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Match Report: Newport County 0-0 York City |
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By Max Benson
City will undoubtedly be the happier side going into next Tuesday's replay after escaping from South Wales with a draw and a clean sheet following a tough encounter at Spytty Park.
With Newport running away with the Blue Square South title race the Minstermen were braced for a challenge, and so it proved to be.
City made four changes following the record-breaking win over Hayes & Yeading last weekend with David McGurk, Alex Lawless and Levi Mackin missing out altogether while top scorer Richard Brodie had to be content with a place on the bench.
Ben Purkiss slotted in at right back as Kevin Gall started on the right of a midfield that also contained Andy Ferrell, who made a return to the centre, with Michael Gash also recalled to partner Michael Rankine up front.
It could have been a different story from as early as the second minute when a tempting Chris Carruthers corner fell to City’s Welsh captain Daniel Parslow who couldn’t make sufficient contact with the ball at the far post.
The rest of the first half was largely played out at the other end as the Minstermen’s defence was given its first proper work out for several weeks.
The exciting Kerry Morgan, on loan from Swansea City, had the first clear cut chance for the hosts after six minutes, benefitting from errors by Parslow and Neil Barrett before firing into the side-netting.
Michael Ingham was called into action shortly after, doing well to keep out Danny Rose’s strike before recovering to deny Paul Cochlin.
James Meredith has really found his feet in recent weeks but twice came close to putting through his own net in the space of just a couple of minutes.
First, the Aussie’s firm back-pass squeaked inches wide after deceiving Ingham before a nervous header flew narrowly wide of his own left hand upright.
Rose had another opportunity shortly after but lofted his free kick over the bar after Luke Graham had felled Sam Foley on the edge of the area.
Craig Reid could have done better just before the break, latching on to a clever flick-on but firing straight at a relieved Ingham.
Foyle’s concerns were not eased when a hobbling Carruthers was replaced by Brodie, who joined the action in an unfavoured wide-left role.
The Minstermen were more purposeful after the interval, but that’s not to say the hosts didn’t have further opportunities to settle the tie.
Reid’s speculative cross from the left saw the ball find a way under the sprawling Ingham, who was to be reprieved with no one in an orange shirt following up as the hosts carried on from where they had left off after the break.
City were finding more time in possession for short spells and almost capitalised just after the hour when the subdued Rankine broke free down the right before his low cross was well flicked away inside the six yard box.
Djoumin Sangare, making a welcome return after injury, was introduced into a holding midfield role and did his best to set up Ferrell during City’s best spell of pressure.
The combative Geordie twisted one way and another before bending a good shot over Glyn Thompson’s crossbar with his weaker right foot.
Thompson then tipped over to deny Ferrell once more when City’s summer signing from Kidderminster curled a dangerous free kick in from the right.
But despite their previous attacking intentions, it was the Minstermen who were forced onto the back foot once again in the closing stages.
Meredith was intelligent late on as he headed behind a teasing cross from the left with substitute Dave Gilroy breathing down his neck.
Another substitute, Scott Rogers, will feel he should have won the game for the Exiles at the death when a half-cleared corner fell kindly deep inside the area, only for Rogers to blaze badly wide of Ingham’s left hand post.
It was an off-night for City, but their trademark fighting spirit was evident as a replay at Bootham Crescent was secured to decide who will face Blue Square North side Corby Town in Round Three.
Line-Ups
York City (4-4-2) – Ingham, Purkiss, Graham, Parslow, Meredith, Gall, Barrett, Ferrell, Carruthers (Brodie 37), Gash (Pacquette 76), Rankine (Sangare 65)
Subs Not Used – Smith, Mimms
Newport County (4-4-2) – Thompson, Morris, Warren, Cochlin, Collins, Rose, Turk, Henry (Rogers 87), Morgan, Reid, Foley (Gilroy 83)
Subs Not Used – Bignot, Giles, Blackburn
Referee – Steve Martin (Stafford)
Yellow Cards – Graham (York City) Rose, Cochlin (Newport County)
Man of the Match – Andy Ferrell
Attendance – 1,040
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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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