York City 2-1 Morecambe

The Shrimps headed to Bootham Crescent hoping to heap further misery on Jackie McNamara’s side but were well below their best.

Dave Winfield’s first half header put the Minstermen in front before James Berrett’s low drive doubled their lead shortly after the interval.

The two-goal advantage was shortlived as Jamie Devitt soon pulled a goal back but The Shrimps couldn’t capitalise as York hung on for all three points despite a late onslaught.

The visitors, showing six changes from their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy exit at Fleetwood, made a shaky start with Barry Roche needed to keep out Vadaine Oliver’s volley from a fine Luke Summerfield cross early on.

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Neither side were convincing though, York were thankful 10 minutes in as Arsenal loanee Stefan O’Connor cleared a Shaun Miller effort off the line as the hosts failed to deal with a Devitt free-kick.

It was a poor spectacle however with misplaced passes and long balls forward the order of the day.

One such pass from Danny Galbraith 27 minutes in set Aaron Wildig in on goal but after rounding Scott Flinders and going wide The Shrimps man saw his effort blocked on the line by Winfield.

It looked like something spectacular would be needed to break the deadlock and Bradley Fewster nearly provided it with a shot from distance beaten away by Roche on the half hour with a second effort 30 seconds later well held by The Shrimps stopper.

York didn’t have to wait much longer for an opening goal as the struggling Minstermen got their noses in front on 38 minutes.

Berrett’s looping, in-swinging cross from the left was asking to be headed and giant central defender Winfield did just that, powering the ball down and beyond the left hand of Roche.

The hosts had a golden chance to double their advantage two minutes into the second half but free in the area Fewster took an age before being robbed of possession.

Morecambe didn’t heed the warning however and the second goal came on 52 minutes with Berrett given time to arrow a low shot beyond Roche and into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

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The two-goal advantage lasted just two minutes however with Lee Molyneux doing well down the left before pulling the ball back for Devitt to finish well from 10 yards.

Having been scrappy in the first period the game was now wide open, Fewster drilling a shot narrowly over on 57 minutes as the chances kept coming.

Wildig had his second good chance of the match shortly after but with time and space on the edge of the area the midfielder could only fire over on the turn.

The Shrimps then needed the returning Roche to be in top form to ensure the deficit remained one, the big Irishman denying Fewster in on goal with an outstretched leg before beating away Berrett’s follow-up.

Nerves increased amongst the home fans as the prospect of a long-awaited win drew near, Ryan Edwards seeing a header from a Paul Mullin corner deflected over the bar as The Shrimps searched for an equaliser.

Gaps started to open up for the hosts as Morecambe threw everything forwards, Fewster and Berrett dragging shots wide on the counter.

But the final drama was at the other end with The Shrimps twice coming close.

First Wildig saw a deflected effort trickle the wrong side of the post before from the resultant corner Anton Forrester could only deflect a Kevin Ellison cross wide, leaving Bootham Crescent to celebrate a much-needed win for the home side.

York City: Flinders, O’Connor (Nolan 64), Winfield, Boyle, Ilesanmi, Penn (capt), Summerfield, Berrett, Galbraith (McEvoy 77), Fewster (Carson 90), Oliver. Subs not used: Ingham, Straker, Swan, Kitching.

Booked: Oliver, Flinders

Morecambe: Roche, Beeley, Edwards, Dugdale, McGowan, Murphy (capt), Kenyon (Ellison 69), Devitt, Wildig, Molyneux (Mullin 75), Miller (Forrester 69). Subs not used: Thompson, Goodall, Wilson, Parrish.

Booked: Molyneux, Wildig.

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Attendance: 2,769 (148 Morecambe)

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