York City boss Adam Hinshelwood fumes at his side’s shock playoff semi final defeat to Oldham Athletic on Tuesday night.
Oldham, who finished the regular season sitting 5th with 73 points, secured a place in the National League playoff final with a 3-0 victory over a York side who finished 2nd with with 96 points – 23 points ahead of the Latics.
Joe Garner scored the opener in the 23rd minute after a mix up from York, followed by Vimal Yoganathan’s goal four minutes into the second half. Joe Pritchard sealed the win with a header shortly after.
Oldham will face either Forest Green Rovers or Southend United at Wembley on June 1st for a spot in the EFL.
Hinshelwood said, per Yorkshire Post: “It was (a bad night). First, we’ve got to congratulate Oldham.
“There weren’t too many chances in the game and they put their chances in. They have done the job and I wish them all the best in the final.
“It was key that we stuck to how we have played and done all season. If we look at the first goal back, Harrison played it very quickly to Hunty and it was a big moment in the game and then the goals early in the second half in quick succession killed the tie off.”
On his side paying a price for a lack of ‘experience and know-how’, he added: “Probably with where we are, it’s our first season (at the top). The top teams have had a bit more experience and know-how.
“When we have played against the top teams in big games this year, they seem to anticipate where the next pass is going to go and are on the front foot a little bit more than us. I think that comes with experience and the quality of player.
“But I am not hammering players. They have been unbelievable and given us their all and been brilliant all season.
“Our learning in these big games needs to be that mentally we need to be a bit more switched on and focused.
“Barnet came and put it on us at their place; Forest Green in the second half at their place..They are ones which spring to mind (also).
“They (Oldham) had a really experienced manager and team and the eight who sat in the dug-out all looked like experienced players and that’s the depth of their squad.
“We were probably at the limit. No Crooksey, he did his groin taking a penalty on Monday, which absolutely killed us a little bit.”
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Oldham’s Micky Mellon said, per Oldham Times: “It’s fabulous because the club’s been through so much and now to get the opportunity to take this football club to Wembley for the first time in 35 years is terrific.
“It’s terrific that we’ve got the opportunity. We’ve levelled the playing field. We’re not coming away to another team’s home ground. We’ve given ourselves a level playing field, to go and have a shot at the ultimate prize to try to get back in the Football League.
“To come here and play like that – because we knew it was going to be a really tough game and we knew that we’d have to bring our A-game and get everything or most stuff right, which we did. It was a terrific performance from the players. We’re really happy and the fans will go home happy.
“We’ll have a couple of days off now and then we’ll start working towards whoever our opponents are at – I can’t believe I’m saying it… whoever our opponents are going to be at Wembley.
“I’m so pleased for the (Rothwell) family that we can take them to Wembley because they’ve done so much for the football club; Darren Royle, the Royle family. It’s great. We’ll give them that now and we’ll go and try to get Oldham back into the Football League.
“We know whoever we play it will be a difficult game, but we’re ready.
“Every single player that I went to I said ‘Let’s go to Wembley and finish the job’ so we need to go there and again play very well and try to seal the deal.”
Fans reacted as York City boss Adam Hinshelwood fumes at his side’s playoff defeat to Oldham…
@Smudgedann: Seems like a really genuine guy. Very magnanimous in defeat. Julie-Anne Uggla was on the radio talking about “Wembley in a couple of weeks” Never a wise move in football to get ahead of yourself. Good luck for next season.
@paulkeay: If only Pearce had been fit and played, different game then…
@CC_2201: A top club run by good people with fantastic fans who supported us in our darkest times – to get that many points and not get promotion is scandalous – 3 up needs to happen!
@beespod: Unlucky lads. Been here before and know how it feels. You’ve good great foundations and no doubt will get the job done soon. Wishing you all the best for next year and sure we’ll cross paths soon 🤝
@barnetfan_1888: Something very similar happened to us last season, the second best team by a distance in the league but comprehensively beaten in a home playoff. I hope you win the league next season
@cfcanalys1s: The ridiculousness of the National League playoffs on show again: York finished 23 points above Oldham. In fact Oldham finished closer to relegation than York. York had 15 days without playing a game. York play the higher placed team than FGR, even after finishing above them
@dharvey4: 96 points should get you promotion, this urgently needs looking at for next season
@jonspreadbury: May not be what you want to hear now, but this time last year this was us. A year later, we’re champions after an incredible season. You have some excellent players and a very good manager. Next season’s push starts now, and the best of luck with it.
@djm_eightyone: Feel sorry for York. As a Southend fan, I was hoping if we didn’t go up, it would be them. Good team, deservedly up there and great fans. Although I’m enjoying them so far, it does show what a farce the playoffs are. 96pts should get you up!
@FchtMarkd: But won the League at the Shay in October?? York away with the lads 2025/26 Git up 🔥
@wxm_afc: Heads up, guys, the playoffs are so cruel, It happened to us, and it just made the year after more special.
@YCFC1972: Out muscled and out fought in our biggest game of the season. Over exceeded but didn’t deserved to win. We go again next season! ❤️
@Sam_Hendry14: Absolutely embarrassing. Didn’t look up for it from minute one, barely registered a shot. Changed tactics once again, bit us in the arse once again. Same old story, you’d think he’d have learnt by now.
@congolesedoctor: That’s it, it’s official I’m no longer a York city fan. I’m switching to Harrogate Town. A proper club with a larger fan base. Better players, better manager and don’t have a cineworld attached to one of their stands.
@JayFromTheUK_: 46 games, 96 points. To then have it all come down to a performance like that, it was abysmal, we didn’t create anything, barely had a shot and Oldham were happy to just sit back and let us play keep ball. Well deserved for Oldham. They deserved to win on the night. #YCFC
@morganzwynne: Usually when you kick off a game of football (especially 4 times in 90 mins) you normally start to pass and move and put up a fight. Can some tell the players this please
@barnet_john: Genuinely feel for York. 96 pts, great season and in most years that haul would win you the title. I know from 12 months ago how it feels to lose like this in a home semi. Great setup, nice fans and I genuinely hope you go up next season. Best wishes and hope you join us in 2026.
Cheers for trying lads, If Pearce plays it’s maybe different and where was Stones again? Two games he’s not played either 😘 pic.twitter.com/YBp7r4NLsd
— AlexT145 (@T145Alex) May 20, 2025
G’wan Brabs! pic.twitter.com/0sHDBXKHbS
— We Are Luton Town (@wearelutontown) May 20, 2025
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