YORK City boss Neal Ardley hailed new recruit Billy Chadwick as “excellent” after making an impressive debut in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood.

The striker, who became City’s first January signing on a permanent transfer from Stockport County last week, certainly caught the eye in what was otherwise a game that lacked much quality in front of the TNT Sports cameras at a chilly Meadow Park.

Adam Crookes struck from a corner in the final minute of injury time to preserve the Minstermen's unbeaten start to 2024, nodding home an equaliser after Chris Bush's outrageous 35-yard lob had put Boreham Wood in front late on.

Chadwick had drawn the club’s attentions after a successful loan spell with Vanarama National League rivals Gateshead during the first half of the season, and it took just four minutes for him to come close to his first City goal.

Twisting his way into space, the 23-year-old let fly from the edge of the box, but could only watch on as his strike fell agonisingly the wrong side of the post with Nathan Ashmore scrambling.

Dropping back from the left of a front three to a number 10 role, further chances befell the striker after the break in front of the Minstermen faithful, namely after a free-kick fell at his feet on the edge of the box.

But Ardley admitted that his new forward showed plenty of promise, and believes that he was unlucky not to crown his City debut with a goal.

“I thought he was excellent,” he enthused. “I thought that he was so smooth with the ball.

“We tried to play with a front three, we tried to play the three of them up there in a front three, and we just felt that we weren’t getting him into the game - mainly because they kept coming into feet and we weren’t stretching them in behind.

“We wanted to play three vs three at times and hurt them, but in the end, we felt that with 15 minutes to go in the first half, we dropped Billy in as a 10 to try and play it that way.

“In the second half, I thought that we started just with a bit more quality in our ball retention and that we finally got a bit of a foothold in the game.

“It was a great block on Billy at the end for the chance - he’s adamant that it was going in.

“I think he could have had a couple of goals and hopefully everyone can see his quality.”