The LNER Community Stadium was the scene of a pulsating encounter as York City secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Rochdale. The home side, buoyed by strong support, produced a performance that saw them twice come from behind to claim all three points, with Ollie Pearce and Josh Stones both netting braces.
The opening exchanges suggested a cagey affair, with neither side able to gain a decisive foothold. However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 35th minute. A clever pass from Mark Kitching found Ollie Pearce, who slotted the ball home to give York City the lead. The advantage was short-lived. Just four minutes later, Rochdale responded emphatically. Emmanuel Dieseruvwe provided the assist for Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, who levelled the scores at 1-1.
The second half exploded into life immediately after the restart. In the 46th minute, Josh Stones put York City back in front with his first goal of the afternoon. The momentum had firmly shifted, and the home side capitalised on their ascendancy just three minutes later. Stones doubled his tally in the 49th minute, this time assisted by Harrison Male, extending York City’s lead to 3-1.
The attacking intent from both sides continued, but it was York City who added the gloss to their performance in the 59th minute. Malachi Fagan-Walcott laid on the assist for Ollie Pearce, who grabbed his second of the game, sealing a memorable victory for the Minstermen. Rochdale, despite their efforts and tactical adjustments, were unable to find a way back into the contest. Kevin Berkoe received a yellow card in the first half, and Casey Pettit followed suit in the second, as Rochdale struggled to contain the relentless pressure from York City.
The victory sees York City consolidate their strong position in the English National League. Prior to this match, they occupied sixth place with 33 points from 17 games. This win propels them to 36 points from 18 matches, moving them up to fifth in the table. Rochdale, meanwhile, remain in fourth place with 37 points from 16 games, but will be disappointed to have missed an opportunity to close the gap at the very top. The contrasting fortunes on the day underscore the tight nature of the league, with every point proving crucial in the promotion race.