Match report Vs York CityVenue: Bootham CrescentDate: 18-11-17Att: 2507 (away fans: 117)

18-11-17 - Report - York City 1 Harriers 1

Honours even for Harriers at York

Report: Phil Lench

The Harriers came away from York City today with a creditable draw following an early goal from Ryan Croasdale. It could so easily have been a win for the Reds considering that we had the bulk of the possession and at times the home side were left chasing shadows and resorting to cynical falling down that the Yorkshire based referee chose to ignore.

On a bright early Winters day the Harriers started the game with a shuffle at the back due to the absence of Joel Taylor to injury and Tyrone Williams to suspension. Sam Austin went in at the back alongside James Pearson. On the four strong bench was new signing Yan Klukowski, formerly of York City.

We started the game at whirlwind pace and could have taken an early lead many times with Pearson, Andre Brown and James McQuilkin testing the former Harriers keeper Adam Bartlett within the first five minutes. Amazingly it took until the twentieth minute for Croasdale to open the scoring when smart interplay from Brown and Elton N’Gwatala set Ryan up nicely to curl the ball around Bartlett and into the net.

He could have added a second a few minutes later with a shot that Bartlett saved well.

York drew level on thirty seven minutes from a free kick for a dubious reason when Aidan Connolly appeared to fall to the ground far too easily following a slight touch from Declan Weeks. Up stepped Parkin to send a beautifully struck free kick beyond the reach of Brandon Hall.

The half ended with us still in command but unable to regain the lead even though we came close but only strong defending from City kept us at bay.

HT: 1 – 1

The second half City returned to the pitch with an obvious flea in their ears due to the pressure they put on us compared to the first half. We soon got used to that though and even though our passing wasn’t so slick we were still getting more than our fair share of chances. Sadly a lack of sharpness meant that most of them went begging.

Our closest chance early doors came when Pearson chased a ball down and the kick from Bartlett struck him and looped back over the City keeper. But sadly also over the bar.

In an effort to give us more of a threat up front N’Gwatala was swapped for Manny Sonupè and straight away his fast feet was causing panic in the City defensive ranks. Almost his first touch forced Bartlett into a last ditch save with his feet as the ball was rifled across the face of goal.

York tried their hardest to score but we were stronger at the back than last week and were giving very little away meaning that Hall was rarely called on to make a clear save.

We sent on new signing Klukowski for his debut towards the end and he looked calm and calculated in his role and should be a good short term answer for us with our depleted squad.

The game finally ended all square with the only worrying thing being the three bookings picked up that had been far from warranted when during the second half Parkin clearly swiped his arm out at Croasdale and even though the referee saw it and wagged his finger he didn’t take it any further.

Sadly we still remain in twelfth place in the table but on Tuesday we have the chance to rack up a cricket score at home to basement North Ferriby. But will we ended up drawing yet again?

FT: 1 – 1


Goal for York City: Parkin 37

Goal for Harriers: Croasdale 20


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Latest table and stats here


York CityGoalsSubsTimeCards
Bartlett    
Law   
Whittle    
Bencherif    
Parslow    
Moké    
Newton    
Rowe    
Parkin   
Martin 58 
Connolly 53 
 
Subs: 
Simpson    
Morgan-Smith 53 
Ferguson 58 
Gray    
Walton    
 
HarriersGoalsSubsTimeCards
Hall    
Pearson   
Austin    
Croasdale   
Horsfall    
O’Connor    
Weeks    
McQuilkin    
Ironside 74 
N’Gwatala 62 
A Brown    
 
Subs: 
Wright    
Truslove    
Sonupè 62 
Klukowski 74 
     
     
Referee: 
James Bell
Sheffield