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Match Report: York City 1-0 Newport County |
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By Max Benson
A last gasp winner from Richard Pacquette saw the Minstermen through to the Third Round of the Trophy after a hard fought replay with Blue Square South leaders Newport.
City always had the better of the game and it often felt like Dean Holdsworth’s side had wasted their best chance to win the tie at their Spytty Park fortress last week.
Martin Foyle made four changes to the side that made it nine league wins in a row at Cambridge last weekend.
Josh Mimms started for the first time between the sticks since the final day of last season, replacing the previously ever-present Michael Ingham.
Andy Ferrell and Adam Smith lined up in midfield while Pacquette made only his second start of the campaign up front alongside Richard Brodie as Michael Rankine nursed a minor back injury.
Despite City controlling possession in the early stages it was the visitors who mustered the first meaningful effort on goal.
Danny Rose’s corner from the right was only half cleared but Scott Rogers, under pressure, was only able to drive his shot wide of Mimms’ left hand post.
Both sides were looking solid if not spectacular but the final third was proving a problem, as Pacquette highlighted when he turned a tempting Chris Carruthers cross the wrong side of the post after sixteen minutes.
Smith was playing with purpose down the right and that determination nearly paid off in the nineteenth minute when he thundered a shot just wide to the right of Glyn Thompson’s goal.
The Minstermen created further pressure as the half wore on, forcing three corners in succession, albeit without over-exerting Thompson.
But Levi Mackin did just that after 33 minutes, neatly setting himself up after Ferrell’s shot was cleared to the edge of the box before forcing a smart diving save from the Exiles’ ‘keeper.
It was a similar story a minute later when Mackin’s instinctive drive forced Thompson to tip around his left hand post for a corner.
For all City’s pressure the away side were so close to a lead shortly before half time.
Luke Graham’s ambitious header back to Mimms held up on a heavily-sanded playing surface, allowing Kerry Morgan to nip in before Mimms did excellently to smother the chance.
Craig Reid followed up but was only able to skew a looping shot wide from 25 yards as Mimms scrabbled to get back.
Brodie, controversially booked at the end of the first half after challenging for a header, made a drive for goal almost straight after the break.
British football’s highest scorer this season was barged to the floor only for Smith to hit a rising drive over the bar from the resulting free kick.
The Minstermen were more restricted after the break, with the opposition increasingly content to play for penalties, but were almost ahead when Brodie turned provider.
Carruthers played a superb ball down the left before the big Geordie charged for the by-line and centred before Jamie Collins cleared away from danger.
Rogers then received a yellow card, but must have had referee Harwood thinking about producing a red, when he brainlessly clattered Brodie to the floor with a pointless challenge in front of the City dugout.
Michael Gash, who replaced a frustrated Brodie with 20 minutes to go, almost capitalised on a goalmouth scramble soon after his entrance but had his low shot blocked.
He may not have played very often this season, but when he does, Pacquette has an uncanny knack of making special things happen.
At the end of four minutes of stoppage time, Smith burst free down the right before his cross was parried by Thompson into the path of Pacquette who forced into an open net from just a couple of yards out.
Although it was hard work, the Minstermen deserved their win and will now face Blue Square North side Corby Town in the Third Round this coming Saturday.
Line-Ups
York City (4-4-2) – Mimms, Purkiss, McGurk (Sangare 30), Graham, Meredith, Smith, Ferrell, Mackin, Carruthers, Brodie (Gash 71), Pacquette
Subs Not Used – Parslow, Barrett, Gall
Newport County (4-4-2) – Thompson, Morris, Warren, Cochlin, Collins, Rose, Turk, Rogers, Morgan (Henry 54), Foley, Reid
Subs Not Used – Bignot, Gilroy, Blackburn
Referee – Colin Harwood (Manchester)
Yellow Cards – Ferrell, Brodie (York City) Collins, Rogers (Newport)
Man of the Match – Chris Carruthers
Attendance – 1,469 (52 Newport)
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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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