York City come from behind to defeat newcomers Braintree Town

Adam Hinshelwood’s side were stunned early on as the heavy favourites, as a George Langston cross was nodded into the bottom corner by Braintree’s Frankie Terry.

York responded in quick fashion, with midfielder Ricky Aguiar latching onto a loose ball on the edge on the edge of the area, lashing a half-volley past Lucas Covolan.

With half-time approaching, City were ahead after Ashley Nathaniel-George registered his second in as many games, tapping home at the back post from Ollie Pearce’s pass.

Braintree had opportunities in the second-half with Harrison Male being called into action, whilst Marvin Armstrong and Pearce both went close to extending the Minstermen’s lead.

Thanks to the three points, York are now in fourth position on 17 points, level with top of the table Gateshead, as well as Rochdale and Forest Green Rovers.

Hinshelwood and opposing boss Angelo Harrop share history, having locked horns during their time in the Vanarama National League South.

Harrop had defeated Hinshelwood in their previous two battles, with Braintree defeating the current City boss’ former side Worthing in the National League South play-off final to reach the fifth tier.

The Iron struggled to adapt in their opening two matches, conceding three to Oldham Athletic and a 1-0 defeat to Yeovil Town, but started to put some points on the board.

A first win came against Aldershot Town, before four draws on the bounce heading into their trip to North Yorkshire.

Hinshelwood opted to make four changes to the York side that beat Wealdstone 2-0 on Saturday, which included a first City start for loanee Malachi Fagan-Walcott, in place of the injured Darragh O’Connor.

Harrison Male, Billy Chadwick and Aguiar all came into the eleven, with Rory Watson, Alex Hunt and Tyrese Sinclair all dropping to the bench.

Braintree themselves sparked a surprise in their squad, having named just five substitutes in their squad.

Returning to their ranks was also Louie Annesley, after representing Gibraltar on international duty, whilst Matt Robinson recovered from an injury to appear on the bench.

Braintree headed into the contest in rather peculiar fashion, having drawn all three of their last three matches 0-0.

The general consensus was that the visitors would be difficult to break down, but may struggle to penetrate the York back line.

That would be quickly ignored by the Braintree squad, who took the lead within the opening four minutes.

Ricky Aguiar celebrates his equaliser for York City. (Image: Tom Poole)

A long throw by Langston was cleared back into the path of the defender, who carefully lofted a cross towards Terry at the back post, finding himself unmarked and showing his composure with a directed header.

It was expected that Town would now sit back on their lead, with Hinshelwood clearly feeling that his side would need a quick response.

They would receive that, as Nathaniel-George’s lobbed delivery was cleared as far as Aguiar on the edge of the box, with his deflected half-volley beating Covolan between the Braintree sticks.

It was almost two in quick succession for the Minstermen as Aguiar fired a low ball into a crowd of bodies, with Pearce latching onto the loose ball and slicing a strike wide of the target.

Braintree were keen to establish their lead as Chay Cooper beat the offside trap and raced towards goal, with a three on two situation.

The Iron winger opted to go alone, cutting onto his left foot, before his strike was expertly blocked by Cardiff City loanee Fagan-Walcott.

Harrop’s side would have clearly been happy with avoiding defeat, but their task was made all the harder when both Kyrell Lisbie and Terry were booked in the space of the minute, putting that Braintree left-hand side at risk of a sending off.

And it would be down that wing where City would attack, and take the lead for the first time in the match.

A low pass into the area from Pearce on the right split the Braintree defence, with Nathaniel-George latching onto the loose ball, before bundling his strike past Covolan.

York nearly headed into the break with an even more comfortable lead, as Aguiar tested Covolan with a fierce effort from the edge of the area.

The second-half lacked the same impetus that the first had shown, with a lot of the remaining 45 being City just keeping possession.

The first opportunity of that second 45 came when a trademark Batty long ball set Fallowfield on the right, whose cut back into Chadwick was curled wide of the target.

Hinshelwood made a triple change in the hopes of bringing the game to life, after making his frustrations clear at York’s lack of creation from the touchline.

York City are now level on points with the league leaders. (Image: Tom Poole)

Sinclair was introduced and almost had an immediate impact, squeezing the ball through to Pearce, whose strike ricocheted into the arms of Covolan.

Braintree were pushing for the equaliser as the game stretched on with York holding a slender lead, with sub Callum Powell first having a strike palmed wide by Male, before a heard minutes later bounced wide of the target.

City had the opportunity to make their lead more comfortable, with Armstrong first heading a bending an effort over the bar, before Pearce was thwarted from close-range. 

York now sit in fourth position and level on points with top of the table, turning their attention to a return to the LNER Community Stadium next Saturday, against AFC Fylde (3pm).

YORK CITY: MALE 7, FALLOWFIELD 7, HOWE 7, FAGAN-WALCOTT 8, FELIX 7, BATTY 8, AGUIAR 8 (HUNT 6, 66), ARMSTRONG 7, CHADWICK 6 (SINCLAIR 7, 66), PEARCE, NATHANIEL-GEORGE 8 (JOHN-LEWIS 6, 66)

SUBS NOT USED: WATSON, JOHN, MCLAUGHLIN, HARRIOTT

GOALS: AGUIAR (18), NATHANIEL-GEORGE (42)

BRAINTREE TOWN: COVOLAN, LANGSTON, ANNESLEY, TERRY, FYFIELD, VENNINGS, MARSHALL-MIRANDA (ROBINSON, 75), LISBIE (LOCK, 83), COOPER (WARD, 75), BLACKWELL (POWELL, 60), AKINDE (EFFIONG, 61)

GOALS: TERRY (4)

YELLOW CARDS: LISBIE (35), TERRY (36), LANGSTON (90+1)

YORK’S STAR MAN: DAN BATTY. Yet another controlling performance from York’s midfield general, who was in charge of City’s tempo and often split up play.

REFEREE: MICHAEL CRUSHAM

ATTENDANCE: 4494 (41)

SHOTS (ON TARGET): 3 (4) | 2 (3)

CORNERS:  6 | 5

OFFSIDES: 1 | 2

FOULS COMMITTED: 6 | 12