York City 0-1 Buxton

York City 0-1 Buxton

FA Cup First Round

Saturday 6th November 2021

My first visit to York City's new LNER Community Stadium and an 'upset' (of sorts anyway) as Buxton deservedly progressed to the FA Cup Second Round with one-time Minsterman Diego De Girolamo coming back to haunt his old employers by grabbing the match-winner.

It wasn't quite a 'David vs Goliath' tie because although York are a division above their counterparts, some people would do well to remember that Buxton are unbeaten this season and there's only actually just over a dozen or so places separating the two teams in the entire league ladder.

Both teams endured a strange build-up to arguably their biggest game (in terms of attention) this season as Buxton dispensed with managerial duo Mark Ward and Gary Hayward earlier in the week which was allegedly because Ward was 'going on a pre-booked holiday shifted numerous times due to the pandemic'. The pair have been replaced by former Curzon Ashton manager Steve Cunningham - a figure who, himself, was surprisingly thrown out the door at his old club last month despite enjoying such a good start to the season with the National League North minnows.

York, on the other hand, have been forced to suspend assistant manager Micky Cummins on an indefinite basis for what's alleged to be a historical breach of betting rules! As a consequence, former Doncaster Rovers legend (and York's youth team boss) Tim Ryan has stepped up to fill the void in the dugout until further notice.

In windy and bitter cold conditions at times, the Bucks, backed by a thousand-strong following who made themselves heard, produced a terrific performance full of energy - showing courage, drive and determination to take the game to the Minstermen. They were superb throughout and finally got a reward for their collective efforts when Diego De Girolamo converted in the closing stages to fire them into the Round Two draw which takes place on Monday night.

York had their chances; the best of which saw Sam Fielding's point-blank header somehow kept out by Buxton 'keeper Theo Richardson just after half-time and when the game was goalless. Even at 1-0 down, the Minstermen nearly grabbed what would have been a dramatic leveller as Fielding again was thwarted from a set-play.

However, York's performance on the whole wasn't good enough. It lacked inspiration, was lethargic and had it not been for their own 'keeper - Pete Jameson, who produced a string of good saves in the minutes leading up to the interval, they could have lost by a greater margin than just a single goal.

A home tie in the Second Round draw and it's pretty much a certainty that the TV cameras will be heading to Buxton's Silverlands Stadium in a few weeks time. York, meanwhile, will be left to contemplate what might have been, although the bigger picture in every season at National League North level is undoubtedly to win promotion and begin a climb back towards the Football League - especially now they have a stadium which is the envy of many.

Sponsored by LNER, the new ground is different in just about every conceivable way from Bootham Crescent which hasn't yet been consigned to the bulldozers and is open to the public for one final time on Sunday 28th November.

The Community Stadium forms part of a huge retail complex that has loads to offer and is somewhere you could easily spend an entire day from noon until night. It's modern, clean and comfortable and easily accessible from the city centre (costing just a bargin £3.30 on the frequent No.9 bus service which departs from directly outside York Railway Station). Shops on the complex include established supermarkets such as Aldi, M&S and Sainsburys, places to eat and drink including Nandos and Costa Coffee and other entertainment venues such as Hollywood Bowl and Cineworld.

The stadium is right at the heart of the complex and although it might not feel like 'home' to many York fans at present (that bit will take time - and some folk will pine for a return to Bootham Crescent for years to come) it's far better than a hell of a lot of new-build stadiums elsewhere. The bizarrely-located library, adjacent to the Hospitality Entrance/Main Reception, is definitely quirky (and makes you want to sing 'Is this a library?') whilst the community swimming pool (which is also past the point of the stadium entrance) is also very different to anywhere else.

Overall, I'd be happy to visit here every week. The facilities are top class and at some point when York 'kick on' and make their way back up through the divisions, it'll be a popular away day on so many levels.

For now, however, it's back to the task of winning promotion from the National League North!