New addition Ollie Pearce 'delighted' with first York City goal

The striker opened his account in his new colours after winning and scoring a penalty in the 54th minute, opening the scoreline as York claimed their first victory of the season over Vanarama National League new boys Tamworth.

After initially signing in the Summer from Vanarama National League South side Worthing, Pearce arrived with high expectations after bagging over 40 goals in the sixth tier.

Adam Hinshelwood has spoken on the impact of the striker, who was also delighted to score in front of the home supporters at the LNER Community Stadium.

“I’m delighted, I’m delighted for the fans and to hear that roar when that ball goes into the back of the net,” Pearce enthused.

“Overall a really good performance as well, which I think is the main thing.

“We controlled a lot of the game and probably should have gone in a goal to the good at half-time, maybe even two.

“We came out in the second-half and got the two goals so yeah, I’m delighted.

“I think that backing up with a win here after a point last week is good, but the games come thick and fast.

“On Tuesday we need to back up this win with another three points, I think we can look back at these first few weeks as a good start to the season.

“Rochdale will probably be a different test on Tuesday night, a team that like to play football as well.

“It could be a really good game of football, we’ll analyse our game and our performance and then analyse them probably during the week before Tuesday.

“Another home game with our crowd behind us, we’ll be looking to try and take control of the game and get three points.

“It’s tough, in the Southend game I felt like I took quite a while to get into the game.

“Once I did, I felt confident, felt a bit better and today we were against a big side that make it difficult for you, you have to be clever with your movement and quite sharp.

“I’m feeling good, it’s the first two games so we can get into the season and hopefully I’ll be feeling a bit sharper and a bit better.”

Pearce spoke on the chances he had which were unfortunate not to nestle into the back of the net, as well as his penalty responsibilities, joking that both Dipo Akinyemi and Lenell John-Lewis would be ahead of him in the pecking order.

The goal scorer continued: “The first one he’s put in a good block to be fair, it was definitely on target.

“The second one it didn’t quite catch, I’ve got to keep going and believe that I can get into the right areas to score goals.

“Luckily I took it from the penalty spot.

“I think Ty [Tyrese Sinclair] grabbed the ball to start with, but some of the lads got the ball off of him and gave it to me.

“Bill [Billy Chadwick] did a good job of keeping them away, it seemed like an age for the ref to blow the whistle.

“Take your time, pick your spot and hit the ball as hard as you can, and it ended up in the back of the net.

“They [John-Lewis and Akinyemi] probably would have been before me! They weren’t on the pitch so I’m happy to step up when needed.”

The City striker commented on the togetherness that the club have formed in recent times, and is keen for the supporters to be a part of that after being impressed by the atmosphere generated at the LNER Community Stadium.

“I can’t speak for how it’s been here over the last few years, but this group are all really together.

“We’ve all got one target and want to do well, we want to get the crowd behind us as I think that will really help.

“They were behind us all game and were fantastic, all of the players are all together when we scored and when we win, so it’s good.

“I thought they were brilliant, in pre-season you don’t realise how many there is because in pre-season it’s obviously just a pre-season game.

“But when you hear the drum going, the roar and the cheer, the claps when we play good football, it really helps.

“It’s like a 12th man.

“Fingers crossed they keep backing us and getting behind us, and we can put on some more good performances for them.”

Hinshelwood was impressed in the manner of how Pearce conducted himself, and believes that the striker will now quickly find his feet, commenting: “It’s so important [that first goal], I think that Ollie is trying a bit too hard at times which might be why he scuffed some of his chances.

"I saw him settle down a lot after that goal, so I’m hoping it can settle him down, there’s a lot of noise for him and was made about whether he could make the step up.

"He said to me after the first game where there were times that the defenders run to you a bit quicker, he’s learned and is a very intelligent player.

"He’s learned each time that he makes a step up, I think he’ll do the same here."