York City were soundly beaten 5-2 by Grimsby Town in a one-sided League Two encounter on Saturday. The result marks the first Football League meeting between the clubs since December 1997 and extends York's winless run to three matches, having lost their last two games.
Grimsby dominated from the outset with a 3-4-1-2 formation, enjoying 69% possession and firing 24 shots. Andy Cook opened the scoring for the hosts in the 13th minute. Alex Hunt equalised for York five minutes later, and Jack Hunt put the visitors ahead on 28 minutes. The lead was short-lived as Iwan Morgan levelled three minutes later.
The second half belonged entirely to Grimsby. Cameron McJannett restored their lead in the 75th minute before Josh Andrews and Géza Dávid Turi added late goals to complete the rout. York managed just three shots on target all game and posted a meagre 0.39 expected goals figure.
The heavy defeat is a setback for York, who remain fifth in the League Two standings with 20 points from 13 games, a record of five wins, five draws and three losses. Their recent form has dipped to one win, two draws and two losses in their last five outings, leaving them eight points adrift of leaders Salford City. This loss followed a 3-1 defeat at Barnet on Tuesday 27 October, where Arthur Read scored their only goal, and a 2-0 win over Port Vale on Saturday 24 October. Overall this season, York have scored 22 goals and conceded 16.
Attention now turns to the next challenge. York travel to face 17th-placed Rochdale on Saturday 14 November, a match they will need to win to stabilise their promotion push after this disappointing result at Blundell Park.
