Minstermen fans wouldn’t have really expected there to be only a couple of clubs below them in the table – even at this very early stage of the season, but they will be hoping their side put things right on their first-ever visit to newcomers Bath City this weekend.
Manager Martin Foyle has already admitted that it won’t be easy, however, after Bath followed up their opening day 2-1 defeat at Hayes & Yeading United by beating last season’s play-off semi-finalists Rushden & Diamonds by the same scoreline in midweek.
At the same time York were battling towards their first point of the campaign in their shut-out at Grimsby Town, which at least gave them something to build on following the shock of losing their first game of the season at home Kidderminster Harriers three days earlier.
Vital Quotes:
“They`ve got a very good home record and they had a good win over Rushden, who should be up there with the favourites, in the week, so we know it will be very hard,” York manager Martin Foyle told The Press. “We`re not going to kid ourselves, but hopefully we will do what we did at Grimsby on Tuesday with maybe a bit more joy in the final third. It`s going to be a very hard league and teams will be beating each other. It`ll take five or six games for teams to find their feet, and some will get caught out in that time.”
Bath City Team News:
Left-back Luke Ruddick (hamstring) and former Bristol City veteran Scott Murray (ankle) are both rated doubtful after missing out in midweek. Elsewhere, Mark Badman completes a five-match ban and top scorer Darran Edwards should partner one-time York target Lee Phillips in attack.
Bath City (probable): Robinson, Simpson, Jombati, Jones, Webb, Canham, Harris, Connolly, Hogg, Edwards, Phillips
Player to watch: Lee Phillips
Experienced front-man who has really done the rounds at this level and at one time actually interested the Minstermen.
York City Team News:
Summer signing David McDermott could finally be given the chance to impress after scoring the only goal in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Tadcaster Albion in midweek. Meanwhile, George Purcell should have recovered after limping off in that game, while Greg Young and Tom Richardson also put in decent stints. The possible cruciate injury to midfielder Levi Mackin is not as bad as first feared, although he will miss out this weekend with heavy bruising and swelling to his knee.
York City (possible): Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Sangare, Meredith, Barrett, Lawless, Carruthers, Rankine, Brodie, Gash
subs: Courtney, Till, McDermott, Purcell, Smith
Player to watch: Richard Brodie
Needs to get himself on the scoresheet after simply netting goals for fun last term. Missed a couple of decent chances against Kidderminster and also another at Grimsby. But a natural goalscorer and sure to be on target before too long.
Match Facts & Stats
This is a first-ever meeting between the two clubs as Bath return to the top flight of non-league football following a thirteen year absence.
Next Fixtures:
Bath – Crawley (A); York – Barrow (H)
