York City fans will not enjoy a day-out at Wembley after their team capitulated to a strong Oldham side in the playoff semi final tonight (Tuesday).
Two goals in three second-half minutes helped Oldham to a 3-0 win at the LNER Community Stadium and booked them a place in the National League promotion final.
It was a sad end to a brilliant season which saw City finish in second place on 96 points.
Despite the warmth of the evening and a heated atmosphere in a stadium packed with more than 8,000 fans, City froze on the night.
And it was a defensive howler that gifted Oldham their opener.
York goalkeeper Harrison Male’s ill-judged throw was miscontrolled by Alex Hunt and the ball fell for Oldham striker Joe Garner to fire a first-time effort into the bottom corner.
Oldham doubled their lead four minutes into the second half when Mike Fondop played a neat pass into Vimal Yoganathan and he drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
Joe Pritchard flicked home a header home from Garner’s teasing cross shortly afterwards to seal victory and Oldham’s spot at Wembley on June 1.
City struggled to mount any sort of comeback and didn’t force the Oldham keeper into a single meaningful save.
It’s a difficult one for the home fans to take after finishing 22 points ahead of Oldham in the league, but the playoffs always turn the promotion battle into a cup tie – and the visitors were far stronger on the night.
The defeat came on the 13th anniversary of City beating Luton in the playoff final at Wembley to secure a place in the Football League. But history didn’t repeat itself – at least, not this year.