Seriously misfiring York City have now won just one of their last five games following an absolute horror show in the weekend 2-0 defeat at Chorley, which is in itself an increasingly concerning state of affairs given the eventual cataclysmic direction their previous couple of campaigns have taken.
A hugely unsatisfactory five-point tally from their last available fifteen – and this remember in a virtual part-time league – hardly suggests an outfit destined to make a sustained promotion challenge over the coming months, particularly given their accompanying performances. City are somewhat incredulously already nine points behind neighbours and current league leaders Harrogate Town, with only eight games played.
It’s perfectly understandable therefore to discover that their seemingly endlessly-suffering fanbase is becoming increasingly restless, even though the truly galling weekend reversal at Victory Park was in fact only York’s second on the road during the present year. But that only serves to highlight the cumulative effect of being so totally unreliable when playing directly in front of their own supporters at Bootham Crescent, where only five league games have been won in twenty attempts under manager Gary Mills – and thirty-eight points surrendered from an available sixty.
Latest opponents Spennymoor were in fact a couple of divisions behind their more illustrious visitors last season, before reaching the highest-ever point in their history with a single-goal play-off final victory against Stourbridge. But they’ve still made the better start to the present campaign, and are currently four points clear of ninth-placed rivals already surprisingly closer to the bottom of the table than the top.
Vital Quotes:
“It’s been a poor week for us,” manager Gary Mills admitted to BBC Radio York. “I didn’t think we deserved to lose on Monday; if we take our chances we win the game. You have to bounce back and show what a good team you are. We didn’t do that [at the weekend]. Not only did we not do that, but performed poorly.
“So you can either escalate something and make it a real problem, or you can dust it down and go: ‘Right, I’ve been in football long enough to say it’s been a poor week’. And within another week we can turn things round – and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Spennymoor Town Team News:
Former York loan striker Bradley Fewster may be handed a full debut having come off the bench for the weekend draw with Gainsborough Trinity. Ex-City midfielder Matty Dixon has already been a regular starter for the hosts this season, although winger Ryan Hall is a current doubt.
Spennymoor Town (possible: Lowson, Griffiths, Tait, Curtis, Chantler, Dixon, Chandler, Ramshaw, Johnson, Foley, Taylor
subs: Mason, Porter, Henry, Orrell, Fewster
Player to watch: Bradley Fewster
Needs no real introduction to York supporters having previously struck eight goals in twenty-four appearances while on loan from Middlesbrough.
York City Team News:
The Minstermen are without suspended midfielder Simon Heslop and therefore summer recruit Theo Wharton may receive a delayed debut. Striker Louis Almond [ribs] should also return after missing the last couple of games, while Aidan Connolly won’t be considered having now been transfer-listed. Adriano Moke [thigh], Clovis Kamdjo [knee] and Matt Fry [knee] are similarly not involved.
York City (possible): Worsnop, Law, Parslow, Bencherif, Whittle, Smith, Wharton, Newton, Almond, Rankine, Morgan-Smith
subs: Sukar, Parkin, Muggleton, Felix, Haswell
Player to watch: Theo Wharton
Would appear the former Cardiff City midfielder will be handed a delayed debut in the absence of both Simon Heslop and Adriano Moke.
Match Facts & Stats
No previous meetings
Next Fixtures:
Spennymoor – Tamworth (A); York – Stockport (H)
Tuesday’s Games: Boston v North Ferriby; Brackley v Tamworth; Chorley v Darlington; FC United of Manchester v Blyth; Gainsborough v Bradford PA; Harrogate v Salford; Kidderminster v Curzon Ashton; Leamington v Alfreton; Nuneaton v AFC Telford; Spennymoor v York City; Stockport v Southport
