York City end turbulent year with stalemate at Gateshead

York had taken the lead through a prolific finish from Ryan Fallowfield just after the half-an-hour mark, smashing home from close-range to put City ahead.

It had taken some resilient defending from the visiting Minstermen who were backed by over 500 supporters in the North East, but Gateshead found their equaliser with just eight minutes remaining of normal time after a tidy strike from Kyran Lofthouse.

But after an unforgettable year which saw the Uggla’s purchase Glen Henderson’s majority shareholding in the football club, David Webb, Mikey Morton and Neal Ardley all take the reigns as manager and supporters continuing to back the football club all over the country, City couldn’t end 2023 with three points.

Ardley made three changes to the starting eleven that were cruelly denied three points in a 1-1 draw with Ebbsfleet United on Saturday, with Lenell John-Lewis, Olly Green and the injured Thierry Latty-Fairweather all dropping out of the starting team.

Olly Dyson, Paddy McLaughlin and the returning Adam Crookes, who picked up his first minutes since the trip to Eastleigh in October, all came into the starting eleven with City lining up in a 4-3-3 formation.

Gateshead had lost just one of their last seven, scoring 18 goals in that time, and lined up in the same formation with the prolific Marcus Dinanga leading the line, having already netted 12 goals this campaign.

Ardley had therefore been very complimentary of their North East hosts this afternoon, with the City boss making it clear that he felt Gateshead played the best possession football in the division.

With that in mind, York did allow Gateshead the majority of possession throughout the contest, with it taking 82 minutes before the Heed could find the back of the net.

York began on the attack with Fallowfield looking to have an immediate impact, but his low cross could only be hit tamely towards the Gateshead goal with Archie Mair equal to the effort.

Dinanga came close to opening the scoreline when meeting a low cross from Callum Whelan, but his strike was bravely deflected over the crossbar.

Another crossing opportunity then fell to Fallowfield who was playing in a high position, with his cross searching for Will Davies and Dyson, but Mair was able to retrieve possession after spilling the original cross.

Dinanga then headed narrowly wide from close-range, before York took advantage of the missed opportunity with Fallowfield smashing City in front.

Some brilliant persistence from McLaughlin saw the midfielder switch play into the path of Fallowfield, who struck an excellent, first time half-volley through the legs of Mair and into the back of the net.

George Sykes-Kenworthy was then called into action to tip a Stephen Wearne strike wide of the target, before McLaughlin drove into space to hammer a powerful effort into the side netting from a tight angle.

Heading into the second half, York would be forced into some resolute defending, with Regan Booty striking a low effort into the side netting directly from the whistle.

Fallowfield then thought he had netted his second of the afternoon and had given City some breathing room, but his expert lob over Mair was ruled out by the linesman’s flag.

Ed Francis, formerly of promoted Notts County, bended an effort goalwards that Sykes-Kenworthy could smother, before the City wall stood strong to deny Wearne’s free-kick from a dangerous position.

Dipo Akinyemi was introduced with 20 minutes remaining and nearly had an immediate impact when striking from distance, but a block from Mamadou Jobe saw the ball ricochet to safety.

Alex Woodyard has been impressive as of late and nearly added an assist to his tally when crossing into a dangerous area, but no navy shirt was present to double City’s lead.

Sykes-Kenworthy was again called into action to Kenton Richardson’s long-ranged effort around the crossbar, but York could only sustain the consistent Gateshead pressure for so long.

A corner fell to an unmarked Lofthouse in the area, who was able to open his body and bend an effort into the far corner to bring the Heed level in the contest.

Substitute Jobe looked to put Gateshead in the front late on, but his powerful effort flew well wide of the target.

The Heed had one final opportunity through Dinanga, but the City wall again stood tall to keep the hosts from taking all three points.

York were unable to find that winning touch in a tight affair in the North East, but will reignite this fixture on New Year’s Day for their first match of 2024, welcoming Gateshead to the LNER Community Stadium (3pm).

Gateshead: Mair, Richardson, Storey (Hannant, 59), Grayson (Jobe, 41), Lofthouse, Wearne, Francis, Whelan (Hunter, 71), Booty, Chadwick, Dinanga

Subs: Bond, Lowery

Goals: Lofthouse (82)

Yellow cards: Storey (54), Jobe (64)

York City: Sykes-Kenworthy 7, Fallowfield 8, Howe 7, Smith 7, Crookes 7, Woodyard 7, Dyson, McLaughlin 7, Burgess 6, Davies 6 (Akinyemi 6, 73), Kouhyar 7 (Duckworth 6, 66)

Subs not used: Stockdale, Cordner, John-Lewis

Goals: Fallowfield (32)

Yellow cards: Kouhyar (53), Sykes-Kenworthy (85)

York’s star man: Ryan Fallowfield. A strong performance from

Attendance: 1653 (542)

Shots off (on target): 6 (4) | 2 (2)

Corners: 4 | 1

Offsides: 1 | 1

Fouls committed: 8 | 6