York City’s new boss Gary Mills was given a clear indication of the massive job he faces after another lacklustre performance allowed Forest Green Rovers a first victory in thirteen games. Alex Lawless’ third goal of the season against his former club offered no real consolation.
The visitors had plenty of possession after falling behind as early as the fourth minute but lacked sufficient quality to do anything with it. Mike Fowler delivered the free-kick in the hosts’ first venture forward that was knocked back by Luke Jones and forced in by Gavin Caines.
The Minstermen then had significant amounts of the ball but failed to direct a single attempt on target for the rest of the opening half.
Recalled Rovers goalkeeper James Bittner did have to race out to deny Michael Rankine on 39 minutes as the visitors finally forced a couple of corners before the break, while leading scorer Rankine also threatened from a Daniel Parslow cross before David McDermott drilled wide of the left-hand post from 30-yards.
York midfielder Lawless then scuffed an attempt wide and his keeper Michael Ingham had to claim a dangerous Malvin Kamara cross right on half-time.
The visitors were first to press after the break when Lawless whipped an inviting ball across the face of goal before Rankine’s cross was met by Danny Racchi at the far post but sent well wide.
But they fell further in arrears just before the hour as Reece Styche was allowed to turn and drill into the bottom right-hand corner.
The Minstermen then twice went close with James Meredith having a stabbed effort blocked close to the line by Craig Armstrong before Lawless’ shot on the turn was also kicked off the line, this time by substitute Gary Mills.
However, York reduced the deficit with seventeen minutes remaining when the now advanced Lawless struck with a shot-on-the-turn to offer his side renewed hope.
It was now a case of whether Forest Green could survive an expected late onslaught. Lawless soon fired across goal and McDermott then sent in a cross that was headed wide at the far post.
Ex-Green midfielder Jonathan Smith also had a long-range attempt comfortably held by Bittner before the introduced Neil Barrett saw a shot blocked following a cross from fellow substitute Peter Till. Goalkeeper Bittner then parried over from the resulting corner.
York boss Mills had already pushed up both Lawless and Till in a revised 4-4-2 formation after earlier withdrawing strikers Leon Constantine and Rankine, and they were joined by skipper Chris Smith during the closing stages.
McDermott then shot wide from distance after sustained late pressure from the visitors before goalkeeper Ingham was sent forward for a last-gasp corner but without success.
Forest Green Rovers: Bittner, Hodgkiss, Jones, Armstrong, Caines, Fowler (Mills 61), Klukowski, Kamara (Dyer 46), Turk, Styche (Head 83), Enver-Marum
subs (unused): Jones, Bartlett
Goals: Caines (4), Styche (58)
York City: Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, C. Smith, Meredith, Lawless, McDermott, J. Smith, Racchi (Carruthers 66), Rankine (Barrett 71), Constantine (Till 54)
subs (unused): Fyfield, Young
Goals: Lawless (73)
Ref: M. Thompson
Att: 792 (129 York)
Share this article
Related Articles
