York City advance in the FA Cup against underdogs Biggleswade FC

Biggleswade provided a different sort of test for York, with the Greens currently playing their football in the Southern Football League division one central, where they occupy 13th position.

The hosts play their football at Bedford Town’s the Eyrie, having being forced to relocate after initially forming in the town of Biggleswade.

They are one of three clubs to share the name of Biggleswade, but were the only side to have reached the fourth qualifying round; the highest-ever round reached in their history.

Biggleswade had defeated Stansted, London Lions, Basildon United, Dunstable and Canvey Island to reach this point, with a record-breaking crowd packing into the Eyrie for the contest.

Their joint-manager Dave Northfield had labelled the match as ‘dreamland’ prior to kick-off, with Biggleswade delighted to be welcoming a football club with the stature of York, having only existed for eight years.

Visitors York looked to put a dampener on Biggleswade’s biggest cup clash in their history, with Ollie Pearce powering a half-volley past George Rose just eight minutes into the contest.

Biggleswade provided a major shock as Amir Hadi delivered an audacious backheeled strike from within the box that beat Rory Watson, drawing the Greens level.

Dipo Akinyemi opened his account for the season whilst playing through the centre, meeting Pearce’s cross before bundling an effort past Rose.

York’s progress in the competition was confirmed as Pearce bagged his brace, bundling a strike past the Biggleswade shot-stopper in the 89th minute, which will undoubtedly come as a huge confidence boost for the striker.

Despite the difference in levels between the two sides, it was a largely uneventful match, with Biggleswade proving to be a more than worthy match for the Minstermen.

City headed into the fixture hopeful of improvement, who, despite enjoying an unbeaten run of eight matches, had failed to win in three of their last four.

Assistant manager Gary Elphick had called for York to avoid any complacency against their lower league opposition, who had defied the odds to reach this stage of the competition.

Hinshelwood opted to make four changes to his side, with assistant manager Gary Elphick hinting pre-match that City weren’t planning to rotate too heavily.

Harrison Male and Rory Watson swapped in the goalkeeping position, whilst the injured Malachi Fagan-Walcott dropped out of the squad.

Ollie Pearce registered two goals and an assist against Biggleswade FC. (Image: Adam Davy) Ryan Fallowfield moved into centre-back alongside Callum Howe, whilst Joe Felix and Cameron John occupied the full-back positions.

Ricky Aguiar was replaced by Billy Chadwick, whilst Callum Harriott made way in the starting eleven for Tyrese Sinclair.

Lenell John-Lewis was not involved after suffering a hamstring injury, whilst Mo Fadera disappointingly missed out due to being cup-tied.

Alex Hernandez was also named in the squad for the first time this season, having overcome a long-term injury.

Biggleswade named two changes to the side that were defeated by Kings Langley in midweek, Daniel Bond and George Bailey dropping to the bench.

Both Charlie Hayford and Pat McCafferty were brought in by joint-managers Dave Northfield and Mark Inskip, whilst Michael Fisher was not involved after his appeal against a red card showed against Canvey Island in the previous round of the FA Cup was rejected.

Elphick had spoken on his hopes for York’s strikers to have an impact in their FA Cup match, as they had struggled to do in the National League as of late, and will have been delighted as City stormed to an early lead.

Some patient possession play from the Minstermen allowed Joe Felix to space to deliver a trickling pass into the area.

Pearce reacted quickest and met the cross, before directing past Rose and into the bottom right corner with a powerful effort.

York were dealt an early scare when Adam Hunt found himself in a prominent position, only to have the ball snatched away from his feet by Watson.

And with City ahead for just five minutes, Biggleswade struck to deal a huge shock to their higher division opponents.

Adam Hunt continued to be involved with a low cross into the area, which was expertly controlled by Hadi.

The Biggleswade striker would go on to catch the York defence off guard, producing an audacious backheeled effort that nestled into Watson’s bottom right corner.

York battled through a quiet period and found themselves struggling to break past a resilient Biggleswade midfield, before Akinyemi almost opened his account for the season as a curling strike skimmed the crossbar.

Biggleswade were eager to assert themselves and had back-to-back opportunities squandered, with both Hadi and Adam Hunt missing the target from within the area.

City started to show some control again in the match as a short corner routine fell to Alex Hunt on the edge of the area, whose deflected effort was held by Rose, before both Chadwick and Dan Batty had long-ranged strikes blocked.

But with the match into stoppage-time for first-half, Biggleswade were dealt a cruel blow as the Minstermen reinstated their lead.

Dipo Akineymi slides home for his first York City goal of the season. (Image: Adam Davy) Pearce beat the offside trap and raced down the right-wing, before his perfectly-timed low cross found an unmarked Akinyemi, who showed composure to poke past Rose.

York were hopeful of starting the second-half as they had ended the first; but would again struggle to find any space in the Biggleswade final third.

Peter Holmes had Hayford’s cross cleared as far as him on the edge of the area, but his lashed strike curled harmlessly wide.

Chadwick ran onto a clever over the top pass from Felix, and managed to beat Rose to the ball, flicking back into the area from a wide position only for Akinyemi to be denied by Kymani Skyers.

Action in the second 45 was rare, with both sides struggling to mount much of a challenge.

Felix looked to grab a second assist of the match as his low cross was met by an onrushing Pearce, but his strike was fantastically parried onto the crossbar by Rose.

With time running low, City sealed their victory as Pearce registered his brace.

A low cross from the left was met by Pearce, who beat Rose to the loose ball before bundling an effort into the Biggleswade net.

York were able to hold on to their two goal lead, as Fallowfield produced a goal line clearance in stoppage-time, advancing to the first round proper of the FA Cup against Biggleswade FC.

York will be ball number 57 in Monday night’s draw, which is being held at Bradford City, at 7pm.

BIGGLESWADE FC: ROSE, HUNT, MARSH, SKYERS, WEDD, HAYFORD, MARTUCCI, MCAFFERTY (BAILEY, 73), SIMPSON (KESSEL, 86), HOLMES (L. NORTHFIELD, 86), HADI (BOND, 78)

SUBS NOT USED: OSWICK, TILSON, TOPE

GOALS: HADI (13)

YELLOW CARDS: HAYFORD (31), HOLMES (50), SIMPSON (62)

YORK CITY: WATSON, FELIX, FALLOWFIELD, HOWE, JOHN, BATTY 7 (AGUIAR, 76), HUNT (MCLAUGHLIN, 89), CHADWICK 6 (HARRIOTT, 57), SINCLAIR 6 (ARMSTRONG, 65), PEARCE, AKINYEMI 7 (HERNANDEZ, 90+3)

SUBS NOT USED: MALE

GOALS: PEARCE (8, 89), AKINYEMI (45+1)

YELLOW CARDS: JOHN (41)

YORK’S STAR MAN: OLLIE PEARCE. A good performance from the striker who will take huge confidence from two goals and an assist this afternoon.

REFEREE: RYAN ATKIN

ATTENDANCE: N/A

SHOTS (ON TARGET): 2 (2) | 4 (5)

CORNERS:  0 | 5

OFFSIDES: 1 | 3

FOULS COMMITTED: 12 | 7