York
City McBreen
(8), Brayson (23), Farrell (78, 84)
4
Blue
Square Premier - 4th November 2007
At Throstle Nest - Att 1,603
Report
Fireworks were launched skyward all around the Throstle Nest
ground on a bitterly cold North Leeds evening, the on-field
action was more of a slow burner - entertaining from start to
end with sporadic, explosive bursts - which made good watching
for a bumper crowd inside the ground as well as the viewing
masses on Setanta Sports.
City made the early running. In the build-up to the game, Anthony
Lloyd had highlighted the flanks as areas City could make
gains and so it proved with Paul
Brayson and especially Martyn
Woolford causing the Farsley defence problems from the off.
Woolford provided a good chance for Onome
Sodje in the third minute, but he shot wide while Brayson
almost profited from some persistent work from Woolford down
the left. City weren't long to be denied though as, in the eighth
minute, Woolford squared the ball to Daniel McBreen who side-footed
it home to open the scoring.
This seemed to spark Farsley into life as they enjoyed a spell
of good pressure, with a Michael Pearson cross forcing Tom
Evans to get his gloves dirty while Roy Stamer gave a hint
of his long-range ability with a 30-yard speculator. City were
able to hold them off though and, with 23 minutes on the watch,
doubled the lead. A superbly weighted through-ball from Stuart
Elliott put McBreen clear and he turned provider this time,
squaring to Brayson. The shot was on target, but the defender
on the line made a complete mess of it, seeming to trip over
the ball as it passed him and into the net for 2-0.
Again, the goal seemed to spur Farsley on and the response was
spectacular. Stamer had nothing on in front of him as he picked
up a loose ball over 20 yards from goal and unleashed a wicked,
swerving drive into the bottom corner of the goal, leaving Evans
with no chance. This was Farsley's best spell of the game, exemplified
by some nice interplay between the front two of Simeon Bambrook
and Damian Reeves. The last five minutes of the half were all
City. Woolford hit the far post after cutting inside onto his
right foot while Farsley may have been lucky not to have a man
sent off as Ryan Crossley hauled Sodje down on the edge of the
box when clean through. A yellow card was produced, leaving
both Farsley centre backs walking a tightrope, as Carl Serrant
had also been booked moments earlier.
The early going in the second half was all City who looked particularly
good when they got the ball down and passed it. The only potential
disruption was when Woolford was forcibly withdrawn after a
tangle with Sodje left him with an ankle injury - Craig
Farrell came on and slotted straight in on the left flank
where Woolford had been. Brayson was replaced by Nicky
Wroe and City's two best players were now sat on the bench.
It may have been a risk, particularly as Farsley opened City
up on the left and Stamer set up substitute Tristram Whitman
for an effort which forced a smart save from Evans, but all
worries were allayed ten minutes from time when Farrell lashed
a loose ball into the net for 3-1 as Celtic failed to deal with
a long ball.
Just five minutes later, Farrell notched his second and City's
fourth as, in similar circumstances, Farsley failed to clear
a throw-in. with five minutes of stoppage time to play due to
a lengthy delay when some objects were thrown onto the pitch
from outside the ground, Farsley had one last attempt to salvage
something as a Gareth Grant cross was flicked on by Reeves which
again produced a good, scrambling save from Evans, but City
weren't about to have their evening spoiled at the last.
A highly entertaining game then with some good performances.
Craig Farrell caught the eye off the bench as did Nicky Wroe.
The defence was well marshalled by David
McGurk and was rarely tested, but the damage had been done
in the first half by Paul Brayson and man-of-the-match Martyn
Woolford who was far and away the best player on the pitch on
the night.
All
information on this website is copyrighted by: Cybernic
Internet Services - Site design, layout and some graphics, York
City Football Club - Text and other graphics, Dave
Potter - Some photos. And any use requires consent from the appropriate
party.
