York City 0 Telford United 1: York old boy in to sink Minstermen

York could blame only themselves for this unexpected setback after successive wins over Ebsfleet and Barrow.

Telford had clearly come with the intention of getting a point with their 4-5-1 formation. They managed only one shot at goal – but it was enough to win the game, former York striker Craig Farrell scoring in the 86th minute with his first touch, seconds after coming on as substitute.

Richard Davies’s centre from the right was met by Phil Trainer, whose shot hit the foot of a Michael Ingham’s right-hand post and rebounded for Farrell to score.

The visitors, all part-timers, worked hard but the York defence was never under any sort of pressure and dominance was such they had to deal with the first corner in the last minute.

York played some pleasing football but needed to get the ball out wide more often, a problem they rectified following manager Gary Mills’s half-time team-talk.

Jason Walker, who scored three goals in the opening two games, was off target with two chances, Jamie Reed shot wide from a good position and Lanre Oyebanjo, who had a good game, hit the bar.

Mills said: “Credit to Telford. They had done their homework and came with a plan, but we had plenty of chances to win the game.”

York City: Ingham; Oyebanjo, McGurk, Smith, Meredith; Moke (Fyfield 63), Boucaud (Kerr 75), McLaughlin; Blair (Reed 46), Walker, Chambers. Unused substitutes: Parslow, Potts.

AFC Telford United: Young; Salmon, Killock, Preston, Newton; King (Meechan 74), Trainer, Davies, Valentine, Reid (Samuels 69); Brown (Farrell 85). Unused substitutes: Adams, Evans.

Referee: A Harrington (Hartlepool).

Man of the match: Lanre Oyebanjo.