York City claim first win of the National League season

A dominant performance from Adam Hinshelwood’s side saw York celebrate a 2-0 win over Vanarama National League newcomers Tamworth.

City showed off their 2024/25 home strip for the first time as the Minstermen returned to the LNER Community Stadium for competitive football, keen to add their first win of the season.

Following a goalless first-half, Ollie Pearce produced his first goal of the campaign after earning a penalty in the area, York’s first for 483 days, before coolly slotting home.

Just one minute later, Billy Chadwick opened his account for the season when rushing onto Ricky Aguiar’s through ball and chipping over the Tamworth goalkeeper.

Hinshelwood opted to make two changes to the Minstermen side that were held to a 1-1 draw with Southend United last weekend, which saw both Tyrese Sinclair and Aguiar made their competitive debuts.

Dipo Akinyemi was not involved in the squad, whilst Marvin Armstrong dropped to the bench.

Tamworth lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and were keen to confirm their first win of the National League season after being denied three points last Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Sutton United, as the U’s bagged a stoppage-time equaliser against the Lambs.

Prior to kick-off, Hinshelwood had spoken on how his style of play and Tamworth’s would counter each other, with City preferring a patient possession game, and Tamworth being more of a counter-attacking side.

The Lambs had reached this level after sensationally achieving back-to-back promotions under manager Andy Peaks, continually defying the odds and establishing something of a winning mentality in recent years.

But in the opening 45, it looked like York’s style was the more prominent of the two, after a dominant first-half.

With the Minstermen attacking the South Stand after a switch of sides, Sinclair looked to make the most of the supporting advantage, as his deep cross found an onrushing Cameron John, whose deflected strike bobbled agonisingly across the face of goal.

Alex Hunt and Aguiar combined with the former’s pass being slightly too heavy for Sinclair, before Joe Felix slid a teasing cross into an unmarked Ollie Pearce, with his strike being bravely blocked by Jamie Willets.

Pearce is still on the hunt for his first competitive goal in York colours, and again almost had the breakthrough when his scuffed strike was smother by Jasbir Singh.

City arguably came the closest of the half when Felix’s deep cross caught Singh off-guard, rattling against the crossbar.

Sinclair was acting as a menace for the Tamworth defence on that right-wing and was frustrated after latching onto another impressive pass from Dan Batty, with the winger’s low cross again being cut out by Singh.

York were eager to head into the half-time break ahead, with Aguiar was clumsily fouled on the edge of the area, opting to step up himself to take the free-kick, which deflected inches wide of Singh’s goal.

The final opportunity of the half came through Callum Howe, who rushed onto Hunt’s corner kick to volley goalwards, which looked destined for the top right corner, only to be denied by a Tamworth man stood in his way.

The second-half promised the same action, with Pearce whipping a free-kick into the Tamworth side netting from a dangerous position.

City continued their dominance from the first-half, with back-to-back corners well dealt with by Tamworth, before a miracle struck for the Minstermen.

For the first time in 483 days, having not received one all of last season, York were awarded a penalty.

Billy Chadwick opened his account for the season with York City. (Image: Tom Poole)

A foul through the back of Pearce saw the striker win his side a spot kick, where he stepped up and showed his composure to calmly tuck an effort into the bottom right corner.

With supporters yet to recover from their first home goal of the season and still celebrating, York wasted no time in making it two.

Hinshelwood’s side doubled their advantage as a pinpoint through ball from Aguiar saw Chadwick race through one-on-one with Singh, again showing.

composure after dinking a delicate effort over the goalkeeper, rolling into the back of the nett

York were hugely impressive in this victory, with supporters then showing their gratitude after a superb challenge from Felix, who turned to the South Stand with a fist bump and a roar from the crowd.

It was almost three for York as Pearce’s cross towards substitute Lenell John-Lewis was headed clear, as far as Hunt, who lashed a venomous effort narrowly over the crossbar.

Tamworth had failed to threaten for the majority of the contest, but had their first attempt towards goal as substitute Miracle Okafor hammered a low strike wide of Harrison Male’s goal.

The match fizzled out in the remaining 15 minutes as Tamworth were allowed some possession, but Howe produced an incredible block to deny Beck-Ray Enoru after he had sauntered his way into the area and powered a strike goalwards.

City would have one final chance of their homecoming, as Ashley Nathaniel-George curled a strike wide from the edge of the area.

York are back at the LNER Community Stadium on Tuesday evening, for their first midweek fixture of the season, with Rochdale the visitors (7.45pm).

YORK CITY: MALE 6, FELIX 8, FALLOWFIELD 7, HOWE 9, JOHN 7, BATTY 9, AGUIAR 7 (JOHN-LEWIS 6, 60), HUNT 8 (MCLAUGHLIN, 85), SINCLAIR 8 (NATHANIEL-GEORGE, 72), PEARCE 9 (ARMSTRONG, 85), CHADWICK 9

Subs not used: O’Connor, Gravata, Watson

Goals: Pearce (54), Chadwick (55)

Yellow cards: Sinclair (30), John (50)

TAMWORTH: SINGH, CULLINANE-LIBURD (CURLEY, 82), WILLETS, HOLLIS, FAIRLAMB, FLETCHER, MORRISON, TSHIKUNA (ENORU, 65), FINN (TONKS, 79), CREANEY (OKAFOR, 65), ACQUAYE (MCGLINCHEY, 79)

Subs not used: Curley, Wreh, Phillips

Yellow cards: Morrison (35), Cullinane-Liburd (53), Finn (63), Tonks (85)

York’s star man: Dan Batty. A really close call between a number of players, but Batty was phenomenal today. He controlled the midfield for York and created numerous chances with his trademark long ball.

Referee: James Westgate

Attendance: 3820 (199)

Shots off (on target): 5 (5) | 2 (1)

Corners:  6 | 3

Offsides: 2 | 0

Fouls committed: 5 | 11