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Match Report: York City 4-1 Hayes & Yeading |
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By Max Benson
It was like they had never been away as City demolished Hayes & Yeading to make it a record-breaking eight consecutive league wins.
Richard Brodie led the way with a brace and an assist which was no less than his electric performance deserved.
Chris Carruthers and Kevin Gall netted either side of Brodie’s double to cap yet another fine team performance by the Minstermen.
Praise must also go to the staff and fans who once again worked tirelessly on the Bootham Crescent pitch to ensure City could play their first game for a fortnight.
Groundsman Mark Hirst, Kev Russell, Jim Ferguson and Sam Leach in particular did the club proud in maintaining the record of only one home postponement in three years.
Michael Rankine and Alex Lawless both had shots in the first five minutes to give the Middlesex side a taste of what was to come.
City were nearly ahead five minutes later when United ‘keeper Simon Overland did well to snuff out Brodie’s effort before Rankine’s follow-up was cleared off the line by the alert Adam Green.
Brodie was sure he had a penalty halfway through the first half when his run across the area was curtailed by the outstretched Overland.
The Blue Square Premier’s leading scorer was horrified, however, when he looked up to see referee Paul Curry brandishing an eighth yellow card of the season after deciding the big Geordie had dived.
It was only a brief reprieve, though, as Brodie charged down an attempted clearance before centring to Carruthers who forced home 25 minutes into his first game as a permanent City signing.
The underworked Michael Ingham was almost forced into action two minutes later after Dale Binns teed up Toby Little, only for the winger’s effort to be deflected over for a corner.
Rankine then shot straight at Overland before Danny Allen-Page stung the palms of Ingham at the other end just before half time.
The Minstermen were sharper than their mid-table opposition all afternoon and that was no more noticeable than straight after the break as Carruthers supplied an excellent free kick from the right that Brodie forced in from close range.
Rankine and Brodie tormented the Hayes backline throughout and the latter’s surging run on 51 minutes drew a rash challenge from Tom Cadmore just outside the box which saw the last man sent off.
Former Rushden striker Rankine nearly profited from a tempting Carruthers corner shortly after, rising above the rest and nodding over from six yards.
Brodie looked a class apart at times and he inevitably made it three just before the hour with the goal of the game.
After finding himself clean through once more, Brodie rounded the ‘keeper before cutting back onto his left foot and curling a perfect finish beyond the reach of the two recovering defenders.
He was at it again just a minute later but was bundled to the floor to spark strong claims for a penalty that the referee ignored before awarding a goal kick.
The playing surface was cutting up badly but it didn’t stop the Minstermen playing some mesmerising passing football that spanned the pitch.
This was typified when substitute Michael Gash shot narrowly wide after silky build up play from Lawless, Daniel Parslow and David McGurk.
A Carruthers pile-driver was next to scare the West London side’s already shell-shocked defence, whizzing though the crowd of players and narrowly wide of goal.
Lawless found space on the right fifteen minutes from time and delivered and enticing cross that Gash just couldn’t stretch to tap in at the far post.
But a well-deserved fourth came on 83 minutes when Gall latched onto a long ball, outwitted the ‘keeper and slotted into the empty net to secure his first goal for the club.
The Archbishop of York was screaming for a fifth but Gall was unable to answer his prayers with a volley at the far post that fizzed into the side netting.
Gash and Gall were proving to be just as problematic for the visitors in the latter stages as Brodie and Rankine had been for the first hour and it could have been five when the two combined a minute from time.
Lawless was the beneficiary of some neat work between the two replacements in the 89th minute but could only shoot over from the edge of the area.
United pulled one back in injury time when a corner was bundled in by Scott Fitzgerald but it did little to detract from another outstanding team performance from a City side that must now be considered as genuine title contenders.
Line-Ups
York City (4-4-2) – Ingham, Parslow (Purkiss 67), McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Lawless, Barrett, Mackin, Carruthers, Rankine (Gash 60), Brodie (Gall 60)
Subs Not Used – Smith, Ferrell
Hayes & Yeading (4-4-2) – Overland, Allen-Page, Cadmore, Ruby, Green, James, Canham, Marwa, Little (Fitzgerald 67), Binns (El-Abd 53), Basham (Palmer 77)
Subs Not Used – Gradwell, Baker
Referee – Paul Curry (Northumberland)
Yellow Cards – Brodie, Mackin (City) Green, Little (Hayes & Yeading)
Red Card – Cadmore (Hayes & Yeading)
Man of the Match – Richard Brodie
Attendance – 2,403 (30 Hayes & Yeading)
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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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