YORK City wrapped up their pre-season programme with a 2-0 defeat at Conference outfit Halifax.

A goal in each half from Jake Hibbs and Connor Hughes earned the Shaymen a deserved victory as Russ Wilcox’s men, still without crocked attacking trio Michael Coulson, Jake Hyde and Emile Sinclair, struggled for creativity at the opposite end of the pitch.

Captained by Dave Winfield, with skipper Russ Penn rested due to a couple of niggles, City had the first chance of the afternoon when first-year pro Callum Rzonca cut in from the left and fired across the face of the goal on five minutes.

But the rest of the half belonged to the hosts with midfielder Hibbs’ curling a 20-yard free kick inside Scott Flinders’ right-hand post to open the scoring on 14 minutes after James Berrett’s foul.

Flinders was called into action moments later when he saved a Jordan Burrow effort with the same player and ex-City midfielder Elliott Whitehouse also missing further good opportunities following raids down the visitors’ left-hand side.

After the break, Burrow headed over from six yards and Hibbs went close with a long-range piledriver.

At the other end, Lindon Meikle headed wide from Luke Summerfield’s right-wing cross before James Berrett forced Matt Glennon into his first save of the afternoon but his low 74th-minute attempt was driven straight at the home keeper.

Josh Carson then squandered an excellent chance to equalise, allowing Glennon to save in one-on-one situation after a positive burst by Meikle from the halfway line had teed up the former Northern Ireland international.

Home sub Hughes was more emphatic when he sidefooted firmly into Flinders’ bottom right-hand corner from 15 yards after a low cross from Bolton. Halifax: Glennon, Bolton, Brown, Bencherif, McManus, James, Hibbs, Whitehouse (Walker, 77), MacDonald (Hattersley, 77), Tuton (Hughes, 77), Burrow (Bishop, 77).

City: Flinders; Lowe (Swan, 72), Winfield (Hare, 72), McCombe (Ilesanmi, 46); McCoy (Nolan, 62), Platt (Godfrey, 46), Summerfield, Berrett, Straker (Carson, 46); Oliver, Rzonca (Meikle, 46).

Attendance: 678 (148 from City)