Set-piece joy for York as they avoid goals record

Centre-back John McCombe headed in Adam Reed’s corner to give the Minstermen the lead and Michael Coulson added a second nine minutes later after strike partner Ryan Bowman had climbed highest in the box to meet Will Hayhurst’s left-wing free-kick.

Scot Bennett replied for the visitors on 28 minutes – also from a deadball delivery following Jimmy Keohane’s corner – but Nigel Worthington’s men held out for a sixth win in 2014 despite coming under strong pressure in the second half.

York chief Worthington said: “I was delighted with our two goals from set-pieces because we do a lot of work on them.

“It’s very important to try and keep the ball in the box from them and it’s all about staying switched on.

“Our deliveries are always very good but it is also down to the players to go and find the ball rather than waiting for it to land on their head.”

McCombe’s far-post header and Coulson’s swift shot on the turn were the reward for a positive first 25 minutes from the hosts that also saw Russell Penn, Keith Lowe and Bowman have early chances.

Defender Bennett hooked in from four yards, though, to reduce the deficit and York rode their luck before celebrating maximum points as Irish striker John O’Flynn hit a post with only on-loan Charlton goalkeeper Nick Pope to beat on 69 minutes.

York City: Pope; Oyebanjo, Lowe, McCombe, Davies; Carson, Penn, Reed (Platt, 89), Hayhurst (Jarvis, 70); Bowman (Montrose, 76), Coulson. Unused substitutes: McGurk, Ingham, Dickinson, Puri.

Exeter City: Krysiak; Bennett, Coles, Moore-Taylor, Woodman; Sercombe, Oakley, Gill (Grimes, 58), Davies (Nichols, 70); O’Flynn, Keohane (Richards, 78). Unused substitutes: Butterfield, Reid, Parkin, Pym.

Referee: Richard Clark (Amble).

Man of the match: Keith Lowe.