Blue
Square Premier - 11th August 2007
At KitKat Crescent - Att 3,136
Report
Midfielder Stuart Elliott (54) was sent-off on his debut
as the Minstermen crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Cambridge
United at KitKat Crescent. Craig Farrell (38) opened the scoring
from the penalty spot before the visitors replied through Gavin
Hoyte (51) and Lee Boylan's (56) penalty.
York City midfielder Stuart Elliott was sent-off on his debut
as the hosts crashed to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Cambridge
United on the opening day of the season at KitKat Crescent.
The Minstermen included five new signings within their ranks,
and went ahead when Craig Farrell converted a 31st minute penalty
after Martyn Woolford was adjudged to have been brought down
in the area.
But the hosts proceeded to self-destruct during six disastrous
minutes early in the second-half, and the visitors levelled
through Gavin Hoyte following non-existent marking at a 51st
minute corner.
York's debutant midfielder Elliott was then dismissed five minutes
later after having been ruled to have lashed out at veteran
striker Leo Fortune-West in the area.
Cambridge's new signing Lee Boylan stepped up to fire home from
the resultant penalty to leave their floundering and depleted
opponents suddenly chasing the contest.
The Minstermen started in very confident fashion in the glorious
sunshine and left-back Mark Robinson sent an early long-range
deflected effort wide, before a misplaced pass from Elliott
allowed the opportunity for Boylan to force Tom Evans into a
low save.
Home skipper Emmanuel Panther was then crowded out on the edge
of the area following a magnificent break through the middle,
while Farrell struck a right-footed shot against the crossbar
after a short corner routine with Woolford - Paul Brayson heading
over from the rebound.
The hosts continued to press and striker Chris Beardsley dragged
a right-footed attempt wide of the target after linking up with
Panther, before Woolford cut in from the left and directed a
right-footed effort narrowly wide following neat combination
play with Farrell.
However the visitors should have taken the lead moments later
when Courtney Pitt's cross from the left appeared to be misjudged
by keeper Evans and towering striker Fortune-West headed wide
of an open goal.
Cambridge then went even closer to breaking the deadlock in
the 34th minute when former York midfielder Mark Convery lofted
a high cross from the right flank that bounced off the top of
the crossbar.
The Minstermen were ahead three minutes later when a jinking
run from Woolford in the left-hand side of the area ended with
the former Frickley Athletic winger falling under the challenge
of centre-back Dan Gleeson.
York striker FARRELL calmly sent keeper Dan
Potter the wrong way from the penalty spot with a firm right-footed
finish.
The hosts were immediately on the attack again as the outstanding
Panther completed a bustling run down the right before being
brought down as their opponents were beginning to adopt an increasingly
physical approach.
York missed a glorious opportunity at the start of the second-half
when Farrell badly miskicked and the ball drifted harmlessly
wide of the left-hand post following Ben Purkiss' cross.
But their opponents were starting to show increased purpose
and it required a well-timed interception by Robinson deep inside
his own area to avoid a potential leveller.
The hosts were far less impressive defensively moments later
when - from their only corner of the contest - the visitors'
centre-back Mark Albrighton was allowed to arrive unopposed
from deep to meet Convery's right-sided pull-back.
Albrighton's header appeared to lack serious threat until it
was spilled by keeper Evans, which allowed HOYTE
to crash the ball back across the face of goal before it deflected
high into the net - to the delight of the travelling fans.
Worse was to follow five minutes later as the action was suddenly
returned from the halfway line, and home midfielder Elliott
was brandished a red card following an apparent off-the-ball
skirmish with Fortune-West in the area.
The Minstermen made an instant change as Ross Greenwood was
brought on at the expense of Brayson - who had appeared distinctly
uncomfortable throughout on the right flank.
Cambridge's BOYLAN remained unconcerned though
and duly crashed the ball home from the subsequent penalty,
despite a valiant attempt from Evans.
With Woolford now forced further inside to complement their
numerical disadvantage the hosts' approach work had become increasingly
narrow, even though their industrious substitute Greenwood was
prompting regularly.
Another excellent burst forward by the redoubtable Panther ended
with Woolford having a right-footed drive deflected behind at
the expense of a corner.
The hosts made a double switch in the 61st minute as teenage
striker Onome Sodje - who was handed a particularly rousing
welcome by the home supporters - and Richard Brodie replaced
Farrell and Beardsley.
York were now playing noticeably more direct, with their substitutes
Sodje and Brodie being largely restricted to chasing onto hopeful
long balls from the back.
Nevertheless, centre-back David McGurk headed narrowly wide
from a left-wing corner by Woolford, while the dashing Sodje
also dragged a right-footed effort wide following a promising
break. Cambridge striker Boylan fired straight at Evans, and
the powerful Fortune-West also scooped an effort over the bar
as the visitors attempted to confirm their victory.
The Minstermen's attacking threat had now virtually disappeared
during the closing stages - although the magnificent Panther
headed inches wide of the top left-hand angle from Purkiss'
cross in their final serious raid.
Ref: J. Waugh
The Teams
York City: Tom Evans, Ben Purkiss, Carl Jones,
David McGurk, Mark Robinson, Paul Brayson (Ross Greenwood 56),
Stuart Elliott, Emmanuel Panther, Martyn Woolford, Chris Beardsley
(Richard Brodie 61), Craig Farrell (Onome Sodje 61)
Subs (unused): Carl Pentney, Joey Hutchinson
Booked: Beardsley (45)
Sent Off: Elliott (54)
Cambridge Utd: Danny Potter, Michael Morrison,
Mark Albrighton, Gavin Hoyte (Mark Peters 76), Daniel Gleeson,
Darren Quinton, Daniel Brown, Mark Convery (Stephen Reed 68),
Courtney Pitt (Stephen Smith 71), Leo Fortune-West, Lee Boylan
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