Match report: Fleetwood 0, York City 0

The Minstermen maintained their unbeaten record on the road in 2011/12 in front of the Premier Sports TV cameras following a tight contest.

Ashley Chambers and David McGurk both had chances to win the game for City but, equally, home midfielder Alex-Ray Harvey should have scored for the hosts.

City retained the same starting line-up that kicked off Tuesday night’s 5-1 triumph at Kettering with new signing Jon Challinor named on the bench.

Fleetwood included former City striker Richard Brodie but another ex-Minsterman Peter Till was ruled out due to an ankle injury.

A keenly-contested opening saw Fleetwood create the early chances with midfielder Jamie McGuire firing an ambitious 35-yard effort wide on five minutes.

Moments later, Brodie called Michael Ingham into action with a firmly-struck free-kick that the City goalkeeper did well to hold diving low to his left.

City’s first opportunity of the night came on 24 minutes but Patrick McLaughlin’s header lacked the power to trouble home ’keeper Scott Davies after Chris Smith had met Chambers’ corner to the far post.

McLaughlin also headed wide from a Walker cross before McGuire’s 25-yard half-volley sailed over Ingham’s bar.

The best chance of the half, though, should have seen Chambers at least test Davies on 34 minutes.

An explosive burst of pace saw Chambers charge through the heart of the home defence after Walker’s intelligent lay-off, but the former Leicester winger’s shot drifted wide of Davies’ right-hand upright.

At the other end of the pitch, Smith’s excellently-timed, sliding recovery tackle denied Jamie Vardy a free shot at Ingham’s goal.

Adriano Moké then fired wide from the edge of the box for the visitors to bring the first-half action to a close.

Fleetwood made a purposeful start to the second period and Harvey should have broken the deadlock on 49 minutes.

Receiving the ball after slack defensive play by James Meredith and a fortunate ricochet, Harvey then volleyed wastefully wide despite having a clear sight of Ingham’s goal from ten yards out.

Brodie also tested Ingham from the edge of the box after running at Smith on 51 minutes.

A great cross by Walker then led to a far-post chance for McLaughlin that was blocked by right-back Daniel Holmes.

But the dangerous Vardy flashed a 20-yard effort wide for Fleetwood on 58 minutes before providing a cross that Brodie headed over at the far post.

Shortly afterwards, McGurk prodded wide from five yards out after the ball had fallen at his feet following Chambers’ cross before Scott Brown burst into the City penalty box and fired narrowly wide for the Cod Army.

Brodie also forced Ingham into a late parry with the Minstermen ’keeper recovering to palm over Harvey’s rising follow-up effort and safeguard City’s point.

Match facts

Fleetwood 0, York City 0

York City: Michael Ingham 8, Lanre Oyebanjo 7, David McGurk 8, Chris Smith 8, James Meredith 7, Andre Boucaud 7, Scott Kerr 7, Patrick McLaughlin 7, Adriano Moké 7, Jason Walker 7, Ashley Chambers 7.

Subs: Jon Challinor 7 (for McLaughlin 56); Danny Pilkington 7 (for Moké 62); Jamal Fyfield (for Boucaud 78). Not used: Daniel Parslow, Jamie Reed.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: McGurk – back to his unflappable best at heart of City’s defence.

Fleetwood: Scott Davies, Scott Brown (Jamie Milligan 83), Stephen McNulty, Robert Atkinson, Paul Edwards, Daniel Holmes, Jamie McGuire, Alex-Ray Harvey, Jamie Vardy, Richard Brodie, Magno Vieira.

Subs (not used): Alan Goodall, Keith Briggs, Danzelle St Louis Hamilton, George Donnelly.

Booked: McGuire 20, Oyebanjo 32, McLaughlin 37, Boucaud 73, Harvey 84.

Sent off: None.

Shots on target: Town 4, City 1.

Shots off target: Town 7, City 6.

Corners: Town 4, City 4.

Fouls conceded: Town 23, City 18.

Offsides: Town 0, City 1.

Referee: Steve Bratt (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 2,111.