York City advance to FA Trophy quarter-finals against Southend United

Michael Morton was instated in interim charge after the sacking of David Webb on Wednesday and was joined by Paddy McLaughlin, Scott Barrow and goalkeeping coach Jon Stead.

It was Morton’s third match in interim charge of York, after a 2-0 victory over Woking and a 5-0 triumph over Blyth Spartans in December whilst Webb was ill due to covid-19 and a lung infection.

The hammering of Blyth was the first FA Trophy win for York, before advancing past Chelmsford City through a penalty shootout after an initial 1-1 draw.

But York solidified their position in the draw for the quarter-finals after Fraser Kerr and Lenell John-Lewis applied the striking blows.

It was a much-needed win for City, even if it didn’t come in the Vanarama National League, with the Minstermen sat in 18th position and are just four points clear of the dreaded relegation zone.

York have witnessed just five victories in all competitions since October, with three of them now coming in the FA Trophy.

But their opponents Southend were in a dire situation themselves, not on the pitch but off.

With a winding up petition, failing to pay HMRC taxes, failing to pay staff, players and academy players, supporters protesting and stewards confiscating banners, it’s a sour time to be in Essex, with the club reportedly weeks away from extinction.

Morton opted to make two changes to his York side, with Ethan Ross being left out of the squad and being replaced by Ryan Whitley.

Mark Ellis was cup tied for the fixture after featuring in the FA Trophy earlier on in the season for Torquay United, who he spent the first half of the campaign on loan at from Barrow.

York were once again without Maziar Kouhyar (abductor) and Gus Mafuta (calf), whilst Luke James made a long-awaited return to the squad and onto the bench, after suffering with a calf injury.

Adam Crookes was also back involved with the starting lineup, after suffering from a thigh injury for the past two weeks.

It would be the Minstermen who would start off the match the stronger too, as Olly Dyson unleashed an effort from the edge of the box which forced an impressive block from Kacper Lopata.

Three minutes later York would be on the front foot again, as Kerr fed Ryan Fallowfield the ball down the wing, but his low cross somehow evaded a clinical touch from Lenell John-Lewis.

Southend would have a chance of their own on the quarter of an hour mark, as Cavaghn Miley attempted a decent free-kick attempt towards goal, but his effort bended around the wrong side of the post.

Fallowfield was finding himself pushing further forward for City and he nearly had a chance of his own, as a pinpoint Mitch Hancox cross found the wing-back, but his header trailed wide of the target.

Miley was looking like Southend’s most dangerous threat from midfield, as he forced Whitley into a low stop after attempting an effort from distance.

Blondy Nna Noukeu hadn’t been called into action yet, but was alert when doing so as John-Lewis unleashed a powerful effort, forcing the Stoke City loanee to parry the effort onto the bar.

The resulting corner saw Dan Pybus’ cross meet the head of Maxim Kouogun, whose header was tipped over the bar.

Another Fallowfield cross was this time met by the head of Shaq Forde, but his cushioned header was easily collected by Nna Noukeu.

Heading into the second half, York continued their dominant performance by taking a deserved lead.

Another Pybus corner perfectly landed onto the head of Kerr, who powered the ball past the stranded Nna Noukeu to gift City the advantage in the cup tie.

Jake Hyde is a former York man in the Southend ranks and was leading the line for the Shrimpers this afternoon, but struggled to test Whitley as his tame shot was smothered by the goalkeeper.

Forde was looking to get in on the action himself with a confident drive forward, but his shot from a narrow angle was blazed over the bar.

Jack Bridge was brought on for City and looked to have an immediate impact, similar to the damage he inflicted last week, but his cross onto the head of Hyde was once again dealt with by Whitley.

With the closing stages approaching York were awkwardly holding onto their one-goal lead, but were looking to add to that.

They frustratingly thought they had added a second as another Pybus corner was headed home, this time by Crookes, but the referee deemed the defender offside from the corner.

It wouldn’t be a long wait for City however, as minutes later they had an even bigger opportunity.

A foul on John-Lewis in the box prompted the referee to award York a penalty, with ‘the Shop’ kindly granting Manny Duku the honour of taking it.

However, Duku was surprisingly prevented a goal for himself after a sublime save from Nna Noukeu from the spot, but John-Lewis predatorily followed up the effort and tucked the ball home.

With the Minstermen sliding home their second of the afternoon, there was no route back into the match for sorry Southend, with York confirmed to be in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy.

York City: Whitley 7; Fallowfield 7, Crookes 7, Kouogun 7, Kerr 8, Whittle 6; Dyson 7 (McLaughlin, 77), Pybus 8, Hancox 7 (Burgess, 90); John-Lewis 8, Forde 7 (Duku, 81)

Subs not used: Hurst, James, Campbell, Tanner

Goals: Kerr (51) John-Lewis (88)

Yellow cards: John-Lewis (83) Hancox (90)

Southend United: Nna Noukeu 7; Demetriou 6, Lopata 5 (Bridge 6, 53), Kensdale 6, Hobson 6, Ralph 5; Fonguck 6 (Husin, 77), Taylor 6, Powell 6 (Cardwell 6, 69), Miley 7; Hyde 5

Subs not used: Scott-Morriss, Clifford, Andeng Ndi, Sandat

Goals: N/A

York’s star man: Dan Pybus. Another excellent performance from the midfield anchor who wasn’t afraid to put in a tackle and get stuck in. Also delivered some exceptional corners and earned himself an assist.

Referee: Alan Dale

Attendance: 2780 (103)

Shots (on target): 4 (6) | 2 (3)

Corners: 4 | 2

Offsides: 2 | 2

Fouls committed: 8 | 6