Late strike from debutant Forde earns York City 2-2 draw at Gateshead

Forde struck in a Manny Duku knock-down in the final minute of normal time to provide a perfect start to life at City, having only arrived at the club on loan from Watford on Wednesday.

Third-from-bottom Gateshead will have left the field kicking themselves, having dominated much of the 90 minutes and deservedly twice led, first through Danny Elliott’s well-taken opener and then Dan Ward’s curling finish.

A Mitch Hancox chip had levelled matters after Elliott’s strike although, like Forde’s effort, it was a goal that came markedly out of the blue.

Not that that will concern manager David Webb, who led York to their first point since taking to the touchline in last week’s 3-0 thrashing by the same opposition at the LNER Community Stadium.

This was a much-improved display, although the bar was set so low on Monday.

City will take plenty of optimism and hope from the character shown to twice come from behind, doing so in the last minute on the latter occasion.

With that said, a draw at the side sitting in the Vanarama National League relegation zone is a cause for muted celebration.

The Minstermen have now won only one of their last 14 league matches.

Significant improvements still need to be made if they are to compete for a place in the top half.

This was at least, better than Webb’s opener from the sidelines, the dire 3-0 loss to Gateshead.

Three changes were made from the City side that day. Ryan Fallowfield and Alex Hurst returned from the bench, with the former featuring out of position at left-back, while Shaqai Forde was named as a substitute after signing on loan from Watford.

Sam Sanders and Manny Duku dropped to the bench while AJ Greaves missed out altogether.

Having started so poorly in the LNER meeting a week before - conceding after less than 10 minutes - York made a relatively brighter start, looking more solid and assured at the back.

Like in North Yorkshire though, Gateshead remained the side creating chances, forcing Ethan Ross into a double side after 17 minutes.

From Adam Campbell’s low cross, Elliott and then Kamil Conteh were denied by the City keeper.

Elliott headed over seconds later while Ward shanked a long-range effort well wide of goal, serving as a precursor to Heed’s opener.

Defensive mistakes had cost York in the 3-0 defeat and they did for City in conceding the opener.

Dan Pybus was cheaply robbed of the ball by Elliott in front of the York penalty.

The number nine exchanged passes with Ward before slotting the ball past Ross.

One of City’s only bright sparks of the first half was Lenell John-Lewis’ aerial prowess. York had failed to take advantage of it until the 37th minute when his flick-on picked out Hancox who, spotting James Montgomery well off his line, chipped the keeper.

From nowhere, with their first shot on target of the afternoon, the visitors were level.

York failed to build on that goal though and Gateshead pushed on in the half’s final five minutes.

Ross denied Campbell low to his left but had little chance in preventing Ward, who curled the ball into the top right corner and out of the reach of the Stockport County loanee on the stroke of half time.

John-Lewis remained a threat in the second period, steering a header just wide inside the second half’s opening seconds.

Gateshead went up the other end when Adam Campbell drilled a shot inches outside the far post.

On 54 minutes, Gateshead keeper Montgomery was again rooted to the spot as York captain John-Lewis nodded a header narrowly wide.

The John-Lewis chances early in the second half were as good as it got going forward for City though.

Instead it was Gateshead who looked most likely to find the fourth goal. Greg Olley tamely struck straight at Ross in the box as Heed dominated possession.

York needed some impetus off the bench and Webb delivered. Forwards Forde and Duku arrived off the bench as City switched to a more attacking 4-4-2.

Duku gave Montgomery a rare test with a clever shot and turn outside the box but, despite Webb’s attacking intentions, as the second-half minutes ticked away, a leveller looked no nearer.

In the penultimate minute, substitute Lewis Knight calmly held the ball up for Elliott to rifle a shot outside the far post. The chance would mighty costly for the hosts.

Nathan Thomas sent in a cross from the right side which Duku nodded down to Forde in the final minute of normal time.

The teenager took a first-time swipe at the ball, managing to send it through a couple of bodies and into the bottom right corner for a dream debut.

Gateshead: Montgomery, Tinkler, Storey, Richardson, Pye, Bailey, Conteh, Olley (Forbes 80’), Ward (Knight 70’), Campbell, Elliott.

Subs not used: Elliot, Jarvis, Carty.

Goals: Elliott (28’), Ward (45’)

Yellow cards: Forbes, Richardson, Knight

York: Ross 6, Duckworth 6 (Forde 66’ 7), Kouogun 7, Crookes 6, Fallowfield 6, Pybus 6, McLaughlin 6, Hancox 7, Thomas 6, John-Lewis 7, Hurst 6 (Duku 76’ 7).

Subs not used: Whitley, Sanders, Burgess.

Goals: Hancox (37’), Forde (90’)

Yellow cards: Pybus, McLaughlin, Forde

York’s star man: Lenell John-Lewis. Held up the ball really well all afternoon and was unlucky not to end up on the scoresheet.

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Attendance: 2,023 (741)

Shots (on target): 13 (6) | 9 (3)

Corners: 2 | 4

Offsides: 2 | 1

Fouls committed: 7 | 9