A look back on the action in pictures from our cosey press position…
York prepare to defend a throw in
Photos: YORK CITY 1-3 AFC FYLDE
A look at the league table
So City remain 8th in the National League North a point behind Chorley, but with 5 games in hand over the magpies. AFC Fylde move up to second in the league, 5 points behind league leaders Gloucester with 3 games in hand.
With many teams refusing to play due to concerns over safety, it’s unlikely we’ll be looking at the table very often as the National League seek to find a resolution for finishing the season.
Video: Steve Watson reflects
Manager Steve Watson was in reflective mood after the historic game.
“A lot of things didn’t go right on the night, especially the three goals we conceded, none of which were from open play,” he said.
He said City had a strong squad, with six potential strikers.
“That’s the challenge to all the boys – get in the team, score goals, win games.”
A roller coaster match
So it’s defeat for City in their debut game here. They played well for half an hour in the second half after Sean Newton equalised and it only looked like they would go on to get a second. That suckapunch freekick from Haughton really sucked the tempo out of City though and AFC Fylde come away full value for their victory.
Sean Newton picks up the official club man of the match award, which is about right for his contribution to a spirited come back attempt in the second half.
FULL TIME: YORK CITY 1-3 AFC FYLDE
Two 30-yard freekicks from Nick Haughton and a George Sampson opener see AFC Fylde through to a comfortable victory and York start life in the new LNER Community Stadium with a disappointing 3-1 defeat.
Substitution Fylde
80’ GOAL! YORK CITY 1-3 AFC FYLDE
That’s harsh on City who have responded magnificently since going 2 goals down. A freekick is given away in a similar position to the last one but over to the left. It’s that man Haughton who steps up again and this time curls a beauty into the top right corner.
York have been much the better side up until now and will feel hard done by there. 1-3 and that is surely that.
73′ Substitions for AFC Fylde
David Perkins is replaced by Liam Nolan. Redshaw has been giving Perkins a hard time down the right this half and you do feel that was a tactical decision.
Sam Osborne is also replaced by Junior Mondal.
69′ Chance for City from a Freekick
Big chance for City. Redshaw twists and turns down the right and is tripped by Perkins to win a freekick. Newton bends a dangerous set piece to the back post where Redshaw was lurking, but his volley flies over. 1-2
65′ Great save by Jameson!
Great save by Pete Jameson to deny Osborne, who dribbled down the right wing and cut inside to drill a thunderbolt towards the top corner.
64′ GOAL! YORK CITY 1-2 AFC FYLDE
Who else but Sean Newton scores the first ever goal for York City at the LNER. He tucks the penalty away with aplomb for his 7th goal of the season after Redshaw did really well to dribble inside the area to win the penalty from a trip.
1-2, game on!
63′ PENALTY FOR CITY!
City make two substitutions and Jack Redshaw makes an immediate impact after coming off the bench to win a penalty for City!
55′ GOAL YORK CITY 0-2 AFC FYLDE
What a goal from Nick Haughton. Harry Bunn picks up the first yellow card of the game after a nasty challenge midway inside his own half. From a central position 30 yards from goal, Haughton hits a wonderful freekick over the wall, which bounces back off the post and into the net off the back of Jameson.
It’s 2-0 to Fylde and City’s homecoming is looking like a sad one so far.
53′ Substitute
52′ Tasty challenge by Bunn
Harry Bunn puts a low cross into the area, which is cleared to Burke, who is then clattered by Bunn and a freekick is given. Bunn goes over to either apologise or show his discontent with the reaction… but the physio has entered the field now.
50′ Nearly curtains for Newton
Burke sends a teasing cross into the mixer with no Fylde player attacking it, but Newton’s attempted clearance is sliced and nearly goes in the back of his own net. Jameson does well to read the danger. 0-0
The second half is underway!
The two sides are out and the second half begins with City shooting right to left. Big half for the Minstermen this.
