York City 0-2 Crawley Town: Red Devils ease past Minstermen in Carabao Cup preliminary round

Gianmarco Di Biase and Danilo Orsi were on target as Crawley Town won 2-0 at newly promoted York City in the preliminary round of the Carabao Cup.

The victory also consigned Scott Lindsey, who was sacked by the Red Devils in March, to a defeat during his first game in charge of the Minstermen.

Crawley now travel to Championship side Watford in the competition’s first round on Saturday.

Saturday’s preliminary tie saw Rochdale edge past Tranmere Rovers on penalties, with Dale now set for a trip to League One Bradford City in the next round.

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Match action

Di Biase, signed from Juventus in the summer, opening the scoring in the 24th minute.

The 20-year-old Italian winger rounded off a swift counter-attack by tapping in after Kellan Gordon had raced down the right flank and delivered an inviting low cross.

York’s on-loan Fulham goalkeeper Alfie McNally then made a smart save from Malcolm Ebiowei to prevent his side from falling further behind.

Stephen Duke-McKenna hit the base of the post for the visitors in the second half.

Dismay

The hosts were also denied by the woodwork when Zech Medley’s volley thudded against the underside of the crossbar following Alex Hunt’s corner.

But substitute Orsi settled the outcome from the penalty spot in the 86th minute, slotting home after Zak Johnson brought down Louie Watson in the box.

Home fans chanted “Stuart Maynard’s Barmy Army” and “We Want Maynard Back” towards the end of the game, venting their continued dismay at the dismissal of last season’s championship-winning manager on the eve of the new campaign.

READ MORE: Tranmere Rovers 2–2 Rochdale (1–2 pens): Dale prevail in Carabao Cup shoot-out against Rovers