Shaq Strike hands York City crucial three points over Barnet

Victory for Michael Morton’s side sees the Minstermen now eight points clear ahead of the dreaded relegation zone, after Shaq Forde fired York in front in the first half.

The 1-0 victory sees Barnet become just the fourth team this season to suffer two defeats in a season to City, after a 5-0 drilling earlier in the season.

But after a dominant display from Morton’s side, City nabbed some much-needed points over a Barnet side that are well within the promotion race.

Club captain Lenell John-Lewis had two huge chances to originally hand City the advantage, first directing the ball wide when finding himself unmarked at the back post, before forcing Laurie Walker into an acrobatic save from a close-ranged header.

York took the lead in the 40th minute of the first half after a composed finish from Forde, who beat the offside trap to race in behind and cooly slot the ball past the onrushing Walker.

The fixture was originally meant to be played on Saturday, April 1, but Barnet’s advancement to the Isuzu FA Trophy semi-finals meant their fixture with Gateshead had to take priority, which resulted in a penalty shootout defeat for the Bees.

Morton opted to make two changes from the York side that were held to a goalless draw to Scunthorpe United last Tuesday, with only one being forced.

Ryan Fallowfield failed a late fitness test to make the squad, meaning Alex Hurst came back into the side to slot in at right wing-back.

Mitch Hancox also came into the squad for new signing Danny Rowe, meaning City were back operating with three in midfield.

Barnet are currently on a run of having five matches in 13 days, and it showed in their squad selection as Dean Brennan made six changes from Saturday.

The Minstermen began the game the better side, as early pressure saw Walker immediately tested by a Mark Ellis long throw.

A first attempt on goal came courtesy of Barnet’s Courtney Senior, but it was a routine stop for Ryan Whitley between the sticks.

John-Lewis had a glorious chance to open the scoring just five minutes in as Alex Hurst delivered a teasing cross towards the captain at the back post, but he was unable to direct it on target.

Michael Duckworth had an opportunity from a free-kick in a dangerous position, but failed to test Walker.

A quiet period in the game was broken as John-Lewis had another big opportunity, as Ellis’ header was flicked into the path of the captain, but his powerful header down the centre of the goal was acrobatically parried over the bar by Walker.

But with some mounting York pressure, the deadlock was finally broken.

A long ball over the top evaded the Barnet defence and saw Forde break the offside trap, before carrying the ball forward and calmly side-footing the ball past a stranded Walker.

City would have one more opportunity before the half-time whistle, as Forde switched the play to Hurst on the right, and his venomous effort was narrowly blasted over the crossbar.

Heading into the second half, York immediately picked up from where they had left off, as a loose ball saw Hancox race in behind and round Walker, but his touch was too heavy and the ball rolled harmlessly wide for a goal kick.

Hancox was involved in the box again as his effort was blocked into the path of John-Lewis on the edge, but his volley was struck wide.

Forde would have a chance to grab himself a brace on the hour mark as John-Lewis intelligently flicked the Watford loanee in behind, but the striker was unable to show similar composure as he had earlier and sliced his strike wide of Walker’s goal.

York were coming closer to doubling their advantage, and wouldn’t get much closer than another Ellis chance, as Duckworth’s cross found the towering defender who nodded narrowly wide of the target.

City suffered a slight scare as an impressive ball from Ryan De Havilland found substitute Cliff Moyo in-behind the York defence, but the striker was unable to connect with the cross with just Whitley to beat.

It was becoming a bit of a frustration that Morton’s side weren’t taking their chances, with the scoreline being far too kind on Barnet.

This was summed up in a matter of minutes.

Firstly, Paddy McLaughlin raced onto a loose ball after some nice hold-up play from John-Lewis, but somehow missed the target with just Walker to beat.

And then John-Lewis found himself on the end of a one-on-one after latching onto a loose ball, but somehow blasted the ball wide from close-range.

Gus Mafuta came onto the pitch in place of Hancox, and immediately had an impact as he played a nice one-two with Maziar Kouhyar before crossing towards Walker, forcing the goalkeeper to spill possession before Forde headed over the bar from five-yards out.

With time running out on City, substitute Danny Rowe had one final chance to add a second, but forced another good stop from Whitley.

But despite York’s possession and overwhelming amount of chances, the single first half goal from Forde was enough to earn a crucial three points.

York City: Whitley 6, Hurst 7 (Kouhyar, 79), Duckworth 7, Ellis 7, Crookes 7, Whittle 7, McLaughlin 7, Hancox 7 (Mafuta, 83), Dyson 7, John-Lewis 8, Forde 8 (Rowe, 89)

Subs not used: Campbell, Kouogun

Goals: Forde (40)

Barnet: Walker, Revan (Gorman, 62), Wynter, Collinge, Diarra (Kanu, 45), Okimo, Senior, De Havilland, Pritchard, Beard, Kabamba (Moyo, 45)

Subs not used: Potter, Armstrong

Yellow cards: De Havilland (58)

York’s star man: Shaq Forde. An inaugural display from the young striker who scored the crucial goal to hand York a massive three points. Kept running, made chances and was the difference today.

Attendance: 4416 (107)

Referee: Jacob Miles

Shots (on target): 14 (4) | 0 (1)

Corners: 4 | 3

Offsides: 3 | 0

Fouls committed: 14 | 13