Key battle: Tollitt vs Duckworth
Although the two sides sharing a good amount of chances, it’s this man Tollitt that has given City a whole load of problems down this left hand side. Duckworth has battled and will need to continue doing so against a player clearly in the mood tonight.
Fan reaction from Twitter
City are losing their first ever game in their brand-spanking new stadium, let’s see how the York faithful have reacted to their side’s performance.
HALF TIME: York City 0-1 AFC Fylde
It’s heartbreak right on the stroke of half time for City. They concede a corner, which is drilled to the back post by Perkins. It’s headed across goal and with City players stood crying for handball, Sampson is there at the back post to steer home the opening goal of the game.
You have to say on the balance of play, AFC Fylde have just edged it here and are good value for their lead. You feel City will need to change something up top to get back into this.
45+1 GOAL AFC Fylde!
Oh no. Jack Sampson scores the first ever goal at the LNER Community Stadium for AFC Fylde. 0-1
41′ Tollitt with a drive!
It’s that man Tollitt who is causing more problems for City. The coasters top scorer drives to the edge of the City area and hits a rocket towards goal. Jameson spills it to Sampson, but he’s called offside.
Tollitt has definitely been the most dangerous man on the pitch so far. 0-0.
35′ Chance for Fylde
The coasters are keeping possession better than the hosts tonight, and work another chance on the edge of the box for Tollitt, but his shot is dragged wide of the right hand post.
Neither side edging ahead here as we approach half time. The tempo is high, but both sides have defended well when they’ve needed to.
Action shot
30′ CHANCE for City!
McGill gets a brace of chances in good positions, but both shots from inside the area are well saved by Chris Neal in the Fylde goal.
24′ Another City corner
York have had 4 corners at the start of this game. The latest is a dangerous delivery by Harry Bunn, but cleared well by Fylde. Both sides defending well when needed here. 0-0
23′ Close for Fylde
Tollitt is proving to be a tricky customer to defend against for York, who takes a one two and canters towards goal. His square ball across goal is well read by Peter Jameson in the York goal though. 0-0
18′ Fylde turning the screw
Fylde play a lovely move around the edge of the York area with defenders scurrying. The ball is crossed in for Tollitt at the back post, but his redirected effort across goal is cleared in a scramble.
Good defending by City.
15′ End to end stuff here!
City nearly score from a corner after a well whipped in cross from Sean Newton, but it’s well defended. Up the other end Fylde come, and Nick Haughton is found in space on the edge of the box, but his shot flys high over the bar.
Lively start to the game here!
Action shot
10′ Goal!.. but it’s offside for Fylde!
AFC Fylde score from corner after David Perkins shot was deflected into the back of the net, but the linesman is quick to notice the deflection coming off a Fylde player in an offside positon. 0-0
4′ Early freekick for City
City win their first ever freekick at the LNER Community stadium on the right edge of the box, but Newton’s speculative effort is inches wide of the top right corner.
The players are out on the field for the first time ever here!
The Minstermen grace the field in their traditional red and navy blue strip and we’re ready top go!
The heavens have opened!
It’s set to be a slippery start to City’s Community Stadium journey tonight… let’s hope that’s just because of the weather and not the result!
Fortunately we have a lovely roof over our commentary position!
OPTA STATS:
- When AFC Fylde were founded in 2008 after a name change from Kirkham & Wesham FC, they were 4 divisions below York who were a Conference Premier club at the time. 10 years later, City suffered relegation to the 6th tier for the first time ever and were overtaken by tonight’s opponents who gained promotion to the 5th tier – also for the first time in their history.
- York are unbeaten at home this season, winning 4 and drawing 2 of their 6 games in all competitions at Bootham Crescent this year. AFC Fylde meanwhile have lost 4 out of 12 away games in all competitions.
- AFC Fylde are ahead of York in terms of goals per game, holding an average of 1.90 goals per match as opposed to 1.67 for City. The two sides are near on even in terms of goals against, with Fylde conceding 1.15 per game, and York conceding 1.20.
