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York City 3-2 Chester City |
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By Max Benson
Richard Brodie netted his first hat trick in City colours as the Minstermen eased to an important victory against their resurgent opponents.
Chester had won their previous three games under new manager Jim Harvey but another excellent performance from the Blue Square Premier's joint top scorer helped the Minstermen extend their season-long unbeaten home record.
Brodie notched one of City’s fastest goals for many a year when he opened the scoring after just 32 seconds. The big Geordie broke free inside the visitors' half, drifted right and took advantage of a defensive slip before driving the ball underneath John Danby in the Chester goal.
The visitors were understandably shell-shocked and Michael Rankine wasn’t far from making it two with a header wide from twelve yards out in the third minute.
Brodie and Rankine are forging an impressive partnership in the absence of £55,000 summer signing Michael Gash and Brodie nearly set up Rankine in the seventh minute but the former Rushden man’s heavy touch allowed Tim Ryan to clear.
City ‘keeper Michael Ingham was redundant for most of the early stages and his only entertainment came from the impressive noise created chiefly by the Jorvik Reds in the David Longhurst Stand.
Alex Lawless almost created a goal for himself on 11 minutes. After bursting into the Chester half, he exchanged passes with Neil Barrett before seeing his firm strike deflected wide from the edge of the area.
Not for the first time this season, the Minstermen were playing some enterprising football and James Meredith executed a perfect pass to Brodie who drove his half chance well wide.
Rankine had another opportunity on 20 minutes when he created space down the old inside right position and shot over from range.
City received a warning, though, as a rare Lawless error gifted Chester a sight at goal before Daniel Parslow did well to recover and regain possession.
Adam Smith was next to have a go for the home side, finding his way through the middle and forcing Danby into a good fingertip save.
One became two just after the half hour mark and it was that man again. Brodie’s persistence won him a penalty after Neil Ashton stuck a leg out and City’s very own ‘Angel of The North’ slotted it home with ease to record his 50th goal for the club.
And Brodie was only a yard away from a first half hat trick ten minutes later as he drove wide from the edge of the box with Danby well beaten.
The Minstermen were nearly pegged back just before half time. Meredith was alert to block a Rhys Meynell effort at the near post off the line with Ingham stranded.
But just as in the first period, the Minstermen struck straight after the interval.
A minute into the second half, Brodie notched another trademark goal to complete his landmark hat trick. Lawless played him in and the former Newcastle Benfield striker beat his man, deceived the ‘keeper and curled his shot inside the left hand post.
The Minstermen used their three goal cushion to slow the pace and showcase some of the neat passing that has become commonplace at Bootham Crescent this season. One such move nearly let Rankine in, but the angle was tight and Danby gathered comfortably.
Impressive substitute Anthony Barry had Ingham at full stretch on 54 minutes with a low shot from 25 yards that flashed inches wide.
And City failed to heed his warning. Barry unleashed a second drive just before the hour mark, this time from thirty yards, catching Ingham unawares and fizzing into his bottom left hand corner.
From this point, Chester were in the game for the first time and a couple of decent moves were strung together to test the City resolve.
But Lawless nearly put the contest to bed on 64 minutes. As he does so often, the ex-Fulham trainee broke from midfield, dribbled through space and saw his shot parried away by the diving Danby.
The away side missed an absolute sitter in the 69th minute. The Minstermen’s defences were breached and Mark Beesley, on loan from City's forthcoming cup opponents Cambridge United, somehow conspired to blast wide from a yard out.
Martin Foyle has moved quickly to replace Craig Nelthorpe after his loan move to Barrow. Pacy attacker Kevin Gall, formerly of Yeovil and Carlisle, has been drafted in after leaving Darlington and was brought on to preserve the tiring Smith.
Lawless was at it again on 78 minutes. Gall started the move that led to Brodie setting up the former Forest Green midfielder who had his shot deflected harmlessly behind.
The Minstermen had eased off the gas and it came as little surprise when former Scarborough prospect Michael Coulson nearly pulled one back late on. The loanee from Barnsley could only shoot narrowly wide of goal, though.
And the visitors did pull a deserved goal back right at the death. A raking Clark Keltie free kick from near the half way line saw Sean Kelly flick the ball over the advancing Ingham who was caught in no man’s land.
But it was Brodie's night and City had done more than enough to move to within a point of the Play Off places.
Line-Ups
York City (4-4-2) – Ingham, Purkiss, McGurk, Parslow, Meredith, Smith (Gall 69), Lawless, Barrett, Carruthers, Brodie (Ferrell 90), Rankine (Mackin 78)
Subs Not Used – Pacquette, Graham
Chester City (4-4-2) – Danby, Kelly, Ryan, Ashton, Coulson, Keltie, Owen (Barry 28), Meynell (Wilkinson 68), Chadwick (Blundell 64), Beesley
Subs Not Used – Murphy, Rule
Referee – Darren Bond (Wigan)
Man of the Match – Richard Brodie
Attendance – 2,164 (110 Chester)
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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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