Minstermen take home the three points

Latics' promotion hopes took another blow when they were beaten 2-0 by York City in front of their home fans.

Boundary Park’s largest crowd of the season, 8,234, saw two of the National League’s top sides battle out the game which was postponed from Boxing Day.

The Minstermen won with two first half goals from Malachi Fagan-Walcott and the National league’s top scorer Ollie Pearce.

“We played against a good team,” said Latics boss Micky Mellon after the match, “but we made it difficult for ourselves with the goals we gave away.

“In the second half we played more like we wanted to play but York showed a lot of good play in good areas.

"But you have to give yourself a good chance and not give away goals.

“In the second half the lads gave it a good go and I could not fault the way they played and battled in trying to get that goal.”

Latics made three changes from the side beaten 3-1 by Aldershot Town on Saturday.

Striker James Norwood returned from injury with Mike Fondop dropping to the bench.

Josh Lundstram replaced Josh Kay in midfield and there was a debut for midfielder Tom Pett, who recently joined on loan until the end of the season.

In a tight opening, the visitors broke the deadlock after 24 minutes.

A rampaging run from Sinclair saw Reagan Ogle concede a foul just outside the box.

From Alex Hunt’s resulting freekick keeper Matt Hudson pushed the ball away only for Fagan-Walcott to put the rebound into the net.

Mellon changed to a 4-4-2 formation with Jake Caprice moving to the left in search of a quick equaliser.

But it was York City who scored next on 38 minutes, when Pearce latched onto a ball from the right and struck a firm shot which Hudson could only partially stop, the ball eventually finding the net for the striker’s 16th league goal of the season.

Latics pressed hard to pull a goal back before half time with Manny Monthe striking just wide and Pett forcing York keeper Harrison Male into action.

Latics’ leading goal scorer Mike Fondop replaced Alex Reid at the break and then, in the 55th minute, came close to scoring when his header from Ogle’s cross rattled the crossbar and was cleared away.

Norwood then fired wide.

Josh Stones, who had recently had a spell on loan at Latics before joining York City, then came on as a substitute for the visitors and received a particularly vocal reception from the home crowd.

Latics continued their efforts to get something out of the game.

Josh Kay replaced Caprice, Billy Waters came on for Norwood and Jake Leake took over from Mark Kitching, as the away side saw out the game for a 2-0 victory.

Latics, who remain in fifth position in the National League table, now have four consecutive away league games to kick-start their promotion campaign, starting with a trip to Gateshead on Saturday.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.