Crawley 1 York City 0: Cresswell loving it in charge despite defeat

He saw his tenure kick off with an unlucky defeat at Crawley after former Leeds midfielder Simon Walton converted a controversial late penalty.

But the display was an improvement on the final throes of Russ Wilcox’s reign, giving the York board food for thought as they continue to interview external applicants this week.

On his own intentions, Cresswell said: “Everybody knows there’s been a lot of interest and it’s a job a lot of people want, but I’m sure the chairman will make the right decision. I don’t know how long I will be in charge but I’ve loved every minute so far.

“Sometimes you go into situations like this and, maybe, decide ‘this isn’t for me’, but that’s not been the case and I’ve not felt any stress.”

Cresswell was frustrated when referee Charles Breakspear decided that Eddie Nolan had floored Sonny Bradley as he attempted to clear the ball from an 86th-minute corner.

That decision allowed Walton to send Scott Flinders the wrong way from the spot to earn Mark Yates’ hosts their fourth win in five matches.

York have failed to win in 10 league contests but, even though Flinders needed to make two smart saves to deny Shamir Fenelon, Vadaine Oliver had a series of chances, and James Berrett and Boro loanee Bryn Morris might also have netted.

York City: Flinders; McCoy, Lowe, Ilesanmi, Nolan; Collins, Morris, Berrett; Sinclair (Turner, 77), Oliver, Coulson. Unused substitutes: Ingham, Winfield, Tutonda, Platt, Godfrey, Straker.

Crawley Town: Flahavan; Young, Yorwerth, Bradley, Hancox; Fenelon (Deacon, 87), Walton, Smith, Edward; Harrold (Barnard, 90), Murphy. Unused substitutes: Scales, Rooney, Preston, Ashton, Jenkins.

Referee: C Breakspear (Surrey).

Man of the match: Jimmy Smith.