CITY BACK ON TRACK AS JORDAN STRIKES!
ASEVENTH goal of the season from Jordan Burrow saw York City return to winning ways after a surprise run of three defeats.
The hat-trick of consecutive 1-0 losses had followed a club record unbeaten run of 21 matches. Following this single-goal home triumph over Alfreton, City hoss Steve Watson is now targeting another long sequence of positive results.
Victory at Hereford on Tuesday night will lift the Minstermen back above King’s Lynn Town to reclaim the leadership of National League North and the ex-Gateshead manager said: “Starting with this match, I wanted nine points from nine and, although the next two games are tough away games, I believe we can do that.
“I think everybody had started to panic at the club – I hadn’t – but when everybody else is doing, it’s hard to keep the players calm and I just want this to be the start of another run now.”
The Reds started with determination and Dom Smith had the ball in the net for Billy Heath’s men on eight minutes before his header was ruled out for a push in the box.
Instead, after Sean Newton went close with a free kick that brushed the side netting, it was York who took an early lead with their first goal in four games.
Following a sweeping move that started with centre-back Josh King in his own half, David Ferguson hared down the left flank before delivering an excellent low cross for Burrow to guide in from four yards.
Alfreton sub Nyle Blake curled narrowly wide on 30 minutes after Adriano Moke had lost possession from Steve McNulty’s
pass out of defence. Elliott Durrell then squandered a great chance to double the Minstermen’s lead when he drilled an eight-yard shot straight at Jack Atkinson.
City then failed to capitalise on a three-on-one situation when Alex Kempster neglected to look up and spot two unmarked team-mates after running 40 yards with the ball.
York survived a scare after the break when former striker Amari Morgan-Smith’s half-volley struck the crossbar before Kallum Griffiths saw a tenyard effort at the other end cleared off the line by Josh Clackstone.
Home keeper Pete Jameson had to make a smart reflex save to keep out Smith’s powerful header on 73 minutes but York, marshalled by the positionally-perfect McNulty, had few further problems on their way to an 11th clean sheet of the season.
Heath was pleased with his team but felt they lacked imagination. “I thought the lads gave their all and me