Disappointing York City held to a goalless draw to lowly Scunthorpe

It’s the first time this season that York have been held to a 0-0 draw, with Scunthorpe bring a large number of away supporters to visit the stadium for the first time.

But despite York failing to pick up a victory over the Iron, they did move up a place in the Vanarama National League table, rising to 17th after Aldershot Town were defeated 2-0 by FC Halifax Town.

City remain five points ahead of the relegation zone, but struggled to really test a Scunthorpe side who look likely to be playing regional football next season.

Morton elected to make three changes from the York side that were defeated 3-0 by Wrexham on Saturday, with only one of the changes forced.

Dan Pybus dropped out of the squad after suffering a calf injury, and was replaced by Paddy McLaughlin in midfield.

Mitch Hancox and Alex Hurst dropped to the bench in place of Alex Whittle and Shaq Forde, with York adopting a more attacking approach.

However, you wouldn’t have thought that was the case after the bleak first-half.

York did have a brief spell of pressure in the opening ten minutes, with Tom Billson collecting a dangerous cross from Whittle and collecting a Michael Duckworth corner.

After conceding to a long throw from Ben Tozer led to a goal at the weekend for Wrexham, Scunthorpe possessed a weapon of their own with a Jake Leake long throw, but luckily City were able to deal with it.

Danny Rowe kept his position in the first team after making his debut at Wrexham, and nearly nabbed himself a first assist as his cross was bravely cleared by Scunthorpe into path of Ryan Fallowfield, whose delicate cross was smashed away to avoid the onrushing Lenell John-Lewis.

But Scunthorpe just needed some time to grow into the game, and began to do so as Cameron Wilson forced goalkeeper Ryan Whitley into a low stop.

A dangerous cross was punched clear by Whitley again, but fell into the path of Derby County loanee Liam Thompson, who volleyed wide of the target.

Sean Shields was looking tricky on the left-wing and came close to creating the opener, finding space on the left-wing before delivering onto Richie Bennett, who somehow poked the ball wide.

Whitley pulled off another crucial stop as Shields pulled the ball back onto Jacob Butterfield, allowing the midfielder to pull the trigger and force Whitley to parry away.

But the save of the afternoon came on the brink of half-time. Another Shields cross was flicked goalwards by Bennett, and somehow Whitley was able to claw the ball away from the bottom corner and tip it wide to the disbelief of a stunned Bennett.

York’s best chance of the half came right before the half-time whistle, as Fallowfield burst in behind the Scunthorpe defender and latched onto a pass, before slicing his effort onto the post.

Heading into the second half, the match restarted very quietly for the opening 15 minutes before the game sprung into life.

A long ball found Forde in space, seeing the Watford man open his body and strike an effort allegedly against the arms of Ben Richards-Everton.

The referee ruled out the City claims, before Forde lashed another effort goalwards and forced a reactive stop from Billson.

Whitley was called into action again from a Wilson free-kick, where he comfortably claimed the long-ranged effort.

Bennett was proving to be a dangerous foe to the City defence, and had two chances to break the deficit in the space of a minute.

First from a corner, Bennett met the teasing cross but could only direct his effort wide.

And he would be kicking himself less than 60 seconds later.

The forward was played through on goal by Thompson and rushed away from the York defence. With just Whitley to beat, Bennett somehow blasted his effort over the bar and into the stand rammed with Scunthorpe fans.

York would create opportunities of their own to try and avoid a goalless draw, as McLaughlin cleverly swept the ball into Forde on the wing, allowing the Watford winger to fire a venomous ball across goal.

The cross struck Harrogate Town loanee Will Smith on the shin, prompting Billson into diving save to force the deflecting around his post.

Hancox had come onto the pitch to replace Olly Dyson and with five minutes remaining he nearly carved an opening, driving beyond the Scunthorpe full-back before forcing Billson into a stop.

Hurst was having a good impact since his half-time arrival, and spun Reagan Ogle before delivering onto the head of John-Lewis, who nodded over the bar.

Forde attempted an audacious effort from the edge of the box, but was disappointed to see his strike rise over the bar.

But despite City mounting some late pressure, it wasn’t a good enough ninety minutes for the Minstermen to clinch a much-needed three points on home soil.

York City: Whitley 8, Fallowfield 6 (Kouhyar 7, 69), Duckworth 6, Ellis 7, Crookes 6, Whittle 6, McLaughlin 6, Dyson 6 (Hancox, 80), Forde 6, John-Lewis 5, Rowe 6 (Hurst 7, 45)

Subs not used: Campbell, Kouogun, Kouhyar, Hancox

Yellow cards: Fallowfield (22)

Scunthorpe United: Billson, Ogle, Richards-Everton, Leake, Smith, Wilson, Rance, Butterfield, Thompson, Shields (Elliott, 45), Bennett

Subs not used: Elliott, Boyce, Feeney, Shrimpton, Pugh

Yellow cards: Rance (7), Thompson (25), Richards-Everton (69)

York’s star man: Ryan Whitley. Was the difference for York in avoiding a defeat. Some top saves from the goalkeeper who made the difference for City.

Attendance: 5435 (1190)

Referee: Scott Simpson

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

Corners: 4 | 3

Offsides: 0 | 2

Fouls committed: 10 | 10