A first home victory of the season is most definitely the priority for York City going into the weekend visit of Nuneaton Town to Bootham Crescent.
The Minstermen shared a thrilling scoreless draw with unbeaten neighbours Darlington in their latest encounter, and certainly demonstrated sufficient during the first-half to suggest they can become a major force in this division.
Once again the hosts were superbly backed by their fabulous supporters, with their midweek gate of almost four-thousand including an impressive approximate 25% representation from the north-east. That for a sixth-tier fixture – though admittedly between two fine clubs, both with superb traditions and history.
Latest visitors Nuneaton have won only one of their four opening games – and that against Kidderminster Harriers courtesy of an injury-time strike from former City Wembley hero Ashley Chambers.
However, Boro slipped to only a single-goal midweek defeat at surprise early league pacesetters Brackley Town in their latest fixture.
Vital Quotes:
“We could have quite easily won both [home] games and possibly should have done,” manager Gary Mills told BBC Radio York. “We’ve talked about the reasons why we haven’t and it’s not down to playing poorly or lack of effort or being organised. It’s just what football is and that changes every game.
“It will be great to get the win on Saturday because if we do we’re certainly going to stay in the top seven, and the chances are we could go up close to the top three,” he added. “So we all know the importance of that but we [instead] talk about the importance of going out and doing our jobs and playing the way we have been.”
“I had a great time at York,” former City striker Ashley Chambers told Nuneaton’s official website. “There are a lot of very happy memories from my time at the club. I’m looking forward to going back up there; it will be nice to see some familiar faces, but, of course, I hope that they will be disappointed at the end as we take all three points. I’ve got a lot of respect for York, both the club and the City, but it would be nice to score a goal or two against them!”
York City Team News:
Summer recruit Jassem Sukar is poised for a debut in place of the suspended Hamza Bencherif, thus allowing inspirational skipper Sean Newton to continue to add his drive and energy into midfield. Striker Jon Parkin could be involved after a scan on his troublesome calf revealed no major issue. Aidan Connolly remains an excellent option on the bench following his welcome return from a similar condition.
York City (probable): Worsnop, Law, Parslow, Sukar, Whittle, Heslop, Moke, Newton, Almond, Rankine, Morgan-Smith
subs (from): Smith, Felix, Connolly, Muggleton, Parkin, Wharton
Player to watch: Louis Almond
Looking an increasingly exciting prospect and will fully deserve his first goal when it finally arrives.
Nuneaton Town Team News:
Skipper Kelvin Langmead hasn’t been involved so far this season for the visitors, who will be a significantly changed outfit to that which lost 3-0 to York in the FA Trophy in February.
Nuneaton Town (possible): Lyness, Trotman, C. Wildin, Gascoigne, Ashton, Heaton, Beswick, Daniels, Chambers, Nicholson, Ball
subs: Hickey, L. Wildin, Taylor, Tweed, Glover
Player to watch: Ashley Chambers
No introduction needed for a player always holding a special place in City hearts.
Match Facts & Stats
Just a single previous meeting between these two clubs, with York comfortably triumphing as recently as February in the FA Trophy third round courtesy of early goals from Amari Morgan-Smith, Vadaine Oliver and Sean Newton. Team: Letheren, Bencherif, Klukowski, Parslow, Heslop, Lappin, Newton, Whittle, Fenwick, Oliver (Rooney, Morgan-Smith (Moke)
Link: Nuneaton Town 0 York City 3
Next Fixtures:
York – Southport (A); Nuneaton – Leamington (H)
Weekend Games: Alfreton v Southport; Blyth v North Ferriby; Boston v Chorley; Brackley v Spennymoor; Bradford PA v FC United of Manchester; Darlington v AFC Telford; Gainsborough v Harrogate; Leamington v Stockport; Salford v Kidderminster; Tamworth v Curzon Ashton; York City v Nuneaton
