York City drop to second after 3-0 defeat to Altrincham

Having beaten Altrincham just once in their last 11 meetings, York would have hoped that their impressive form and newfound belief would have provided a greater challenge for the Robins on a cold Tuesday night.

But it wasn’t to be, as Altrincham struck the Minstermen for three at the J. Davidson Stadium.

Regan Linney proved to be a thorn in City’s side, giving Altrincham the lead when racing onto a back-heel by Elliot Newby, before slotting past Rory Watson.

He had second despite Watson’s best efforts, after a good stop bobbled into the direction of the striker who powered home.

Matty Kosylo added to York’s misery when latching onto a poor pass from Alex Hunt, dinking an effort over Watson.

A lot of the pre-match talk was related to York’s last visit to the J. Davidson Stadium in March, when City suffered a harrowing 6-1 defeat under Adam Hinshelwood.

It ended up becoming something of a turning point in the Minstermen’s 2023/24 season, as York battled back to stave clear of relegation on the final day.

But this match had a completely different atmosphere, helped by the 716 fans in that away end, with City holding top position in the National League after an incredible transformation under Hinshelwood.

Altrincham on the other hand started the evening in tenth position, with 27 points from 19 games, having suffered back-to-back defeats prior to kick-off.

The hosts welcomed back Linney to their squad after a suspension, with the striker scoring nine goals so far this season. His introduction came in a timely manner, after Tom Crawford had been shown a red card in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Aldershot Town.

Former FC Halifax Town full-back Tylor Golden started in place of Eddy Jones, with Phil Parkinson naming just two changed to his Robins squad.

Hinshelwood on the other hand had admitted that there needed to be changes with City having three matches in seven games, making four switches in his starting eleven.

The biggest shock was Harrison Male’s move to the bench, as Rory Watson came in for a first start in nine games.

Ryan Fallowfield, Ashley Nathaniel-George and Luca Thomas all also started, meaning that Ollie Pearce dropped into the number ten role.

It was Adam Crookes, Tyrese Sinclair and Marvin Armstrong who were replaced, with the trio all amongst the subs bench.

LIVE BLOG: Altrincham vs York City

Despite succumbing to a three goal deficit, York did start the match quickly as David Ajiboye won a corner in the opening 45 seconds.

City couldn’t capitalise from an early set-piece, with defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott being forced into a strong block from Golden’s long-range effort at goal.

Ashley Nathaniel-George dragged a strike wide of Ethan Ross’ goal, before Linney had back-to-back tame efforts smothered by Watson.

With 20 minutes played, it was the hosts who opened the scoring as Linney latched onto a neat back-heel from Newby before curling an effort into the far corner.

York failed  to respond, as Watson held a driven shot from George Wilson, before failing to keep out a second.

Another effort from Wilson was parried onto the post by Watson, only to drop perfectly for Linney, who thundered home his brace.

Just four minutes later, City’s struggles continued. A poor pass back to his defence from Hunt allowed Kosylo to beat Callum Howe to the ball, before expertly chipping over Watson.

The half-time whistle will have been welcomed by York, who showed steady improvement during the second-half.

Pearce had a strike deflected into the arms of Ross, before Altrincham’s Kosylo looked to add an assist to his tally, with Nuttall heading his teasing cross over from close-range.

David Ajiboye impressed for York City on the wing. (Image: Tom Poole) Dipo Akinyemi was introduced for Thomas and held possession up well for City, before spreading it wide to Ajiboye. He ran at the Altrincham defence and eased his way into the area, before drawing Ross into an excellent low stop.

After a string of corners, Nathaniel-George had a goalbound strike deflected wide.

Linney was hopeful of scoring his hat-trick on his return to the side, and came within inches when almost catching Watson out with an audacious 30-yard lob. The City goalkeeper scurried back to his line, and managed to palm the effort onto the crossbar.

Ross made a routine stop when holding a long-ranged Akinyemi curler, before Hunt side-footed a strike wide.

Despite a gradual improvement in the half, York were never able to mount a dramatic comeback to reward those travelling supporters.

And even though Forest Green Rovers were not in action this evening, City have dropped to second due to goal difference.

ALTRINCHAM: ROSS, BANKS, BAINES, J. JONES, GOLDEN (E. JONES, 82), OSBORNE, WILSON (MARRIOTT, 82), KOSYLO (COOPER, 77), NEWBY, NUTTALL (BICKERSTAFF, 89), LINNEY (REDDIN, 71)

SUBS NOT USED: FALLON, HUMBLES, BICKERSTAFF

GOALS: LINNEY (19, 35), KOSYLO (40)

YELLOW CARDS:

YORK CITY: WATSON 5, FALLOWFIELD 5, HOWE 6, FAGAN-WALCOTT 6, FELIX 6, HUNT 6, AGUIAR 6 (CROOKES 6, 63), NATHANIEL-GEORGE 6 (SINCLAIR 6, 63), PEARCE 7, AJIBOYE 7, THOMAS 5 (AKINYEMI 6, 53)

SUBS NOT USED: MALE, KING, BATTY, ARMSTRONG

GOALS:

YELLOW CARDS: FELIX (77)

YORK’S STAR MAN: DAVID AJIBOYE. An encouraging performance from the winger who was brave and ran at his marker.

REFEREE: Garreth Rhodes

ATTENDANCE: 2006 (716)

SHOTS (ON TARGET): 11 (7) | 10 (2)

CORNERS:  5 | 10

OFFSIDES: 2 | 1

FOULS: 11 | 9