York City kick-off the New Year with important win over Gateshead

Goals from Will Davies and Dipo Akinyemi saw Neal Ardley’s outfit claim a crucial three points in the Vanarama National League, with City keeping themselves clear of the relegation zone.

Gateshead headed into the fixture with one of the division’s best away records and a style of play that Ardley hopes to one day instil into his York side, but were unable to breakdown some impressive defending from City.

Impressive defending was capped off by a fantastic goalkeeping performance from George Sykes-Kenworthy too, making a pivotal penalty save in first-half stoppage time to deny Marcus Dinanga from drawing the two sides level.

York co-chairman Matt Uggla had teased new signings on social media, claiming that January could be a turning point for City with excitement growing amongst the fanbase.

With that in mind, Uggla will have been pleased with his side’s performance, as York claimed all three points on New Year’s Day.

Ardley made two changes from the side that were denied all three points in a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day, with Olly Dyson dropping to the bench and Maziar Kouhyar absent from the squad all together.

Dipo Akinyemi was brought back into the starting eleven for his first start since November, with Thierry Latty-Fairweather also re-introduced to help form a five at the back formation.

In amongst the pre-match warm-ups was also Finlay Barnes and Cedric Main, who have both now returned to the club from their loan spells with Scarborough Athletic and Blyth Spartans.

Gateshead on the other hand only made the one change with dangerman Stephen Wearne dropping out of the squad for Luke Hannant, whilst Rob Elliot could only name four subs, three of which were academy players, due to illness striking the Heed squad.

The Heed may have been missing a couple of key players, but they were quick to fire a warning sign City’s way from the whistle.

Billy Chadwick was fed the ball in a wide position within the box, and flashed an effort narrowly wide of Sykes-Kenworthy’s goal with a powerful strike.

But York responded in the best fashion possible, with Davies scoring his second goals since joining the Minstermen with a composed finish from inside the box.

Some neat footwork from Latty-Fairweather saw McLaughlin receive possession in a promising position before delivering a low cross into the path of Davies, who arrowed a low strike into the bottom left corner.

Gateshead were then denied a penalty after a tangle of legs between Latty-Fairweather and Kyran Lofthouse, before goalmouth scramble from Dinanga’s header was first saved by Sykes-Kenworthy, before being fired clear by Callum Howe.

City would then come within touching distance of a second with McLaughlin looking to add a goal to his assist, meeting Ryan Fallowfield’s cross and striking goalwards on the stretch, only to be expertly denied by Mair.

McLaughlin had a second opportunity from Scott Burgess’ cross, but was halted by a deflection from a Gateshead man.

Latty-Fairweather was often complimenting the City attack by joining it, and showed his quality when dancing through three challenges to weave his way into the box, before forcing Mair into a brilliant fingertip save.

But with York into injury time and a goal at this stage potentially damaging, Ardley’s fears looked to be coming true after a clumsy foul by Burgess saw the referee point to the spot.

Up stepped Dinanga, who had already netted 12 goals this season, before producing a tame attempt into the bottom left corner, which was met by the heroics of Sykes-Kenworthy to coolly parry his effort away from goal.

It continues Sykes-Kenworthy’s brilliant 100 per cent penalty saving record, having saved two out of the two he has faced in a City shirt.

York would hope to carry the momentum of Sykes-Kenworthy’s save into the second half, and that’s exactly what they did.

A well-executed long ball found Akinyemi in space, with the City striker powering his way towards goal before cutting onto his left foot and squeezing an effort into the bottom right corner, handing York some welcomed breathing room and handed another blow to Gateshead’s hopes.

It was nearly immediately three with Akinyemi again playing an important role, cutting the ball into the path of an unmarked Davies, who could only bend an effort over the crossbar.

Again City prevailed, this time Akinyemi handing Burges the ball to drive forward, before Mair was called into action with a good stop from close-range.

Gateshead looked to halve the deficit and came agonisingly close, as Callum Whelan poked a low strike inches wide of Sykes-Kenworthy’s goal.

Regan Booty then saw a long-ranged strike saved by the City shot-stopper, before Olly Dyson was introduced and quickly denied his first home goal of the season by Mair.

But with Gateshead maintaining possession and pressure on the York backline, Ardley’s men never wavered and held on for a crucial three points, and began the New Year in perfect fashion.

York City: Sykes-Kenworthy 9, Fallowfield 7, Howe 7, Smith 7, Crookes 7, Latty-Fairweather 8, McLaughlin 7, Woodyard 7, Burgess 7, Davies 7 (John-Lewis 6, 74), Akinyemi 8 (Dyson 6, 67)

Subs not used: Stockdale, Cordner, Kennedy

Goals: Davies (4), Akinyemi (58)

Yellow cards: John-Lewis (85)

Gateshead: Mair, Lofthouse, Jobe, Storey, Richardson, Booty, Francis (Hunter, 38), Whelan, Hannant, Dinanga, Chadwick

Subs not used: Bond, Lowery, Sharp

York’s star man: George Sykes-Kenworthy. It could be a number of players, but that penalty save was incredibly important, he looked confidence and comfortable throughout and was a key part of York’s victory.

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Attendance: 5094 (315)

Shots (on target): 2 (7) | 7 (4)

Corners:  4 | 3

Offsides: 1 |2

Fouls committed: 6 | 10