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Match Report: York City 1-0 Corby Town |
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By Max Benson
For the third time in the FA Trophy this season City were forced to work hard for their win against a dogged Corby side.
Andy Ferrell’s first half penalty was enough to see the Minstermen through to the last eight although the one-goal lead looked increasingly fragile as time went by with the Steelmen piling on the pressure.
Martin Foyle reinstated Michael Gash to the front line in the absence of the suspended Richard Brodie.
Alex Lawless also made a return to the midfield on his recovery from a knee injury as Ferrell switched to the left hand side with Chris Carruthers dropping to the bench.
It was halfway through the first half before the impressive crowd of well over 2,000 were treated to some meaningful goalmouth action.
Gash held the ball up well with his back to goal before feeding James Meredith who had his cross-cum-shot cleared off the line.
Ferrell’s dangerous cross from the left after half an hour was eventually gathered by Corby ‘keeper Mark Osborn with Adam Smith closing in at the far post.
Meredith was then unfortunate as his head lost a fight with Brett Solkhon’s high right boot with the former Kettering man picking up a deserved booking.
Levi Mackin then had a go at breaking the deadlock, bending a speculative shot over from 25 yards.
After probing without reward, City finally took the lead five minutes from half time after Gash’s volley was handled in the area by David Deeney.
With Brodie banned, fellow Geordie Ferrell stepped up to despatch the spot kick firmly to Osborn’s left.
Adam Smith nearly extended the lead a couple of minutes later, firing in a shot that Osborn did well to hold.
Half time brought a reminder that some things are more important than football.
Wreaths were laid by fans of both clubs in tribute to former City striker David Longhurst, who died on the pitch in front of the stand that now bears his name nearly 20 years ago.
It was a fittingly respectful gesture to the promising young footballer who was originally from Corby.
The Minstermen threatened just after the break as Richard Pacquette nearly made it two when he forced Osborn into a good save following tidy work from Lawless.
Solkhon brought the lonely Michael Ingham into the game moments later, driving a shot that the Northern Irishman gathered with ease.
Chris Hope spurned another chance for the visitors after 57 minutes, whipping a free kick from the left narrowly over Ingham’s crossbar.
Smith briefly livened up a patchy game just after the hour when he outwitted Glenn Walker before poking a shot too close to Osborn with his weaker left foot.
He was at it again a couple of minutes later, charging down the right before centring to Gash who volleyed just wide.
Michael Rankine, who replaced Smith with a quarter of the game to go, was next to rampage down the right before cutting back and being felled by the desperate Paul Mayo just outside the box.
Ingham suddenly found himself in the thick of the action with fifteen minutes to go as he scrabbled across in vain to reach Leon Hibbert’s looping shot that crept just wide of his right hand post.
Deeney provided another fright for the City backline five minutes from time when his deflected drive fizzed wide of the left hand post.
The resulting corner was dangerous but the ageing Jason Lee, who belied his advancing years with an impressive second half performance, headed wide from close range.
The Steelmen only grew stronger as time wore on and it took a superb one-handed stop from Ingham to keep out substitute Tommy Jaszczun’s drive.
There was no let-up from the visitors and Solkhon was guilty of a bad miss moments later, forcing over at the far post when it was probably easier to score.
But, as has often been the case this season, City weathered the storm and are now just two wins from a second successive trip to Wembley.
Line-Ups
York City (4-4-2) – Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Graham, Meredith, Smith (Rankine 65), Lawless, Mackin, Ferrell (Carruthers 65), Gash, Pacquette (Purkiss 81)
Subs Not Used – Sangare, Gall
Corby Town (4-4-2) – Osborn, Deeney, Gulliver, Hope (Jaszczun 73), Mayo, Solkhon, Towers, Hibbert, Walker, Lee, Mettam (Diggin 70 (McGhee 85))
Subs Not Used – Strachan, Cross
Referee – Andrew Madley (Ossett)
Yellow Cards – Carruthers (York City) Solkhon, Mayo (Corby Town)
Man of the Match – Michael Gash
Attendance – 2,205 (80 Corby)
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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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