Match report: Stevenage 2 York City 2

Stevenage had to settle for a point against York after Brett Williams’ late penalty was kept out by Scott Flinders.

The Boro striker took responsibility for the spot kick following a foul on fellow substitute Dipo Akinyemi with just seven minutes to go, and although he tried for the corner Flinders guessed the right way to deny Sheringham’s men a third straight home win.

In the build up to the game Sheringham had spoken about the need to give the crowd something to get excited about. ‘Give them something to cheer about, and in turn that will help us’, he said.

But for all of their endeavour and possession on the ball in the opening half hour, they were unable to break through the York back line.

Time and again they came forward, slowly, passing the ball from side to side in an attempt to switch play, but time and again their opponents held firm, got in the occasional tackle or block and were able to keep their hosts at an arm’s length.

Even when Tom Pett would come inside looking to affect play, he would find bodies suddenly between himself and Flinders.

In response, York were happy to break on occasion and they only created the one clear chance– Luke Summerfield hitting a shot from distance that Jesse Joronen held on to – before the they took the lead with five minutes left in the first half. This time Joronen had no answer to Eddie Nolan’s 30-yard shot.

Boro looked to exploit space down the left in the second half, and it was from there that they drew back level.

Charlie Lee headed a corner onto the bar before York broke down the right, with Femi Isesanmi forcing Joronen into a low save.

But then Ogilvie created some space on the left, and lifted a cross into the box for a team-mate. Chris Whelpdale was there, and he nodded past Flinders who had come off his line in the hope of distracting the Boro winger.

The hosts then completed the turnaround with Lee heading in past Flanders to send the home side into raptures.

But York were not done; with 75 minutes gone, Summerfield picked up the ball on the left, took a touch and then curled an outrageous effort past Joronen and into the top corner.

It left the home fans – and players – momentarily stunned, and York attacked again. This time, though, a good block from Mark Hughes denied them a third.

In fact, it was Boro who had the chance to win the game when Akinyemi, just on, was brought down by Dave Winfield. Up stepped Williams, but he was denied by a sensational one-handed save from Flinders.

There was also still time for Tom Conlon to hit the bar with a wonderful free-kick on the stroke of 90 minutes, but York’s luck held and they travel home with a point.

Stevenage: Joronen, Franks, Ogilvie, Hughes, Wells, Whelpdale, Pett, Smith, Jebb (Conlon 81), Lee (Akinyemi 79), Hitchcock (Williams 71). Subs: Day, Jamie McCombe, Henry, Gorman.

York City: Flinders, Ilesanmi, McCoy (Penn 68), Berrett, Nolan, Summerfield, Oliver, Lowe, Winfield, Thompson (Carson 78), Tutonda (Sinclair 68). Subs: Ingham, John McCombe, Rzonca, Godfrey.

Att: 3.319