York City’s season continues to spiral into serious decline after a shocking 3-2 home defeat to Tamworth at Bootham Crescent.
Reece Styche struck for their opponents either side of the break, although Jon Parkin’s tenth goal of the campaign reduced the deficit before recent signing David Ferguson was sent-off.
But debutant Daniel Rowe then equalised after coming off the bench; only for the visitors to snatch victory in added time as Darryl Knights scored on the break.
Manager Martin Gray earlier made a couple of changes with Aidan Connolly and Adriano Moke replacing the injured Hamza Bencherif and Amari Morgan-Smith, who was included amongst the substitutes.
The Lambs had lost their previous four games and striker Styche received an early caution for a challenge on loanee goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell having already been spoken to by the referee.
Home striker Parkin next cleared well ahead of the waiting Luke Jones before Connolly hooked towards an inviting net – until the ball appeared to be blown off course.
On loan newcomer James Gray then glanced a Josh Law free-kick straight at goalkeeper Shaun Rowley, while Ellis Deeney replied by clipping the top of the crossbar from distance.
However, Tamworth’s in-form striker Styche – earlier wound up by York boss Gray when inadvertently throwing the ball into his face – avoided the offside trap and slotted in the opening goalkeeper. He immediately celebrated directly in front of the home bench.
Alex Whittle flashed a dangerous ball across at the other end before his careless pass allowed Styche another attempt from halfway which drifted through to Peacock-Farrell. Connolly then almost broke onto a Parkin pass – but it was a dreadfully scrappy affair.
The Minstermen were attacking towards their favoured home end during the second-half with the strong wind again swirling around the stadium.
But it was the visitors immediately adding to their lead when Styche took advantage of Sean Newton’s serious misjudgement and slid in his second goal of the afternoon.
He was soon threatening a hat-trick before a double-change from the home side brought newcomer Rowe and Louis Almond replacing Whittle and James Gray. And Rowe had an instant opportunity from Newton’s cross but couldn’t apply the finish.
Nevertheless York still reduced the deficit with veteran goal-grabber Parkin on target from close-range after Newton delivered into the area.
Defender Daniel Parslow then cleared off the line at the other end when Styche threatened to send in Knights; although the hosts were reduced in number with last-man Ferguson sent-off for dragging back substitute Bradley Reid on the edge of the area.
York were soon level, however, with debutant Rowe hooking into the top corner after Parslow knocked back Law’s cross with just over twenty minutes remaining.
But fellow replacement Almond then suffered an apparent shoulder injury and was withdrawn in favour of the previously dropped Morgan-Smith.
The visitors instantly had another opportunity when drilling wide before Reid badly miscontrolled after finding a good position. Peacock-Farrell also collected on loan Ben Fox’s 25-yard effort as his defence continued to appear distinctly precarious.
Newton’s cross delivered towards Parkin suddenly prompted home shouts for a penalty before an attempted clearance from keeper Rowley fortuitously deflected wide off Morgan-Smith. Opposite number Peacock-Farrell then slipped and watched on as the ball drifted behind.
However, the visitors still broke away in added time when Simon Heslop surrendered possession after Law’s misdirected pass and Knights slotted in off the far post from substitute Callum Powell’s cross.
York City: Peacock-Farrell, Law, Parslow, Newton, Whittle (Rowe 53), Connolly, Moke, Heslop, Ferguson, Parkin, Gray (Almond 53, Morgan-Smith 73)
subs (unused): Simpson, Wharton
Goals: Parkin (57), Rowe (69)
Tamworth: Rowley, Upton, Jones, Coulson, Burns, Morley, Deeney, Fox, Taylor (Powell 84), Styche (Reid 62), Knights
subs (unused): Strong, Shaw, Curley
Goals: Styche (36, 48), Knights (90)
Ref: A. Jackson
Att: 2,605 (102 Tamworth)
Share this article
Related Articles