- York captain and top scorer Sean Newton is the highest scoring defender in the league with 6 goals to his name. It’s a tally matched by AFC Fylde’s top scoring midfielder Ben Tollitt.
The players are out!
One for the memory bank!
With 15 minutes until kickoff, lets remind ourselves of the last goal to ever be scored at Bootham Crescent back in January.
20-year-old defender Joshua King scored his first goal for City and the final ever goal ever to be scored at Bootham Crescent, as the Minstermen bowed out of their traditional home with a 1-0 over Yorkshire rivals Guisley back in January.
Manager’s comments:
City manager Steve Watson hopes tonight will be ‘the first of many great days’ as York prepare to start their journey in a new home.
Although tonight is technically a home fixture, there are no fans, and the pitch poses new environs for both teams. Watson was reluctant to make a prediction on how his side might take to the new surroundings, but admitted the stadium was a big draw for himself and many of his summer signings:
“It’s a completely unique experience. We’re going into a new stadium that should, for all intents and purposes, give us a home advantage, but none of us have been there, none of us have been on the pitch, we’ve not had a training session on there.”
“The stadium just became part of the overall package of a fantastic opportunity. The stadium, the size of the club, the city itself and the fanbase, it was all a great project for a youngish manager to take on.”
“For a lot of these players who came in the summer, the stadium was a big draw to them as well. They’re all massively looking forward to it.
“There are two or three York lads in there as well – Woodsy (Michael Woods), Ducky (Michael Duckworth), Rob Guilfoyle and a couple of the goalies, they know the history of York and they’ve been waiting on this as long as the fans have. They’re fans themselves so they’ll be dying to get going in the new stadium.”
AFC Fylde team news
Sam Osborne and Nick Haughton come in to start for AFC Fylde and Wigan loan signing Emeka Obi starts on the bench after the defender signed on an emergency basis for the Coasters today.
New boys start up front for City
The headline for York is that loan signings Jason Gilchrist (on loan from South Shields) and Gabby McGill (on loan from Dunfermline) lead the line for City today.
York City Team News
York Team to play AFC Fylde: Jameson, Duckworth, Tinkler, Brown, Newton (c), Barrow, Woods, McLaughlin, Bunn, McGill, Gilchrist
SUBS: Whitley, Kennedy, Dyson, Cassidy, Redshaw
A fixture… finally!
It feels like a century since the Minstermen last put ball to foot in a competitive fixture – a 2-2 draw away at Kidderminster on January 5th initiated a long list of fixture cancellations due to either COVID issues, including a 2-week league suspension, or as a result of treacherous weather conditions symptomatic for this time of year.
It means York have only played 12 of 42 scheduled league games, a joint lowest amount… And it’s February!
The wait for a football match dwarfs that of the delays to York’s stadium move. The Minstermen have flirted with a move away from their beloved Bootham Crescent for almost two decades, with council stoppages, car park hitches, and drainage issues contributing to a mountain of problems holding back the handover of stadium keys.
A win tonight in a first ever meeting with Lancashire side AFC Fylde would send them into the playoff places despite playing less games than every team inside the top seven.
It will have to be well earned against a tough AFC Fylde side, who sit third in the league but like City, haven’t played a competitive fixture for over a month, so any conversation of form is out of the window!
Welcome!
The words we’ve all been waiting for… Good evening! And welcome for the first time ever to the LNER Community Stadium as York City prepare to christen their brand-new multi-purpose stadium against AFC Fylde in the Vanarama National League North.
After an emotional farewell to Bootham Crescent where fans have filled the terraces for 89 years, the City faithful will set their gaze upon new surroundings tonight… but a worldwide pandemic means they’ll have to do so from the sofa!
With fans unable to welcome the Minstermen out into this magnificent 8,005-seater venue tonight, we’ve got you covered right here on the YorkMix live matchday blog with full match commentary and reaction, as City seek to grace their new home with a victory.