Reflecting back to March 2014 as League Two promotion challengers York City attempt to record a sixth successive league victory.
Reflecting back to March 2014 as League Two promotion challengers York City attempt to record a sixth successive league victory.
Nigel Worthington’s in-form York side ground out a sixth successive victory and fifth straight clean-sheet despite being well-below their best against bottom club Torquay United at Bootham Crescent.
On loan winger Will Hayhurst scored the winner from a deflected eleventh-minute shot and their defence once again remained resolute throughout in the face of plenty of possession for the visitors.
The victory moved the home side back up to seventh place in the table after play-off rivals Plymouth Argyle were beaten 2-1 at home by Exeter City in their west-country derby.
Manager Worthington earlier made one enforced change with Ryan Jarvis recalled against his former club in place of the injured Josh Carson. He featured on the left with Hayhurst moving across.
The Minstermen had the boost of another early goal following a rather uneventful opening ten minutes, when Hayhurst’s shot from a Lanre Oyebanjo throw was diverted inside the near post by Aaron Downes.
Moments later Adam Reed drove over the crossbar from Oyebanjo’s cross before Ryan Bowman saw a header blocked after Jarvis had delivered. Bowman then dragged wide as the referee played advantage while Hayhurst’s corner was headed wide by Keith Lowe midway through the half.
On the half-hour, goalscorer Hayhurst struck another attempt at keeper Martin Rice with Jarvis closing in, although the visitors were showing better and forced three quick corners from which both Krystian Pearce and Enoch Showunmi headed wide.
But the Gulls’ best moment came right on half-time when Reed was penalised and Lee Mansell’s drilled free-kick was parried aside by Nick Pope.
Weekend goal-hero Michael Coulson shot wide after the break while Reed had an effort turned away by Rice for a corner from which skipper Russell Penn headed behind.
Ben Harding then elected to shoot with Billy Bodin in a better position at the other end before a misplaced back-pass had goalscorer Hayhurst hoisting over as the hosts countered.
Home full-back Oyebanjo in turn sent a 25-yard effort wide following a good run but it was actually the visitors now having most of the play.
Bodin’s long-range shot was taken by Pope at the second attempt, and the on loan Charlton Athletic goalkeeper also gathered a Kevin Nicholson free-kick before turning over Anthony O’Connor’s cross.
York made their first change with ten minutes remaining, latest signing Calvin Andrew replacing former Torquay striker Jarvis.
But it was the visitors still pressing for a crucial equaliser and Downes headed a free-kick too close to Pope, who soon clutched another long-range effort before Harding hooked wide from outside the area in added time.
York City: Pope, Oyebanjo, Lowe, McCombe, Davies, Hayhurst (Platt 90), Penn, Reed, Jarvis (Andrew 80), Coulson, Bowman
subs (unused): McGurk, Montrose, Dickinson, Puri, Ingham
Goals: Hayhurst (11)
Torquay United: Rice, O’Connor, Downes, Pearce, Nicholson, Mansell, Thompson, Harding, Benyon (Yeoman 65), Showunmi (Stockley 70), Bodin
subs (unused): Poke, Tonge, Lathrope, Hawley, Craig
Ref: E. Ilderton (Tyne & Wear)
Att: 3,416 (119 Torquay)
Video Link: YorkCityTV
