Straker's skill punishes wasteful Whites as York City earn draw

It had looked like Sam Byram’s header, ten minutes before half-time, would be enough to see the Whites home in a game they dominated from the early stages.

The York-born midfielder, such an integral part of the engine room in Uwe Rosler’s side, dispatched Alex Mowatt’s pin-point cross at the far post and Leeds then spurned a series of excellent chances in the second half.

But City substitute Anthony Straker produced the kind of form he showed early last season, his piercing run leaving defenders ragged before calmly finding McCoy just inside the six-yard box.

The defender couldn’t miss as Russ Wilcox’s men grabbed a share of the spoils.

Despite sending another Leeds outfit to Tadcaster Albion, Rosler still brought a strong team to Bootham Crescent which included the York-born trio of Charlie Taylor, Lewis Cook and Byram along with former Middlesbrough and Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.

Wilcox, meanwhile, made four changes from the side that started against Championship play-off finalists Boro at the weekend – Keith Lowe, Luke Summerfield, McCoy and Josh Carson coming into the line-up.

Adding to trialists Danny Johnson, and Taron Hare on the bench, was Frickley Athletic striker Reece Thompson, who is training with the Minstermen for the rest of the week.

It was Johnson who had the game’s first real opportunity. Vadaine Oliver’s reverse pass set the striker away and it took a last-ditch tackle from Giuseppe Bellusci to cannon his shot away from goal. But after that bright opening, Leeds became dominant.

Wilcox had stressed the work his side did without the ball was as important as their attacking prowess and they had plenty of opportunity to put that into practice.

Lee Erwin and Mowatt provided a potent threat down the left while, on the other side of the pitch, the Whites looked increasingly to get the ball behind Josh Carson.

Erwin’s long shot from 20 yards was dealt with comfortably by Flinders on 18 minutes and, barely 60 seconds later, the club’s new goalkeeper showed just why Wilcox was so keen to grab him after he left Hartlepool.

A superb through ball put Steve Morison – the man who ruined York dreams of FA Trophy glory in 2009 – clear but his shot was brilliantly diverted, low down, by Flinders for a corner.

The ex-Pools man then smothered a Byram shot after the midfielder let fly from 20 yards but could do nothing to prevent him putting Leeds in front on 35 minutes.

Again it was the Erwin and Mowatt combination, the latter surging down the left before sending over a pin-point cross that landed straight on the 21-year-old’s head at the far post. From that close range, he could do nothing but dispatch it into the net.

Having been penned in for the better part of 20 minutes, York looked to break the shackles and Luke Summerfield’s dangerous free-kick, shortly before the break, just looped wide after flicking off a Leeds defender.

But only a brilliant block from Summerfield, as the ball broke to Morison two yards out from a corner, prevented Leeds doubling their tally at the start of the second half.

The former Milwall striker then nearly profited after Dave Winfield inexplicably let a ball bounce behind him in the box, but his header was weak and straight at substitute keeper Michael Ingham.

Gaetano Berardi tested the City stalwart’s handling from long range – a stinging shot from 25 yards well dealt with – before Wilcox sent Straker and trialist Thompson into the fray.

Leeds put Adam Drury on at the same time and he could have scored twice in a minute. Ingham did well to smother the first before brilliantly parrying behind after the Whites player came steaming in with a downward header from Lewis Cook’s deep cross.

There were few forward forays for the Minstermen fans to get excited about and Ingham was once again called into action to deflect Taylor’s cross behind.

With 15 minutes left, he then produced a fabulous save to tip round Morison’s volley after the striker was picked out by Mowatt’s cross.

Leeds were made to pay for missing those chances, though, when the equaliser arrived with ten minutes remaining.

Straker was brilliant, leaving Scott Wootton floundering after twisting and turning and then finding McCoy, who found the net.

It was York’s first shot on target. Leeds looked to finish with a flourish but Ingham, and York, held firm.

York City: Scott Flinders (Michael Ingham, 46), Marvin McCoy, John McCombe (Femi Ilesanmi, 66), Keith Lowe (Taron Hare, 71), Dave Winfield, Josh Carson (Anthony Straker, 57), Luke Summerfield, Russell Penn (Tom Platt, 68), James Berrett (Ben Godfrey, 62), Vadaine Oliver (Callum Rzonca, 62), Danny Johnson (Reece Thompson, 57). Subs not used: Ben Hirst, Lindon Meikle.

Leeds United: Ross Turnbull, Gaetano Berardi (Scott Wootton, 71), Giuseppe Bellusci, Sol Bamba, Charlie Taylor, Sam Byram, Lewis Cook, Tommaso Bianchi, Alex Mowatt (Nicky Ajose, 77), Lee Erwin (Adam Drury, 57), Steve Morison. Subs not used: Chris Dawson, Chris Wood, Alex Purver, Charlie Horton, Chris Wood.

Attendance: 4,348 (2,313 from Leeds)