York City come from behind to beat league leaders Barnet

After Barnet had initially taken the lead through a composed finish from Bailey Hobson, York were dealt two injuries in quick succession to Callum Harriott and Dipo Akinyemi, forcing City into first-half changes.

Despite their struggles, Marvin Armstrong was able to force the ball over the line in first-half stoppage-time to draw the Minstermen level.

They would never look back, as Alex Hunt produced an unstoppable free-kick past goalkeeper Nick Hayes to put York in front.

Just two minutes later, Ollie Pearce continued his excellent goalscoring form with a coolly-taken finish from Tyrese Sinclair’s pass.

Another three points for City takes Adam Hinshelwood’s side to second position in the Vanarama National League, with Forest Green Rovers securing a win over Ebbsfleet United this evening.

The clash had been labelled as City’s biggest of the season so far pre-match, as Barnet had been holding top position in the National League, with York hot on their tails in third.

Despite Barnet’s position in the table, the Bees had struggled on the road this campaign, with all four of their defeats prior to kick-off coming away from home.

The North London side had also been keen for a reaction following a 4-3 slip up to Solihull Moors on Saturday, a team that the Minstermen had beaten earlier in the campaign comfortably.

York headed into the contest in good form, after hitting Ebbsfleet for four on Saturday had stretched City’s unbeaten run to ten.

Victory for the Adam Hinshelwood’s side meant that the Minstermen will also be heading to FC Halifax Town on Saturday having not conceded for two months in all competitions.

Hinshelwood had spoken on his reluctance to disrupt his backline after another clean sheet in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Ebbsfleet had taken the season tally to nine.

But the return of Malachi Fagan-Walcott allowed Hinshelwood the opportunity to rest the ever-present Ryan Fallowfield, who dropped to the bench in place of the Cardiff City loanee.

Armstrong and Harriott were both also brought into the starting eleven, with Tyrese Sinclair and Ricky Aguiar dropped by Hinshelwood.

Ashley Nathaniel-George was also deemed fit enough to be named amongst the substitutions, whilst academy goalkeeper Harry Carr gained valuable first-team experience with Harrison Male and Rory Watson in the pre-match warm-ups.

Hinshelwood had explained that he expected a reaction from then-leaders Barnet after their 4-3 defeat to Solihull Moors on Saturday, with Bees boss Dean Brennan opting to make four changes to his side.

Joe Grimwood, Mark Shelton, Zak Brunt and Idris Kanu were all integrated into the eleven, whilst Ben Coker, Callum Stead, Nikola Tavares and Harry Chapman dropped out.

Brennan’s side also appear to be struggling with injury, having named a seven-man bench of five defenders, one midfielder and one goalkeeper, with the Bees not possessing much attacking impotent from the sidelines.

Pre-match, Hinshelwood had admitted that he felt whoever finishes in and around Barnet come the end of the season, will have enjoyed a successful campaign in the fifth tier.

He will have been pleased with the contested start between the two sides, with Nicke Kabamba first being denied by Male.

Alex Hunt almost registered his first goal of the season when Dipo Akineymi’s delivery was headed into the path of the midfielder, but his volleyed strike was impressively thwarted by Nick Hayes.

Both sides suffered scares as a short back pass from Fagan-Walcott forced Male and Zak Brunt into a 50-50, with the York shot-stopper coming out on top.

Marvin Armstrong celebrates scoring against his former employers. (Image: Tom Poole) Ollie Pearce soon intercepted Kanu’s shot pass back to his goalkeeper, even rounding Hayes before rolling his strike narrowly wide from a difficult angle.

With both sides playing out an end-to-end game of football, it was the Bees who stung first.

A swift move from the visitors allowed Ryan Glover to pull the ball back across goal and into the path of an onrushing Hobson, who coolly slotted past Male.

York would suffer another sucker-punch minutes later, after a retreating Harriott was shown a yellow card for his challenge, as well as suffering an injury, ending his evening early.

Matters would only get worse for the Minstermen, with Akinyemi going down with no pressure on the attacker, being forced into another substitution.

Male was called into action again, parrying Hobson’s attempt from the edge of the box into the path of Glover, who couldn’t direct the rebound on target.

But with York admittedly feeling somewhat flat after their double injury setback and Hobson’s earlier opener, a moment of magic drew City deservedly level.

Felix, who had moved into right-wing after Fallowfield replaced Akinyemi, lifted a fantastic ball over to Hunt in space.

The midfielder managing to square the bobbling ball into the path of Armstrong, with the ex-Barnet man striking past his former club to make it all even heading into the break.

With the momentum in their favour, York looked to start the second-half fast as Pearce held the ball up in the Barnet area, before laying it back to Felix.

His strike was parried by Hayes, before John was forced into a crucial interception on the counter-attack, denying Kabamba from racing through one-on-one.

The second-half entered a quiet period as both strikes struggled to carve out chances, before the roof was blown off of the LNER with an early goal of the season contender from Hunt.

After winning a free-kick himself on the edge of the area, Hunt stepped up and produced an unstoppable curling effort that nestled into Hayes’ top left corner.

Pandemonium would follow in the home end, as just two minutes later, that lead was stretched.

York City scored twice in four minutes in their 3-1 win over Barnet. (Image: Tom Poole) Winning possession back directly from kick-off, some quick passing from Sinclair and Pearce allowed the latter to race through on goal, before sliding an effort past a helpless Hayes.

After coming from behind against their promotion rivals, York were able to hold on to a 3-1 lead at the LNER Community Stadium to extend their unbeaten run to two months, also moving into second position of the National League.

YORK CITY: MALE 7, FELIX 8, FAGAN-WALCOTT 8, HOWE 8, JOHN 8, BATTY 7, ARMSTRONG 8, HUNT 9, HARRIOTT 6 (SINCLAIR 7, 37), PEARCE 8 (NATHANIEL-GEORGE, 88), AKINYEMI 6 (FALLOWFIELD 7, 42)

SUBS NOT USED: WATSON, AGUIAR, CHADWICK

GOALS: ARMSTRONG (45+2), HUNT (74), PEARCE (76)

YELLOW CARDS: HARRIOTT (35), HINSHELWOOD (90+3)

BARNET: HAYES, GRIMWOOD, OLUWO, KENLOCK, GLOVER (CROPPER, 68), SHELTON (CLIFFORD, 88), HARTIGAN, HOBSON, BRUNT, KANU (KIZZI, 79), KABAMBA

SUBS NOT USED: BELLAGAMBI, COKER, RYE, OKIMO

GOALS: HOBSON (37)

YORK’S STAR MAN: ALEX HUNT. A controlled performance from the midfield, with Hunt's goal and assist proving crucial in a statement win for York.

REFEREE: OLLIE YATES

ATTENDANCE: 6,041 (233)

SHOTS OFF (ON TARGET): 2 (6) | 2 (3)

CORNERS:  5 | 3

OFFSIDES: 3 | 2

FOULS COMMITTED: 10 | 12