ADAM HINSHELWOOD explained his team selection for Saturday’s 2-1 win over FC Halifax Town, as well as why Leeds United loanee Luca Thomas was granted a first start for the club.

York City dramatically came from behind in stoppage-time to cancel out Jamie Cooke’s first-half opener, with strikes from Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Ollie Pearce earning Hinshelwood’s side an incredible late three points over their Vanarama National League neighbours.

With York playing twice in the seven days prior, and enjoying a 4-0 win over Ebbsfleet United and a 3-1 victory against promotion candidates Barnet, Hinshelwood was forced to make changes to his starting eleven for their test at Halifax.

Injuries sustained against Barnet for Cameron John, Callum Harriott and Dipo Akinyemi saw Ryan Fallowfield, Tyrese Sinclair and Thomas brought into the starting eleven, with the latter being rewarded for a first start after a bright start to his City career.

“I just think that he has done well, we played him a little bit in an unfamiliar position,” Hinshelwood commented on Thomas.

“We wanted him to come in on his left-foot and pick up spaces that would allow Ryan Fallowfield to go on the overlap around him.

“He probably wasn’t comfortable out there, but I think he’s done enough to warrant, from the two games that he has come on in, a start.

“There’s a lad with real potential there, and hopefully there is a real hunger to see what we are all about with the atmosphere that he has played in front of.”

Sinclair was only eligible to play after passing a late fitness test for City, with Hinshelwood admitting that the winger, and Marvin Armstrong, were both struggling after playing at a high intensity against Barnet.

“Him and Marv got through a lot of work on Tuesday and were still feeling the rigors of Tuesday night.

“ I think that the effort that we put into the game was the highest intensity that we have shown all season, so the weary legs felt it a little bit.”

Amid the chaos of York’s late winner, the referee was seen showing multiple yellow cards to City’s players, some that weren’t even involved in the action, due to their celebrations.

Hinshelwood confirmed that both Fallowfield and Sinclair were subject to bookings, and remains wary of any potential suspensions, with his players receiving a one-match ban should they accumulate five yellow cards throughout the season.

“Ryan and Ty were a bit exuberant with their celebrations, they put a lot of effort into their game and we’ve managed to come from behind late on and score two goals.

“I can’t be too critical of them, they went to celebrate and left the technical area.

“Obviously those bookings do tally up, so we’re hoping that that does not add to anything.

“I was close myself to going and jumping in with them!

“I can’t be too critical, it just shows the togetherness that we have got as a group.

“Everyone, from the management to the players, we are all together and are pulling for the same thing.

“That shone through at the end.

“Ollie Pearce is on four [yellow cards] as well. We’ve got a couple that are totting them up, so we’ve got to be careful, because we’ve got a few injuries now and a few tired legs.

“The squad is really going to be needed, Billy Chadwick and Rick [Aguiar] didn’t get too many minutes during the week and will probably be a bit disappointed.

“They came on and played a big part today.

“We need the whole squad, everyone at it, and that’s going to be the challenge for us.”