North and South take Saturday’s centre stage
YORK CITY remain unbeaten at Bootham Crescent in 2018 after sub Connor Smith’s first goal of the season secured a 1-1 draw with Chorley.
The Minstermen had to come from behind to make it eight home games without a defeat since the 3-2 reverse against Blyth Spartans on the last Saturday before Christmas.
A terrific strike by Alex Newby had earlier given the Magpies a tenth-minute lead following the first opportunity of the afternoon.
But Newby is now doubtful for Easter Monday’s home clash against Bradford Park Avenue, with Chorley chief Matt Jansen telling The NLP: “It was a fantastic goal and he did really well for us, considering he had a slight niggle in his hamstring and he had to go off in the end.
“He got on the ball well and worried them when he ran at them.”
Despite only managing one more on-target attempt during the match, Jansen argued that his team’s display merited a greater reward than a share of the spoils.
“I thought we deserved the three points because we had the clearer chances than they did and I felt we caused them more problems,” the former Blackburn midfielder declared.
Newby thundered a 20-yard shot in off home keeper Adam Bartlett’s crossbar after Jake Cottrell had dispossessed York’s on-loan Middlesbrough midfielder Alex Pattison in his own half.
On-loan Blackpool striker Raul Correia then wasted two great opportunities to level before the break.
Both were teed up by Aidan Connolly, with Correia shooting tamely at Matt Urwin after charging through the left channel and then blazing over from eight yards in front of goal.
Home skipper Sean Newton also shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box with the last chance of the half.
After the break, Newton squandered a better opportunity, missing the target with a tenyard half-volley after Urwin’s weak punch.
But on 71 minutes the hosts were level when David Ferguson’s low cross from the left deflected across the face of goal and Smith sidefooted in from four yards at the back post to celebrate his first goal since a summer move from Hartlepool United.
Both teams went on to have opportunities to win the game, with York keeper Adam Bartlett holding onto a firm Marcus Carver drive and Dan Parslow’s brilliant block diverting Delial Brewster’s shot away from goal.
Smith saw a looping header land on the roof of the net three minutes into stoppage-time.
Minstermen manager Martin Gray said: “The substitutes all gave us energy and I’m delighted for Connor Smith because he’s been so frustrated waiting for an opportunity.”