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By Max Benson
City made it nine league wins in a row for the first time in their history after fighting hard to consign their hosts to a fifth straight league defeat.
Neil Barrett’s deflected strike three minutes into the second half was all it took for the Minstermen in a closely contested game at the Abbey Stadium.
Despite a pedestrian start from both teams it was Martin Foyle’s side that showed a first glimpse of neat enterprising football after ten quiet minutes.
Barrett laid off to Ben Purkiss before the makeshift right midfielder swirled a deep cross in that Michael Rankine nodded comfortably wide at the far post.
The Minstermen threatened again in the 20th minute as Purkiss, who was beginning to thrive in his advanced role, executed a perfect curling pass into the area that Barrett sliced wide on the turn.
A Rankine flick on nearly paid off just two minutes later when his strike partner Richard Brodie controlled well into space before firing narrowly wide of the right hand post.
The U’s could have been ahead just moments later when the otherwise exceptional Luke Graham’s slip allowed Robbie Willmott a shot at goal that Daniel Parslow deflected before Michael Ingham shifted well to tip round his right hand post.
The profligate nature of the first half was summed up when Willmott, afforded a chance at the far post after a poor Carruthers clearance, drilled wastefully over when well placed only twelve yards out.
Paul Carden almost brought the game to life in the 38th minute with a rasping drive from 25 yards that flew inches wide of Ingham’s right hand post.
The Northern Irishman was forced into action only a minute later when he safely gathered a palm-stinging Rory McAuley effort after Willmott’s cross from the left was only half cleared.
After an insipid first half, it came as a surprise that only three minutes were needed after the interval for the deadlock to be broken.
Rankine capitalised on Sam Ives’ mistake at the back before pulling back to the awaiting Barrett who arrowed an instinctive strike into the helpless Danny Potter’s top left hand corner with the aid of a slight deflection.
It remained a fragmented match at times, but City were beginning to create the better of the chances.
Rankine was next to test the United defence after bringing down a long ball in his customary style before overpowering his man and shooting over on the turn 20 yards from goal.
The home side were nearly let in at the other end moments later but Barrett’s superb sliding tackle denied Carden who was a second from pulling the trigger on the edge of the area.
But the Minstermen were both composed and resolute and nearly made it two halfway through the second period when Carruthers’ persistence saw him beat two men down the left before centring to Rankine who’s effort was saved by the sprawling Potter.
Any sense of complacency in the City back line was swiftly removed, though, when Lee Phillips met a McAuley cross only to head straight at the awaiting Ingham.
Chances remained at a premium but Phillips had the goal at his mercy after Wayne Hatswell’s header but nodded inexplicably wide of Ingham’s left hand post.
The cagey nature of the match never quite receded and nerves were doubtless fraying among the 300-strong away following in the latter stages, not least when Graham was forced to head behind under pressure for an injury time corner.
A brief goalmouth scramble inevitably followed but it was the Minstermen who held out to claim another crucial win as the promotion charge builds.
Line-Ups
York City (4-4-2) – Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Purkiss (Sangare 87), Barrett, Mackin, Carruthers (Ferrell 89), Brodie (Pacquette 73), Rankine
Subs Not Used – Gall, Smith
Cambridge United (4-3-3) – Potter, McAuley, Hatswell, Saah, Palmer, Ives (Parkinson 67), Carden, Reason, Willmott, Phillips (Marriott (80), Crow
Subs Not Used – Coulson, Coakley, Walker
Referee – Darren Drysdale
Yellow Cards – Brodie (York City) Hatswell (Cambridge United)
Man of the Match – Luke Graham
Attendance – 2,646 (295 City)
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