York
City
Woolford (51), Brodie (57), Elliott (77), Robinson
(90)
4
Blue Square Prmier - 8th
April 2008
At Marston Road - Att 455 (52 York)
Report
After a 6-1 defeat, things can go one of two ways. Either a
side lets it get to their heads which then drop and the lack
of confidence sees them lurch from that disaster to the next.
Or the next team they face gets a thumping. Unfortunately for
Stafford, City responded with a second-half goal spree that
sank Rangers, further hammering sturdy nails into their relegation
coffin.
It did take a while for City to fully recover from their humbling
at Crawley a few days previously. Perhaps it was fortunate that
Stafford, who have been all but doomed to relegation for a while
now, were the opposition as City looked tentative in the early
going. So did Stafford - short on confidence and with few players
able to mix it at this level. That 43-year old Neil Grayson
is their most willing worker and strongest runner speaks volumes.
It was Stafford who had the first real chance on goal from an
Ishmale Reid free-kick after Richard
Brodie had been booked for use of the hands. Tom
Evans, restored to the starting line-up after Josh Mimms
went for nine in two matches, saved easily.
After Manny Panther
- also returning to the starting eleven after proving his fitness
- had a flick header cleared from the line, City really should
have gone 1-0 ahead through Mark
Robinson. Onome
Sodje had done well to hold the ball up and deliver a fine
ball in when the cavalry arrived. Hitting it on the half volley
from six yards out, Robinson could only find Stafford keeper
Danny Alcock's chest, though credit must go to Alcock for coming
out decisively and quickly. Stafford too had claims that they
should have been in front before the break as Evans dropped
a cross and, while he was complaining about a non-existent foul,
Grayson turned the ricochet onto the post before City got it
away.
Having perhaps shaded the first half on points, City came out
after the interval more determined and Danny
Parslow arrived in the box with trademark aplomb, but for
once his header was straight at the keeper, but City would shortly
be in front. Not known for his tackling, Martyn
Woolford won it in midfield, exchanged passes with Sodje
and fired it low under the advancing Alcock to out City in the
driving seat. Moments later, the advantage was doubled as Ben
Purkiss played in in for Brodie. With his back to goal,
Brodie spun on a sixpence and fired it right footed across Alcock
and into the far corner. A great strike and City could finally
breath a bit easier.
Woolford could and probably should have made it three after
springing the offside trap, but fired wide when one-on-one with
Alcock - the Stafford keeper kept so busy that he was named
man of the match by the sponsors. 17-year old Adam Boyes was
introduced and he warmed Alcock's hands with a fierce shot,
the rebound falling to Brodie who was offside as City went for
a very continental 3-4-3 with Woolford up front through the
middle with Boyes and Brodie wider. The trio combined well in
freeing Brodie, but Alcock turned his shot away for a corner.
Only half-clearing the ball, Stafford saw it drop to Stuart
Elliott 30 yards out and he fired it back with interest,
his rising bullet shot finding the top corner for 3-0.
It became something of a duck shoot towards the end, with Stafford
substitute Steve Hopkinson coming close to making it four as
he almost turned it into his own net, but City wouldn't have
to wait too long. With the board going up to signal that start
of stoppage time, Woolford saw himself one-on-one with Alcock
yet again. This time, the keeper saved, but could only turn
the ball into the path of the onrushing Robinson who tucked
it away for 4-0; the referee's whistle soon after putting an
end to Stafford's suffering.
This was a good way to get back in the saddle following the
embarrassment of the previous Saturday. This was a characterful
performance and with players like Adam Boyes getting a chance
in the run-in, it bodes well for the future.
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