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Salisbury City 1-0 York City |
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By Max Benson
City’s unbeaten run has come to an end after a bizarre game in which Martin Foyle’s men did everything but score.
The Minstermen went on to dominate their hosts for the majority of the match after falling behind to a Matt Tubbs penalty in the 3rd minute.
Michael Gash’s absence through a damaged foot meant Michael Rankine continued up front alongside top scorer Richard Brodie.
With Andy Ferrell missing through suspension, Alex Lawless made a return to the starting eleven. David McGurk was also recalled at the expense of Adam Smith as Foyle chose to break from the consistency of recent weeks.
In an unorthodox move, Daniel Parslow started at left back with James Meredith advancing to a left wing role. McGurk returned in his familiar centre back position as Lawless joined Neil Barrett in the centre of midfield.
It was just 2 minutes in when Djoumin Sangare brought down Tubbs in the box. Referee Amphlett pointed to the spot and the Whites' leading scorer stepped up to send Michael Ingham the wrong way.
City survived another scare in the 17th minute. Chris Flood drove through the centre before firing over when well placed.
Just a minute later the Minstermen were causing problems for the first time in the game. Rankine held off his marker and nudged the ball back to Brodie who forced a smart save from James Bittner with a daisy cutter from the edge of the area.
City came even closer to a leveller in the 22nd minute. Good play from Lawless set Brodie free who, after shrugging off his man, chipped over the advancing Bittner and onto the roof of the net.
The chances were beginning to mount up and more pressure around the box saw Lawless tee up Levi Mackin. The Welshman struck his shot sweetly from 20 yards but Bittner was alert, tipping over in acrobatic fashion.
Pressure was building on the hosts. After the home side gifted City a throw in on the right, Mackin was allowed to create space and forced a diving save from Bittner. Rankine’s follow-up from the rebound had the Salisbury ‘keeper sprawling again, this time safely gathering the big forward’s low shot.
Brodie had the side netting rippling on 39 minutes. Afforded far too much time and space, his shot to the near post flew just the wrong side of the woodwork.
Chance followed chance for the Minstermen. Ben Purkiss delivered a dangerous cross in from the right that found a way through to Meredith at the far post. The ball just needed a firm touch but the Australian could only glance it wide from four yards out with the goal at his mercy.
After being on top for most of the first half, City received a wake-up call just before the break as Flood passed up a glorious one on one chance, picking out Ingham with a heavy touch when he should have scored.
The Minstermen looked to carry on where they had left off after the interval. Brodie found enough room to shoot from 25 yards but scuffed his shot harmlessly into the arms of Bittner.
Flood had another excellent chance shortly after. Having mugged Purkiss, the Whites’ midfielder had just Ingham to beat but crumbled under expectation and shot wastefully wide.
Brodie was an ever-present threat. After shrugging off the niggling attentions of Ryan Tafazolli, the big Geordie turned onto his unfavoured right foot and curled his shot straight at the overworked Bittner.
Another opportunity came on the hour mark as Rankine dragged his effort wide when better options were available.
And the former Rushden man was causing the home side further trouble on 68 minutes, this time forcing Bittner into an excellent diving save with a shot from 12 yards. The ball spilled to Brodie but an outstanding block from Lee Brown prevented him from making it eleven goals for the campaign.
Despite City’s chances, Salisbury were improved after half time. The introduction of Daniel Webb in particular kept the back four busy.
But yet another let off came for the home side on 74 minutes. Brodie crashed a shot against the bar for the second game in succession, dipping a strike over the helpless Bittner.
The Minstermen had the ball in the net less than a minute later. Brodie forced home after substitute Craig Nelthorpe’s shot was parried across goal by Bittner only for the Linesman’s flag to rule him offside.
By this stage only one side were looking like scoring. Nelthorpe’s in swinging free kick was headed a yard over by Rankine who had risen with his back to goal 6 yards out.
Brodie burst through once more on 84 minutes and was hauled down by last man Tafazolli 25 yards from goal. The referee had no option but to brandish a red card for the man on loan from Southampton.
Another reprieve was to follow, though, as City failed to get a shot on goal from the resulting free kick.
As is often the case when under siege, a goal on the break nearly came for the home side. Flood strode forward and picked out Joseph Oastler who produced an unbelievable miss from point blank range.
Things were getting desperate again for the Minstermen and no more so than when Smith missed an open goal from 6 yards, somehow slicing agonisingly wide of the left hand post after ghosting in unmarked.
So it was not to be. In truth, it was an off-day in front of goal for City in a game that could have ended so differently were it not for a blend of bad luck and profligacy.
A week off will now be followed by the tantalising visit of league leaders Oxford United to KitKat Crescent next Saturday.
Line-Ups
York City (4-4-2) – Ingham, Purkiss, Sangare (Pacquette 86), Parslow, Meredith (Nelthorpe 60), Lawless, Mackin (Smith 68), McGurk, Barrett, Brodie, Rankine
Subs Not Used – Mimms, McWilliams
Salisbury City (4-4-2) – Bittner, Clohessy, Tafazolli, Turley (Cox 67), Flood, Brown, Sinclair, Anderson, Clarke (Webb 45), Tubbs (Ruddick 87), Oastler
Subs Not Used – O’Hara, Osman
Referee – Marvyn Amphlett (Kidderminster)
Yellow Cards – McGurk (City) Brown (Salisbury)
Red Cards – Tafazolli (Salisbury)
Man of the Match – Alex Lawless
Attendance - 1,266
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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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