A DETERMINED second-half display by York City proved fruitless against Mickey Mellon’s promotion-chasing Shrewsbury side in a 1-0 defeat.

But there were further seeds of optimism at the New Meadow against a team that have only been beaten by Chelsea and Northampton on their own soil this term.

With the Shropshire hosts still needing points to go up and City having secured their Football League status in midweek, this fixture had all the hallmarks of a home banker.

But, for those that included the contest in a winning accumulator at the weekend, they enjoyed as much fortune as the high-flying Shrews, who were expertly tamed for long spells after the break.

Earlier, Mark Ellis’ free header from a 13th-minute corner had given Mellon’s men a slender half-time advantage but Luke Summerfield went on to hit a post, home keeper Jayson Leutwiler was forced into fine saves from Russell Penn and Shaq Coulthirst, and Shaun Miller fired a great chance over.

City chief Russ Wilcox also argued that Miller had a second opportunity wrongly disallowed for offside as the visitors tried valiantly to extend their unbeaten run to a seventh fixture.

The manner in which Penn and Summerfield, aided by Michael Coulson, got the better of Shrewsbury’s impressive midfield trio during the second period will certainly have given Wilcox food for thought when he decides whether to persevere with his 3-5-2 formation next season.

Ex-Republic of Ireland international Liam Lawrence, Sky Bet League Two Player of the Year contender Ryan Woods and on-loan Blackpool craftsman Bobby Grant have played key roles in their side’s success this season, but their influence on proceedings waned the longer this match wore on.

City were also largely a match for their defensive counterparts, who had the immaculate Connor Goldson at the heart of their three-man back-line.

One lapse in concentration proved costly for the visitors, however, when Ellis was allowed to meet Grant’s flag kick unchallenged three yards out. The Minstermen started the match positively with Coulson’s curling sixth-minute free-kick shovelled unconvincingly away by Leutwiler.

Michael Ingham made a more assured save to push Grant’s dead-ball strike over his crossbar at the other end, but he and his defence then stood motionless and failed to mount an aerial challenge as the same player swung a right-wing corner on to the head of Ellis.

The City keeper went on to make a smart stop from Tyrone Barnett’s low 12-yard drive after Cameron Gayle had eased past the recalled Femi Ilesanmi down the right flank before Summerfield played in Coulthirst at the end of a flowing visitors move, but the on-loan Spurs striker’s shot was pushed around his right-hand post by Leutwiler.

Ingham, though, had to be equal again to firm Barnett and Grant efforts, while Stephane Zubar missed an excellent opportunity when he nodded wide from a Summerfield corner.

On 42 minutes, Goldson did the same from a Lawrence flag kick and, in first-half stoppage time, Andy Mangan blazed well over from five yards.

Mangan also tried to beat Ingham at his near post moments after the restart before City gained a stranglehold in the game.

On 50 minutes, Penn was almost celebrating a replica of his stupendous strike against Morecambe last week with Leutwiler making a fine fingertip save from another 30-yard thunderbolt.

The Swiss shot-stopper needed to be alert to keep out Coulthirst’s low edge-of-the-box attempt too, but was beaten on 67 minutes when Summerfield’s 30-yard strike hit the base of his right-hand post.

Substitute Miller went on to make two intelligent runs to fashion further chances for the Minstermen.

He lifted the first over the bar after being played in through the left channel by Penn.

The on-loan Coventry striker then put the second in the net after racing on to Summerfield’s through ball, only to be denied by the tightest of offside decisions.

As City pressed for an equaliser, Miller’s fellow replacement Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro, meanwhile, failed to hit the target with a hat-trick of late opportunities on the counter for the hosts. He headed one wide from Lawrence’s corner to the near post and saw a second bounce wide following a huge deflection off Keith Lowe.

His final attempt, though, was the simplest and weakest, racing clear in a two-on-one situation on 88 minutes before shooting tamely at Ingham. A second Shrews goal would have been fully undeserved and, while the hosts had put the champagne on ice just in case other results went their way, it was City who sparkled most during another encouraging encounter.

 

Match facts

York City

Michael Ingham: 7 – could have done better with goal but made some good saves afterwards.

Keith Lowe: 8 – dependable as ever and Shrewsbury got little joy down his flank.

John McCombe: 8 – almost perfect positionally and defended in no-nonsense fashion.

Stephane Zubar: 8 – never beaten for pace despite Gayle’s lively threat and battled with heart.

Brad Halliday: 7 – rarely seen in attacking action but never gave the opposition an inch.

Russell Penn: 8 – got right on top of the match after the break and expressed himself on the ball.

Luke Summerfield: 9 – STAR MAN game’s best midfielder, which was no mean feat given talent on show.

Femi Ilesanmi: 7 – his wing looked a little open early on but got tighter as he grew into game.

Michael Coulson: 7 – buzzed around and kept home midfield occupied with his willingness to get on the ball.

Jake Hyde: 7 – well-shackled by home defence and, despite industry, didn’t manage a shot on goal.

Shaq Coulthirst: 7 – tested Leutwiler twice and looked capable of providing something out of the ordinary.

Subs: Shaun Miller: 7 – smart (for Ilesanmi, 69). Not used: Tom Platt, Josh O’Hanlon, Lindon Meikle, Lewis Montrose, Marvin McCoy, Jason Mooney.

 

Shrewsbury

Jayson Leutwiler, Mark Ellis, Connor Goldson, Jermaine Grandison, Cameron Gayle, Liam Lawrence, Ryan Woods, Bobby Grant (Jordan Clark, 89), Mickey Demetriou, Tyrone Barnett (Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro, 52), Andy Mangan (James Collins, 62). Subs not used: Callum Burton, Scott Vernon, James Caton, Dom Smith.

Star man: Connor Goldson – strong defensively with a touch of class on the ball too.

 

Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire).

Rating: 6/10 – let a few fouls go unpunished.

Booked: Collins 84.

 

Attendance: 6,400 (425 from City).

 

Shots on target: Shrewsbury 7, City 5.

Shots off target: Shrewsbury 8, City 3.

Corners: Shrewsbury 6, City 6.

Fouls conceded: Shrewsbury 13, City 13.

Offsides: Shrewsbury 3, City 2.