York City share spoils in entertaining 3-3 draw at Darlington

The striker, who failed to make a competitive appearance for the Minstermen after joining the club last summer, twice converted from the spot after trialist Max McMillan and substitute goalkeeper Rory Watson had conceded second-half penalties.

McMillan had earlier opened the scoring with a deflected effort off the post on the 20-minute mark before Will Hatfield’s free-kick came back off the underside of the crossbar, and hit Harrison Male on its way into the back of the net to level the scores shortly before the break.

Darlington took the lead four minutes into the second half when Main coolly converted from the spot, but the game did not spark into life again until the 71st minute when Dipo Akinyemi reacted quickest to prod home a set-piece from close range, and Tyrese Sinclair blasted a fierce shot across Pete Jameson two minutes later.

Main slotted home his second spot-kick to level the scores, but could not capitalise on his side’s numerical advantage late on, dragging late shots wide as the Minstermen played out the final 10 minutes with 10 men after an injury to Leon Gibson-Booth.

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The Minstermen started trialists McMillan and Cameron John and youngsters Bill Marshall and Gibson-Booth, whilst Darlington named former City promotion-winning goalkeeper Jameson, Main and academy talent Jonny Haase in their matchday squad.

York came out of the blocks well, seeing the first chance come their way from an Alex Hunt free-kick with four minutes on the clock, but Callum Howe could not keep his close-range effort under the bar.

Billy Chadwick then raced onto Male’s perfectly-weighted goal kick, however, under pressure, could only roll a tame shot wide of the right-hand post.

City continued to threaten, with a neat attacking move releasing Joe Felix, but despite being afforded space to chase to the edge of the box, he was denied by a fantastic last-ditch challenge from Tom Platt against his former club.

McMillan’s cross narrowly cleared the bar after taking a deflection on the quarter-hour before Ollie Pearce headed over after the resultant corner was taken short.

But Adam Hinshelwood’s side did find a way through with 20 minutes played.

After Darlington had only half-cleared a dangerous left-wing attack, Hunt won the ball back, with McMillan collecting his through ball before striking towards goal from inside the box.

With Jameson rushing out of his goal in vain, the former Fleetwood Town and Wigan Athletic winger struck saw his curling effort deflect off the right-hand post and into the back of an empty net.

And McMillan almost had his second just three minutes later, but fired both high and wide.

Trialist Max McMillan opened the scoring for the Minstermen with 20 minutes played. (Image: Tom Poole)

Male was called into action for the first time just before the half-hour, palming away Jack Maskell’s bicycle kick. The rebound was then blasted over the bar from the edge of the box.

An off-balance Pearce then shot wide after bringing down a long ball, before Male was called into action again 10 minutes before the break.

Having spotted the City goalkeeper off his line, Maskell ran onto Main’s flick-on before attempting to find the bottom corner, but the shot-stopper got fingertips to the ball as it rolled narrowly wide.

Main shot wide on the turn as Darlington began to see some joy in attack, and it wasn’t long until they were level.

The former City striker won the hosts a free-kick on the edge of the box, with Hatfield’s strike coming back off the underside of the crossbar, off a diving Male and into the back of the net to level the scores on the stroke of half time.

Both Akinyemi and Darragh O’Connor were introduced at the break as both sides began to ring in the changes.

But it was Darlington who had the game turned on its head after McMillan’s clumsy challenge on Joe Lesley inside the box just four minutes after the restart.

Main made no mistake from the spot, sending Male the wrong way with a low strike into the bottom left corner to fire his side in front.

The Quakers defended back-to-back City corners before McMillan was substituted with a hamstring injury, with Ricky Aguiar and Marvin Armstrong introduced shortly before the hour.

Cedric Main (right) scored twice against his former side. (Image: Tom Poole)

Quick-fire chances fell York’s way, with Akinyemi ballooning a shot over the bar before Pearce broke the offside trap, but he could not control the ball in front of goal.

Hatfield then hit the post after being allowed to turn on the penalty spot before the Minstermen made a quadruple substitution with 25 minutes left to play. 

Main’s stinging shot was blocked, with Jarrett Rivers then seeing his strike tipped over the bar by Watson.

But the visitors brought themselves back onto level terms in the 71st minute.

Tyrese Sinclair won a free-kick on the edge of the box after a left-wing drive, with Akinyemi reacting quickest among a sea of bodies to turn the ball into the bottom corner from close range.

And the former Rochdale midfielder fired the Minstermen in front two minutes later, driving to the byline before playing a one-two with Pearce and striking across Jameson and into the bottom left corner.

Darlington again levelled the scores when Watson’s kick was charged down by Maskell, and though the City goalkeeper was just about able to punch the ball clear, the referee pointed to the spot.

Watson was almost motionless as Main again slotted the resultant spot-kick into the bottom left corner.

That left things all to play for, but with Gibson-Booth requiring treatment and no previously substituted players able to re-enter the action, City saw out the remaining 10 minutes with 10 men.

Main twice dragged efforts wide in the dying stages, but could not affect the 3-3 scoreline.

City return to action in their final home pre-season friendly against Notts County on Saturday (3pm).

DARLINGTON: Jameson, Hedley, Platt, Blythe, Lesley, Hatfield (Haase 68), Rivers, Salkeld (Payne 42), Cornish (Forbes 46), Main, Maskell.

GOALS: Hatfield (44), Main (49, 74)

YORK CITY: Male (Watson 65), Howe, McLaughlin (Fallowfield 65), Hunt (Batty 65), Pearce, Trialist B (Aguiar 56), Chadwick (Akinyemi 46), Felix (O’Connor 46), Marshall (Armstrong 56), Gibson-Booth, Trialist A (Sinclair 65).

GOALS: Trialist B (20), Akinyemi (71), Sinclair (73)

ATTENDANCE: 858