YORK CITY won for the first time since the opening day of the season on Saturday, as they outplayed Portsmouth from start to finish to run out 4-2 winners.
Portsmouth, the 2008 FA Cup winners, and 2010 runners-up, fell behind after keeper John Sullivan could only parry a curling free kick into the path of Wes Fletcher, who bundled home after four minutes.
York kept up the pressure without creating a great deal of clear-cut chances in the first half. Home goalkeeper Michael Ingham had little to do.
However, the home side were unable to convert their dominant share of the play into a second goal. And they were made to pay in the second period when Jed Wallace netted a spectacular solo goal.
Wallace picked up the ball inside the Portsmouth half, embarking on a mazy run through the York defences and then expertly placed the ball into the corner of the goal, past the helpless Ingham.
York’s defence, rarely called upon in the first 45 minutes, suddenly withered in the face of Wallace’s attacking brilliance. However, they could have questioned why the midfield failed to deal with Wallace at the start of his run.
Pompey, average in the opening period, suddenly had a lifeline and the game was in the balance. Yet five minutes later, York scored the pivotal goal, the first of three in eight minutes which put the result of the contest beyond doubt.
City might have been expected to fold after relinquishing their lead, just as they did two weeks ago against Mansfield Town. Instead they retook the lead, thanks to a perfectly timed stroke of luck.
It came after 58 minutes. A poor corner looked to be dropping into Sullivan’s hands, with calls of “what a waste” from the crowd. But the butter-fingered keeper let the ball slip from his grasp, and Lewis Montrose was first on the scene to tap home from less than a yard.
Manager Nigel Worthington was visibly delighted at his side’s resilience, albeit thanks to an error from the big-name visitors. Yet he must have been delirious at what came next.
After 64 minutes top-scorer Ryan Jarvis created the crucial two-goal buffer, as he found space to rifle a crisp low shot past Sullivan from eight yards.
The relief amongst players, staff and fans alike was palpable: a first win in eight League Two games finally appeared plausible. And so it was, as Fletcher bagged his second with a pinpoint header, Jarvis this time turning provider as York opened up a 4-1 advantage.
Second-bottom at the start of play, York didn’t take any unnecessary risks, content with holding on during the final 20 minutes.
Fletcher was denied a tilt at his hat-trick as Worthington chose to replace him with Ryan Bowman with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
On 88 minutes, Pompey were able to pull one back as John Marquis blasted a shot into the net. Ingham managed to get a big hand to the ball, but he couldn’t keep it out. The most fervent Blues supporters knew it was mere consolation.
York held out for a win which propels them out of the League Two relegation zone. Hope is the scourge of any football fan, but Saturday’s performance, and result, suggests York City have the potential to rise up the table.