Blue
Square Premier - 30th August 2007
At KitKat Crescent - Att 2,044 (58 Rushden)
Report
The Minstermen slipped to a third successive home defeat
against Rushden & Diamonds. Richard
Brodie (20) and Martyn
Woolford (54) were both on target but Andy Burgess (38)
and Michael Rankine (76) replied. An unfortunate own-goal from
debutant Darren Kelly (87) finally settled the contest.
York City's celebrations over the 75th anniversary of their
move to Bootham Crescent were cruelly interrupted as the visitors
consigned them to a third successive home defeat.
The Minstermen had appeared set to finally end their dismal
record in live televised matches when Martyn Woolford added
to Richard Brodie's 20th minute opener to earn a 2-1 advantage
nine minutes into the second-half.
But the hosts' defensive frailties once more resurfaced as their
opponents fought back to equalise before going on to finally
clinch the contest following an unfortunate 87th minute own-goal
from debutant Darren Kelly.
Rushden midfielder Jon Challinor fired wide twice during the
opening exchanges, while Brodie and the recalled Craig
Farrell both threatened at the opposite end. The visitors'
former Oxford United midfielder Andy Burgess also saw an effort
deflected wide before the hosts went ahead in the 20th minute.
Home skipper Emmanuel
Panther - who returned after missing the victory at Northwich
Victoria - lifted a pass over the visitors' defence towards
BRODIE, who brought the ball down superbly
before driving a right-footed finish under keeper Paul Bastock.
Diamonds' Challinor headed narrowly off-target from a right-sided
corner within sixty seconds, while Farrell dragged an attempt
wide of the far post in the 24th minute after being released
by Stuart Elliott.
Another superb pass from Elliott three minutes later found Paul
Brayson squirming a shot wide of the left-hand upright,
before Rushden keeper Bastock saved a header from newcomer Kelly
following a cross from the left by Mark
Robinson.
The visitors equalised in the 38th minute when ex-York schoolboy
Curtis Woodhouse's speculative ball forward created confusion
between keeper Tom Evans
and left-back Robinson, whose failed attempt to clear allowed
BURGESS to steal in and slide the ball into
an empty net.
Five minutes later home striker Brayson lifted a rising drive
over the bar following neat interplay between Farrell, Panther
and Woolford as the sides reached the interval level.
The Minstermen were the first to show following the break as
Robinson had a chipped attempt turned over by Bastock, before
Michael Rankine saw an effort deflected wide for the visitors.
Brayson was then denied by a last-ditch challenge after Brodie's
searching long ball had released Farrell.
The hosts withdrew midfielder Panther in favour of Ross
Greenwood in the 53rd minute, and were celebrating the lead
inside sixty seconds when excellent work from Brayson allowed
WOOLFORD to strike a low right-footed shot
into the bottom right-hand corner from 15 yards.
A superbly timed challenge from Robinson three minutes later
halted the threat of Rankine, while the hard-working Brodie
- who went on to be replaced by Chris
Beardsley in the 72nd minute - found the side-netting after
Farrell had headed Robinson's free-kick back across.
Rushden equalised for the second time on 76 minutes when substitute
Tom Shaw's cross was headed upwards by Dean Howell before RANKINE
reacted sharpest in the area to squeeze the ball through Evans'
fingers from seven yards.
York immediately received another warning two minutes later
as Rankine's close-range strike was ruled out for offside following
a brilliant save from Evans, before the hosts replaced the impressive
Brayson with Onome Sodje
with eight minutes left.
The contest was finally settled in bizarre fashion three minutes
from time when Woodhouse's inswinging corner from the right
was missed at the near post by Farrell before deflecting into
the net off the unfortunate KELLY.
Home striker Farrell then fired an effort wide of the near post
after cutting in from the left, while substitute Sodje had claims
for a penalty turned down, and Elliott lashed a hopeful long-range
effort over in added time.
Ref: C. Pawson
The Teams
York City: Tom Evans, Ben Purkiss, David McGurk,
Darren Kelly, Mark Robinson, Paul Brayson (Onome Sodje 82),
Stuart Elliott, Emmanuel Panther (Ross Greenwood 53), Martyn
Woolford, Craig Farrell, Richard Brodie (Chris Beardsley 72)
Subs (unused): Carl Pentney, Danny Parslow
Booked: Brodie (40), Panther (45)
Rushden: Paul Bastock, Curtis Osano, Chris
Hope, Wayne Hatswell, Abeou El Kholti, Jon Challinor (Lee Tomlin
74), Curtis Woodhouse, Andrew Burgess (Simeon Jackson 79), Dean
Howell, Martin Foster (Tom Shaw 68), Michael Rankine
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