York City continue good form with first win over Wealdstone

An incredible strike from Ashley Nathaniel-George saw the winger bag his first goal for York since his Summer switch from Maidenhead United. 

City's advantage could have been heavier leading into the break, but Ollie Pearce quickly squashed any fears of a turnaround from Wealdstone when slotting home shortly into the second-half. 

Rory Watson was back in between the sticks and produced an incredible save from six-yards out, whilst Callum Howe also rattled the woodwork in a contested second 45.

The York boss had warned his players to not underestimate a Wealdstone side that had undergone a shaky start to the National League campaign, occupying 20th position, level on points with Tamworth in the relegation zone.

Manager of the Stones, Matt Taylor, has experience of being in charge of EFL sides Walsall and Shrewsbury Town, having also worked in Tottenham Hotspur’s academy.

Taylor and Hinshelwood also renewed acquaintances after working on their coaching badges together.

But with just one win from their opening six matches, Wealdstone’s defeats have all come within just one goal of their opposition, often losing our narrowly.

Despite that feat, York were able to storm to a 2-0 victory, their first-ever against Wealdstone, having faced the Stones on four previous occasions.

York were occupants of the play-offs heading into the fixture in sixth position, after 11 points from six matches, after responding in perfect fashion against Dagenham & Redbridge after a surprise loss to Boston United on Bank Holiday Monday.

Hinshelwood named three changes to his starting eleven, with Dipo Akinyemi and Cameron John both absent from the squad entirely.

Harrison Male dropped to the bench with Watson being preferred at Grosvenor Vale, whilst Darragh O’Connor and Ollie Pearce both started after substitute appearances against Dagenham & Redbridge last Saturday.

The substitution bench also included a first involvement for new signing Malachi Fagan-Walcott, after joining on a season-long loan from Cardiff City in midweek, whilst fellow new addition Mo Fadera travelled down with the squad, but was not involved.

Also amongst the subs was Callum Harriott, who was involved in a competitive matchday squad for the first time since last December.

Wealdstone named four changes from the side that battled to a 1-1 draw at Solihull Moors, as Sam Ashford, Luke Dreher, Jack Wells-Morrison and Mason Barrett were all brought in by Taylor.

Alex Dyer, Christian Scott, Anthony Georgiou and Henry Sandat all dropped to the bench.

LIVE BLOG: WEALDSTONE VS YORK CITY

York started the contest brightly and dominated possession, welcoming a Wealdstone side that hadn’t been instructed to press in the early stages.

An Alex Hunt cross saw Archie Matthews flap at the loose ball, but Nathaniel-George wasn’t able to bring down possession with the goal at his mercy.

A foul from Hunt then allowed Wealdstone an opportunity from a free-kick in a shooting position, but Luke Dreher’s initial effort was bravely blocked by the wall, before he sliced the follow-up wide.

With 12 minutes played, City were rewarded for a good start in the capital, with Nathaniel-George registering his first for the club.

A trademark Batty pass was expertly taken down by the winger, who produced trickery to work his way around Barrett, before powering an unstoppable effort into the top left corner.

Wealdstone slowly started to find their feet in the game and were enjoying more possession, as Callum Howe was thwarted by a deflection from a header at goal, before Barrett was denied by Watson when finding himself unmarked from a set-piece.

Ashley Nathaniel-George opens his account for York City with a well-struck effort. (Image: Tom Poole)

A slow period in the match was looking for a spark, which Batty tried to provide with an effort from 25-yards out, that was blasted over the bar.

The hosts’ supporters thought they had equalised when Micah Obiero raced onto a through ball and rolled a low strike past Watson, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag for offside.

O’Connor’s stint starting for City came to its end in the 35th minute when a suspected knee injury meant that he could not continue, with Hinshelwood entrusting Fagan-Walcott for his debut.

He would be involved immediately when racing onto a corner from Hunt, leaping highest, but directing his header over the bar.

City ended the half on top, but could have added room for comfort when Batty’s pass was met by Sinclair when one-on-one, but his attempted half-volley was calmly held by Matthews.

The Minstermen had began their first-half quickly and were rewarded for their efforts, and celebrated a similar feat in the second 45.

A challenge on Sinclair saw the ball bobble into the path of Pearce, who raced through one-on-one with Matthews before coolly slotting past the Wealdstone goalkeeper to double City’s advantage.

It was almost immediately a third for York, with Sinclair first seeing a low driven effort parried out by Matthews, before Nathaniel-George’s follow-up header from close range was impeccably kept out.

But with Wealdstone’s goalkeeper showing his quality, Watson quickly followed, producing what was arguably the save of the season for far with an acrobatic effort to keep out Callum McFarlane from six-yards out.

Watson was again called into action when a drilled cross-shot forced the shot-stopper to again tip wide, before City handled the following corners.

Ollie Pearce added to his tally for the season. (Image: Tom Poole)

Howe went close for his first of the season when his header was drilled against the crossbar, before Harriott was introduced and denied by Matthews just seconds into his return.

Wealdstone would struggle to find a route back into the match, with York heading back to North Yorkshire with three points, a clean sheet and a first-ever win over the Stones.

WEALDSTONE: MATTHEWS, COOK, MARIAPPA, BARRETT (MASON, 56), CESAY (TRAORE, 75), DREHER (SANDAT, 46), WELLS-MORRISON, BOLDEWIJN, HUTCHINSON (GEORGIOU, 75), ASHFORD (MCFARLANE, 39), OBIERO

SUBS NOT USED: ADAMS, SCOTT

YORK CITY: WATSON 8, FALLOWFIELD 7, HOWE 8, O’CONNOR 7 (FAGAN-WALCOTT 7, 35), FELIX 7, BATTY 9, HUNT 7 (MCLAUGHLIN, 84), ARMSTRONG 7, SINCLAIR 7 (JOHN-LEWIS 6, 63), PEARCE 7 (CHADWICK, 81), NATHANIEL-GEORGE 8 (HARRIOTT, 84)

SUBS NOT USED: MALE, AGUIAR

GOALS: NATHANIEL-GEORGE (12), PEARCE (52)

YORK’S STAR MAN: DAN BATTY. The midfielder has had a superb start to the season and again pulled the strings for York in a dominant performance.

REFEREE: ALAN DALE

ATTENDANCE: 1904

SHOTS (ON TARGET): 3 (4) | 7 (5)

CORNERS:  4 | 4

OFFSIDES: 2 | 1

FOULS COMMITTED: 13 | 7