More deep frustration for the Minstermen after a fourth successive game without a victory brought them a 0-0 draw against Barrow at Bootham Crescent.
But once again they had more than enough chances to take their first maximum points haul of the season, and their failure to do so currently finds them trailing third from bottom in the table ahead of the visit of Altrincham, who are two places lower, at the weekend.
Manager Martin Foyle made one change from the side held by Bath City three days ago, with midfielder Jonathan Smith being recalled for striker Michael Rankine, who reverted to the substitutes bench alongside weekend goalscorer Peter Till.
Meanwhile, their opponents included their 42-year-old joint player-manager Darren Sheridan in a reinforced midfield supporting a solitary striker in Jason Walker.
However, York were first to show on ten minutes after a rather slow start when Chris Carruthers produced a cross that was met by a Djoumin Sangare header that was comfortably claimed by on loan Leeds United goalkeeper Alan Martin.
Moments later Michael Gash was sent clear and tried to chip early over Martin, who parried his effort and the supporting Smith lashed over the rebound. Richard Brodie then seized upon a loose backpass and swept beyond the keeper, only to stumble inside the area and allow Phil Bolland to clear.
And a Carruthers corner also soon witnessed Sangare having a header blocked before Alex Lawless offered the opportunity of a Neil Barrett header as the home side continued to attack.
By way of a response Bluebirds midfielder Mark Boyd despatched a 30-yard attempt over the crossbar as York’s early threat was starting to subside a little, at least until just before the interval when Sangare had another header deflected over and Barrett sent a rising drive wide of the mark following an inviting Gash lay-off.
The Minstermen were again in the ascendancy possession wise early in the second-half, with Lawless having a 25-yard effort diverted wide, while Boyd struck a deflected shot in reply that produced a decent save from Michael Ingham.
Back at the opposite end and a Gash chipped delivery resulted in 61st minute substitute Rankine heading wide before Barrett’s drilled effort was turned behind by Martin. Then with twenty minutes remaining York boss Foyle made his second change in the form of Till, although it was David McGurk soon making an important block to deny James Owen in a rare visitors raid.
But it was Till who was involved in York’s next two moments of note after first crossing for James Meredith at the far post to head into Martin’s arms before then collecting Lawless’ crossfield pass and allowing Danny Parslow to deliver for Gash to send a first-time right-footed shot on the turn inches wide.
The hosts made their final switch with eleven minutes remaining when David McDermott ended another disappointing performance from a once more seriously off-colour Brodie, and the former Kidderminster Harriers winger soon had a 25-yard effort parried by Martin.
York again went desperately close from the subsequent corner, with the ball eventually being scrambled away from close to the line before Till’s follow-up effort through a crowd of players was deflected against the right-hand upright
There was still time for Gash to head wide from a Rankine cross with a couple of minutes left as York’s laboured start to the season was maintained.
York City: Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Sangare, Meredith, Lawless, Smith (Till 70), Barrett, Carruthers (Rankine 61), Gash, Brodie (McDermott 79)
subs (unused): Courtney, Young
Barrow: Martin, Spender, Jones, Bolland, Edwards, Rutherford (Wiles 16), Boyd, Sheridan, Goodfellow (Pearson 59), Owen, Walker
subs (unused): Milne, Forrest, Cook
Ref: A. Madley (Ossett)
Att: 2,212 (135 Barrow)
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