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York City 3-2 Kidderminster Harriers |
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By Max Benson
Two goals from Richard Brodie helped City to an invaluable victory over ten man Kidderminster.
City were unchanged after picking up a point against Cambridge last Tuesday. Levi Mackin continued in the centre of midfield with Alex Lawless failing to recover from the virus that ruled him out in the week.
For the visitors, former Salisbury striker Robbie Matthews was fit enough to start after playing the last 20 minutes in the Harriers’ draw at Forest Green on Tuesday.
So often have City enjoyed a lightning start at KitKat Crescent this season but on this occasion it was the away side who caught the Minstermen napping in just the 2nd minute.
David McDermott, who went on to have an excellent game, supplied the cross from the right to the back post and Brian Smikle was on the receiving end to head past Michael Ingham from close range with time to spare.
There seems to be no end to the excitement at KitKat Crescent this season.
Only 8 minutes in Ben Purkiss lofted an innocuous ball upfield that caught Gavin Caines flat footed as Richard Brodie broke free. With Brodie about to pull the trigger, Caines clumsily bundled him over to gift City a penalty and earn himself a red card from referee Paul Davison.
And for the third time this season, Brodie slotted the kick confidently home to draw City level.
With the Minstermen in the ascendency, Mark Yates withdrew attacking midfielder Darryl Knights in favour of the more defensively-minded Nathan Hayward.
As the game settled down, both sides played some attractive passing football as half chances were created at both ends.
Andy Ferrell came close to giving City the lead on 28 minutes. Afforded far too much time on the ball, the former Kidderminster midfielder picked his spot and curled his left foot shot narrowly over Dean Coleman’s bar from the edge of the area.
Hesitancy was the away side’s undoing on 31 minutes. Ferrell again had an age to find his pass which eventually found its way to Djoumin Sangare. The Frenchman excelled in his brief stint as a right winger, sending a cross sailing across goal with Brodie on hand to thrust the ball over the line.
After more good work by Ben Purkiss, Neil Barrett then drove just wide of the left hand post with Coleman beaten.
The ten men of Kidderminster were still a threat though as Robbie Matthews proved with a header over Ingham and his crossbar shortly before half time.
City could have extended their lead two minutes after the interval. Purkiss dribbled to the byline and fired the ball tantalisingly across the face of goal. The visitors were reprieved though as Mackin, racing in, just couldn’t get there in time.
A smart pass from James Meredith on 52 minutes was equalled by an excellent turn from Ferrell who shot a yard wide from outside the box.
City made it three in the 58th minute. Smith’s pinpoint cross from the right was met by Michael Gash who nodded in from just a couple of yards out.
But the Minstermen received a shock to the system just after the hour mark. A free kick routine from 30 yards out led to a low drive from Matthew Barnes-Homer which went straight through Ingham to give the Harriers a way back into the contest.
Michael Rankine was brought on shortly after at the expense of Mackin with Brodie moving out to the left as Kidderminster strived to regain the lead.
The imposing forward nearly made his mark just a couple of minutes later, breaking free of his man and driving just wide of the left hand post from 25 yards.
What the away side were lacking in numbers they certainly made up for in effort. McDermott seemed to be all over the pitch, causing a number of problems for City’s back line.
Sangare did well to maintain City’s lead on 75 minutes as he threw himself in front of Chris McPhee’s header to deflect the ball behind.
The visitors’ industry almost led to an equaliser moments later. Barnes-Homer turned into space and sent a fierce shot dipping just over the bar.
Sangare was there again to save his team mates in the 80th minute, heading a powerful Smikle shot over his own bar when the ball was destined for the top corner.
It was proving to be tough going against ten men and David McGurk was brought on in a holding midfield role with Ferrell making way.
The pressure continued to mount and Ingham was forced into a sharp save on 86 minutes, diving at full stretch to his right and turning away Duane Courtney's effort with one hand.
It was hard work, but City clung on to claim a priceless victory which lifts them up to fifth in the Blue Square Premier table ahead of yet another mouth watering clash next Saturday against Stevenage Borough.
Line-Ups
York City (4-4-2) – Ingham, Purkiss, Sangare, Parslow, Meredith, Smith, Mackin (Rankine 67), Barrett, Ferrell (McGurk 84), Brodie, Gash
Subs Not Used – Pacquette, Nelthorpe, Mimms
Kidderminster Harriers (4-3-1-2) – Coleman, Courtney, Caines, Riley, Baker, Smikle, McDermott (Farrell 90), McPhee, Knights (Hayward 16), Barnes-Homer, Matthews
Subs Not Used – Dolman, Hadley, Sharpe
Referee – Paul Davison (Stockton on Tees)
Red Cards – Caines (Kidderminster)
Man of the Match – Jimmy Sangare
Attendance - 2,509 (113 Kidderminster)
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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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