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By Max Benson
City fought back bravely to record their first away victory of the campaign in a classic game of two halves at the International Stadium.
It took a moment of genius from Andy Ferrell to give City three points to take back home from the North East after Richard Pacquette had been sent off on his full debut.
Manager Martin Foyle made three changes to the side that scraped a draw at Hayes & Yeading on Saturday, with Adam Smith and Michael Rankine dropping to the bench and Levi Mackin missing out altogether.
Pacquette’s weekend heroics secured him a first start, with Ferrell and Richard Brodie also given a chance to shine on their home patch as the City boss switched to a 4-3-3 formation.
In contrast, the home side kept faith with the team that won impressively at Crawley Town last Saturday, with Mark Robinson, Carl Jones and Phil Turnbull all lining up against their former club.
Gateshead forced a corner as early as the second minute following a worryingly fluent attack as Turnbull spread play to the right only for Martin Brittain’s run to be ended emphatically by Ferrell who threw himself in front of his former Kidderminster team mate before he could deliver his cross.
City’s first shot on target came two minutes later as Pacquette forced a low save from former Harrogate Town ‘keeper Jim Provett as he drove a shot from ten yards after being set free by somewhat shaky defending by the Tynesiders.
Gateshead Captain Kris Gate was handed a good chance to test the previously untroubled Michael Ingham on 11 minutes. The City defence had repeatedly failed to clear their lines but the former Newcastle Utd midfielder drove comfortably over from the edge of the area.
The home side came even closer a minute later as Wayne Phillips ghosted past Ben Purkiss before Michael MacKay drilled a shot into the side netting.
On 15 minutes Djoumin Sangare made his City debut as he replaced David McGurk who had hobbled off with a suspected leg injury. The Frenchman also picked up the first booking of the evening only three minutes later after shoving Turnbull to the floor.
Alex Lawless then briefly lit up a drab spell of play as he created space for himself in the middle of the field before unleashing a drive from 25 yards that flashed a yard past the left hand post.
Not long after the half hour Phillips was left ruing his final ball, as he did all game, when he found himself in acres of space at the back post and just ten yards out. Thankfully, for the Minstermen at least, his weak left footed effort trickled into the gloves of Ingham.
A curling strike courtesy of the same winger from just inside the area did require acrobatics from Ingham moments later though, as the City ‘keeper tipped over with one hand with Gateshead dominating the latter stages of the first half.
And the pressure inevitably told in stoppage time. The home side’s opener eventually came from an unlikely source as substitute centre back Alex Francis was given far too much room yet again, sending an excellent drive into Ingham’s bottom left hand corner from 22 yards.
City began the second half the brighter side as Brodie had just their second shot on target after 47 minutes, smartly turning his man before forcing a diving stop from Provett with a left foot drive from the edge of the box.
The Minstermen threatened again in the fiftieth minute as Michael Gash flicked on to Neil Barrett through the centre and deep inside the area. The ball appeared to have been kicked behind for a corner but the Referee and his Assistant had other ideas, conspiring to give a goal kick.
City levelled on 55 minutes as Brodie, subject to barracking from the home stand all night, latched on to a raking long ball, turning Francis before cutting back in trademark fashion and slotting home beautifully to answer his Geordie critics and provide the catalyst as a mediocre game took a definite turn for the dramatic.
Just a after the restart, an innocuous foul by Phillips on Pacquette left both players on the floor. As the pair rose to their feet, Pacquette appeared to aim a shove at the Gateshead man’s face, sparking a fracas on the halfway line.
Referee West showed no hesitation in producing a red card for the City striker, adding to his already sketchy disciplinary record. Phillips received a caution, presumably for the initial challenge.
The Minstermen then went on to pick up a second dismissal as Foyle was sent from the dugout for what can probably be best described, in F.A terms, as dissent.
Ferrell’s masterstroke came on 80 minutes. The epitome of commitment, he hurled himself forward on the left hand touchline, somehow keeping the ball in play whilst at full stretch.
Recovering to his feet, the never say die Geordie drove forward and delivered the most exquisite of crosses onto the head of Gash who nodded home his first goal for the club from point blank range, sending the near 500 City fans into raptures, with dozens hurdling the long jump pit to celebrate on the running track with the majority of the playing staff.
Gateshead threw bodies forward in the final stages, but the Minstermen held firm to deny their hosts and secure three vital early season points.
There is no hiding from the fact City were outplayed in the first half, but the sheer determination and glimpses of genuine talent in the second shows that there is the desire to succeed as well as the stomach for a battle. Hopefully that will soon be accompanied by 90 minute performances to match.
Line-Ups
York City (4-3-3) – Ingham, Purkiss, McGurk (Sangare 15), Parslow, Meredith, Lawless, Barrett, Ferrell (McWilliams 83), Pacquette, Gash (Rankine 90 + 4), Brodie
Subs Not Used – Smith, Nelthorpe
Gateshead (4-4-2) - Provett, Baxter, Jones (Francis 28), Curtis, Robinson, Phillips (Harwood 68), Gate, Brittain, Turnbull, Richardson (Armstrong 75), MacKay
Subs Not Used – Farman, McDermott
Referee – Mr Richard West (Beverley)
Yellow Cards – Sangare, Gash (City) Baxter, Phillips (Gateshead)
Red Cards – Pacquette (City)
Man of the Match – Andy Ferrell
Attendance - 1,174 (492 City)
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Upcoming fixtures at York City FC
24th August - AFC Barrow - 7.45pm KO
28th August - Altrincham 3pm KO
4th September - Rushden & Diamonds 3pm KO
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