York City really can’t afford any further slip-ups at home as they entertain struggling Gainsborough Trinity this evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
Having recorded back-to-back victories for the second time this season at the weekend, the Minstermen simply must avoid any repeat of their earlier costly defeats to FC United of Manchester and Nuneaton Town at Bootham Crescent.
That leaves them currently six points behind the leaders with their league programme bizarrely already virtually a quarter of the way through – and all that inside six weeks.
Gainsborough arrive on the back of successive defeats to Alfreton Town (A 1-4) and Bradford Park Avenue (H 0-3); although those followed a creditable draw at Spennymoor Town (1-1) and welcome maximum-points return against troubled visitors North Ferriby United (2-0).
They were also recently involved in a bizarre 4-5 home defeat to Harrogate Town, having previously lost by only a single-goal at Stockport County.
Manager Dave Frecklington was understandably deeply concerned after conceding four goals in under twenty first-half minutes at Alfreton on Saturday, including a strike from ex-York midfielder Tom Platt.
The visitors also had Tom Davie sent-off having already seen captain Nathan Jarman dismissed in their previous defeat to Bradford PA, where former City duo Oli Johnson and Adam Boyes were both on the scoresheet.
Vital Quotes:
“It was a good weekend on the back of a win at Spennymoor,” manager Gary Mills told York’s official YouTube channel. “So we’ve got to continue it now. We’ve talked about the bad week that we had and we had to put that behind us. And there was only one way to do that and turn that week into a positive; learning that if we are going to win games we need to do things better. Possibly mentally a little bit stronger in where we’re going to go this season and what we’re going to do. And I think that’s come together, certainly in the last two games.”
York City Team News:
Goalkeeper Jon Worsnop should overcome a dislocated finger in an expected unchanged starting eleven. Adriano Moke [thigh], Clovis Kamdjo [knee] and Matt Fry [knee] remain sidelined.
York City (probable): Worsnop, Law, Parslow, Bencherif, Whittle, Wharton, Heslop, Newton, Almond, Parkin, Morgan-Smith
subs (from): Muggleton, Smith, Sukar, Felix, Rankine, Simpson
Player to watch: Amari Morgan-Smith
Already with a ‘goal of the season’ contender at the weekend – and always capable of repeating it.
Gainsborough Trinity Team News:
Manager Dave Frecklington will probably make changes after seeing his side capitulate in the first-half at Alfreton. He’ll also be hoping they can finally keep a full complement of players on the pitch following a couple of recent dismissals. Skipper Nathan Jarman is suspended but Tom Davie can play ahead of his forthcoming ban. Otherwise, both Jonathan Williams and Chris Salt are already ruled out for the rest of the season. Goalkeeper Louis Jones’ loan spell has also come to an end.
Gainsborough Trinity (from): Ravas, Jacklin, Davie, Clarke, Stainfield, Evans, Wells, Collins, Richards, Worsfold, King, Storey, Gater, Wafula, Lacey
Player to watch: Ashley Worsfold
Familiar to North Yorkshire having previously been with Harrogate Town.
Match Facts & Stats
The only occasion these two previously met was in an FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie back in October 2005. City were the visitors that day and triumphed 4-0 with goals from Andy Bishop (2, 1 pen), Clayton Donaldson and Mark Convery. Team: Porter, Price, Dudgeon, McGurk, Peat (Merris), Convery, Yalcin (Stewart), Dunning,
O’Neill (Mallon), Bishop, Donaldson
Link: Red Rewind – Four-goal City gain victory
Next Fixtures:
York – Salford (FAC2QR) (A); Gainsborough – Spennymoor (FAC2QR) (A)
Monday’s Results: Bradford PA 2-1 Boston; Curzon Ashton 1-1 Leamington
Tuesday’s Games: AFC Telford v Stockport; Alfreton v Brackley; Blyth v Chorley; North Ferriby v Spennymoor; Salford v Nuneaton; Southport v Harrogate; Tamworth v Kidderminster; York City v Gainsborough
