Blue
Square Premier - 5th January 2008
At KitKat Crescent - Att 2,423 (116 Kidderminster)
Report
The winning run came to an end in a hugely entertaining match,
but City remain unbeaten under Colin
Walker. In his toughest test to date, he saw his charges
go two goals down before two quickfire goals drew the side back
level and go on to dominate the game. There were chances to
win it, but a draw satisfied all but the ultra-demanding.
As in the Boxing Day game against Droylsden, City were caught
cold with an early goal. A corner was only half cleared and
fell to Michael McGrath who drilled it into the bottom corner
from the edge of the box. That woke City up and for the remainder
of the half, the 2423 crowd were treated to some excellent football.
Sadly for City, the best chances in front of goal all fell to
the less-than-prolific Manny
Panther. He shot straight at the betighted Scott Bevan from
a Ben Purkiss knock
down - Purkiss was again excellent on the day and surely one
of the most improved players at the club. Nicky
Wroe, promoted to the starting line up in place of Anthony
Lloyd, was at the heart of most good things City did and
he was involved twice as he combined with David
McGurk and Purkiss to bring it out of defence. This time,
Panther failed to hit the target from close range. Another Panther
effort almost fell to Onome
Sodje, but it would be Kidderminster who registered next.
Again, it was a corner that was only half cleared that was the
undoing. Matthew Barnes-Homer crossed and found Iyseden Christie
unmarked at the back post who made no mistake from a couple
of feet out.
The response was almost instantaneous. Purkiss back-heeled to
free Wroe who crossed deep, but Craig
Farrell's shot went over the top. It wouldn't be long before
the pressure told and it was Wroe yet again at the heart of
the move that freed Sodje down the inside left channel, just
beating the offside trap. One-on-one with Bevan, Sodje retained
his composure to wait long enough for the keeper to commit himself
and Sodje lifted it over him and bring City back into it at
2-1. Just a couple of minutes later and parity was restored.
Sodje turned his marker and put the ball down the right channel
for Farrell to burst onto it, take one touch and lash it past
Bevan.
The action continued with Bevan being tested by Farrell and,
shortly after the break, Martyn
Woolford while Christie brought out the best of Tom
Evans and Darren Kelly put in a great block on Michael Blackwood's
follow-up. Panther had another opportunity well saved after
Farrell's dummy had bamboozled the defence and Farrell's attempted
lob drifted way over after he'd sprung the offside trap, but
he had better options.
The pace of the game began to take it's toll late on, with Panther
and Kelly both substituted as they visibly tired. Some tired
challenges were going in as the game began to get as spiky as
a ripe pineapple and Stuart
Elliott will miss the FA Trophy game against Grays after
picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. After Sodje
had a couple of superb chances with a brace of fierce volleys
like a smaller version of Basile Boli, the game petered out
a little and finished 2-2.
"The first 30 minutes was some of the best football we've
played at home this season" said Walker after the game.
"I thought we were great and yet we were 2-0 down! We showed
great character to come back. You were never going to get a
second half like that first, and it did peter out." The
players were not as sharp in that second half and the substitutions
made it plain who was struggling most. "Darren Kelly was
really tired, as were Manny and Faz, so we brought them off.
Martyn Woolford hasn't been well all week, but he did ever so
well on the left. They've got a couple of days off now"
which must be music to the ears of the players who have had
such a punishing schedule of late. Having gone two goals behind,
and despite the chances to win it, most were happy with a draw.
"We've won enough away from home to be chuffed with a draw
today" reckoned the reigning manager of the month, "and
that was one of the better draws you're likely to see. The message
is clear: come and watch York City - you'll get your money's
worth".
Ref: M Brown (Hull)
The Teams
York City: Evans; Parslow, Kelly (Craddock
64), McGurk; Purkiss, Elliott, Wroe, Panther (Brayson 84), Woolford;
Sodje, Farrell (Brodie 79)
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