NEW boys Patrick McLaughlin, Matty Blair, Adriano Moké and Jason Walker all got on the scoresheet as York City kicked off their pre-season programme with a 5-0 victory at Tadcaster Albion.
Ashley Chambers, who made his loan move from Leicester permanent over the summer, also netted in a professional performance against City’s Northern Counties East League neighbours.
In front of an 840-strong crowd, the Minstermen started with new signing Liam Henderson as the central striker in a three-pronged strikeforce with Blair and George Purcell on the flanks.
Henderson also came close to his first goal in City colours after only three minutes when he sidefooted over from eight yards after right-back Lanre Oyebanjo pulled the ball back from the byline.
On 15 minutes, Purcell’s volley cleared the Albion crossbar and Danny Pitts cleared off the line from Blair’s far-post header moments later.
At the other end, Tadcaster briefly threatened when Richard Marshall drove wide from 20 yards but City were soon back on the attack with Henderson and Oyebanjo combining well down the right to create a chance for Patrick McLaughlin that was smartly saved by Scott Pallister.
The visitors eventually broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when McLaughlin turned in Purcell’s low driven cross from eight yards.
Gary Mills’ men then doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark after David McDermott’s corner found its way to Blair at the far post and his perfectly-timed right-footed volley beat Pallister.
Former Newcastle midfielder McLaughlin also tested the Brewers ’keeper again before the interval.
The Minstermen made eight changes for the second half with Ingham continuing between the sticks and full-backs Oyebanjo and James Meredith staying on until the hour mark before making way for apprentices Charlie Binns and Tom Allen respectively.
Moké wasted no time introducing himself to City’s supporters, producing a neat ten-yard finish into Pallister’s bottom left-hand corner after Meredith and Chambers had raided down the left a minute after the restart.
Shortly afterwards, Oyebanjo drove into the side netting and Walker rattled the crossbar with a smart shot on the turn.
Chambers made it 4-0 on 60 minutes when he defied a narrow angle to deftly lob over Pallister.
At the other end, James Evison was proving a lively presence for Albion and held off Andre Boucaud’s challenge before shooting narrowly wide.
Walker should have opened his City account on 79 minutes but chipped wide after being sent clear on goal by Chambers.
The £60,000 striker made amends though two minutes later when he claimed the final goal, converting from the penalty spot having been brought down by Pallister after rounding the home ’keeper.
York City: Ingham, Oyebanjo (Binns 60), McGurk (Fyfield, 46), Parslow (Smith, 46), Meredith (Allen 60), Kerr (Boucaud, 46), McLaughlin (Potts, 46), McDermott (Moké, 46), Blair (Reed, 46), Henderson (Walker, 46), Purcell (Chambers, 46).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here