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Match Report: Rushden & Diamonds 0-1 York City |
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By Max Benson
Richard Brodie netted his nineteenth goal of the season to cement City’s position in third place at Nene Park against one of the division’s other form sides.
An impressive second half performance, similar in style to the recent win at Wimbledon, ensured the 153 intrepid Minstermen faithful headed back up the M1 very happy indeed.
City, who went into the game unchanged after the FA Cup win at Cambridge, almost stole an early lead after just two minutes. Chris Carruthers delivered a superb cross that Brodie nodded just wide only for Referee Coote to blow for a foul on the Rushden ‘keeper Dale Roberts.
It was fifteen minutes before the first corner, which itself came from a dangerous set piece won by the home side. Neil Barrett flattened his man just outside the area before Lee Tomlin’s free kick ballooned behind off the City wall.
The warning sparked City into life. Alex Lawless whipped a pass left to Carruthers who saw his shot deflected behind from 20 yards.
Carruthers had another opportunity from the corner, drilling an instinctive shot at Roberts who tipped over the bar.
And the Minstermen could have been ahead from that resulting flag kick. Barrett’s delivery found its way to Michael Rankine who, despite being in lethal form of late, sprayed his effort wide from inside the Rushden area.
A hitherto dull start had been transformed into end to end excitement and the hosts really should have taken the lead. Aaron O’Conner sprung the offside trap and hit the left hand post with his shot across goal when one on one with Michael Ingham. The ball flew left before Jefferson Louis’ attempted cross was blocked behind.
Tomlin’s corner was excellently placed and the imposing Jamie Stuart headed powerfully towards goal, only for an alert James Meredith to clear off the line and away from danger.
Brodie was next to test out the opposing defence. After haring onto a long ball, City’s top scorer did well to get a shot away at all, but it was deflected well over.
The Minstermen had probably shaded the first quarter of the game but the hosts found their feet as the first half wore on. Paul Terry tried to orchestrate his side from the heart of midfield and Louis looked like a rejuvenated man after two forgettable performances against City for Crawley Town earlier this season.
Brodie fashioned himself another chance in first half stoppage time. An outstanding first touch took him into space but his deflected shot from 25 yards was belted out for a throw in.
Mark Byrne tested Ingham shortly after the break. The winger did well to bring down a long ball at the first attempt before cutting inside and bending in a strike that the City ‘keeper gathered.
Rushden came out brightly following the interval and the lively O’Conner forced a corner after breaking through down the left channel and snatching a shot at goal.
Martin Foyle was in no mood to play for a point and brought on Adam Smith for Levi Mackin and Michael Gash for the well-shackled Rankine as Lawless moved into his preferred central position.
Gash had a chance almost immediately. Carruthers did brilliantly down the left before slipping a pass to the former Ebbsfleet striker who was reluctant to pull the trigger whilst under pressure before missing his kick altogether just six yards from goal.
The changes seemed to have done the trick for the Minstermen as they put increasing pressure on the Rushden defence.
And that spell of patient build up play paid off. Barrett swirled a corner into the middle on 72 minutes and it was the Blue Square Premier player of the month Brodie who lost his marker and stooped to head the ball through the crowd and into the back of the net.
In stark contrast to the Cambridge game, which at times resembled the Alamo, City continued to press albeit without creating any further chances.
But it just wouldn’t be York City without a spot of late drama. A Rushden corner in the fourth minute of injury time bobbled terrifyingly in the middle of the area and City old boy Craig Farrell, on as a late substitute, almost forced home but Ingham somehow recovered to grasp the loose ball.
That said, it was the only real scare in a professional second half performance as the Minstermen worked well as a unit to make it a magnificent seven.
Line-Ups
York City (4-4-2) – Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Lawless (Ferrell 90+2), Barrett, Mackin (Smith 61), Carruthers, Brodie, Rankine (Gash 61)
Subs Not Used – Gall, Mimms
Rushden & Diamonds (4-4-2) – Roberts, Osano, Stuart, Downer (Ainsley 46), Robinson, Byrne, Terry (Akurang 80), Porter, Tomlin, Louis (Farrell 73), O’Conner
Subs Not Used – Day, Pattison
Referee – David Coote (Newark)
Yellow Cards – O’Connor (Rushden & Diamonds)
Man of the Match – Daniel Parslow
Attendance – 1,117 (153 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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