Josh Stones confident of York City’s promotion chances

After an admittedly slow start to life with York, Stones shone in an emphatic 3-0 win over Woking on Saturday, scoring a perfect hat-trick, which was also his first three goals for City.

The striker opened the scoring just five minutes in when latching onto Tyrese Sinclair’s knock on from a header, before lashing a ferocious volley past Will Jaaskelainen.

He doubled his and York’s tally for the afternoon when meeting Alex Hunt’s through ball, beating Jaaskelainen again, although Stones believes the goalkeeper should have kept it out.

With Lenell John-Lewis stripped off and ready to come on, Stones ended the scoring for the day with an incredible header that nestled into the top corner, giving Joe Felix another assist to his tally for the season.

Stones was all smiles after a ‘massive three points’ for York, even admitting that the third goal was one of his favourites he’s scored to date.

“I think it was a massive three points,” Stones told BBC York.

“We obviously won late on last week and we got the three points, so we had something to build on.

“Coming into our own ground we are always confident, and it’s another massive three points.

“A hat-trick to go with it!

RECOMMENDED READING:

“The first one it just fell to me in the box after the corner, those second balls as a striker, you are always going to be alive to them.

“The second one, the ‘keeper probably should have saved it, but what goes in you take.

“The third one was probably one of my favourite goals I’ve ever scored.

“The header was behind me, I managed to leap up and nod it over a few defenders and the ‘keeper and into the far corner.

“I like to always back myself in the air, I think it’s one of the main things that I’m good at.

“As soon as Joe got the ball, Joe has been amazing for us week in, week out, he’s Mr. Consistent and is an eight out of ten minimum, every week.

“As soon as he gets it you know that he’s going to put a quality delivery in, and I always like to peel off of a defender so he can make contact with you.

“He can’t see you if it’s behind him, so as soon as it was in the air I knew that it was coming and I had an idea to go across goal.

“It came off perfectly.”

It broke that all important first goal rule for Stones, who never wavered in his belief that he would soon get up and running in a red shirt.

He remained confident throughout, and spoke on his ability to handle the pressure of finding that first goal for a new club.

The 21-year-old continued: “I’m delighted, I’ve been saying to my dad that once one goes in, they’ll all go in.

“I put a bit of pressure on myself today because coming in, I’ve been scoring in this league for another team.

“I know what I can do in this league and I just knew that as soon as one went in, they’d all start going in. Hopefully it’s something to build on and another three points next week.

“I think it’s hard to put pressure on yourself when you’ve got the quality around you like you do.

“Hunty [Alex Hunt] in midfield, Batty, Cal [Callum Howe] at the back and Harrison [Male] in net, Joe and both wingers.

“The squad is a joke, it’s hard to be under pressure when you know the quality that you have got around you.

“Even if you’re not having your best game, the players around you will dig you out of it.”

Adam Hinshelwood admitted in his post-match press conference that he now has a decision to make as to who will lead the line next Saturday at Ebbsfleet United (3pm), with Ollie Pearce set to return from his one match suspension.

Stones wouldn’t have it any other way, and credited the level of training which his new manager has implemented amongst the squad.

“Day in day out, all of us give him big decisions to make.

“The quality of training, I’ve never trained anywhere that has been so high and the intensity has been so high.

“I think you can see that on the pitch, how fit we are.

“I’ve given him a decision to make, but whatever team he picks, we’re a strong squad and I think that we can do it no matter what injuries we face, no matter who we face, we’ve got a problem for everyone to solve.”

York continue to occupy third position after Forest Green Rovers scored another late winner in their match against Eastleigh, but Barnet did drop points in a goalless draw at Boston United.

Stones believes that City will still be in that promotion conversation come May, but reiterated that the focus has to remain on them and not the results of their title competitors.

“The lads are brilliant, as soon as the first week I settled in but I needed something like that today to fully cement yourself.

“It should be a special season and we’ll hopefully be in the [Football] League next year.

“I think it will do [go right down to the wire], they’re all quality teams.

“When I was at Oldham, the first thing you’d do when you went into the dressing room would be to check York, Forest Green, Barnet.

“The main thing is to focus on us, if we’re winning, it matters what happens around us obviously to an extent, but if you’re winning then that’s all that matters.

“All we can do is pick three points up, we play Barnet, Forest Green to come at home and we have some big games.

“Those will be the times we’ll see who wants it more, and I think we’ll be right up there.”