York City really need to get back to picking up maximum points when travelling to last season’s beaten play-off finalists Chorley this weekend.
The Minstermen witnessed their recent unbeaten five-game sequence come to an abrupt halt following a shock home defeat to FC United of Manchester earlier this week – although they should already have been well ahead by the time the visitors struck twice in the final ten minutes when playing against only ten-men.
However, the disturbing trend of suspect home form unfortunately continues, and failing to score in three of their four games at Bootham Crescent so far wouldn’t exactly suggest a serious promotion challenge may be in the offing.
It would appear there are no such problems on their travels, though, where York have already totalled seven points from an available nine and while conceding just a single goal.
And they will definitely need to carry that forward over the next few days, with a testing midweek visit to high-flying Spennymoor Town quickly following on from their weekend challenge.
For their part, Chorley have endured a difficult start to their latest campaign having only just missed out on promotion last season, and show just one victory in seven attempts – and that on the opening day at Kidderminster Harriers.
The Magpies are also without a goal in three games and since losing 4-1 at early league leaders Harrogate Town just over a fortnight ago – with their modest overall tally of three also including an own-goal.
Vital Quotes:
“I’m not getting carried away with it [the FC United of Manchester defeat] other than it was a day that we didn’t take our chances,” manager Gary Mills told BBC Radio York. “We looked a little bit open because we were chasing it. That happens – we go a goal down and you chase it so it starts to look a little bit too open and then they get the second one. We could have equalised, we had a chance to do that. So for me, not getting too worried, upset or overly concerned. The fact that we’ve lost on Monday: disappointed yes, frustrated yes, but for me personally just down to not taking our chances.”
Chorley Team News:
Former York striker Jason Walker could be recalled following a couple of games on the bench. Goalkeeper Sam Ashton and one-time Manchester City defender Stephen Jordan are both currently on the sidelines because of injury.
Chorley (possible): Urwin, Challoner, Blakeman, Teague, Leather, Kearney, O’Keefe, Whitham, Carver, Wilson, Cottrell
subs: Roscoe, Walker, Hughes, Jarvis, Ward
Player to watch: Jason Walker
Striker who was a key member of York’s famous ‘Wembley Twice’ side of May 2012.
York City Team News:
Midfielder Simon Heslop continues as his suspension following his sending-off against FC United of Manchester doesn’t come into force until the visit to Spennymoor on Tuesday. Fellow schemer Adriano Moke [thigh] is already ruled out for around 5-6 weeks alongside longer-term casualties Clovis Kamdjo [knee] and Matt Fry [knee]. Striker Louis Almond [ribs] is also unlikely to feature but could return in midweek, while Kaine Felix and Aidan Connolly will hope to continue after their first starts of the season. But Connor Smith proved bright when coming off the bench last time.
York City (probable): Worsnop, Law, Parslow, Bencherif, Whittle, Smith, Heslop, Newton, Connolly, Parkin, Morgan-Smith
subs: Muggleton, Felix, Rankine, Wharton, Sukar
Player to watch: Jon Parkin
Returned to action earlier this week having missed the previous four games through injury – and needs to quickly rediscover his natural sharpness.
Match Facts & Stats
No previous meetings between the clubs.
Next Fixtures:
Chorley – Darlington (H); York – Spennymoor (A)
Weekend Games: AFC Telford v Blyth; Chorley v York City; Curzon Ashton v Salford; FC United of Manchester v Leamington; Harrogate v Brackley; Kidderminster v Boston; North Ferriby v Tamworth; Nuneaton v Alfreton; Southport v Darlington; Spennymoor v Gainsborough; Stockport v Bradford PA
