Fleetwood Town 2 York City 1

York City failed to recover from a terrible first-half display as they fell to their second defeat of the season at Fleetwood Town.

Former Kettering Town striker Gareth Seddon headed the home side into an early lead before Magno Vieira added a late second following a dreadful attempted backpass from James Meredith.

York debutant Greg Young then nodded a consolation and moments later went close to an equaliser when he lashed a left-footed effort inches wide.

But the visitors were always second best and immediately found themselves in trouble when Seddon headed in Shaun Beeley’s deep cross on seven minutes.

And it could have been even worse five minutes later as Jamie McGuire curled a shot wide before Ian Craney exchanged passes on the edge of the area and drilled a left-footed effort just past the right-hand post.

The Minstermen didn’t produce anything of note until midway through the opening half when the recalled Michael Rankine drove harmlessly wide.

Midfielder Jonathan Smith was also back for the visitors and he soon forced Danny Hurst into a routine save before then collecting an Alex Lawless pass and firing wide of the left-hand post.

Fleetwood were still appearing the better side, however, and went close to adding to their lead early in the second-half when Vieira scooped over from the second of two quick corners.

The former Ebbsfleet striker also drove inches wide from the edge of the area after Smith had once again found the clutches of Hurst at the opposite end.

York introduced Peter Till for Neil Barrett just before the hour and Djoumin Sangare soon came on to replace the limping David McGurk, while Richard Brodie was later withdrawn in favour of David McDermott.

But it was ex-Morecambe striker Wayne Curtis forcing Michael Ingham into action at his near post ten minutes later before the visitors slipped further behind on 83 minutes when Vieira seized upon Meredith’s error and kept his cool to easily beat Ingham.

Within four minutes debutant Young offered renewed hope for the visitors when heading in a Lawless free-kick before then immediately striking a 25-yard effort wide as Fleetwood survived a couple of late scares.

Fleetwood Town: Hurst, Beeley, McNulty, Linwood, Cavanagh (Connors 55), Barry, Craney (Mullan 66), McGuire, Vieira, Seddon, Curtis

subs (unused): Pond, Davies, Beesley

Goals: Seddon (7), Vieira (83)

York City: Ingham, Parslow, McGurk (Sangare 69), Young, Meredith, Lawless, Smith, Barrett (Till 59), Rankine, Brodie (McDermott 74), Gash

subs (unused): Knight, Courtney

Goals: Young (87)

Ref: M. Bristow (Manchester)

Att: 2,020