York City end their pre-season with defeat to Accrington Stanley

With the Vanarama National League season getting underway next week with a trip to Wealdstone, York ended their final preparations with the test of a higher-division side at the WHAM Stadium, and were unfortunate to lose out.

A positive for Michael Morton’s side were the addition of two non-competitive debutants for City, as Dipo Akinyemi made his long-awaited first appearance off of the bench after struggling to get international clearance, and former AFC Wimbledon captain Alex Woodyard wore the Minstermen’s colours after replacing Paddy McLaughlin on the hour mark.

It’s yet to be known whether Morton will select the duo in the starting line-up against Wealdstone despite their clear quality, after joining York later than 11 other signings.

Accrington are preparing for life back in League Two after their weary relegation from Sky Bet League One next season, and have looked strong in pre-season after only falling to one defeat against the current National League promotion favourites Chesterfield.

City ended their pre-season with a growing optimism too, after draws against Sky Bet Championship sides Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, wins over Garforth Town, Doncaster Rovers, Tadcaster Albion and Farsley Celtic, before falling to defeats against Selby Town and Accrington this afternoon.

Morton named a strong starting eleven which may be an insight into how he opts to line up next week, although a few key names did make appearances off of the bench, with David Stockdale back starting between the sticks, Quevin Castro being named in midfield and Adam Crookes being reinstated at centre-back rather than left-back, where he’s regularly featured at throughout pre-season.

And it was a good start from the Minstermen, as Morton’s side had the ball in the back of the net just two minutes in, but Zanda Siziba’s finish was ruled out for an offside earlier in the build-up.

Sean McConville is an Accrington legend after making over 300 appearances for Stanley after joining in 2015, and looked sharp in the friendly after narrowly firing wide from the edge of the box.

City have inherited a free-kick specialist this season after snapping up Castro on a free transfer from West Brom, and he showed a glimpse of what he can produce after his low free-kick was smothered by Toby Savin between the Accrington sticks.

Maziar Kouhyar also came close to scoring after a productive pre-season, after a mazy run saw Kouhyar let fly from distance, but Savin was again on hand to deny the opener.

McConville tested Stockdale with a low effort, before the experienced shot-stopper pulled out an excellent stop to keep the winger from opening the scoring after tipping his effort away.

York took the momentum away from the hosts again as Thierry Latty-Fairweather attempted to open his account for the Minstermen, but his right-footed strike narrowly flew over the crossbar.

Heading into the second half, Dan Pybus continued to adopt his new advanced role in the squad as he drifted forward with the ball, before curling a long-ranged effort wide of the target, similar to his attempt which went in against Tadcaster Albion.

Olly Dyson was introduced at half-time for Castro, and showed his quality from last season as he pounced onto a loose ball between the Accrington defence, before forcing Savin into another stop.

Again York came close to breaking the deadlock through the experienced Paddy McLaughlin, as he latched onto a curling cross and struck his effort over the crossbar.

But despite the pressure from the Minstermen, it was Accrington who struck first as Korede Adedoyin opened the scoring.

Some nice build-up play from the hosts saw the ball fall to the young striker, who coolly slotted the ball into the far corner at the back post, beating Stockdale for the first time of the afternoon.

City failed to really respond to the Accrington setback, and Adedoyin nearly grabbed his brace as his effort from the edge of the box was fired over the crossbar.

Pybus did come close again with another long-ranged effort, before substitute Akinyemi nearly grabbed a debut goal.

The former Ayr United striker stepped up for a free-kick, and struck a powerful effort narrowly wide of the target.

But it was Accrington who were the more clinical of the afternoon and it showed, as Josh Woods doubled the scoring with a calm finish inside the box, to settle the tie and end York’s pre-season journey in defeat.

Accrington Stanley: Savin, Rich-Baghuelou (Pickles, 45), Mellor, Coyle (Woods, 74), Hills, McConville, Nolan (Longelo, 53), Conneely (Martin, 71), Hills, Shipley, Andrews (Lowe, 67)

Subs not used: Trialist A, Whalley, Adedoyin, Quirk, Patrick, O’Brien, Fernandes

Goals: Adedoyin (61), Woods (82)

York City: Stockdale, Duckworth, Howe (Fallowfield, 54), Crookes, Latty-Fairweather (Hancox, 76), McLaughlin (Woodyard, 60), Castro (Dyson, 45), Pybus, Siziba (Barnes, 69), John-Lewis (Akinyemi, 57), Kouhyar

Subs not used: Whitley

Attendance: 792 (204)

Shots (on target): 2 (4) | 4 (5)

Corners:  2 | 3

Offsides: 1 | 2

Fouls committed: 7 | 8