The LNER Community Stadium was abuzz with anticipation on the evening of January 17, 2026, as York City welcomed Southend United for a pivotal National League clash. Both sides entered the fixture with their sights firmly set on promotion, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. With York City perched at the top of the table and Southend United battling to solidify their playoff credentials, fans from both camps sensed this was more than just another league fixture—it was a statement game in the race for the Football League.
Let’s set the scene: York City, under the stewardship of Stuart Maynard, have transformed themselves into a formidable force this season. Despite a slow start, the Minstermen have reached the summit of the National League, boasting 55 points from 25 games before the Southend encounter (as reported by Echo and BBC Sport). Their home form has been nothing short of electric: eight wins, three draws, and just two losses, with a staggering 41 goals scored at the LNER Community Stadium—11 more than any other side in the division. That’s a fortress if there ever was one!
Southend United, led by Kevin Maher, arrived in seventh place, with 44 points from 24 games. The Shrimpers have shown resilience on their travels, holding the seventh-best away record in the league. But there’s a catch: Southend have struggled against the league’s elite, picking up only three points from a possible 15 against top-six opponents. History hasn’t been kind either—Southend have failed to win any of their last six encounters with York City, including back-to-back 3-0 defeats at this very ground.
Delving into the tactical battle, York City set up in their now-familiar 3-4-3 formation, a hallmark of Maynard’s tenure since his appointment earlier this season. The change in shape, coupled with a more direct approach, has made York harder to break down and more adept at fighting back from setbacks. As lifelong supporter Will Harris explained to ECHOSPORT, “The shape change and a personnel upgrade makes us harder to play against. We also seem more adept at coming back from a goal down.” He added, “We’re playing a slightly more direct at times style and have changed shape. I think we look better overall and it’s brought the best out of a couple of players. Under Maynard, Josh Stones in particular has been superb when he was only getting sub appearances before.”
Personnel-wise, York have been forced to adapt to injuries to key contributors. Malachi Fagan-Walcott, a pivotal figure on the right side of the back three, missed out due to injury, as did Joe Felix, the reigning player of the season. Yet, the squad’s depth has shone through. Mark Kitching, anchoring the left side of defense, has been a revelation, with Harris noting, “Mark Kitching has been superb on the left hand of the three and is quietly putting a big claim in for player of the season.” Up front, Ollie Pearce has been the league’s deadliest marksman, leading the National League scoring charts with 22 goals heading into this fixture.
The starting eleven for York featured H. Male in goal, a defensive trio of Z. Johnson, captain C. Howe, and M. Kitching, with a midfield four of J. Grey, D. Batty, H. Boateng, and A. Newby. The attacking trident comprised G. Olley, J. Stones, and the prolific O. Pearce. Substitutes included B. Brookes, R. Fallowfield, C. Hewitt, A. Hunt, J. King, G. Sykes-Kenworthy, and M. Williams—evidence of the squad’s depth, even with key absentees.
Southend, meanwhile, lined up in a 5-3-2, hoping to stifle York’s attacking threat and hit on the break. Their starting side featured C. Andeng-Ndi between the sticks, a back five marshaled by captain N. Ralph, H. Taylor, J. Gubbins, H. Boyes, and G. Scott-Morriss. The midfield saw C. Miley, O. Coker, and A. Dallas, while up front H. Cardwell and L. Chambers-Parillon led the line. Maher’s bench offered options in K. Appiah-Forson, S. Austin, J. Bridge, C. Kendall, J. Morton, S. Spasov, and J. Walker.
The match was officiated by Oliver Mackey, a referee not afraid to brandish cards—he’d already shown 64 yellows and two reds in just 16 matches this season. Mackey’s presence guaranteed a firm hand over proceedings, especially with so much at stake.
Both teams entered this encounter in solid form. York City’s recent results included wins over Sutton United (2-1), Altrincham (2-1), and Truro City (4-0), plus a pair of draws in cup action. Southend’s last five saw victories over Bath City (3-1), Sutton United (1-0), Truro City (4-0), and Braintree Town (1-0), with a single setback against Tamworth (2-1). The form guide suggested a tight contest, but York’s home dominance and Southend’s struggles against the league’s best painted a clear picture of the challenge ahead.
Historically, the rivalry has been evenly matched, with York holding a slight edge: 21 wins to Southend’s 19, with 15 draws. Recent meetings have skewed in York’s favor, including those two emphatic 3-0 wins at home. The Minstermen’s supporters, like Will Harris, have grown cautiously optimistic: “I’m not that confident because there are so many teams who just keep grinding out the result. That said I think we have a stronger squad overall than last season’s 96-point squad.”
As the match unfolded, fans watched closely to see if York could further cement their promotion credentials or if Southend might finally break their duck against a top-six foe. With both sides fielding near-full-strength lineups—injuries notwithstanding—the tactical battle promised plenty of intrigue, from Pearce’s goal threat to Southend’s counter-attacking ambitions.
Regardless of the final outcome, this fixture underscored the drama and unpredictability of the National League’s promotion race. York’s resilience, attacking flair, and defensive solidity have made them the team to beat, while Southend’s hunger and organization ensured they remained dangerous opponents. The evening at the LNER Community Stadium was a showcase of two teams with everything to play for, and the race for promotion is far from over.
As fans filtered out into the chilly York night, one thing was clear: the battle for National League supremacy is alive and well, with York City and Southend United right at its heart. The story continues, and the next chapter is anyone’s guess.