Wrexham 2 York City 1: Disjointed Minstermen must channel energy into promotion push

York, who got through three rounds last season before losing narrowly to Bolton, had been on a six-match unbeaten league run – four wins – which has taken them to third place in the Blue Square Premier table and manager Gary Mills has clearly prioritised promotion compared with the Cup as he made seven changes.

He has a strong squad and on paper it did not appear that the team was weakened to any great extent. However, they appeared disjointed and struggled to gain any sort of rhythm, particularly in the first half which was a tepid affair for both teams.

The second half was a different story, being fought in a typical cup-tie atmosphere, York improving their passing and not giving the ball away so often.

Wrexham went ahead on 50 minutes when Adriano Moke gave away a silly free-kick near the corner flag and Joe Clarke’s cross was headed in by Nat Knight-Percival.

York were level seven minutes later. Michael Potts was tripped just outside the penalty area and the hard-working Paddy McLaughlin cracked home the free-kick.

A replay looked certain until nine minutes from time when Wrexham player-manager Andy Morrell, who had come on as substitute four minutes earlier, got in a fast low centre and David McGurk, facing his own goal, turned the ball past Michael Ingham, as he tried to clear.

Mills said: “We didn’t string two passes together in the first half and gave away far too many fouls in danger areas. Wrexham pressed us hard and played well. Good luck to them.”

Wrexham: Mayebi; Obeng (Morrell 79), Creighton, Knight-Percival, Ashton; Harris (Fowler 82), Hunt (Wright 70), Clarke; Ciesiewicz, Pogba, Speight. Unused substitutes: Maxwell, Clowes, Little, Westwood.

York City: Ingham; Oyebanjo, McGurk, Parslow, Meredith; Kerr, Potts (Challinor 77), McLaughlin; Reed (Blair 68), Henderson, Moke (Chambers 68). Unused substitutes: Musselwhite, Smith, Boucaud, Fyfield.

Referee: J Simpson (Carnforth)

Man of the match: Paddy McLaughlin.