York City knocked out of the FA Cup against Wycombe Wanderers

With the odds stacked against them, York competed against Sky Bet League One opposition in the FA Cup first round and even gave the travelling support something to celebrate at Adams Park with a goal.

A foolish challenge from Ryan Fallowfield just 14 minutes in allowed Luke Leahy to score his first of the afternoon from the penalty spot, putting Wycombe in front.

Just seven minutes later, Wanderers had their second as Gideon Kodua met Richard Kone’s through ball and swept a sweet strike into the bottom corner.

After Harrison Male had produced a remarkable stop to deny Kone a third, City launched a counter-attack with Alex Hunt spreading the ball wide to Tyrese Sinclair, who cut inside and unleashed a superb strike to beat Shamal George.

Wycombe would only re-establish their two goal lead in the second-half, as Leahy curled an impressive effort into the top corner from a free-kick.

City provided a late scare for Wycombe, as Joe Felix netted his first for the club after finishing past George from a tight angle.

York had their work cut out even before kick-off, facing a Wycombe side that were occupying a position in the automatic promotion spots of Sky Bet League One, two levels higher than City.

Matt Bloomfield’s side had embarked on an unbeaten run of ten matches in the league prior to kick-off, and had lost just once on home soil all season.

It was a return to familiar territory for Hinshelwood too, with the York manager ending his playing career whilst being employed by Wycombe.

Hinshelwood had made just 13 appearances for the Chairboys despite being club captain, but the knee injury that unfortunately ended his playing career also meant that he was unable to aid the Wanderers in avoiding relegation to the fourth tier in 2010.

Also in that Wycombe side was current Chairboys boss Bloomfield, who had been complimentary of his opposing manager ahead of kick-off.

With Hinshelwood admitting that his players had been struggling for fitness after three matches in seven days, the City manager elected to make two changes from the side that beat FC Halifax Town 2-1 last Saturday.

Both Dan Batty and Marvin Armstrong dropped to the bench, whilst Ashley Nathaniel-George and Ricky Aguiar were named as their replacements.

After those changes, York moved to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ollie Pearce dropping into the number ten role, and Luca Thomas moving into striker.

As per FA Cup rulings, both sides were eligible to name nine substitutes amongst their bench, but City’s injury list told, with Hinshelwood only including seven players on the sidelines.

Bloomfield had hinted at making widescale changes with matches against Stockport County and Wigan Athletic to take place in the next seven days, and stuck to his word.

Wycombe made ten changes from the side that defeated Leyton Orient 3-0 last weekend, with the only surviving player being Tyreeq Bakinson in midfield.

George, Josh Scowen, Alex Hartridge, Matt Butcher, Leahy, Kodua, Kone, Declan Skura, Beryly Lubala and Jasper Pattenden were all brought in by Bloomfield.

Brandon Hanlan was also brought back into the Wycombe squad, having missed a year of football due to injury.

York were obviously hopeful of causing an upset against their League One opposition, but were under the cosh from the kick-off with Wycombe keen to assert their dominance.

Lubala curled a harmless effort over Male’s crossbar before Butcher dragged a low strike wide.

But Wycombe’s pressure soon told, with City buckling under the quick football from the hosts.

A poor challenge from Fallowfield on Lubala saw referee Tom Reeves point to the spot, with Leahy stepping up and producing a low left-footed strike home from 12-yards.

The Chairboys would quickly double their advantage, as Kone slid a perfectly-timed ball through to the onrushing Kodua.

He showed his composure with a coolly-taken strike into the bottom left corner, beating Male.

York were perhaps feeling flat after conceding twice early on, and needed a moment of individual brilliance to spark some life into an otherwise lowly display so far.

Male provided that, rising to pull of an acrobatic stop and keep out Kone’s header from just six-yards out.

York City battled hard against higher-league opposition. (Image: Tom Poole) From the resulting corner, City hit Wycombe on the counter-attack with Hunt stealing possession and spraying the ball wide to Sinclair.

He cut inside and, similarly to his strike against Solihull Moors earlier in the season, bent an unstoppable effort into George’s top left corner.

Wycombe would give York one final scare before the half-time whistle, with Scowen rattling the crossbar from a side-footed strike on the edge of the box.

Any hopes of a potential comeback from City at half-time were quickly squashed by Wycombe.

A foul from Fagan-Walcott allowed Leahy an opportunity from the edge of the area.

He stepped up to the free-kick and curled a brilliant strike into the top corner, giving the Chairboys their breathing room back.

Wycombe would continue to push for a fourth, as Male was called into action to divert Hartridge’s header over the bar.

Butcher soon side-footed an effort agonisingly wide for the hosts, before substitute Dan Udoh dragged a shot into the side netting.

York have shown recently that they refuse to go down without a fight, and in true City tradition of scoring a late goal, gave Wycombe a late scare.

Felix swept the ball home from a tight angle to make the scores 3-2, with the Minstermen now hammering the Wycombe backline.

But despite their late pressure, York would not be able to score a late goal to take play to extra time, with their FA Cup exit confirmed despite a valiant effort.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: GEORGE, SKURA, HARTRIDGE, BUTCHER, LEAHY, BAKINSON, PATTENDEN (MCCARTHY, 82), SCOWEN (HUMPHREYS, 54), KODUA (WHEELER, 63), KONE (UDOH, 54), LUBALA (HANLAN, 82)

SUBS NOT USED: RAVIZZOLI, TAFAZOLLI, MORLEY, ONYEDINMA

GOALS: LEAHY (14, 57), KODUA (22),

YELLOW CARDS: LEAHY (50)

YORK CITY: MALE 7, FALLOWFIELD 5, FAGAN-WALCOTT 8, HOWE 7, FELIX 7, HUNT 7, AGUIAR 6 (ARMSTRONG 6, 72), NATHANIEL-GEORGE 5 (CROOKES 6, 72), PEARCE 8, THOMAS 6 (AKINYEMI 6, 60), SINCLAIR 7

SUBS NOT USED: WATSON, MCLAUGHLIN, BATTY, CHADWICK

GOALS: SINCLAIR (31), FELIX (90+5)

YELLOW CARDS: FELIX (43)

YORK’S STAR MAN: MALACHI FAGAN-WALCOTT. Other than his foul for the third goal, the York centre-back was dominant amongst the backline and helped maintain some level of control.

REFEREE: TOM REEVES

ATTENDANCE: 2765

SHOTS OFF (ON TARGET): 9 (6) | 2 (3)

CORNERS:  7 | 1

OFFSIDES: 1 | 5

FOULS COMMITTED: 12 | 7