (37’), Wright (49’), Dyson (68’)

York’s star man: Lenell John-Lewis. Worked tirelessly up front, chasing every lost cause and set up Willoughby’s opener.

Shots (on target): 9 (4) | 12 (4)

Offsides: 4 | 3

Corners: 4 | 3

Fouls committed: 9 | 12

Referee: Jamie O’Connor

Attendance: 1,157