A youthful York City academy squad booked their place in the North Riding Senior Cup quarter-finals by overturning an early deficit to beat Fishburn Park 3-1. The win at Whitby Town's Towbar Express Stadium saw goals from Sutton Greening and Ben Farrar secure a valuable result for the club's next generation.
First-team head coach Scott Lindsey confirmed on Monday that an academy squad would take on the tie, and he was in attendance to assess the players. "Whilst it would be an academy squad taking on Fishburn Park at Whitby Town’s Towbar Express Stadium, he would still be in attendance to cast an eye over City’s next generation," Lindsey said.
The visitors, who sit fourth in the North Riding Senior League, stunned York by taking the lead inside five minutes. Nathan Storr's free-kick found the top corner of Campbell White's goal. White started in net for a York side that featured a back three of Ollie Belleh, DJ Penrose and Elvis Hall, with first-team squad members Ben Farrar and Ethan Stiver also in the lineup.
York responded well and were awarded a penalty on 34 minutes for a handball. Sutton Greening stepped up to convert smoothly from the spot. He then completed his brace from 12 yards early in the second half after Michael Kydd was tripped in the area. Ben Farrar sealed the victory, racing onto a ball inside the box, rounding the goalkeeper and sliding home a composed finish.
The result provides a positive note for the club as the senior side continues its League Two campaign. York currently sit sixth in the <a href="/standings">league table</a> with 17 points from 11 games, eight points behind leaders Salford City. Their record of four wins, five draws and two losses includes a goal difference of plus six, having scored 19 and conceded 13. Scott Lindsey's first team are unbeaten in their last five league matches, a run of one win and four draws that includes Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley where Ollie Pearce scored a late equaliser. That result followed a 1-1 draw at Newport County on Saturday 17 October, where Pearce also scored, and a 1-1 draw with Northampton on Saturday 10 October.
The team's recent form, which also includes a 3-0 win over Gillingham and a 1-1 draw with Rotherham, has stays in the top six. Attention now turns back to the league and a home <a href="/fixtures">fixture against Port Vale this Saturday</a>. The visitors currently sit 20th in the table. The academy's progress offers encouragement for the future as the club balances its immediate push for promotion with developing homegrown talent.
More detail at yorkpress.co.uk
