York City slipped to their first defeat of the season at the LNER Community Stadium this weekend, handing recently-promoted Boston their first win of the campaign.
Manager Adam Hinselwood made six changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Sutton United on Saturday, and it showed in a disjointed affair, which helped lift the visiting Pilgrims off the bottom of the table. Jacob Hazel and Keaton Ward grabbed the goals that sank York, who now sit just outside the top seven in the early National League table.
It could have been very different – the home side went close before the break when Boston goalkeeper Cameron Gregory saved Ricky Aguiar’s shot from Cameron John’s smart cutback. However, it was a rare bright moment for the Minstermen, who will be seeking a top-seven finish and a stab at regaining the EFL status they lost in 2015/16.
Boston, themselves a one-time league club, albeit for a handful of seasons, worked home goalkeeper Harrison Male hard. He denied Hazel with a super stop in the 67th minute but couldn’t help his side minutes later when the St Kitts international tapped home at the far post.
With York’s Dan Batty marked out of the game, they struggled to get going, and Ian Culverhouse’s side wrapped up the win with three minutes to go. Former Mansfield striker Ward ran on to Pemi Aderoju’s through-ball and made no mistake slotting him past Male.
While it is early in the season, dropped points in the National League can be critical. With only one automatic promotion spot, it is a hard league to get out of, and many big hitters hope to follow Chesterfield and Bromley into the EFL. That’s a point not entirely lost on York fans, who reacted on X after the game.
Some felt this was just a bad day at the office, but how many can you have before your promotion charge is nothing more than a desperate attempt to get into the play-offs?
Bad day at the office, we will have more good than bad this season
— lilcoops (@mikecoops85) August 26, 2024
We cannot afford bad day at the offices this league is too cruel
— Tom Holland (@Tommyho87) August 26, 2024
Slightly embarrassing to lose to such a poor side but we go again
— George (@George_Coultish) August 26, 2024
But not the last time if we keep playing like that. Put it down to playing twice in 48 hours, so hope it doesn’t happen again. We can play so much better; I’m sure the manager will work hard to make sure we bounce back quickly.
— James Woodward (@jamesmwoodward) August 26, 2024
We win some, we lose some! Still early days, yes we weren’t at our best today but Harrison Male really did a job and kept us in at times. As we say we regroup and go again Saturday! Keep the faith ❤️
— Rob Lee (@Rob_Lee95) August 26, 2024
We played the ball around across the back nothing going forward, Culverhouse game plan to take batty out worked a treat it didn’t take much to break our flow down every manager will have learnt from today, we push up too fast which just opens the counter. All a bit concerning.
— Yorkshire_kk (@yorkshire_kk) August 26, 2024
Should be disappointed but 8 points out of 5 is still fine.
Could’ve been a dream start of 11 but so be it
— Steen🇮🇶 (@Steeeeeeeen1) August 26, 2024
They did their homework and we learnt a lesson. Let’s not all get too upset it’s the 5th game in, we can’t win them all. We have Hinshelwood at the wheel not Ardley anymore. We’re still in the mix keep the faith, he more than deserves it.
— admiral ackbhar (@admiral_ackbar7) August 26, 2024
Poor from start to finish. Far too easy for Boston to run over us with wild passing from Howe. Batty marked out of the game and we are all over the place. We need a plan B
— Den Kelly (@discodenkelly) August 26, 2024
