York City within touching distance of drop zone after Barnet defeat

A brace from Callum Stead saw Barnet claim all three points at the Hive, in a hugely-frustrating match for York.

Chances for Dipo Akinyemi and Lenell John-Lewis were squandered with Barnet in control for large periods of the game.

The Bees find themselves in an applaudable second position on 62 points after today’s victory, whilst the story for York is much more concerning, with just one point separating City and the relegation zone.

Dorking Wanderers trail York in the table with a game in hand, after the Minstermen failed to rock promotion-hopefuls Barnet.

Ardley elected to make three changes from the City side that impressively secured a point with Oldham Athletic in midweek, featuring a first start for a new signing.

Alex Hunt was integrated for his first start since joining York on Thursday afternoon, with Dipo Akinyemi and Adam Crookes also both being named as starters.

Paddy McLaughlin, Billy Chadwick and Charlie Allen all dropped to the substitutions bench, with Finlay Barnes and Ryan Watson both being absent from the squad.

Barnet opted to line-up in a 5-2-3 formation which boasted former Sky Bet Championship ace Luke Freeman.

Gatlin O’Donkor also led the line for the Bees, having netted two goals in three goals since joining on loan from Oxford United.

City knew the task at hand going into the contest, coming up against third-placed Barnet, but showed little fight in a bleak opening 45.

The Bees looked for an early opening as O’Donkor saw a rifled strike blocked by Will Smith, before Adam Crookes got involved to deny Freeman in a dangerous position.

George Sykes-Kenworthy was busy early on, having to contain a number of crosses from Barnet, but was really tested from Anthony Hartigan’s free-kick, which was headed goalwards by O’Donkor but palmed wide by the City shot-stopper.

York’s goalkeeper couldn’t keep Barnet out for much longer though after relentless pressure, as debutant Hunt was dispossessed in the middle of the pitch, before Stead drove through the centre unchallenged, sliding the ball coolly into the bottom right corner.

City looked to respond but frustratingly failed after a bobble forced Ryan Fallowfield’s cross directly into the arms of Tottenham Hotspur loanee Josh Keeley, who gratefully claimed the attempted cross.

That was about as bright as it got for the Minstermen going forward, with Crookes and Callum Howe being forced into brave blocks in their own area.

A lacklustre first-half was summed up by Ardley on the touchline, screaming at his players to simply ‘run’ in a calamitous performance.

Heading into the second forty-five, there would be hopes of improvement, but unfortunately to no prevail.

Ardley did make changes with a double change at the break, as John-Lewis and Allen were introduced in place of Grimsby loan duo Hunt and Danny Amos.

The pair would be unable to affect the final result, but Allen was quickly involved from a brilliant switching pass by Batty, before the Leeds United loanee sliced his cross-shot directly into the arms of Keeley.

City’s closest opportunity fell to the other substitute, with John-Lewis directing a header inches wide of the goal from Howe’s initial flick on.

Sykes-Kenworthy was then called into action to deal with a Hartigan cross, but sliced his attempted punch into the path of Zak Brunt, who scuffed the loose ball into the car park behind the goal.

But with an hour of time played, York’s hopes of clawing anything from the match were spoiled, with the Bees doubling their advantage.

A controversial free-kick was awarded to Barnet deep in their own half, with Keeley’s long kick forward being helped on by the towering O’Donkor

The loose ball was contested between Fallowfield and Stead, but it was the latter who broke through on goal before curling a delicate effort past a helpless Sykes-Kenworthy.

Fallowfield’s afternoon only got worse, with the defender picking up an injury in the events of the goal, and being forced off of the pitch in place of Michael Duckworth.

Keeley was tested for the first time of the afternoon with the City captain John-Lewis producing a tame effort from the edge of the box, which was welcomed into the arms of the Bees shot-stopper.

York maintained a short spell of pressure with Will Davies picking out Akinyemi on the edge of the area, whose powerful side-footed effort was palmed clear by Keeley.

It was almost three for the hosts with Freeman meeting a brilliant low cross from Brunt, but the retreating Crookes showed his quality with an incredible block.

John-Lewis almost pulled one back but could only drag wide from the edge of the area, before York again escaped what looked to be a certain third.

A counter-attack from a failed City corner saw Brunt lead the charge down the right hand side, before his low cross into the path of Stead was somehow swept wide from five-yards out.

York’s afternoon would be summed up with just two minutes of normal time remaining, as Akinyemi found himself one-on-one with Keeley, but couldn’t keep his strike down, powering an effort high into the stand full of travelling City supporters.

A spineless performance from York sees the Minstermen drop to a concerning 20th position in the National League table, just one point clear of Dorking Wanderers, who have a game in hand.

Ardley’s side will be hoping to secure their first win in three weeks back at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday, March 2 (3pm) with Wealdstone the visitors.                                                                                               

Barnet: Keeley, Cropper (Wynter, 84), Okimo, Thompson, Stevens, Stead, Brunt, Hartigan, Pritchard, O’Donkor (Armstrong, 84), Freeman (Matejko, 90+5)

Subs not used: Walker, Coker

Goals: Stead (27, 62)

York City: Sykes-Kenworthy 6, Fallowfield 5 (Duckworth 6, 64), Howe 6, Smith 6, Crookes 6, Amos 6 (Allen 6, 46), Batty 5, Woodyard 5, Hunt 5 (John-Lewis 6, 46), Davies 6, Akinyemi 6

Subs not used: McLaughlin, Chadwick,

York’s star man: Adam Crookes. Some brave blocks and the defender looked comfortable throughout.

Referee: Richie Watkins

Attendance: 2187 (530)

Shots (on target): 2 (5) | 2 (3)

Corners:  6 | 2

Offsides: 4 | 3

Fouls committed: 10 | 10