York City’s unbeaten four-game run came to a shattering end despite Adriano Moke’s first goal since returning to the club earning them an interval lead at Boston United.
The 27-year-old lashed home from distance inside the opening twenty minutes of the contest, but once again the visitors’ performance completely fell apart after the interval.
First Jordan Keane equalised when a corner wasn’t properly cleared before Ashley Hemmings slotted in a 74th minute penalty after substitute Aidan Connolly was adjudged to have brought down James Clifton.
Manager Martin Gray earlier made two changes with latest signing Jonny Burn and James Gray replacing Josh Law and the departed Gary Martin. Alex Whittle was another not in the sixteen, but Connor Smith made the bench after his recent temporary spell at Whitby Town – as did recent Boston loanee Sam Muggleton.
On loan former York striker Reece Thompson started for the struggling hosts, who had failed to win any of their previous seven home games.
The Minstermen at least forced a couple of early corners with Daniel Parslow – this time operating at right-back – heading wide a delivery from Sean Newton, who was then swiftly penalised and Clifton curled the resultant free-kick narrowly behind.
Skipper Newton responded by drilling wide after his initial free-kick was blocked – that following Amari Morgan-Smith being brought down just outside the area.
However, it was United’s Hemmings lobbing over an inviting empty goal after keeper Adam Bartlett attempted to clear debutant Burn’s back-header when under challenge from Thompson.
Opposite number George Willis next blocked from Gray at the expense of a fifth early corner following David Ferguson’s through ball.
But York still went in front when Moke blasted a right-footed finish past the keeper from around twenty-five-yards after Gray laid-off Jon Parkin’s original ball forward.
Recent signing Daniel Rowe received a yellow card following further theatrics from ex-City striker Thompson before Jay Rollins saw a reply deflect through to Bartlett.
Adam Curry soon denied Moke a second with a timely challenge at the far post, with Hemmings heading wide a corner towards the other end.
Defender Hamza Bencherif’s loose pass then suddenly found his side in trouble, although Rollins couldn’t take advantage before Parkin struck at Willis from around twenty-yards.
England ‘C international Ferguson curled over for the visitors from Newton’s partially cleared cross soon after the break.
But it was their opponents back level when Keane struck an angled drive across goal following a Hemmings corner not being cleared.
York’s new defender Burn soon blocked near to the line before Bartlett was forced into action at his near post by Greg Smith’s dipping volley.
There was an even better reaction moments later as Willis turned over from Morgan-Smith at point-blank range from another Newton cross. Goalscorer Moke next saw an effort deflected behind.
The visitors withdrew Morgan-Smith in favour of Connolly with the midway point of the second period rapidly approaching – and the little Scot soon drove too close to Willis after being released by Parkin and earned only a corner.
However, the Pilgrims dramatically went ahead when Connolly was penalised for a challenge on Clifton and Hemmings wrong-footed Bartlett from the penalty spot with sixteen minutes remaining.
Manager Gray reacted by immediately sending on returning duo Smith and Muggleton for Gray and Moke, although it was Ferguson volleying wide before home striker Smith was only inches away from adding a third goal.
And with the visitors still offering absolutely nothing, Bartlett kept out Clifton in added time as they slipped to yet another ignominious defeat.
Boston United: Willis, Clifton, Curry, McGuire (Walker 73), Beatson, McGowan, Rollins, Keane, Smith (Tshimanga 83), Thompson, Hemmings
subs (unused): Vince, Waite, Stabana
Goals: Keane (54), Hemmings (pen 74)
York City: Bartlett, Parslow, Burn, Bencherif, Ferguson, Rowe, Moke (Muggleton 75), Newton, Morgan-Smith (Connolly 65), Parkin, Gray (Smith 75)
subs (unused): Law, Simpson
Goals: Moke (19)
Ref: S. Barrott
Att: 1,126 (257 York)
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