York City maintain impressive form in 3-0 win over Solihull Moors

York travelled down to the Midlands in good form and keen to continue that feat, against a well-oiled Solihull side that have impressed consistently in the Vanarama National League for numerous years.

Ashley Nathaniel-George opened the scoring on the brink of half-time, beating goalkeeper Laurie Walker to a long pass, before rounding the shot-stopper and powering an effort home.

City took their time to add their second, but it came in spectacular fashion as Sinclair put his name in the hat for an early goal of the season contender with a fantastic long-ranged strike.

His evening would only improve after Lenell John-Lewis squared the pass to the winger, who coolly slid home from close-range.

The result sees York move into second position of the National League, after Forest Green Rovers fell to defeat, and level on points and goal difference with the current leaders Barnet.

York headed into the contest boasting an unbeaten run of five, four of which have  been victories, and level on points with Barnet and Forest Green Rovers at the top of the table.

It has been City’s best start to the season since the 1992/93 campaign, in which the Minstermen accumulated 24 points from a possible 30 in the league.

Solihull had undergone a slightly inconsistent start to the campaign, sitting comfortably in 11th position, but just three points shy of the play-offs prior to kick-off.

The Moors had managed three victories in their last six, but were struggling to find a solid run of form to break into the top seven.

City supporters will also hold fond memories of Damson Park from the trials and tribulations of last season, in which York secured their National League status on the final day, despite a 1-0 defeat to Solihull.

This evening sees Hinshelwood and Moors manager Andy Whing lock horns for the second time, but the duo are no strangers to one another.

Hinshelwood and Whing both played for Brighton & Hove Albion at the same time, with the latter being preferred in the right-back position for the Seagulls other the City boss.

Having travelled back from watching his son, Jack, score for Brighton in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Hinshelwood had hinted at rotation in his pre-match press conference, and opted to make four changes to the side that were held to a 0-0 draw with Aldershot Town on Saturday.

The City boss switched his goalkeepers once again, with Harrison Male replacing Rory Watson, whilst shifting Joe Felix into midfield to form the middle three.

Cameron John, Billy Chadwick and Dipo Akinyemi all also came in, with Alex Hunt, Ricky Aguiar and Sinclair all dropping to the bench.

Callum Harriott also returned to the squad after missing Saturday’s stalemate at Aldershot, whilst Paddy McLaughlin dropped out of the squad, but did travel with the squad.

Solihull named an unchanged 11 from the side that were defeated 4-2 by Southend United at the weekend, and lined up in a 5-3-2 formation.

Their squad boasted EFL experience, with Summer signings of John Bostock, Jordan Tunnicliffe and Conor Wilkinson.

The hosts appear to still be recovering from an incredible campaign last season, in which they reached both the National League play-off final and the Isuzu FA Trophy final – losing in both.

City had ended their last campaign at Damson Park, by scraping their way to survival, but showed the progression since that day with a controlled start to the contest.

Ollie Pearce was left in disbelief after latching onto a sloppy pass and squaring up a final Solihull defender in Jordan Tunnicliffe, beating the Moors centre-back, but striking an effort over Laurie Walker’s bar from close-rage.

Akinyemi was back in the eleven and looked to make an impact, with his cross towards Ryan Fallowfield being headed straight at Walker.

City continued their bright spell as Marvin Armstrong won possession back in a good position and drove towards goal, only to slice an effort wide.

Solihull slowly grew into the contest, as captain Jamey Osborne was first thwarted by Male, before Wilkinson had an effort parried by the York shot-stopper.

York City cruised to victory over Solihull Moors. (Image: Tom Poole) With minutes remaining of the half, the Minstermen asserted their lead.

Nathaniel-George registered his third of the campaign when beating Walker to a long ball, rounding the Solihull goalkeeper, before powering an effort into the empty net.

However, it would the winger’s last involvement of the night, after an injury in stoppage time saw Sinclair replace Nathaniel-George.

York hoped to start the second-half as they had ended the first, and came within inches of a second as Felix rounded Walker after being slid through, only for his strike to be cleared off of the line and against the woodwork.

City maintained their pressure, with Pearce dragging the ball back into the area for Armstrong, but his touch let the midfielder down in front of goal, with Walker gratefully smothering the loose ball.

The second-half entered a quiet period, despite Pearce’s best efforts after racing onto Fallowfield’s through ball before rocketing a strike into the side netting.

But the match exploded into action, especially in that away end, as Sinclair opened his account for the Minstermen in spectacular style.

A counter-attack allowed the winger to drive at his man, before cutting inside and curling an unstoppable effort into the top right corner.

And just minutes later, Sinclair registered his brace.

A fantastic pass from Armstrong sent substitute Lenell John-Lewis in on goal, who selflessly squared the ball into Sinclair to slide home from close-range.

York head back to North Yorkshire with three points and yet another clean sheet for the season, their seventh from 11 matches, and comfortably in second position, only behind Barnet by goal difference.

SOLIHULL MOORS: WALKER, CLARKE, TUNNICLIFFE, WHITMORE (PINNINGTON, 73), TIPTON (RYLEY, 86), NEWTON, BOSTOCK, OSBORNE, BOWEN, WILKINSON (STEVENS, 62), STEVENSON

SUBS NOT USED: FLAHAVAN, LABADIE, HOWELL

YELLOW CARDS: BOSTOCK (87)

YORK CITY: MALE 8, FELIX 7, FALLOWFIELD 8, HOWE 8, FAGAN-WALCOTT 8, JOHN 7, ARMSTRONG 8 (AGUIAR, 86), CHADWICK 6 (HUNT 7, 70), NATHANIEL-GEORGE 7 (SINCLAIR 9, 45+3), PEARCE 8 (FADERA, 87), AKINYEMI 6 (JOHN-LEWIS, 81)

SUBS NOT USED: WATSON, HARRIOTT

GOALS: NATHANIEL-GEORGE (42), SINCLAIR (81, 84)

YELLOW CARDS: FAGAN-WALCOTT (36)

YORK’S STAR MAN: TYRESE SINCLAIR. A memorable brace and fantastic for the winger to open his account for the club, scoring two goals from the bench.

REFEREE: Greg Rollason

ATTENDANCE: N/A

SHOTS (ON TARGET): 1 (4) | 6 (4)

CORNERS:  2 | 3

OFFSIDES: 1 | 2

FOULS COMMITTED: 6 | 13