The Vanarama View: York City Leading The Way

Having taken over from Eastleigh, Gateshead were knocked off their perch on Matchday 9 by York City.

That completed a remarkable turnaround for City under Adam Hinshelwood, who took over at the LNER Stadium on February 27 with his new side in 20th place. Only goal difference was keeping the Minstermen out of the relegation zone.

So how have Hinshelwood and York done it? Title sponsors Vanarama have taken a closer look at one of the stories of the season so far.

The most obvious factor in City’s success has been their recruitment. Hinshelwood was their third boss last season after Mikey Morton and Neal Ardley oversaw almost constant revolving door policies.

Despite arriving with just 11 games to go, Hinshelwood acted quickly in the transfer market and has continued to do so, bringing several familiar faces from National League South side Worthing.

Midfielder Marvin Armstrong was the first – from Barnet – and has been followed by keeper Harrison Male – via Dorking Wanderers – as well as 46-goal top scorer from last season Ollie Pearce, flying full-back Joe Felix and midfield creator Ricky Aguiar.

Felix is one of just three players, along with Callum Howe and Ryan Fallowfield, to have started all nine National League fixtures this term.

Splitting his time between left and right, no player classed as a wing-back by Wyscout has received the ball more times per 90 minutes than Felix. That is a firm indicator of how integral the 24-year-old is to York’s build-up play.

Felix also leads the division for his position for passes attempted and completed, final-third passes attempted and completed and forward passes.

Defensively, only Rochdale (5) have conceded fewer goals than York City (6) this season. Thanks in no small part to the settled backline of Male, Fallowfield, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Howe and Felix.

Only five teams have recorded a lower expected goals (xG) against figure than the Minstermen, with 9.46. Out in front by a distance at Dale on 5.63. Nobody, though, has more clean sheets than City’s five in nine games.

Goals win games and Hinshelwood has transformed York from being one of the most offensively stunted sides in the fifth tier to one of the most exciting. In 34 games under Morton and Ardley, they scored just 41 times.

Offensively, Hinshelwood has transformed the Minstermen. His Worthing side were known for their stylish, possession-orientated style and he has replicated that at the LNER. Only Barnet and Gateshead complete more passes than their 469.22 per 90 minutes.

With the handbrake released this term, it’s 15 goals in nine games – ranking sixth in the division. Such is the quality in depth available to Hinshelwood in attack, last season’s 15-goal top scorer Dipo Akinyemi is no longer carrying the burden of goalscoring alone.

Pearce has handled the step up from the South impressively, bagging three already, but it is the evergreen Lenell John-Lewis who has been City’s talisman. The 35-year-old had a knack of scoring late last term which he has continued into the new season.

Three of his four goals have come in the 80th minute or later and the other was scored in the 70th minute of Saturday’s win over Fylde.

Consistently finding ways to win is often bookmarked as a sign of champions. A little more than a year on from the Uggla family’s takeover, could York City be living up to their billing?

Make the signing of the season with title sponsors Vanarama