York City 1 Mansfield 1: De Girolamo excels but Minstermen held

Daniel Carr, recruited by the visitors from Huddersfield Town, grabbed a 62nd-minute equaliser against the Minstermen, who had earlier forged in front courtesy of Sheffield United teenager De Girolamo’s clever first-half opener.

York were left to reflect on a 10th fixture without a home victory – the second-longest run in the club’s history.

On that sequence, manager Russ Wilcox, still searching for his first triumph after taking over from Nigel Worthington, said: “The longer that run goes on it becomes difficult, but home or away, the pitch is the same.

“You have two goals and a halfway line, but at home you have supporters who are willing you to do well, so we have got to start making that count.”

De Girolamo opened the scoring on 20 minutes when he turned smartly to fool his Mansfield markers in the six-yard box after York captain Russell Penn has seized upon a poor clearance from Mansfield goalkeeper Sascha Studer.

Paul Cox’s men responded well after the break with Rob Taylor hitting an upright before 20-year-old Carr volleyed in the equaliser from six yards after Vadaine Oliver had won a far-post header.

Swiss goalkeeper Studer then saved brilliantly from De Girolamo and Carr also went close twice in the latter stages as the Minstermen clung on for a point.

York City: Cisak; McCoy, Lowe, McCombe, Ilesanmi; Meikle (Straker, 75), Montrose (Platt, 73), Penn, Coulson; Brunt, De Girolamo. Unused substitutes: Mooney, Parslow, Summefield, Hirst, Murray.

Mansfield: Marsden, Sutton, Sendles-White, Beevers; Carr, McGuire, Murray, Taylor; Oliver (Palmer, 83), Bingham. Unused substitutes: Bell, Lambe, Thomas, Evtimov, Clements.

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Preston).

Man of the match: Diego De Girolamo.