YORK City lost their lead at the top of the National League table to Forest Green Rovers with a 2-0 defeat in Gloucestershire.

Adam Hinshelwood’s side dropped to a first away defeat of the season against Forest green, who leapfrogged the Minstermen as a result.

A mistake from Harrison Male allowed Kyle McAllister to find Harvey Bunker in space on the edge of the area, with his curling strike nestling into the top corner.

Forest Green put the game beyond doubt as McAllister rounded off a counter-attack with a composed finish, with the aid of the post.

The two teams were neck-and-neck in the National League table prior to kick-off, with just one point separating York and their closest competitors for the title so far.

Forest Green had responded to back-to-back relegations to embark on a six match unbeaten league run, which had seen Steve Cotterill’s side occupy second spot in the fifth tier.

In fact, the home side had conceded just the second fewest goals on home turf all season, having not yet lost a match at the New Lawn so far yet this campaign.

It was up to City to inflict that first defeat in Gloucestershire of the season for Forest Green, and they arrived with confidence, after a 12-match unbeaten run in the National League, which included zero losses on the road.

There were concerns that the Minstermen would be without key man Malachi Fagan-Walcott due to a potential concussion that had been sustained in last weekend’s 5-3 win over Hartlepool United.

However, Hinshelwood would only have to make two changes to his starting 11, with Fagan-Walcott passing his protocol checks and being available for selection.

Dipo Akinyemi and Ashley Nathaniel-George were rewarded for their goals in last Saturday’s win, returning to the starting eleven.

Ricky Aguiar and Tyrese Sinclair dropped to the bench, which also included Marvin Armstrong, after missing out on the squad last weekend.

Jeff King was also named amongst the subs, and would make his York debut after replacing the inured Cameron John in the 43rd minute.

Cotterill opted to keep an unchanged 11 after a 4-1 win over Maidenhead United last week.

As they had been in the league table, both Forest Green and York were almost inseparable in the first-half.

It was City who had the early opportunity, as a long pass from Fagan-Walcott was expertly brought down by Akinyemi.

He shifted the ball onto his left foot within the area, but couldn’t beat Jed Ward from close-range.

Fagan-Walcott was then involved in a defensive capacity, providing a crucial challenge to keep a McAllister from pulling the trigger in the area.

Ollie Pearce was almost able to add to his goal record after meeting a fantastic through ball by Alex Hunt, but his effort was blocked at close-range.

Chances were rare in a cautious first-half from two teams desperate to find the breakthrough, but Hinshelwood’s job was made harder after an injury to John meant that the Minstermen were forced into an early change.

The half-time whistle would have been welcome to both managers, after an uneventful opening 45.

But it was Forest Green who would start the second-half the stronger, after Joe Quigley found himself unmarked in the area, with his side-footed strike deflecting off of the post.

Bunker had a strike deflect wide, before he was celebrating after nodding home a cross at the back post – only to be ruled as offside.

City’s relief would be short-lived however, as Forest Green took the lead just two minutes later.

A mistake from Male saw the goalkeeper’s clearance drop as far as McAllister on the edge of the area, who laid the ball back to Bunker.

He unleashed a superb strike into the top right corner, giving the hosts the lead.

York failed to pose much of a reaction, with Charlie McCann feeding McAllister the ball, and the winger curled a strike into the far corner. However, the linesman’s flag was up and again spared City’s blushes.

King was on corner duties after the substitution of Dan Batty, and was able to find Fagan-Walcott in the area, whose header was smothered by Ward

David Ajiboye had a tame effort held by the Forest Green shot-stopper, before the hosts doubled their advantage.

A break from Forest Green saw McAllister cut inside and onto his left foot, before curling a superb strike in and off of the post.

A disappointing defeat for York, who lose their position at the top of the National League table after a first away defeat of the season against the new frontrunners, Forest Green.

FOREST GREEN ROVERS: WARD, LONG, MOORE-TAYLOR, TOZER, ROBSON, MCALLISYER, MCCANN, MAY, BUNKER, QUIGLEY (CARDWELL, 77), KNOWLES (JENKS, 73)

SUBS NOT USED: SEARLE, LAVINIER, OMOTOYE, DOIDGE

GOALS: BUNKER (64), MCCALISTER (84)

YELLOW CARDS: MCCANN (19), LONG (53), BUNKER (69)

YORK CITY: MALE 5, FELIX 7, FAGAN-WALCOTT 7, HOWE 6, JOHN 6 (KING 5, 43), BATTY 6 (ARMSTRONG 6, 69), HUNT 6, NATHANIEL-GEORGE 6 (AGUIAR, 79), AKINYEMI 6 (SINCLAIR, 79), PEARCE 6, AJIBOYE 5

SUBS NOT USED: WATSON, FALLOWFIELD, THOMAS

YELLOW CARDS: AGUIAR (82)

YORK’S STAR MAN: JOE FELIX. A spirited effort from the full-back who got stuck in for York.

REFEREE: BEN SPEEDIE

SHOTS (ON TARGET): 4 (2) | 5 (3)

CORNERS:  1 | 8

OFFSIDES: 6 | 1

FOULS: 10 | 10