Cheltenham 0 York City 1: Ailing De Girolamo’s healthy goals return

De Girolamo was one of three visiting players stricken by illness at Cheltenham but, during a sparkling first-half display, the Italian Under-20 international scored the only goal of the game on 43 minutes, having also hit a post and gone close on two further occasions.

His goal was the on-loan Blade’s third in four outings for the Minstermen with Bramall Lane chief Nigel Clough happy to let the 19-year-old attacker extend his stay beyond the initial month agreed between the two clubs.

De Girolamo was substituted midway through the second period, but his display proved sufficient to earn Russ Wilcox his first victory as York manager four games into his reign.

“We had a bit of a virus in the squad,” revealed Wilcox. “I didn’t feel too well and Russ Penn, Diego and Tom Platt were not great either, but the lads dug in, put tablets down their neck and got on with things. They rolled their sleeves up.”

Michael Coulson, De Girolamo and debutant Deon Burton all had two efforts apiece before the youngster fired in between Trevor Carson’s legs to open the scoring from 10 yards.

Cheltenham came back strongly in the second half.

On-loan Burnley goalkeeper Alex Cisak denied substitute Byron Harrison with two fine reflex saves, but Terry Gornell wasted the hosts’ best chance, heading wide from eight yards.

Cheltenham Town: Carson; Brown, Deaman (Bancessi, 46), Elliott; Vaughan, Hanks (De Vita, 39), Taylor, Richards, Braham-Barrett; Marquis (Harrison, 59), Gornell. Unused substitutes: Haworth, Gould, Black, Sterling-James.

York City: Cisak; McCoy, Lowe, McCombe, Ilesanmi; Meikle, Montrose, Penn (Summerfield, 76) Coulson; Burton (Brunt, 88), De Girolamo (Hyde, 66). Unused substitutes:Ingham, Parslow, Platt, Straker.

Referee: G Ward (Surrey).

Man of the match: Diego De Girolamo.