City 2 Forest Green 0

A combination of some nervy finishing and a goalkeeper in inspired form meant that City laboured to their first victory of the season over a poor Forest Green side, when the match could have been won at a canter. A Michael Rankine penalty and a late second from substitute Adam Smith ultimately saw City over the line, but not before a host of missed chances had seen fear set in that a repeat of Tuesday's goalless draw with Rushden & Diamonds was on the cards.

Forest Green, managerless after the farcical dismissal of Jim Harvey, immediately set their stall out to defend in numbers, and the game had a lethargic feel as the home side patiently held possession, as though both sides had agreed to a low-tempo encounter in anticipation of a busy mid-August schedule. Martin Foyle, having stated earlier in the week that 'we just need to decide whether we can go that adventurous and play with two out-and-out wingers', in fact decided that even one winger would be overly audacious, sticking with the same midfield four who had started the first two games despite fan pressure for the inclusion of Smith and Craig Nelthorpe.

Even playing with their very own 'wingless wonders' set-up, however, City were able to fashion a glut of opportunities in the first half. Just two minutes in, Rankine combined with his new strike partner Michael Gash (who replaced Richard Brodie in the only change from midweek), sending in an accurate cross which Gash headed directly into the arms of Rovers keeper Terry Burton. Further good work from Rankine set up an even better chance on fourteen minutes, as his flick-on found Neil Barrett, who skilfully turned inside Mark Preece before forcing Burton into the first of several impressive stops.

The visitors remained on the back foot as the first half progressed, and had Burton to thank again on the half-hour mark. Andy Ferrell's free-kick found its way to an unmarked Gash on the edge of the six-yard box, who brought the ball down and struck a powerful half volley goalwards, only to see the Forest Green stopper parry his strike at the near post. Either side of that chance, twice Rankine out-jumped the opposing defenders but failed to direct his header on target, and at the break City had nothing to show for a dominant first-half display.

After the restart, York's frustration at their failure to score in front of their home crowd in over two hours of competitive football began to impact upon the team's playing style, as an increasingly direct approach was adopted. While the method lacked subtlety and allowed Forest Green a greater share of the ball than they had enjoyed in the first half, the opposition's defence was sufficiently disorganised to enable City's speculative long balls to lead to further scoring opportunities.

First, Ben Purkiss' punt from defence left Barrett with a free run at goal, but despite the City midfielder being bundled over in the area, no penalty was awarded. Next, Gash's flick header from a Michael Ingham long ball sent Alex Lawless clear, but his low drive was easily saved by Burton. It was the first of a hat-trick of chances which Lawless spurned against his former employers, as his curling shot was palmed around the post two minutes later, then he blazed a volley over the bar after a cross from Nelthorpe, whose introduction on the left wing just after the hour mark placated the home supporters as they cried for a more dynamic style of attacking play.

When the deadlock was finally broken fifteen minutes from time, however, it was not an incisive forward run which City had to thank, but a slice of good fortune. Rankine, having won the ball in the air from a corner, fell over the outstretched leg of Ross Stearn while running away from goal, and a penalty - which even Foyle had to admit after the match was fortunate - was given. Rankine made no mistake from the spot, dispatching a confident penalty into the bottom right-hand corner. It was a goal the frontman richly deserved, both for his industry in this game and his excellent strike against Rushden earlier in the week which was chalked off due to an early whistle.

Having conceded, Forest Green were finally forced to press forward, and with five minutes remaining they crafted their first real opening of the game. Fortunately for City, Dave McGurk kept his eye on the ball despite his relative inactivity for the previous 85 minutes, and produced a superb tackle to dispossess Steve Davies in the box. The visitors' need to strive for an equaliser left them even more exposed at the back, and substitute Brodie twice profited from gaps in the Rovers back line to run unchallenged towards goal. He first broke into the area from the left after collecting Nelthorpe's pass, but shot at Burton, then lost possession when dashing down the middle. The ball found its way to Nelthorpe, whose curling effort from twenty-five yards was palmed over by a back-pedalling Burton in possibly his best save of the afternoon.

The second goal eventually came in the last minute when Adam Smith - again restricted to the briefest of cameo appearances - collected Nelthorpe's lengthy pass and showed a composure lacking amongst other members of City's front line to turn the last defender twice before slotting the ball home at the near post. While the 2-0 scoreline failed to reflect City's overall superiority, the team's profligacy in front of goal meant that the prevailing mood was one of relief not to have dropped a further two points.

Most of Foyle's signings may already be on their way to winning over the club's fanbase, but the way in which the City boss chooses to deploy them is still a concern for many. The Minstermen now face a triple-header of away ties in the space of a week, and perhaps the absence of an expectant and impatient home crowd will allow them to play with a greater freedom; if City come away from those ties having failed to score, however, then weight will be added to the argument that Foyle's tactical negativity is holding back a talented squad.