Day 103

American winger Johann Smith joined us on trial today. He's really quick. My coaching staff seem to think he's the bees knees. I'll reserve judgement until I see him in action. We now have four left-sided midfielders on trial at the club. That's going to be a tricky one to manage—how can I give them all a decent look?

The Under 18s lost again in their group match. That sends them sliding down to sixth, which is more in line with where I expected them to be early in the season.

Bore pulled up exhausted again. I called him in for a chat and said that I'd be giving him a rest. He agreed that he needed it. I told him to take a week off.

The problem with that decision is that, with Kanouté still short of fitness, we don't have any good right-backs to cover for Bore. I put Robson in, praying that he'd survive against York's quick and skilful wingers. In other changes, Richardson replaced the injured Christophe, Matthew Park took Nutter's spot at left-back, and Taylor and Atkinson returned to the bench.

We had to wait until the 30th minute before going close. Barnes-Homer picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired a powerful shot towards the bottom corner. The York keeper only just managed to tip it wide for a corner.

Barnes-Homer popped up again 13 minutes later. Shuker drew a man out of position, then fed the ball through to the in-form striker. Barnes-Homer confidently placed his shot, leaving Ingham with no chance.

York changed formation at half time, bringing a second striker (Moses Ashikodi) on and moving into a conventional 4-4-2. I hoped that this would open up the game, which would enable us to do some real damage on the break.

I took Shuker off for Nutter on 59 minutes. He was beginning to slow down, and I felt we needed wingers full of energy. A disappointing and oddly-complacent performance from Nialle Rodney was cut short moments later, as I subbed in young winger Robert Taylor. Koroma pushed up to take on his favoured striking duties.

Koroma nearly scored on 67 minutes, sliding across the turf to connect with Nutter's low cross. The shot went just wide, though.

Taylor doubled our lead on 73 minutes, running onto a fine through ball from midfield playmaker Alan Power before tapping the ball into the bottom corner. I took this as an opportunity to rest Power, bringing defensive midfielder Chris Atkinson in to replace him. I didn't think York had much chance of turning the game around.

Of course, as is the way, they scored two minutes later. McGurk rose above our keeper to head a Swallow corner into the empty net. Two-one with 15 minutes to go. We were in for a tense finish.

Then they drew level in the 82nd minute, once again from a header. McGurk threw the ball in short to Tønne, who crossed to the near post from the byline on the left. Jason Walker beat Anyon to the ball, heading across the goal and into the back of the net. We'd thrown away a two-goal lead. I was furious.

We sent men pouring forward , but it was too late. Anyon's mistakes cost us the game, as he twice came for the ball and was beaten to it. David McGurk earned man of the match. We lost ground on league-leaders Mansfield.