ROVERS NARROWLY DEFEATED ON THE ROAD AGAINST THE MINSTERMEN
York City took the lead in the 15th minute with Alex Hunt making no mistake when scoring from the penalty spot.
The national league top scorer, Ollie Pearce, made it two for the hosts when converting from close range again at the end of the first half, after a nice move from York.
Just after the hour mark, Forest Green were able to get themselves back in the game when Kyle McAllister neatly finished off a fluid Rovers move.
The remainder of the second half flowed both ways with big chances for both teams; neither side was able to add to the score, as York saw out the match 2-1 winners.
First Half:
Forest Green Rovers controlled the possession in the first 15 minutes and were able to create the best opportunities of the opening exchanges.
However, in the 16th minute, Ashqar Ahmed brought down Jeff King with a sliding challenge in the box. Hunt was able to convert the penalty past an outstretched Harry Isted.
Rovers continued to press forward with Chibby Nwoko cutting the ball back to Jayden Clarke, who was off-target with his effort.
A nice passage of play from the home side saw Pearce release King down the right flank. King fired a ball across the area to Ben Brookes, who was denied a definite goal by Ahmed, who produced a brilliant block on the line.
Gabe Kircough played a fantastic volleyed pass down the line to release Jili Buyabu, the left-sided attacker whipping a ball across the face of the goal. It was just out of reach, however, for his arriving teammate Ricardo Rees, before York turned it behind for a Rovers corner.
The home side came close to doubling their lead. Brookes slipped in Newby down the left with Newby firing a low cross that flashed all the way through the Rovers' penalty area, evading Pearce.
York managed to double their lead with Pearce scoring in added time of the first half. Hunt executed a perfect lofted through ball to Joe Grey, who drove into the box, squaring the ball to his left for Pearce to fire home.
Half-Time: York City 2-0 FGR
Five minutes after the break, Rovers won the ball high with Haughton, who was then brought down outside the box. His free-kick was on target but well saved by Harrison Male.
On the hour mark, Grey made a driving run, beating Kircough but placing a low driven shot across the box narrowly wide of the far post.
Brookes capitalised on a quick free kick from York; he found himself wide with plenty of space and picked out Grey, who headed over from six yards.
Rovers managed to get a goal back following some neat build-up play down the left. Nwoko found substitute Elijah Morrison, who cut the ball back to an on-rushing McAllister, who finessed his effort into the far-left corner.
York substitute Josh Stones had a golden opportunity to restore a two-goal lead. Pearce broke into the box down the left wing and fired the ball through the box, but Stones couldn’t stretch to tap home the ball.
Stones thought he had his goal when fellow substitute Ollie Banks put the forward through one-on-one, and he converted past Isted. However, the forward was given offside by the linesman.
Another chance came moments later for Stones when Brookes sent in a deep cross, but his header was wide of the target.
A nice spell by Rovers down the right culminated with substitute Tom Knowles firing a cross in, but it beat everyone in the box before York turned it behind for a Rovers corner.
There will be no time for Rovers to dwell on this defeat, with Robbie Savage’s men facing a quick turnaround to their next fixture, a tough midweek away trip to National League leaders Rochdale.
Full-Time: York City 2-1 FGR
York: Male, King (80‘ Fallowfield), Kitching, Johnson, Williams, Brookes, Hunt (80’ Batty), Boateng, Pearce (C) (80‘ Banks), Grey (71’ Stones), Williams, Olley (20’ Newby)
Subs: Sykes-Kenworthy, Howe
FGR: Isted, Ahmed (75’ Mitchell), Kircough (88’ Babalola), Mendy (C), Buyabu, McAllister, Haughton (53’ Knowles), Clarke (53’ Morrison), Campbell (88’ Bunker), Nwoko, Rees
Subs: Pagel, Kanu
Attendance: 6,686 (Away: 220)
