York 0-2 Town
By James Edwards
Fleetwood Town ended a run of two straight league defeats as they came away from Bootham Crescent with all three points this afternoon courtesy of goals from Gareth Evans and Jamille Matt.
Evans was on hand to give his side the lead in the 23rd minute, before Matt doubled the advantage twenty five minutes from time to ensure Town returned to winning ways.
Manager Graham Alexander made three changes to the side that fell to defeat at the hands of Scunthorpe United at Highbury on Tuesday evening.
Recalled to the starting eleven were Ryan Cresswell, midfielder Steven Schumacher and forward Jamille Matt, at the expense of Mark Roberts, Matty Blair and Jon Parkin respectively.
The home side’s Ryan Brobbel was proving a menace down the left hand side in the early exchanges, getting in behind Town full back Liam Hogan on a couple of occasions.
Some fantastic wing play by Antoni Sarcevic nearly presented Town with a chance of their own, as August’s League 2 player of the month cut in from the byline and delivered a low cross which was cleared away.
Soon after, Steven Schumacher’s inviting corner was fumbled by keeper Michael Ingham, but the Cod Army were unable to capitalize.
York’s Luke O’Neill sent a crashing effort high over keeper Scott Davies’ goal, before Gareth Evans’s volley from a Ryan Cresswell knock down was tipped away by Ingham.
On 23 minutes, Graham Alexander’s men took the lead. A superb cross by Schumacher from the left was met by Matt who saw his effort saved, and the ball fell to Gareth Evans at the back post who headed home.
No real clear cut chances were carved out by either side after the goal, and much of the game was played in midfield, with Schumacher impressing.
Leeds United loanee Charlie Taylor was also catching the eye at left back, with both centre backs also in commanding form.
Some neat play four minutes after the interval by Gareth Evans and Jeff Hughes presented Schumacher with an opportunity from the edge of the box, but he dragged his shot wide.
Goalscorer Evans forced Michael Ingham into a fine save low down, before Nathan Pond headed over from a corner.
Jeff Hughes tried his luck on the half volley from long range, but Ingham was once again equal to it.
With Fleetwood well on top, it was only a matter of time before they doubled their lead in the 65th minute.
Schumacher’s free kick from the left was fumbled by keeper Ingham and Matt was the quickest to react as he fired home from close range to net his eighth of the campaign.
In response, Josh Carson sent his strike from eighteen yards wide, before Luke O’Neill’s free kick went straight into the wall as the Minstermen looked for a way back into the game.
Wes Fletcher then wasted a good chance for the home side when he fired wide from just inside the box.
Alexander’s men stayed solid in the final few minutes however to deny the Minstermen and return to Lancashire with all three points.