York City earn valuable minutes in Garforth Town defeat

Strikes in the first and second-half for the hosts, Garforth, saw Matt Antcliffe and Mo Fadera earn the victory for the Miners.

Adam Hinshelwood lined up his York squad with five under-18’s players featuring in the starting line-up, against a Garforth side preparing for their return to the Northern Premier League east division after gaining promotion last campaign from the same tier as Tadcaster Albion and Pickering Town.

Hinshelwood included the likes of Zanda Siziba, Thierry Latty-Fairweather and George Sykes-Kenworthy in the starting eleven, with the City boss previously confirming that all three players are available for transfer.

Leone Gravata, who has only featured once so far in pre-season, started the contest, along with Levi Andoh, making his first appearance for York since August 2023’s 1-1 draw with Aldershot Town.

Paddy McLaughlin captained the side, with players currently on the outskirts of the squad gaining valuable minutes ahead of the season opener at Southend United on Saturday, August 10 (3pm).

Lining up in the cotton candy pink third strip, as York have done in every match of pre-season, City began the match on the backfoot as Garforth looked to establish an early advantage.

Antcliff drew a routine stop from Sykes-Kenworthy with a tame effort, before Jamie Barkway pounced on back-to-back corners, with his second headed strike being held by the York shot-stopper.

York City named a youthful starting eleven against Garforth Town. Picture: Tom Poole (Image: Tom Poole)

Siziba looked to make an impact when delivering a low cross towards Gravata at the back post, but the midfielder could not muster an attempt on goal, falling short of the desired pass.

The former was keen to cause problems when placing the ball through the legs of a Garforth defender, before slicing a strike wayward of the target.

Garforth’s Jason Davis attempted an audacious long-ranged effort from within the Miners’ half that almost caught out Sykes-Kenworthy, but fortunately cleared the target.

Antcliff had another opportunity which was sliced narrowly wide of Sykes-Kenworthy’s target, before Andoh made way just shy of half an hour played as a planned substitute, earning valuable time on the pitch.

Youngster Bill Marshall scuffed a strike into the arms of former City academy goalkeeper Harry Flatters, now representing Garforth, who coolly held possession.

But with 34 minutes played, it was the hosts who garnered an advantage, with some clever footwork from Antcliff seeing the striker net a deserved opener, curling a strike into the far corner from within the area.

Both sides interchanged strikes as Antcliff scuffed a shot into the arms of Sykes-Kenworthy, before Gravat had an initial effort blocked, with Siziba failing to test Flatters with the follow-up header.

A contested first-half came to a close with Siziba, Latty-Fairweather and Gravata all making way early in the second-half for academy prospects Ben Farrar, Alex Glynn and Alex Djikingue.

Bailey Wilson met Marshall’s cross to the back post, which was expertly kept out again by Flatters.

York looked to force an equaliser as a low cross into the area didn’t receive the valuable touch, before Garforth provided some impressive defending to keep out their Vanarama National League counterparts.

But with City keen to find a route back into the match, it was Garforth who doubled their advantage.

Winger Fadera cut inside from the left-hand side before slamming a right-footed strike past substitute goalkeeper Sam Taylor, seeing the hosts head into the closing stages in control.

Wilson would earn and step up for a free-kick in a dangerous position, but couldn’t beat the Garforth defence in what would be York’s final opportunity of the evening.

The Minstermen end their pre-season campaign on Saturday with a trip to Vanarama National League North side Spennymoor Town (3pm), before their National League season gets underway the following Saturday at Southend United (3pm).

YORK CITY: Sykes-Kenworthy (Taylor, 67), Andoh (Tate, 28), Marshall, Crooks, Latty-Fairweather (Djikingue, 58), Shirley, Gravata (Farrar, 54), McLaughlin, Hope, Wilson, Siziba (Glynn, 46)

GARFORTH TOWN: Flatters, Zachariou, Viggars, Barkway, Jeff, Ball, Davis, Barker, Smith, Antcliff, Marshall