Stevenage Boro 1 York City 2 MARCUS CRAWLEY reports This was not the sort of display the home fans were demanding for new boss Mark Stimson s first competitive home match in charge. Stimson s side lost by the odd goal in three for the second match running

Stevenage Boro 1 York City 2

MARCUS CRAWLEY reports

This was not the sort of display the home fans were demanding for new boss Mark Stimson's first competitive home match in charge.

Stimson's side lost by the odd goal in three for the second match running but York could easily have won by a far wider margin.

Toothless in attack and fragile to the ball over the top in defence, Boro were well beaten by Billy McEwan's men.

There were starting places for Dannie Bulman and Jon Nurse, two of the remaining players from the Graham Westley era. Ronnie Henry and Darryn Stamp dropped to the bench.

New skipper Luke Oliver did not make the most auspicious of starts, first almost gifting the lively Clayton Donaldson a goal and then being booked for a crude challenge.

This was all within the opening 60 seconds and worse was to follow five minutes later as York went ahead.

Keeper Danny Potter had already done well to deny Donaldson and Mark Convery but he was powerless to stop Donaldson on this occasion.

Barry Fuller was turned inside out as Donaldson rampaged onto a long ball and then the big striker thumped the ball past a helpless Potter.

Boro's one bright spark on the night was new winger Craig Dobson and his trickery ensured an unlikely equaliser after 18 minutes.

Dobson was brought down by Nathan Peat and referee Lewis had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

The official also had no qualms in ruling out Adam Miller's first penalty attempt for encroachment.

Fortunately the midfielder held his nerve to score again low to keeper Darren Craddock's right.

Boro were actually in the hunt for the remainder of the half, although their only moment of real threat came when the otherwise anonymous George Boyd shot inches wide.

York played on the counter and looked a potent force.

Potter did well again to half stop Craig Farrell's effort and Oliver cleared up. Then the tall defender managed to force Donaldson on his left foot in added time and the shot was screwed wide.

If the first half was pretty even - with York having the better of the chances - it was one-way traffic after the break with Boro not at the races.

Midfielder Manny Panther ran the show and York threatened a second goal from the off.

Steve Bowey hit the outside of the post and forced Potter to palm over a corner from under his own bar. Farrell was also just off target and then red-faced after making a mess of a decent opportunity.

Boro lost Santos Gaia to injury on the hour and York netted their winner three minutes afterwards as Bowey curled a right-footed shot past Potter.

The home side - and fans for that matter - were clearly rattled but they at least stemmed the tide.

Oliver could have a grabbed an undeserved equaliser when he met a long Fuller free-kick but his header thudded back down off the bar.

Tony Thorpe, later replaced by Chris Sullivan, could only head the rebound into Craddock's midriff.

One sizzling Dobson run apart, Nurse supplied Boro's limited threat in the closing stages. Penalty appeals were waved away when he went tumbling and then he headed a John Nutter cross onto the roof of the net.

Potter - one of the few Boro players to emerge with much credit - denied York sub Byron Webster in the final action of the match.