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Preview: York City vs. Boston United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's National League North playoff final between York City and Boston United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

York City and Boston United will be attempting to earn promotion to the National League when they square off in the National League North playoff final on Saturday afternoon.

Whoever prevails in Yorkshire will join either Dorking Wanderers or Ebbsfleet in moving into the fifth tier, those clubs meeting in the South final on the same day.


Match preview

Having finished more than 20 points behind second-placed Brackley Town during the regular campaign, the likes of York City and Boston United were clear underdogs when it came to securing promotion through the playoffs.

However, the two sides - who finished fifth and seventh respectively - have upset the established order, Brackley and third-placed AFC Fylde both being defeated in the semi-finals.

York's 1-0 success at the former was arguably more impressive, the Minstermen defying Brackley losing just five games and conceding 23 goals all season to prevail away from home thanks to Lenell John-Lewis's strike just before half time.

Nevertheless, on the same night, Boston rallied during the closing stages to defeat Fylde, a double from Danny Elliott sending the Pilgrims through to the final.

Elliott now has three goals to his name during the playoffs, the former Port Vale man also opening the scoring during the 2-1 win at Kidderminster Harriers in the previous round.

Although York had home advantage for their quarter-final tie with Chorley Town, John Askey's team had to dig in to prevail by a 2-1 scoreline.

York have now put together a seven-match unbeaten streak, their only defeat in 10 coming at Alfreton Town on April 18, while Boston are unbeaten in five outings, their solitary loss in nine games coming at home to Fylde on April 23.

Paul Cox's team put together a respectable away record during the regular campaign, collecting 28 points from 21 games and beating York in the corresponding fixture as recently as March 22.

Meanwhile, York accumulated 37 points from their 21 home fixtures, the most recent of six defeats coming in that game almost two months ago.

York City National League North form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W

Boston United National League North form:
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W


Team News

Having picked up an injury during the Brackley game, John-Lewis is expected to miss out for York.

Kurt Willoughby looks most likely to deputise in attack, but Askey has suggested that he will consider changing formation.

Remy Longdon and Josh King are both pushing to come back into contention after injury.

Cox made only one substitution during the semi-final, introducing Jake Wright for Ntumba Massanka just before the hour mark.

If a change is made to the Boston XI, that is likely to be the only alteration, Wright having earned the penalty for his side's match-clinching goal.

York City possible starting lineup:
Jameson; Dyson, Kouogun, Sanders, Barrow, Wright, Hancox, McLaughlin, Kouhyar, Willoughby, Donaldson

Boston United possible starting lineup:
Dewhurst; Seriki, Shiels, Garner, Ferguson; Byrne, Abbott, Green, Dimaio; Massanka, Elliott


SM words green background

We say: York City 2-1 Boston United

Boston have relished their tag of underdogs in the previous two ties, and it is something which York will no doubt be wary about heading into this fixture. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore that York are on the longer unbeaten streak, leading us to predict a narrow win for the home side, potentially after extra time.

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Written by
Darren Plant

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1York City21135343192444
2Barnet21142542241844
3Forest Green RoversForest Green20126238172142
4Gateshead21115537271038
5Oldham AthleticOldham19107233171637
6Rochdale19103628181033
7Sutton UnitedSutton219572926332
8AltrinchamAltrincham218763528731
9Solihull MoorsSolihull219483734331
10Yeovil TownYeovil219482422231
11Halifax TownHalifax218762119231
12Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool217862424029
13Eastleigh207762726128
14Southend UnitedSouthend216872424026
15Dagenham & RedbridgeDag & Red206773426825
16Tamworth197482233-1125
17Aldershot TownAldershot215792835-722
18Woking2156101928-921
19Fylde2163122541-1621
20WealdstoneWealdstone204882229-720
21Braintree TownBraintree2155111828-1020
22Maidenhead UnitedMaidenhead2154122643-1719
23Boston UnitedBoston2136121936-1715
24Ebbsfleet2116141546-319


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