YORK City’s pre-season campaign for the 2023/24 Vanarama National League season got off to an encouraging start, with the Minstermen securing a 1-1 draw against Sky Bet Championship Sheffield Wednesday.

A error from Dan Pybus saw Josh Windass calmly gift Sheffield Wednesday the lead in the first-half, before a debut effort from close-range saw Finlay Barnes open his account for York.

In what can only be described as a hectic off-season, City supporters have a newfound optimism after Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla completed their prospected takeover of the football club.

Since the Uggla’s took control of York, eight new faces have been brought into North Yorkshire, including the signings of Tyler Cordner and Callum Howe for an undisclosed fees, as announced yesterday.

However, Cordner, Howe, Quevin Castro and Kevin Joshua weren’t involved this afternoon as manager Michael Morton looks to bring his new additions up to fitness.

Thierry Latty-Fairweather, Cedric Main, Levi Andoh, Finlay Barnes, Zanda Siziba and David Stockdale all made their non-competitive debuts for York, including two trialists who were given a chance to showcase their skills to Morton.

Uggla has rightly refused to make any bold predictions for the upcoming season, but his vision is clear, with the new City chairman looking to kick York into the next gear.

Morton has spoken of his priorities in the opening pre-season match with Sheffield Wednesday, and wanting to see his City side match the Owls in fitness and conditioning, which was clear to see.

Ryan Whitley was involved early on as he came to collect back-to-back crosses from Sheffield Wednesday, getting low to gather Luke Cook’s low, dangerous cross.

Cook was involved again as some nice build-up play involving Windass saw the former have a chance on goal, but a crucial last-ditch challenge from Ryan Fallowfield kept the scores level.

Whitley couldn’t rely on Fallowfield from the resulting corner, as Barry Bannan’s cross was met by the head of Dominic Iorfa, whose header was comfortably smothered by Whitley.

Wednesday’s biggest chance of the half fell to the feet of Lee Gregory, as appeals for hand-ball were denied leaving the prolific forward through on goal, but again Whitley was present to deny an opener.

York were relatively comfortable in possession and almost created their first opening of the afternoon by aiming for Lenell John-Lewis, but Fallowfield’s cross was slightly too powerful to reach ‘the Shop’.

Sheffield Wednesday did find their breakthrough eventually, with the chance being handed to them after some sloppy passing in the City midfield.

A pass into the path of Pybus saw the midfielder unaware of Windass’ presence near Whitley, as the attacker latched onto the loose pass before rounding Whitley and calmly steering home.

Cameron Dawson was tested for the first time of the afternoon through a Maziar Kouhyar glimpse at goal, with the winger breaking into a pocket of space before firing a tame shot into the goalkeeper’s hands.

The Minstermen began to find more composure going forward, with John-Lewis having back-to-back chances in the box that saw the City captain eventually scuff an effort wide.

Heading into the second half, York made five changes to the starting eleven, including Stockdale.

Andoh, Main, Siziba and Barnes also picked up their non-competitive debuts, and all impressed in the second forty-five.

City immediately began on the front foot with Duckworth surging into the box and clipping an effort wide of the target, with a deflection seeing a corner awarded. From the resulting corner, Adam Crookes came close but Dawson gathered his header.

York brought Barnes on for his City debut, and just five minutes into entering the frame, the midfielder struck on his first match in red.

Some nice link-up play saw Andoh surge down the left-hand side before managing to poke a ball across the face of goal, which Main kindly left allowing Barnes to tuck home from a better position.

The former Leiston man nearly quickly added a second to his tally after some more impressive composure from Andoh, but his low, curling strike saw a deflection steer the ball wide.

Sheffield Wednesday were struggling to put pressure on the York back-line in this second half due to the introduction of a number of academy players, allowing Duckworth to surge forward and strike goalwards, but his effort was blasted over the crossbar.

City did nearly nick a first win of pre-season after Andoh’s ball through saw Main racing towards goal, but he couldn’t connect with the ball before the onrushing Pierce Charles smothered his effort.

York are next in action on Tuesday, July 11 (7pm) in a behind-closed-doors fixture against Garforth Town, but supporters will be able to watch City next against Middlesbrough on Saturday, July 15 (1pm) at the LNER Community Stadium.

York City (first half): Whitley, Fallowfield, Sanders, Crookes, Latty-Fairweather, Pybus, Burgess, Trialist A, Kouhyar, John-Lewis, Hurst (Hancox, 26)

York City (second half): Stockdale, Duckworth, Sanders (Trialist B, 60), Crookes, Andoh, McLaughlin, Hancox, Dyson, Burgess (Barnes , 55), Main, Kouhyar (Siziba, 60)

Sheffield Wednesday (first half): Dawson, Iorfa, Brennan, Famewo, James, Bakinson, Bannan, Cook, Windass, Gregory, Johnson

Sheffield Wednesday (second half): Dawson, Onukwuli, Brennan, Ihiekwe, Alimi-Adetoro, Vaulks, Glover, Cook, Flannery, Paterson, Smith

York’s star man: Levi Andoh. Composed, calm and collected on the ball, Andoh stood out in left-back and grabbed an assist for Barnes’ goal.

Referee: Ben Speedie

Attendance: 5,953 (2,960)

Shots (on target): 5 (3) | 0 (2)

Corners: 5 | 2

Offsides: 0 | 3

Fouls committed: 9 | 5