York 1 Oxford 2: Pressure mounts on Wilcox as Roofe denies Minstermen

Kemar Roofe got the all-important winner 19 minutes from time but the summer signing from West Bromwich Albion knew little about it.

He was just in the right place at the right time, as a Ben Godfrey block on the line to deny Johnny Mullins ricochet against the midfielder and into the net.

Losing in such a manner is always hard. But, York had also been the recipient of good fortune of their own when equalising shortly through half-time when an almighty mix-up between Mullins and goalkeeper Sam Slocombe ended with Rhys Turner being presented with the simplest of open goals.

The Minstermen also couldn’t complain at the result on the balance of play, with Oxford looking the livelier side for long periods. This was particularly the case in the first half, which ended with the 318 away fans wondering just how their side was not ahead.

In every department, the visitors had been superior with most of those opening 45 minutes being played in the Minstermen’s half.

Roofe was a big reason behind this dominance. As, it has to be said, was York sitting far too deep in midfield – something that simply handed the initiative to the visitors.

Michael Appleton’s men almost took advantage inside five minutes, as George Baldock and Danny Rose combined to create sufficient danger for Keith Lowe to hack at a cross and then be relieved to see the ball fly an inch or two over his own crossbar.

It was a let-off that proved only temporary, Oxford needing just four more minutes to ahead through Danny Hylton.

Played through by a slide-rule pass from Liam Sercombe, the striker showed great awareness to skip past Scott Flinders before rolling the ball into an empty net.

Further chances came and went for the U’s, Flinders being forced into a save by Sercombe and Callum O’Dowda having a shot blocked following a lovely dart down the left flank by Danny Rose.

York’s under pressure defence deserved credit for sticking to their task during this onslaught and their reward came seven minutes before the break and just a few moments after Russell Penn’s header had been caught by Slocombe.

A long punt forward caused sufficient panic on the U’s ranks that Mullins and Slocombe got into such a tangle that the goalkeeper missed his kick completely to leave Turner with the simple job of tapping in his first goal since joining on loan from Oldham Athletic.

Buoyed by going in level, York were much improved after the restart and James Berrett brought a flying save from Slocombe on the volley following good work from Reece Thompson.

Gradually, however, the U’s regained control and Roofe, after Penn had been caught in possession, curled a shot just wide.

A fine tackle from Lowe diverted another Roofe shot just over and, from the resulting corner, the winner arrived.

Godfrey looked to have done enough with his block on the line only for the cruellest of bounces to give Roofe the goal his performance had deserved.

A chant of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ was aimed at Wilcox but his side had no response, though York looked to have a strong appeal for a penalty waved away when Joe Skarz blocked a Marvin McCoy cross with his arm.

York City: Flinders; Lowe, Winfield, Ilesanmi; Lowe, Godfrey, Penn, Berrett, Carson (Straker 59); Turner, Thompson (Tutonda 68). Unused substitutes: McCombe, Hare, Ingham, Rzonca.

Oxford United: Slocombe; Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz; O’Dowda, Sercombe, Lundstram (Graham 72), Rose; Roofe (Taylor 80), Hylton. Unused substitutes: Hoban, MacDonald, Buchel, Ruffels, Dunkley.

Referee: D Webb (County Durham).